Sport Psychology MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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Psychological support in sport has emerged as an essential element of sport performance and wellbeing, with sportspeople at all levels benefitting from advice provided by trained professionals in this field.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

HLST248

Start date

September 2025

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

This exciting master’s course is ideal for any sport and exercise science graduate wishing to pursue a career in the field of sport psychology.

You'll have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of a range of contemporary issues, enabling the design and implementation of evidence-based delivery of support appropriate for a range of clients.

  • Development of practical skills including the practice of verbal and non-verbal communication, listening skills, reflection and problem-solving.
  • The opportunity to develop creative methods of delivery that can be adapted to specialist and non-specialist audiences both in the UK and globally.
  • Our aim is to effectively prepare you for professional employment, so we focus on providing enhanced practical and professional skills through a combination of lectures, group work and case studies.
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Ranked 11th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

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Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Employability development will be a key theme embedded throughout the degree. The structure of the course enables you to reflect on where you are and develop a constantly evolving development plan.

  • Expert guest lecturers specialising in a range of different areas related to sport psychology2.
  • This course should allow you to gain a solid grounding in a range of areas related to the BASES Supervised Experience (SE) competencies in order to contribute to your path to accreditation1.
  • Staff may be able to offer BASES supervision, allowing you to begin your SE training alongside your studies. If you are progressing onto this course from degrees other than Sport and Exercise Science you should note that to progress through SE following completion of this MSc will require significant extra study to satisfy the broader sport science-related competencies.
  • Opportunity to gain international experience through field trips and online projects2.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

CMI Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The course currently includes the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited module1, Leading and Creating Organisational Health and Wellbeing. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost.



What you'll study

This course has been designed to develop your understanding of the principles of sport psychology and their role in the development and support of a range of client groups.

You will employ your understanding of the scientific basis of sport psychology that covers the theory, principles and background required to inform assessment and interventions in sport performance. The course content includes issues related to talent development and management in sport, group dynamics, conceptual issues, performance enhancement and professional practice.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

Our aim is to effectively prepare you for professional employment, so all of our teaching methods are chosen to develop experimental/practical techniques and develop your ability to design, implement and reflect upon professional practice. These methods include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Group work
  • Practical skills sessions

Throughout the course, you will receive insight from the latest research and input from current practitioners.


Teaching contact hours

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 10 contact hours per week.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 20 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Portfolios
  • Coursework
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations/posters
  • Videos
  • Reflections
  • Practical or project work.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Sport is an industry that operates worldwide, generating income from international trade, therefore the demand for well-educated and knowledgeable practitioners both in the UK and abroad is ever-present in order to ensure that the industry develops and progresses sustainably across the globe. Increasing participation in sport at grassroots level, participation of elite athletes in international events, and hosting of high-profile competitions allows countries to enhance their reputation and gain respect worldwide.

Sport psychology plays an essential role in both promoting participation in sport and in elite success, thus specialist practitioners in this discipline are increasingly in demand across the globe. Connections and collaborations are being sought with institutions overseas through staff contacts and the university's Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programme2.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

An honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science at 2:2 or above. Students must have studied and passed a Level 6 module in sport psychology

or

An honours degree in a related subject area and/or professional experience in sport or psychology equivalent to degree level in a related subject area.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science at 2:2 or above. Students must have studied and passed a Level 6 module in sport psychology

or

An honours degree in a related subject area and/or professional experience in sport or psychology equivalent to degree level in a related subject area.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£9,350  
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£9,350 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£18,600  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

This course will take place at our Coventry University main campus and has access to the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building which features a number of innovative facilities as well as the Richard Crossman building4.

  • The Alison Gingell Building includes sports labs, analytical labs, research labs and sports science labs, all equipped with top-of-the-range equipment.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

  • Develop evidenced-based practice skills to address ‘real world’ questions in a range of delivery environments and global contexts
  • Devise, carry out, and report an independent sport psychology research project, demonstrating the ability to clearly understand ethics in respect of health, safety and technical requirements
  • Critically evaluate and reflect on your own personal performance, leadership and decision-making within your peer group to develop skills required to act as a competent practitioner
  • Interpret research from the current evidence base within sport psychology to design, develop and implement appropriate assessments and interventions designed to help individuals and teams to achieve their goals
  • Demonstrate essential written, oral, non-verbal and digital communication skills relevant to potential global organisations, environments and client groups that a future practitioner may be required to work with.

Following graduation, career options include work delivering specialised sport psychology support to teams or individuals, employed by a club or organisation or through self-employment as a consultant.

The course provides the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills such as counselling, organisation, communication and scientific writing, which allows graduates the possibility of progression to careers in research, teaching/lecturing, PhD study, performance coaching or a range of other sport and exercise-related roles.


How to apply

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