Providing you with the theory, skills and experience required for a successful career in sport and exercise physiology.
Why study Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology?
This Master's degree provides you with the theoretical underpinning, practical skills and professional experience required for a successful career in sport and exercise physiology. Sports physiologists play a vital role in developing human performance for sports teams and individual athletes by providing scientific support, monitoring physical attributes and optimising training programmes.
The programme is led by Dr Jessica Hill and staff include John Pattison, Dr Owen Jeffries, Dr Mark Glaister and Dr Mark Waldron who each bring many years of teaching, research and consultancy experience in their specialist areas.
Why St Mary's?
We have excellent facilities including three human performance laboratories, a state-of-the-art performance education centre and extensive sports grounds.
Unlike courses that take a more academic approach to scientific theory, this programme focuses on the practical application of skills and knowledge required by today’s sports and exercise professionals. Content is aligned to the competencies identified by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and therefore provides the perfect stepping-stone to a professional career.
Teaching methods
Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, seminars and practical laboratory sessions. Small class sizes ensure that students get one-to-one access to academic staff on a regular basis.
An intensive one-week block of teaching will be delivered in September, after which, all modules are planned to run on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the semester.
Assessment methods
Each module is assessed by one or more pieces of coursework. With the exception of the Advanced Sport & Exercise Physiology module, there are no written examinations; however, a number of modules employ oral examinations.
Assessments are designed to provide the opportunity to demonstrate critical analysis, deep and insightful thought and the application of knowledge. A wide variety of assessment modes are employed including case studies, laboratory reports, preparing articles suitable for journals, and poster/oral presentations.
How the course is structured
All modules have a credit value of 20, except for the research project which has a credit value of 60. To qualify for the PGDip you need to accrue 120 credits.
In addition, MSc students have to complete a substantial research project. Modules are either taught two or three hours per week (planned for Mondays and Wednesdays) and in an intensive teaching block at the start of semester one.
Key facts
- Strong focus on the practical application of skills and knowledge.
- Content is aligned to the professional competencies identified by BASES.
- Excellent sports facilities including three human performance laboratories.