Sport Psychology, MSc
Top 51-100 in the World for Sport and Exercise Sciences
QS World University Rankings 2024
Course Overview
Through a combination of research, theory, and practical insights, the MSc in Sport Psychology is a comprehensive and dynamic course designed to equip you with the core knowledge, practical skills, and competence required to subsequently become ethically, empirically, and theoretically-based scientist practitioners in the field of sport psychology.
Students will engage with a range of topics across the eight core competencies of psychology, ranging from social and cognitive psychology to developmental psychology. A strong emphasis will be placed on providing students with guidance and insight regarding working as an applied practitioner within this field.
Why Sport Psychology at Swansea?
- Top 51-100 in the World (QS World University Rankings 2024)
- UK Top 20 for Research Quality (The Complete University Guide 2024)
- 100% world-leading and internationally excellent impact - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
Expert Faculty: Learn from experienced academics and practitioners in the field of Sport Psychology who are dedicated to your success. Our experts have diverse backgrounds and research interests, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.
Cutting-Edge Research: Engage with the latest research and developments in Sport Psychology. Swansea University is renowned for its contributions to sport psychology research, and you will have the opportunity to be exposed to ongoing projects.
Career Development: Receive guidance and support for your career goals. Whether you aspire to work with elite athletes, sports teams, young people, or pursue further research, this program will provide you with a solid foundation in Sport Psychology theory and practice.
Research Opportunities: If you're interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or research career, our program provides a strong foundation for future academic endeavors.
Global Community: Join a diverse cohort of students from around the world, fostering a multicultural learning environment and expanding your global perspective.
Beautiful Location: Enjoy the stunning natural beauty of Swansea and our Bay Campus' proximity to its own seafront promenade.
Your Sport Psychology Experience
The MSc in Sport Psychology at Swansea University will move from theory, to process, and subsequently to product – arming students with the necessary information and insights to evaluate and critically apply sport psychology research across various populations, contexts, and settings.
This theory to practice, to product approach will ensure that students not only understand the fundamental and contemporary sport psychology theories and concepts, but also gain extensive insights into how to be an effective sport psychologist in practice across different settings and employment modes. This approach will ensure that graduating students can enter a rapidly growing and evolving field with the fundamental knowledge, critical insights, and practical skills needed to adapt, develop, and ultimately succeed in understanding, predicting, and improving the performance of elite and amateur athletes in team and individual sports.
Sport Psychology Employment Opportunities
This programme is designed with specific employability and entrepreneurial skills in mind. Graduates of the MSc Sport Psychology will have the potential to become accredited Sport Psychologists. This will enable graduates to work as self-employed Sport Psychologists or with sports teams and sports organisations, which is a growing opportunity. Some may also progress onto PhD study, or become Researchers and Practitioners within sports organisations, or Lifestyle Advisors.
Placements:
There is no requirement for the formal completion of placements within the degree. However, students will be provided with access to placement observation opportunities that they may wish to engage in to develop their skills and their CV. Specifically, the teaching team have strong links with local and national and working with them have a variety of opportunities for students to engage in from observations of training weekends, through to more regular observations of practice and matches and the supervised delivery of educational workshops. All opportunities will be advertised to the student cohort and, with the partner (if required if there is sufficient interest), an interview process will take place and then students will be provided with access to the placement. It is desired, and anticipated, that the placement opportunities will be flexible from a few hours to more regular commitments to ensure they are as accessible as possible. It is noted that any international students will need to consider the implications on the maximum number of hours they can work aligned with the Visa stipulations.
Moreover, particular emphasis is placed upon developing and practicing applied skills through taught seminars, facilitated discussions, and individual learning opportunities including options to complete placements. Additionally, throughout the degree, students will have an opportunity to engage directly with athletes to learn about their lived experiences and better understand the complexity and nuance associated with being an athlete at different ages and stages. Moreover, students will also engage with practicing sport psychology practitioners throughout the degree, learning directly from their experiences and understanding from first-hand experience how to succeed as a sport psychologist.
Undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science (or equivalent) at a 2.1 or higher.
Undergraduate degree in Psychology (or equivalent) at 2.1 or higher. The undergraduate degree should be BPS accredited/or a BPS accredited conversion course.
Part-time students could complete this degree over a two-year period, selecting half the taught modules in one year and half the taught modules in the second year.
Specifically, students will be encouraged to complete the two theory modules: 1) Core Principles of Sport Psychology and 2) Psychomotor Learning and Current Concepts in Sport Psychology, alongside research methods in the first year.
In the second year, students will then complete the three applied modules (Approaches to Sport Psychology Practice; Enhancing Sport Performance and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan; Working as a Sport Psychologist), as well as their dissertation. As such, from an assessment perspective, students will complete the assessments associated with these modules in each of the years. This information has been provided at the bottom of the programme structure document for clarity.
No Provision
Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this
course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an
element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate
your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what
is possible.
Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the
University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel
Teifi is here to support you:
- An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
- Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
- The opportunity to create and submit your coursework or sit your exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
- A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
- One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
- The opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
- Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
Visit the Welsh Language
Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language
Rights.
The MSc Sport Psychology degree at Swansea University is accredited by the British Psychological Society.
It is also a BASES PSES Postgraduate Endorsed Programme.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) is a UK professional membership organisation that endorses sport and exercise science undergraduate courses. The Association's endorsement scheme was launched in 2005 and today it is the recognised standard for all sport and exercise science undergraduate degree programmes.
BASES' rigorous assessment criteria ensure that only highest calibre courses achieve their endorsement award. For more information visit the BASES Postgraduate Endorsement Scheme (BUES) website.
You will be taught by world-class lecturers who are all active researchers. Their research areas of expertise include Anti-Doping, Sports Ethics, Children’s Physical Activity, Exercise Physiology and more.
See all the Sports Science and Engineering staff here.
| Start Date |
UK |
International |
|
September 2024
|
£ 9,450
|
£ 17,850
|
|
September 2025
|
£ 9,900
|
£ 18,750
|
| Start Date |
UK |
International |
|
September 2024
|
£ 4,750
|
£ 8,950
|
|
September 2025
|
£ 5,000
|
£ 9,400
|
Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.
You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.
International students and part-time study:
It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation.
It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.).
Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.
Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies.
To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's
scholarships and bursaries
page.
Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.
For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.
Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.
You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):
- Travel to and from campus
- Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
- Purchase of books or texts
- Gowns for graduation ceremonies
Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.
Our career support services include:
- Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
- Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
- Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
- Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
- Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.
We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.
As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your
personal tutor, the Centre for Academic
Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas
such as:
- Academic writing
- Maths and statistics
- Critical thinking
- Time management
- Digital skills
- Presentation skills
- Note taking
- Revision, memory and exam techniques
- English language skills (if English is not your first language).
In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability,
mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have
Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and
requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.
We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application
deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can
find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.
