Strength and Conditioning MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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This exciting Master’s focuses on an evidence-based approach to understanding the science of strength training and the application of strength and conditioning in enhancing human performance.

Year of entry

2023-24

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Online/Blended

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

HLST205

Start date

September 2023

How to apply
Book an Open Day
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The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

This exciting Master’s focuses on an evidence-based approach to understanding the science of strength training and the application of strength and conditioning in enhancing human performance.

Successful completion of the MSc in Strength and Conditioning course will equip you with the key underpinning scientific knowledge, skills, and professional competencies commonly required to be a Strength and Conditioning Coach.

  • Designed to enable you to evidence attainment of the professional standards required by a Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach.
  • Aims to provide you with the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes required to enhance human performance across a range of domains (sport, occupational, health) using exercise training.
  • Develop expert knowledge, understanding and practical ability to develop strength and conditioning programmes and monitor and evaluate their effectiveness on the human body.
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Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

This course is designed to equip you with the advanced knowledge, understanding and skills to become a professional strength and conditioning coach. You should be able to use exercise training to enhance human performance across a range of domains – sport, occupational and health. 

  • Upon success completion, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to apply for accreditation with the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA), as well as certification with the USA based National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) upon graduation (additional fees are payable to UKSCA and NCSA for accreditation/certification)1.
  • Expert guest lecturers (subject to availability), which in the past have included sports medicine, health and wellness, sport psychology and sport performance complement staff expertise2.
  • The current staff team teaching this course include people who provide strength and conditioning support to professional sporting organisations and/or hold positions within UKSCA and British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
  • This course has a strong practice-based element; you will have the opportunity to engage in practical application of strength and conditioning in individual and team sport settings.

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

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Chartered Management Institute

The course currently includes the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited1 module, Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Please visit the CMI website for full details on the CMI accreditation.

More than just a degree

The course has proved to be engaging, challenging and real-world applicable. The tutors and support network here at Coventry University have been excellent at providing help towards internships and future prospects. If I or my classmates ever have any queries or questions, they are always on hand to give answers and help push you to know more.

Jack Lawrence, MSc Strength and Conditioning, 2020
A student in the starting position for a race

What you'll study

Core subject areas covered in the course include: performance physiology, biomechanics, sports injuries, corrective exercises, recovery strategies, and strength and conditioning practice.

Through the course of your year’s study, you will be provided with the opportunity to develop several key skills you will need to be an effective strength and conditioning practitioner. This will include the ability to be an effective communicator. In addition, you will be encouraged to take an analytical and flexible approach to problem-solving.

Modules

  • This module will enable you to gain the knowledge and techniques needed to develop an understanding of the needs of a client based on knowledge of physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition. The module takes an interdisciplinary approach to client profiling and needs analysis as applied to strength and conditioning and sport science practitioners.

    Compulsory

  • This module focuses on those key areas of physiology, psychology, nutrition and biomechanics delivered at undergraduate level which are most relevant to the strength and conditioning practitioner. It is designed to provide you with a body of knowledge and experiences that aim to prepare you for advanced strength and conditioning practices in sport performance. The main emphasis is placed on applied physiology and biomechanics for the exercising human. The module will provide you with the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required to work with a variety of populations within the field of strength and conditioning. You will develop the skills and abilities required to perform, teach and prescribe fundamental strength and conditioning activities.

    Compulsory

  • This is an assessment only module. It will encourage you to develop multi-disciplinary practice and an integrated approach to learning. You will integrate knowledge and skills from the Foundation Practices in Strength and Conditioning and Profiling and Needs Analysis modules to develop a strength and conditioning programme for a defined client.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide a detailed understanding of the complex processes necessary to formulate, develop and test a scientific/clinical hypothesis. You will be given the opportunity to apply these to the design of your own research study with due regard to health and safety and ethical requirements. It is designed to enable you to become a critical consumer of information in the context of developing evidence-based practice. You will be supported by project review meetings with your nominated supervisor who will also fulfil the role of academic personal tutor.

    Compulsory

  • This module builds on key areas of those developed in the foundations of strength and conditioning practice. The module will develop advanced skills in programming for strength, speed and power development to meet the performance needs of the elite performer.

    Compulsory

  • The emphasis of this module is on the planning, delivery and effective review of strength and conditioning coaching within a multi-disciplinary team. The module considers the roles of the strength and conditioning coach, technical sport coach, physiologist, physiotherapist, biomechanist, nutritionist, and psychologist when developing a rehabilitation programme for return to performance.

    You will gain the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required to work with a variety of populations within the field of strength and conditioning.

    This module content will also contribute, along with Advanced Practice in Strength and Conditioning, to an integrated course-based assessment. You will be able to apply principles of programme design learnt here to a novel scenario in a problem-based learning approach.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this module is to allow you to reflect upon and refine your research project proposal prior to the data collection phase. You will have the opportunity to practice and develop competency in key methods to be used in the investigation, and to receive support for any other project related concerns. You will be able to meet regularly with your project supervisor to refine the research proposal ideas with the aim to support you to articulate these clearly.

    Compulsory

  • This is an assessment-only module, combining learnings from two modules - Professional Practice within a Multi-disciplinary Team and Advanced Practice in Strength and Conditioning. It encourages you to develop multi-disciplinary practice and an integrated approach to learning. You will apply your knowledge and understanding from the two modules to a bespoke case study of an injured individual.

    Compulsory

  • The aim of this module is to give you an opportunity to assess the relationship between entrepreneurship and other domains of management, such as strategy and leadership. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain an understanding of how entrepreneurial thinking can enhance organisational performance and leadership through the application of a more enterprising mind-set.

    Entrepreneurs may work for themselves (as entrepreneurs) or be entrepreneurial in working for others (intrapreneurs). By drawing on a wide range of scenarios, tasks and debates, this module will explore a range of entrepreneurial archetypes to help you explore your own entrepreneurial profile and potential. Upon successful completion of the module you should gain an appreciation of entrepreneurship from multiple perspectives and subject areas, and you will be taught how to adopt or adapt solutions from other fields of study to find opportunities or solve problems.

    Successful completion of this module will enable you to complete the academic requirements for a Level 7 certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management from the CMI (CMI registration is subject to additional costs). Please see the Accreditation and Professional Recognition section.

     

    Compulsory

  • In this module, you will report and reflect on a period of relevant work experience. You are required to undertake a minimum of 100 hours of appropriate experience in a strength and conditioning role. This may be accumulated through the duration of the course, and a log of work experience must be maintained. You are supported to source appropriate placements through the established course team or your own contacts. Reflection on the work experience should encourage you to recognise your developing competencies, mapped to the accrediting body (UKSCA).

    Compulsory

  • In this module you will have the opportunity to put into practice and report your research proposal. You will implement your project design, collect, analyse and interpret data and critically evaluate your findings with reference to published literature.

    You will be supported through the process via supervisory meetings, but you should be able to demonstrate an ability to work independently without close supervision. This module gives you the opportunity to develop high levels of organisational skills, practical ability, interaction with other students, engagement with supervisory meetings and professional behaviour to participants or clients.

    Compulsory

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 we focus on providing enhanced practical and professional skills through a combination of methods:

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Practical lab work
  • Field sessions
  • Case studies

You will also be supported through a range of online activities such as:

  • Online tutorials
  • Discussion boards
  • Online lectures
  • Online problem-based learning

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 16 contact hours per week.

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.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. 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:

  • Coursework assignments
  • Oral presentations
  • Video presentations
  • A practical portfolio
  • Dissertation

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.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Modules of study must include Exercise Physiology and/or Biomechanics in Year 3 of an undergraduate degree.

Applicants with a degree in an area cognate with Strength and Conditioning such as Human/Exercise Physiology, Coaching, Engineering (with a focus on Biomechanics), Health and Exercise will also be considered.

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

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

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.

Applicants should hold the equivalent of a 2:2 undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Modules of study must include Exercise Physiology and/or Biomechanics in Year 3 of an undergraduate degree.

Applicants with a degree in an area cognate with Strength and Conditioning such as Human/Exercise Physiology, Coaching, Engineering (with a focus on Biomechanics), Health and Exercise will also be considered.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component area

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.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 Tuition fees

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £11,200 per year Not available
International £18,600 per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

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

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

As part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, 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 classrooms and facilities4.

The Alison Gingell building features an indoor running track, a custom strength and conditioning facility and extensive exercise science laboratories. 

Careers and opportunities

This course aims to equip you with knowledge and professionalism for a variety of health and fitness related careers such as: Strength and Conditioning Coach, Fitness Manager for sports teams, Performance Manager, Exercise/physical activity referral officer, Health and fitness industry and Health Promotion.

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of strength and conditioning as a profession, including its theoretical scientific underpinning and limitations.
  • Design, deliver, and continuously evaluate strength and conditioning programmes to enable a broad range of individuals to achieve their performance-orientated goal.
  • Critically apply evidenced-based practice to ‘real world’ questions, different multi-disciplinary situations, and global contexts.
  • Understand the current professional context, ethical issues, and impact of diversity, as they affect current practice within the strength and conditioning industry.
  • Employ evidence-based reasoning to examine practical, theoretical, and ethical issues associated with strength and conditioning.
  • Find, critically analyse and present scientific information to both expert and non-expert recipients.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have secured employment in a range of professional sports clubs including Ospreys Rugby, Aston Villa FC, Kent County Cricket, West Bromwich Albion FC, Coventry City FC, Swansea City FC or Wasps Rugby. Others have worked on the WTA Tennis Tour. Previous graduates have also worked for Institutes of Sport, completed a PhD and work in research and higher education or work in business in the health and fitness sector.

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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