Sport & Exercise Science MSci (Hons)
UCAS code: C612
Our four-year integrated sport and exercise science Masters combines real-world experience with academic research. Explore the sciences of biomechanics, physiology and psychology on this degree endorsed by BASES, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Overview
| Course length: | 4 years full-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2023 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Example offers: | BBB (A Level) or DDM (BTEC) View full entry criteria |
| Subject(s): | Sport and Physical Activity |
| Department: | Sport and Physical Activity |
Professional athletes are driven by the need to unlock their potential – could you move into this exciting field and train the best? This course covers the scientific principles that underpin sport and exercise performance. We’ll guide you through biomechanics, physiology and psychology.
Our four-year integrated Masters degree combines undergraduate and postgraduate study which means you’ll finish with one advanced qualification.
During this course, you’ll use our contemporary technical resources and laboratory equipment to put theory into context in a practical setting. Our outstanding facilities include laboratories in performance analysis, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, musculoskeletal, biochemistry, vision analysis, sleep, exercise and performance, and functional rehabilitation.
We’ll also support you to build real-world experience of professional practice and develop the skills to support your career development.
Fancy developing effective training programmes for high performance sports? Want to learn how to support the mental health and wellbeing of community or performance sport participants? Choose from a series of modules to move into the field you’re passionate about.
Our MSci (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science degree is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences and gives you the opportunity to tailor the degree to suit your career dreams. Be well-placed to pursue further study or a rewarding role in research.
Course features
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Professional accreditation
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Professional practice placements
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Sandwich year option available
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Studying abroad option available
What you'll study
Cover the basics of sport and exercise science in Year 1. Get to grips with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed in biomechanics, physiology and nutrition, psychology and high-performance sport. We’ll also cover physical activity, exercise and health. Study the skills required to investigate and analyse sport and exercise sciences such as accessing published literature, reflective practice and statistics theory.
Expand on the fundamentals of sport and exercise science in Year 2. Go deeper into the core areas such as biomechanics, psychology and physiology. Choose from optional modules, allowing you to focus on what sparks your interest. Topics include high performance sport, sport and exercise nutrition, or the scientific principles of exercise and health. Also, we’ll introduce research techniques this year to boost your analytical skills and prepare you for Years 3 and 4.
In Year 3 you’ll tailor your studies by choosing from applied optional modules covering topics including psychology, biomechanics and nutrition. This year concentrates on applying the theories around contemporary issues in sport and exercise to real-world situations. To get valuable hands-on experience, you’ll undertake a professional placement in an area of your choice. Put your research skills to the test by completing a dissertation, allowing you to specialise your focus in an area of interest.
The final year is where you’ll be required to complete a Masters level independent research project. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to complete another placement in a professional setting to build real-world experience for life after graduation. In the classroom, your optional modules will focus on addressing critical issues in sport and exercise science. Choose from mental health awareness and strength and conditioning.
Optional modules provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.
How you'll study
The degree takes a hands-on approach, with practical experience in our purpose-built and well-equipped biomechanics, physiology and psychology laboratories. Teaching strategies include lectures, small group seminars, tutorials, workshops, taught practical sessions and ICT based learning. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience of professional practice in sport and exercise science.
For each module you will be provided with a detailed booklet that explains what sessions are about, what to read, and how you will be assessed, as well as offering coursework guidance.
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed through laboratory reports, essays, poster presentations, oral presentations, practical assessments, delivering practical workshop sessions, journal articles and independent research. We use formal written examinations from time to time but they never account for more than 50% of the marks for any module.
Who will be teaching you
The Sport & Exercise Science team are highly experienced and enthusiastic with a real commitment to teaching sport and exercise sciences. Dynamic, friendly and supportive of individual needs, staff are also actively involved in research and consultancy projects that influence the development of sport and exercise science and which directly feed into the programme.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
Typical offer 120 UCAS Tariff points, preferably to include Physical Education or a Science subject.
Example offers
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A Level | BBB. |
| BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) | Distinction, Distinction, Merit (DDM). |
| T Level | Overall grade of Merit. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply. |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 45 credits at Level 3, for example 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations. |
Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.
If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.
English language requirements
International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.
How to apply
Apply full-time
Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.
International
Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
Did you know?
If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.
Discover our accommodation
Facilities
Based in the Wilson Centre, the Department of Sport and Physical Activity places a strong emphasis on practical work underpinned by outstanding facilities. There are dedicated laboratories in performance analysis, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, musculoskeletal, biochemistry, vision analysis, sleep, exercise and performance, and functional rehabilitation, as well as a sports therapy clinic.
Extensive use is also made of the on-campus leisure facilities which include top-of-the-range 3G football and rugby pitches, hockey pitches, tennis courts, competition-standard athletics track and an athletics field. Our sports centre boasts a 25-metre swimming pool, double sports hall for badminton, basketball, netball and squash, a 100-station fitness suite, aerobics studio and a health suite with sauna and steam rooms.
Where you'll study
Wilson Centre
Sports Centre
Learning resources
The biochemistry laboratory enables you to collect and accurately analyse a wide range of metabolites, using the latest technology, to determine the physiological responses of athletes and others, to a variety of exercise stresses such as running, cycling and rowing.
Additional learning resources include high quality eye-tracking systems in a specialist vision analysis laboratory where you can measure hand-eye coordination, ocular-motor control, reaction times, cognition and other mechanisms associated with visual perception.
Musculoskeletal assessment tools combine with a dedicated strength and conditioning area in our MSk laboratory, while in the Sleep, Exercise and Performance laboratory you can measure the responses of individuals to sleep, sleep deprivation and changes in the circadian rhythms of a variety of biological processes.
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,250
a year
International
£15,000
a year
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs. Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals should ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for students joining this course in academic year 2023/24 are still to be announced. We will update this information as soon as it is available.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Financial support arrangements for eligible UK students joining this course in academic year 2023/24 are still to be announced. You are advised to check this page regularly and once the position has been confirmed we will update this information.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals should ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Your future career
Optional modules and opportunities to carry out specialist research mean you’ll be ready for a career in the area that interests you. Most graduates of this integrated Masters degree will apply for roles in the health and fitness industry such as:
- personal trainers
- strength and conditioning coaches
- fitness and health coordinators
- clinical exercise physiologists
- physical activity and mental health promotion
- performance analysis
- graduate management training schemes
- start and run own business
Our alumni have found roles in some exciting businesses in the sports sciences, institutes of sport or national governing bodies of sport. After your time at Edge Hill you could follow in their footsteps, finding roles in places like:
- Fleetwood Town FC
- ABL Health
- Blackpool FC
- University of Toronto Varsity Blues
- Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
- English Institute of Sport
- Leeds Teaching Hospital
Some students may wish to continue their studies by completing a PGCE and then move into teaching and education.
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
