MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Greenwich

Program Overview

The MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology at the University of Greenwich equips students with advanced theoretical understanding and practical skills to support performance and wellbeing in sport settings. It is ideal for aspiring sport psychologists, coaches, or performance consultants seeking BPS Stage 1 qualification and real-world experience.

Curriculum structure:
Over the one-year full-time (or two-year part-time) course, students build a foundation in both theory and applied practice. They study Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology, where they learn psychological skills consulting with athletes and teams; Social & Cognitive Processes in Performance, to understand how cognition, emotion, and social factors influence high-level performance; and Psychology of Physical Activity, Exercise & Wellbeing, exploring motivational and wellbeing dimensions in active populations. In Core Research Methods & Analyses, they develop strong statistical and methodological competencies essential for evidence-based practice. The programme culminates in an MSc Psychology Project (dissertation), where students design and execute independent empirical research.

Focus areas:
“performance enhancement; wellbeing in exercise; applied sport psychology; research methods”

Learning outcomes:
“apply psychological theory to sport and exercise contexts, design interventions, conduct empirical research, and consult in applied sport psychology settings.”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and meets the requirements for Stage 1 in the BPS Sport & Exercise Psychology qualification.

Reputation (employability rankings):
The University of Greenwich received Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023, and the course is delivered by practitioners connected to elite sport organisations such as Team GB and the English Institute of Sport

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical sport psychology skills through hands-on client work and applied research projects. They utilise the university's specialist facilities and have opportunities for professional development in sport settings. The programme's experiential components include:

Applied Placements: Opportunities for practical experience with athletes and sports teams
Practical Skills: Development of performance profiling and mental skills training
Research Project: An applied dissertation in sport and exercise psychology
Facilities: Access to sport psychology consulting resources
Professional Development: Training in ethical practice for sport psychology

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Greenwich consistently achieve excellent outcomes, finding employment in roles such as Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist trainees, Performance Consultants, Sports Coaches, and Applied Researchers. This program blends academic knowledge with practical skills, preparing graduates to impact athlete performance, wellbeing, and behavioural change in sport and exercise settings.

Key progression and employment information:

University services include personalised career mentoring, CV clinics, mock interviews, and employability workshops. The School of Education, Health, and Human Sciences employs dedicated Employability Officers working closely with industry partners to offer placement and internship opportunities.
Employment stats show high graduate employability aligned with professional sport psychology pathways. Salaries for early-career roles in sport science and psychological support typically range from £22,000 to £35,000 per annum.
The university maintains strong partnerships with professional sports organisations including Charlton Athletic Football Club, British Athletics, and the English Institute of Sport, providing real-world applied learning and networking.
The course meets requirements for Stage 1 British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) supervised experience pathway, offering significant long-term professional recognition and career advancement.
Graduates report acquiring robust research, intervention, and professional skills essential for success in sport and exercise psychology careers.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can advance to Stage 2 professional doctorate training in sport and exercise psychology or pursue PhD research in related fields to deepen expertise and achieve chartered status.