MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

This module will deepen your understanding of contemporary issues affecting athletes and sports participants across different stages of life and levels of competition. You'll explore social and cultural influences on performance and participation, including leadership, coach-athlete relationships, team dynamics and organisational culture. The module also examines topics such as injury, retirement, identity, inclusion, racism, disability and gender, alongside mental health challenges including anxiety, addiction, body image concerns and eating disorders. Through critical engagement with current research, you'll develop a broader understanding of the psychological factors shaping sporting experiences.

This module introduces the processes involved in delivering effective sport and exercise psychology support. You'll explore the full consultancy journey, from initial client engagement and needs analysis through to case formulation, intervention planning, delivery and evaluation. Alongside developing an understanding of consulting philosophies and reflective practice, you'll examine how psychological support can be delivered within multidisciplinary environments and virtual settings. The module may also introduce a range of therapeutic approaches, helping you build the skills needed to design, implement and evaluate evidence-based support strategies for different client groups.

In this module, you'll explore the psychological factors that influence performance, participation and skill development in sport and exercise settings. You'll develop an understanding of topics such as expertise, motivation, personality, resilience, mental toughness, stress and arousal, alongside theories of challenge and threat. The module may also examine practical techniques including imagery, self-talk, goal setting, relaxation methods, biofeedback and pre-performance routines. By engaging with current research and evidence-based practice, you'll learn how psychological skills can be applied to enhance performance, wellbeing and participation.

This module gives you the opportunity to undertake an independent research project in an area of psychology that reflects your interests and academic goals. Supported by expert supervision, you'll develop skills in research design, literature review, data collection and analysis while working within relevant ethical and professional frameworks. You'll learn how to formulate a research question, plan and carry out an original study, and communicate your findings effectively. Through the research process, you'll deepen your specialist knowledge and strengthen the analytical and investigative skills valued in both professional and academic settings.

This module develops your ability to design, conduct and critically evaluate psychological research. You'll explore the philosophical foundations of research alongside a wide range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches. Topics may include interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis, correlation, regression, measurement and assessment, as well as approaches to evaluating research quality and evidence. Through practical activities and critical appraisal of published studies, you'll develop the research literacy needed to analyse data, assess methodological strengths and limitations, and apply appropriate research methods to answer psychological questions.

This module will introduce you to the psychology of exercise and physical activity, exploring how evidence-based research can help explain and improve participation in physical activity. You'll examine current physical activity recommendations and investigate the role of exercise in supporting mental health and wellbeing, including its relationship with stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and cognitive function. Drawing on psychological theories of behaviour change, you'll learn how motivation and other factors influence exercise behaviour. You'll also explore public health approaches, exercise interventions, body image, sedentary behaviour and applied skills relevant to exercise psychology practice.