How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Sport and Exercise Psychology

Start date: October 2025

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 1 year

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (School of)

How can psychology help to shape the perception of exercise? And can psychology help sports athletes deal with the psychological consequences of an injury, or build cohesion within a sporting team? Psychology has the ability to enhance adherence to exercise programmes, influence individuals to fulfil their sporting potential, and often plays a key role in ensuring sporting success.

Offering a unique educational experience by overlapping psychology within the broader discipline of sport and exercise science, our MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology is dedicated to one of the fastest developing areas of psychology. It will provide you with an insight into working across a range of contexts in sport and exercise, and you'll focus on practical and ethical considerations whilst developing essential knowledge and skills for research and applied practice in this specialised field. There will also be opportunities to gain practical experience using equipment for both research and in applied contexts, with an emphasis placed on the importance of testing in the field.

You study a variety of topics including:

Motor control and cognitive psychology
Psychological skills and strategies
Developmental issues in sport and exercise
Social psychology and individual differences
Professional practice in sport and exercise psychology

Our course sits within our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences. This provides an exciting opportunity to join a community specifically focused on sport and exercise, allowing us to bring together our research, share knowledge and enhance opportunities for you. You will be based in our state-of-the-art Sports Arena, benefiting from a range of facilities and dedicated laboratories for research.

Why we're great.

You will develop both your theoretical knowledge and practical skills across sport and exercise psychology.
You will be part of a community specifically focused on sport and exercise, bringing together our internationally recognised research, sharing knowledge and enhancing opportunities.
We are 12th in the UK for Sports Science in The Guardian University Guide 2023.

Our expert staff

Our course is delivered by academics with impressive research profiles, extensive applied consultancy experience, and Chartered Psychologist accreditations. Our staff members are also actively involved in collaborations with prestigious organisations within and beyond sport. The academic staff you will learn from on this course are:

Dr Mike Rogerson is a Chartered Psychologist who has experience in both exercise psychology and sports psychology research, across vulnerable public and elite athletes. His prestigious collaborations include those with: The FA (UEFA-funded), ukactive, Coca-Cola, The Wildlife Trusts, Essex County Council, Dementia Adventure and Wilderness Foundation UK. Mike's current research interests include virtual reality sport and exercise, green exercise, Video Assistant Referee decision-making, and rugby concussions.
Dr Paul Freeman is a Chartered Psychologist with experience in both sport and exercise psychology. His research interests focus on cognitive and social factors (including cognitive appraisals, social support, and motivation) underpinning performance under pressure and physical activity behaviour. He has worked with individual athletes on psychological skills training, along with regional companies and organisations to facilitate physical activity behaviour change.
Dr Andrew Brinkley is a Chartered Psychologist with a proven track record of implementing sport-related exercise interventions for improving employee health, enhancing social and educational outcomes in young people, and utilising walking netball programmes to address loneliness, poor mental health and quality of life. Andrew's research explores how exercise interventions can be developed, implemented and evaluated. He is currently involved in exciting projects with Active Essex.
Dr Luke Olsson has expertise in perfectionism and burnout, and has recently collaborated with several local and regional sport organisations to educate coaches, parents and athletes on how to create positive environments and improve mental wellbeing. Luke's research examines the causes and consequences of being perfectionistic and evaluates the key factors that make an athlete vulnerable to experiencing burnout.
Dr Emily Cushion is an accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach and has worked with national and international athletes in multiple sports. Her research interests lie in several areas including, understanding exercise prescription and its application in ageing population and understanding how hormonal fluctuations through a female’s lifetime impact physical activity and performance.
Dr Callum Morgan has expertise in the sociology of sport, sport coaching, and coach education. Callum's research draws on theories of impression management, relational networks, and emotions to critically examine the social processes within everyday coaching and coach education work. He is a level three qualified football coach and mentor with over a decade of experience in youth grassroots, development, and performance contexts.
Professor Gavin Sandercock is an exercise scientist with an interest in physical and psychological health benefits of fitness and physical activity with a particular focus on young people. He has collaborated with Sport England, Essex Country Council, and been member of the ukactive Scientific Advisory Group, The Dailly Mile Scientific Steering Group and the Parliamentary Committee on Children’s Physical Activity and Obesity.
Professor Leanne Andrews is a Chartered Health Psychologist who is interested in researching topics closely aligned to both clinical and health psychology. Professor Andrews has a specific interest in questionnaire construction and development, and brings expertise in health programme evaluation, with experience of working with NHS Foundation Trusts, Country Councils, Police, Military and other organisations.
Dr Carly Wood has expertise in therapeutic horticulture and has collaborated with organisations such as Trust Links, Green Light Trust, The Wilderness Foundation, Essex County Council and Thrive. Carly's research is focused on the links between physical activity, environment and health; specifically, the role of nature-based interventions in the prevention of poor mental health and mental illness.
Dr Jo Barton has extensive experience in promoting physical activity, exercise and wellbeing in various populations. In her career, Jo has successfully worked with several charities, schools and sports clubs to implement interventions. Jo's research focuses on the benefits of green exercise physiological and psychological outcomes.

Specialist facilities

Based in our Sport Arena with dedicated research equipment and laboratories
Sports performance camera system including fixed and mobile cameras for indoor and outdoor use with live streaming and multi-camera capture capabilities, video analysis and coding software.
Work in an open and friendly department, with shared staff-student social spaces
Conduct your research alongside academic and PhD students in shared labs
Gain valuable experience working with elite athletes in our Human Performance Unit

Your future

The sports science, fitness, health and leisure sectors are booming and provide a variety of careers for sports and exercise psychology postgraduates. An MSc will give you the edge in an increasingly competitive job market.

Careers in sport and exercise psychology include counselling, being a psychologist for athletes and teams, being an exercise psychologist working with the public, developing exercise programmes and more. Students may also want to pursue further research in the form of a PhD, or pursue BPS Stage 2 training. Many of these can enable you to qualify for the title of ‘Sport and Exercise Psychologist'.

Sport scholarships

Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has been created for talented athletes playing at regional, national or international level, and offers a range of benefits. We want students competing in our focus sports (basketball, volleyball, tennis and football), as well as other team sports and individual athletes, to contribute to our performance sport programme. Our scholarships can include fee discounts of up to 100%, offered to athletes who demonstrate sporting excellence. Athletes who are awarded the scholarship may also receive a host of other benefits, including free kit, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance coaching, the option to live in our Athlete Village (accommodation fees may vary) and a support package valued up to £1,500. These benefits are designed to help athletes focus on their training, and development, and to enable them to reach their full potential alongside their studies.

"I received a sport scholarship which allowed me to come to England and follow my dream to play football in Europe whilst pursuing my education in a field that is a passion of mine. I want to be a sport psychologist and help athletes perform in the sport they love in a healthy way. I want to provide the support and help that athletes might need to stay mentally healthy and maintain a good relationship with their sport."

Shanie Marion, MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

A 2:2 degree in subjects relevant to the following areas:

Sports
Exercise
Psychology

Your degree must include one of the following modules:

Psychology
Sports Psychology

We will also consider applicants with a 2:2 degree in any discipline with substantive work experience in sport, exercise, or health.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Graduate Admissions team at pgquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5 in all components.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Structure

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: CORE

Research Project

(60 CREDITS)

The research project module is an opportunity for you to carry out an individual scientific investigation on a topic relating to your degree specialisation. It will help develop your skills in reviewing synthesising and critically appraising academic literature. You will also be expected to design, analyse and interpret data and present findings in a scientific paper format.

View Research Project on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: CORE

Further Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health

(30 CREDITS)

This module will focus on the fundamental assumptions underlying quantitative research, including; research design methods, sampling, and the validity and reliability of measurements in exercise science. Students will master the techniques needed to critically appraise published research and carry out a piece of original research.

View Further Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: CORE

Professional practice in sport and exercise psychology

(15 CREDITS)

This module explores key topics for practising sport and exercise psychologists, and develops skills to undertake consultancy at individual, group, community or population levels. It covers different frameworks adopted in applied work, communication and consultancy skills, working with different clients, and how to develop, monitor and evaluate interventions.

View Professional practice in sport and exercise psychology on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: CORE

Psychological Skills and Strategies

(15 CREDITS)

Provide a comprehensive understanding of the appropriate application of psychological knowledge to the measurement and assessment of human performance and develop applied skills necessary to service the needs of the athlete or coach and professionals in exercise settings.

View Psychological Skills and Strategies on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: CORE

Physical Activity and Wellbeing

(15 CREDITS)

This module explores contemporary topics in exercise and health psychology, focusing on translational research evidence. Physical activity and exercise are increasingly used to improve the health and wellbeing of the general population. You will gain an understanding of up-to-date research evidence on topics including motivation, self-concept, mental health, social support and the environment. You will explore how research is translated into applied interventions and how these interventions are evaluated.

View Physical Activity and Wellbeing on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: CORE

Psychological and Physical Youth Development

(15 CREDITS)

In this module, students will compare physiological responses to exercise of children and adolescents, with those of adults, examining the effects of age, sex and maturation. Students will examine the role that physical activity and fitness can play in improving markers of health and wellbeing in young people; an increasingly important area of study due to recent evidence (from work at the University of Essex showing declines in children's fitness). This module will explain the immediate and possible future benefits of physical activity and exercise for the health and wellbeing of healthy children and young athletes.

View Psychological and Physical Youth Development on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: CORE

Social psychology in sport and exercise

(15 CREDITS)

The module examines approaches to support learning both in and through sport. As part of the module, students develop their understanding of the learning needs of a range of participants and the pedagogical understanding coaches require in order to effectively meet their participant’s needs. Further, students will work in small groups to examine the influence of context, internal and external assets in sport and how each can be utilised in order to develop and transfer broader psychosocial skills beyond sport. The module also discusses approaches to the design, delivery and evaluation of such programmes, which is an essential skill for coaches and teachers more broadly. Students will also demonstrate self-directed and informal learning by delivering coaching workshops, discussing good practice, and creating coaching resources with peers beyond their immediate year group.

View Social psychology in sport and exercise on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 08: CORE

Skill Acquisition and Expertise in Sport

(15 CREDITS)

Skill acquisition is commonly described as the voluntary control over movements in an attempt to solve motor skill problems and achieve a task goal. These may vary from catching a ball or riding a bike, to slalom skiing or rhythmic gymnastics. Regardless of the domain, the interaction between the practitioner (eg coach or PE teacher) and athlete when learning these skills is absolutely fundamental to successful performance. Specifically, how can the practitioner create optimal practice conditions to facilitate skill acquisition? This module will firstly enhance your understanding of contemporary theory and research in skill learning and motor expertise. From this, the module takes on a more applied focus, where evidence-based approaches are implemented to critically evaluate their effect on coaching practice.

View Skill Acquisition and Expertise in Sport on our Module Directory

Teaching

Alongside traditional lectures, this course will utilise a range of teaching approaches including:

Student-led seminars focused on critical discussions of key and topical research paper
Flipped classroom approaches
Laboratory sessions
Practical sessions to equip students with the skills to undertake research and applied consultancy at individual, group, community or population levels

Assessment

All students will complete a Research Project which will require a Psychology-focused research question and students will be supervised by a staff member with relevant expertise.
On taught modules, students will complete a range of assessments including conducting needs assessment sessions, writing reports for clients, developing psychological resources, oral presentations, essays, and written exams.

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£10,500

International fee

£22,750

Masters fees and funding information

Research (e.g. PhD) fees and funding information

What's next

We hold Open Days for all our applicants throughout the year. Our Colchester Campus events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex, and give you the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

If the dates of our organised events aren’t suitable for you, feel free to get in touch by emailing tours@essex.ac.uk and we’ll arrange an individual campus tour for you.

You can apply for this postgraduate course online. Before you apply, please check our information about necessary documents that we'll ask you to provide as part of your application.

We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.

For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply' information.

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If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

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