This Masters course is designed to provide enthusiastic professionals with practitioner-led training in the Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM). We are based in Yorkshire, home to the highest concentration of Sport and Exercise Medicine trainees and consultants in the UK. This is a flexible course compromising of blended learning opportunities suitable for applicants in full-time employment.
Benefits:
Sports and Exercise Medicine is now a recognised training route by the GMC for clinicians. SEM is a key deliverable in new government strategies, demand for training has increased with portfolio GPs and GPwSI specifically interested in training for Sports Medicine, and an increasing expectation amongst professional sports clubs that team doctors should have undergone structured training programmes to Masters Level.
Dr Dane Vishnubala is the Curriculum Director for this course; he is a Sport and Exercise Doctor and General Practitioner (MRCGP) with 13 years Exercise Prescription experience.
"The University of Leeds has one of the best Sports Science departments in the UK and it's got one of the oldest medical schools as well. If you combined the two then you have a very interesting course led by some very high ranking individuals within this sector"
Dr Jon Powers is the Placement Director on this course; his current role in elite sport is working for the Football Association as England Men's Team Performance Medicine Doctor.
"The flexibility of the course allows you to continue doing a full time job whilst working around University studies without having huge amounts of face to face commitment at the University. The placements we have arranged mean that most of the clinical learning will be done in a real life sporting environment rather than in a lecture."
This Masters is available as both a full time course and as a two year part time course.
During your studies you’ll focus on the following modules:
You’ll attend a two-day Immediate Care in Sport course in your induction week and arrange MSK clinics and club placements to give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge through practical experience.
You’ll also have access to our brand new sports facilities and labs, where Olympic athletes train.
The course will equip you with strong team working skills through its interdisciplinary approach to training. You’ll be equipped to work in teams of professionals with complimentary expertise such as strength and conditioning, team coaches, physiotherapists and acute injury settings.
Attendance is compulsory and will be approximately one and a half days a month (you will not be expected to be in every week). Recorded lectures of shared modules with other courses will be available to be viewed online, along with specified eLearning material.
Seminars will be recorded, where appropriate. Some practical sessions, group tutorials and specific teaching sessions will be compulsory.
Placements at appropriate professional clubs and NHS clinics will be organised, with some flexibility to negotiate clinic dates and times, and contacts will be provided for self-organised additional experience opportunities. Predominantly we use a case based approach; the eLearning each week will have a relevant case or scenario identified, and required reading and practical tasks set.
There will be a variety of assessments, appropriate for vocational character of the course and the nature of the subjects studied. These will include
You'll have access to a wide range of supervised experience via placements. They are available at NHS Bradford & Airedale MSK clinics; York City FC, Leeds United FC, Hull City FC; options also include GB Swimming, GB Basketball and more.
This course is designed to train enthusiastic professionals wishing to pursue a career in the relatively new discipline of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM). With this Masters, you'll be able to apply what you have learned to any physical activity, exercise or sporting event that requires qualified SEM cover, with immediate effect.
Overall, the course aims to equip you with the skills and expertise to enhance the value of previous training to those organisations.
Employment opportunities exist within NHS musculoskeletal and private sports medicine clinics, as well as sports clubs. Sports and Exercise Medicine is now a recognised training route by the GMC for clinicians.
Our Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) programme is internationally renowned for providing high quality distance learning exclusively to doctors. The programme is designed to provide relevant knowledge for doctors involved, or wishing to be involved, in the full or part-time management of recreational and elite athletes. By studying this programme you will develop practical skills that can be applied to both primary and specialist care.
The highly interactive, flexible, online learning and hands-on clinical teaching provide you with expert knowledge and skills, while also enabling you to remain in practice.
Programme features:
- Flexible and online, allowing you to study alongside your clinical practice.
- Recognised by the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine (FSEM) (http://www.fsem.co.uk/).
- You will become part of an international online community of SEM specialists.
- A problem-solving and reflective approach to sport and exercise medicine.
- Benefit from a reduced membership rate to the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) (http://www.basem.co.uk/) for the first year.
This is a flexible programme. The Diploma can be completed in two years, but students have the option of taking up to four years. The MSc can be completed in 3.5 years: again, students have the option of taking up to 5 years.
The following events take place on the University of Bath campus:
- Induction Event (two days) – Year One (September)
- Sports Science Residential Week - Year One (January)
- Clinical Residential Week - Year Two (June)
- OSCE (Examination Event) (1 day) – Year Two (June or October)
Years one and two (Diploma):
- Sport & Exercise Medicine in Practice 1 - 6 Credits (ongoing throughout Diploma)
- Sport & Exercise Medicine in Practice 2 - 6 Credits (ongoing throughout Diploma)
- Sports Doctor - 6 Credits (3 month unit)
- Exercise Physiology - 6 Credits (3 month unit)
- Functional Anatomy and Sporting Movement Analysis - 12 credits (6 month unit)
- Sports Injuries & Rehabilitation - 12 credits (6 month unit)
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise - 6 Credits (3 month unit)
- Exercise for Health - 6 Credits (3 month unit)
Year three (MSc):
- Research Project Design
- Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Project
Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed on a semester basis. As you progress through each semester and successfully pass the examinations, you will receive credit for the units, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.
The majority of the content of the programme is delivered online to allow you to engage in flexible study alongside your clinical practice. To complement the online teaching there is a face-to-face induction event at the University and residential teaching weeks in the first and second years of the programme. Reflective, practice-based elements are provided through professional experiential learning and online virtual workshops.
You will be assessed through written assignments and case studies, a portfolio of clinical experience, the OSCE Examination and a Dissertation. Each unit is assessed individually.
Assignments are delivered online and must also be submitted online. The formative assessment includes moderated online discussions, self-assessment questions and online multiple choice tests.
Summative assessment will vary between units but will typically include some of the following:
Compilation of portfolio of evidence [SEM in Practice]
OSCE examination [SEM in Practice]
Maintaining a reflective practitioner portfolio [SEM in Practice]
Essays
Case studies
Short answer questions
Recorded consultations
- Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL):
If you have a previous qualification, or undertaken postgraduate units from another institution, you may be eligible to transfer credit for this prior learning.
Depending on the programme of study, you can gain APL for up to 50% of the total credits required (this credit must have been obtained within the previous five years).
- Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
You may also apply for APEL by submitting a portfolio of evidence, demonstrating that you have successfully achieved the learning outcomes for the specific unit(s) you seek exemption from.
We recommend you discuss this with the Director of Studies first to ensure this is suitable, as creating your portfolio can be very time consuming.
We will not permit exemptions of fractional units, and so the minimum threshold for the applications of APEL procedures will be a single, free standing unit (including three credit units). The maximum threshold for exemption will normally be 50% of the total credits required for a programme of study, for example, a 45-credit exemption towards a 90-credit Masters degree.
The MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Medicine can be taken full-time over one year or part-time over two to four years
As an MSc student, you will study a series of core modules in sports and exercise medicine. This includes taking an emergency care qualification; studying anatomy with images, in the dissecting room and on each other; learning about physical activity recommendations for special groups (e.g. people with diabetes); as well as comprehensive research methods tutorials, in addition to the compulsory project and dissertation module.
This is an exciting opportunity to undertake research on a subject related to sports and exercise medicine or exercise physiology under the supervision of an appropriate member of academic staff. There are also a wide variety of optional modules, so you can tailor this degree to your requirements.
MSc students take a combination of compulsory and optional modules to gain 180 credits.
Compulsory modules (totalling 140 credits)
Students can also choose modules totalling a further 40 credits from a selection of optional modules. Full details can be found online.
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result may change for reasons of, for example, research developments or legislation changes. This list is an example of typical modules we offer, not a definitive list.
Interest in sport and exercise in the UK has increased significantly, and those working in the industry require a diverse set of skills. This course will enable you to apply your knowledge of science and medicine to help athletes recover from injury and reach their physical peak and also aid the general population in maintaining healthy lifestyles.
You will gain practical expertise that will allow you to assess, treat and support individuals from a variety of sporting disciplines. By understanding the process of an injury audit to identify risk factors, you will learn how to implement an evidence-based treatment plan that minimises the chance of re-injury.
You will develop a comprehensive knowledge of pathophysiology, biomechanics and sports-specific clinical reasoning, allowing you to accurately evaluate and treat injuries. You will study rehabilitation strategies and return-to-play assessments, and you will explore the emergent field of prehabilitation, which aims to prevent injuries before they occur.
You'll gain practical skills that you can apply straight away, whether you work or volunteer in sports, or are looking for your first job in the field. Our Sports Volunteer Programme has excellent links with professional sporting clubs and fitness initiatives, and you'll have the chance to maximise your learning by taking up additional experience opportunities offered through this.
You'll be taught by staff who are practising sports and exercise therapists with a huge amount of expertise and professional links.
Core Modules
Core Modules
You could go on to work for a professional or amateur sports club, a national governing body, the NHS or as a self-employed practitioner within a private sports clinic. If you are already working in the field, your enhanced expertise will enable you to take on more responsibility and improve the health and performance of both recreational and professional athletic populations.
People are increasingly encouraged to undertake sport and exercise as part of a healthier lifestyle. Although this has a number of global health benefits, a related caveat is an increased risk of injury. Currently, sporting injuries commonly present to the health professional; these injuries present a unique challenge in terms of their aetiology, management and potential for recurrence.
Sport and Exercise medicine is now recognised as a specialist area and there are growing numbers of physicians and allied health professionals seeking to work in this diverse and exciting area. The teaching faculty comprises a balance of respected academics and clinical specialists in relevant fields of Sports Medicine, Physical Activity and Sports Biomechanics.
This Masters programme has been developed in collaboration with various professional bodies. In particular, consultation with members of: the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine, the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists, the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine has informed our learning outcomes, module content and delivery. We have ensured that these are mapped directly to masters’ competencies as defined by the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists.
The course is tailored towards clinical professionals working as medical doctors, or other health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists. It will provide the knowledge, critical awareness and transferable skills for physicians and allied health professionals aspiring to engage in the field of Sports Medicine. The primary focus will be to develop practitioners who understand the importance of evidence based and specialist reflective practice, who will enhance the health care of people who are involved in sport and exercise within the UK and Ireland and beyond.
Full time or part time options are available. Students can enrol on the programme on a Full time (over 1 year; 3 semesters), or Part time basis (over 3 years; 6 semesters).
From September 2018 this course will be based at the Belfast campus.
All students enrolling on this course will already possess a relevant professional qualification (eg. medical doctor, physiotherapist, podiatry). It is anticipated that most students on this programme will be employed or will be seeking employment within the National Health Service, Social, voluntary sectors, or in independent practice. The programme therefore has significant clinical and vocational relevance. The specialist knowledge and postgraduate level skills gained will enhance students’ opportunities to progress in their careers.
We have also ensured that the content of the programme meets the postgraduate education requirements and levels of competencies for accreditation, set out by key professional bodies: 1). Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (Physios in Sport UK) and 2). International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists.
Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) statistics provided by the University Careers Service for the last three years show that a significant cohort of students graduating from Ulster with sport and exercise related undergraduate awards go on to full-time employment (statistics are available on request). It is anticipated that this programme will allow the Faculty and the USA to continue its excellent track record of producing multi-skilled graduates who are attractive to a range of employers. This will be achieved in conjunction with the Career Development Centre at the University, with all students encouraged to avail of the relevant employability training and support.
Many members of the teaching staff hold a PGCE, PGCHEP, PGCHET, PGCUT or other teaching qualifications and are members of the Higher Education Academy. Several of the staff are engaged with the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute (SESRI; CB, GD, CMcC, MM). Teaching staff have considerable research and practical experience that informs their teaching. In addition, many staff are qualified members of health-related professional bodies such as the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
The teaching faculty includes a range of academics and professionals across the following specialist areas: orthopaedic surgery, sports podiatry, sports physiotherapy, consultant sports physicians, exercise and health, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, biochemistry and sports medicine research.
On this established and well respected course, you gain the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to be an effective sport and exercise science practitioner and/or researcher. You develop strong technical, analytical, practical and professional skills, alongside specialist skills in • biomechanics and performance analysis • physiology and nutrition • strength and conditioning.
The course enables you to
We offer a first-class suite of research and teaching laboratories alongside excellent facilities offered by our partnership venue at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. Our laboratories are all British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) accredited.
The four overarching themes in the programme are
Many of the teaching staff support elite athletes as part of their work and undertake research in sport and exercise. We benefit from the expertise of our staff in the Centre for Sport and Exercise Science (CSES). The team for sport performance have worked successfully with athletes competing at the Olympics, Paralympics, and Winter Olympics. They have provided, or are currently providing, sport science research and consultancy services at elite level for the • Amateur Boxing Association • Amateur Swimming Association (diving and swimming) • British Cycling • British Speed Skating Association • British Skeleton-Bob Team • English Bowls Association • English Golf Union • Royal Yachting Association • GB table tennis • GB volleyball.
You benefit from CSES' activities as they allow us to keep course content at the cutting edge, based on our knowledge and experience of sport and exercise science delivery. You can also benefit from a work-based learning programme to help develop your experience of working in multidisciplinary teams, supporting athletes and coaches.
During the course you use a mix of traditional and online learning resources to ensure the course is flexible and can fit in with your existing commitments.
The quality of our provision was rated 24/24 by the Higher Education Council.
Sheffield Hallam are a Skills Development Partner of the Chartered Institute for Managing Sport and Physical Activity.
This course is designed to meet some of the needs of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES), and the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association accreditation.
The masters award is achieved by successfully completing 180 credits.
Core modules
Optional modules
30 credits from:
As a graduate you benefit from the skills and experience gained from the employability modules and our connections with industry.
Previous graduates have gone into careers as • developers for suppliers of sport equipment • sport science officers • advisors for national governing bodies and the English Institute of Sport • coaches • developing corporate wellness programmes in the health and fitness industry • advisors to local authorities and local health trusts • strength and conditioning coaches • sport and exercise nutritionists • researchers • technicians • university lecturers.
The course's strong focus on research skills provides an ideal platform for further study at PhD level. It is also an important first step into employment and can open many other doors into further training.
Sport scientists
Sport scientists support athletes or sports clubs, they generally provide advice and support, designed to monitor and improve sport performance, alongside a team of specialists including coaches, psychologist, performance managers and medical staff. Areas of expertise include • strength and conditioning • physiology • nutrition and analysis of movement and tactical performance.
Exercise scientists
Exercise scientists are more concerned with improving a person's health and helping them recover from illness through a structured programme of physical activity and other health-based interventions. They are also involved with preventative treatments and work closely with GPs and primary care trusts or private healthcare organisations. Exercise scientists might be employed by local authorities to run community based health and exercise initiatives.
It may be possible to move into a particular clinical area, such as cardiology, or work as a health promotion specialist for a local authority or healthcare trust. Our close links with the National Centre for Sport and Exercise medicine, part of which is based in Sheffield, will provide additional opportunities to those wishing to pursue careers in this area.
Other careers
Other careers also include • the pharmaceutical industry • the armed and uniformed services • journalism • teaching. If you are thinking about an academic career, many universities with sport-related courses require staff to have a higher degree.
The aim of our Exercise as Medicine MSc is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to effectively promote the uptake of exercise, both as a prescriptive medicine and as preventative therapy.
As the crucial role of exercise and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of diseases and medical conditions is increasingly understood, and health practitioners are encouraged to consider exercise when designing treatment plans and health interventions, so grow the opportunities for well-qualified individuals with an understanding of research in this area.
Our Exercise As Medicine MSc has been developed in response to this trend, drawing on the University's internationally-recognised research on physical activity and health. The Exercise As Medicine programme is aimed at individuals with a background in exercise science and/or physical activity wishing to enhance their scientific knowledge and skills to effectively promote the uptake of exercise both as prescriptive medicine and as preventative therapy, particularly to patients with hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary, renal, and other cardiac conditions, or those at risk of metabolic syndrome.
This MSc will therefore educate a new, highly skilled cadre of allied health professionals with the ability to work alongside clinicians and practitioners to manage the epidemic of lifestyle-related diseases and conditions.
Based in the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine – East Midlands, students registered on the programme will be taught in high quality teaching environments and have access to state-of-art laboratories designed to facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge research to front-line support and care. Students will be exposed to a range of specialist equipment and technology to facilitate their development.
The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) is an Olympic legacy project delivering education, research and clinical services in sport, exercise and physical activity. It aims to apply world-class expertise to policies and practice that will benefit the health and wellbeing of the nation – from everyday people at risk of ill health through to elite athletes.
A wide range of high quality research takes place within the NCSEM-EM, which is then translated into teaching and training through its educational programmes. There is also a range of clinical services offered including sport and exercise medicine, orthopaedics, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, as well as diagnostic facilities including a 3T MRI scanner.
NCSEM activity covers the following themes:
• Physical activity in disease prevention
• Exercise in chronic disease
• Sports injuries and musculoskeletal health
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Performance health
This taught MSc in Sports Science is designed to provide you with an advanced, research-led programme of study in sport and exercise science and medicine. A key strength of this programme is its flexibility, which enables you to specialise in physical activity and health, sports performance, or sports medicine.
You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and take part in lab classes, journal clubs, presentations and self-directed learning. The programme is made up of 60 compulsory credits and 3 x 20 credit options (X,Y and Z) plus a research project (60 credits)
Choose one X option, one Y option and one Z option.
The flexibility of this programme will provide you with many career opportunities. These include working in clinical exercise, health-promotion or in sports science support. A number of our graduates are employed in senior sports science positions with national sporting bodies and professional sports clubs. This programme also allows doctors and physiotherapists to aid their knowledge; for science graduates, there are opportunities in rehabilitation and higher education. It also provides an excellent basis if you wish to pursue PhD level research.
Advance your expertise in sport and exercise science and boost your employment prospects in this competitive field.
This course is designed to meet the professional standards set by industry governing organisation, the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences. You will enhance your awareness of the professional issues and research applications within health, exercise and sport by engaging with consultancy and research projects and working with elite-level athletes.
You will upgrade your knowledge of physiology, nutrition, biomechanics and psychology while gaining experience through an independent project related to your specific interests. Exciting placement opportunities will help to further refine your knowledge, enhance your skills and boost your CV. Previous students have secured placements with Leeds United, Yorkshire Carnegie, Leeds Rhinos and SportsAid, a UK charity helping the next generation of sports stars achieve their potential.
Sport & Active Lifestyles
At Leeds Beckett we're passionate about sport. There's a huge range of sports and activities for you to get involved in, including more than 40 sports clubs. If you'd like to find out more about what we have to offer - including our Carnegie Sports Scholarship Scheme - take a look at our Sport & Active Lifestyles website.
Research Excellence Framework 2014
Research Excellence Framework 2014: 59% of our research submitted was assessed as world leading or internationally excellent.
Our University is recognised as a leader in the field of sport and exercise science. The quality of our research is evident in the outstanding results achieved in sport-related studies in the Research Assessment Exercise completed in 2014 in which Leeds Beckett came second in the country for sport and exercise science, leisure and tourism.
Much of our outstanding and pioneering research feeds directly into our taught modules providing the opportunity for you to develop the professional skills and expertise in the area of sport and exercise science.
Modules
Core Modules
Option Modules
Core Modules
Option Modules
Select three modules from the following options:
A variety of career options will be available to you upon graduation. You could lead sport science support programmes for professional teams and athletes or get involved in physical activity and intervention programmes in the public sector. You will also be well equipped to progress your expertise and conduct further research in your specialist area by studying for a higher degree.
