Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc

If you hold the British Psychological Society (BPS) Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) this course will support you along the path to becoming a registered sport and exercise psychologist. You can choose to study to obtain GBC after completing the MSc if you decide to follow the full pathway to becoming a registered sport and exercise psychologist.

Successfully completing the course provides you with Stage 1 of the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP), and prepares you for stage 2, which is required to become a registered psychologist within the division of Sport and Exercise Science.

You gain core skills in the academic and intellectual understanding and researching of sport and exercise psychology. You also begin to consider applied practice in sport and exercise settings, enabling you to be supervised and taught by registered, practising psychologists.

The course provides you with opportunities to study psychology in both a sport and exercise setting. In this setting, you consider the role of psychological interventions for sport performers, coaches and teams as well as lifestyle behaviour change, such as exercise and physical activity adoption.

You develop your work-related and applied skills throughout the course whilst keeping a major focus on developing your core psychological skills, especially in the sport and exercise psychology subject area.

To gain the masters, you complete a major research project. It may be possible to study your project overseas if it satisfies the module aims and learning outcomes.

Professional links and experience

Our teaching team are registered psychologists in the Division of Sport and Exercise and BPS supervisors for the QSEP. They also have substantial practice experience in both elite athlete and physical activity and exercise settings.

Sheffield Hallam are a skills development partner of the Chartered Institute for Managing Sport and Physical Activity.

Research expertise

75 per cent of Sheffield Hallam’s sport research is of international standard according to the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). ‘Research Research’ ranks us as fourth in the country for sports research, based on the results of the 2008 RAE.

Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology

If you do not hold Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, you can complete our Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (conversion course) before or after completing the MSc.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society.

Course structure

The masters award is achieved by successfully completing 180 credits.

Modules

• Research methods (15 credits)
• Data analysis (15 credits)
• Psychology of sport and performance (15 credits)
• Physical activity and health behaviour (15 credits)
• Acquisition and developmental perspectives in sport and exercise psychology (15 credits)
• Applied techniques in sport and exercise psychology (15 credits)
• Social-psychological aspects of sport and exercise psychology (15 credits)
• Developing professional practice in sport and exercise psychology (15 credits)
• Project (60 credits)

Assessment

• examinations
• portfolio
• group and individual presentations
• written reports
• practical assessments

Employability

Our graduates are ideally positioned to progress to Stage 2 of the QSEP and work towards becoming a registered sport and exercise psychologist.

Once obtaining registration (HCPC) you can work in a range of settings including sport, physical activity and exercise or rehabilitation. This may be supporting athletes, coaches, parents, patients and families.

Visit the Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc page on the Sheffield Hallam University website for more details!