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Entry year
2027/28

Sport Performance and Analysis MSc

Sport Performance and Analysis at Northumbria

Sport Performance and Analysis MSc at Northumbria gives you the academic knowledge, practical skills, and professional grounding to pursue your ambitions in high-performance sport. Explore the demands of elite sport from a holistic perspective, examining how technical and tactical preparation, stakeholder relationships, and ethical practice shape high-performance environments.

Northumbria's specialist laboratories and performance analysis hardware and software enable you to learn by doing, engaging with the tools used by professional sport organisations. Throughout, you will be challenged to think critically and reflectively, which can help you build the expertise needed to operate as an effective practitioner.

Contemporary issues in performance sport are also explored throughout, from athlete welfare and mental health to working across diverse sporting contexts.

Learning & Assessment

This course is delivered through lectures, seminars, and hands on practical sessions. All teaching aims to take place on Mondays and Tuesdays, giving students a reliable structure to plan around.
During your time at Northumbria, there are lots of opportunities to apply your knowledge in real-world settings. We call this experiential learning. Our Real-World Learning hub provides more information about how at Northumbria, learning goes beyond lectures.

Module Information

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year One Core Modules

This module focuses on the complex social and interactional nature of sports work across a range of professional roles (e.g., sport coach, video analyst, strength and conditioning specialist, sport scientist etc.). You will explore key challenges and opportunities facing sport professionals who are tasked with leading, influencing and supporting diverse webs of stakeholders that span highly dynamic organisational contexts. This module will help you to critically reflect upon and develop the intrapersonal, interpersonal and analytical skills necessary to negotiate the demands and dilemmas inherent in contemporary sports work. You will engage in inquiry, interpretation and explanation of your own strategic interactions and those of other people, as well as their complex situated interrelationships, and you will learn to locate and apply your knowledge through socio-pedagogical theorising at the forefront of academic and professional practice in sport.

On this module you will develop an in-depth understanding of the importance of performance analysis in sport and gain experience in designing, analysing and presenting sports performance reports. The module will cover topics such as; opponent analysis, data mining and player performance. The principles behind these processes and the techniques used to investigate these areas will be covered. You will get hands on experience using a range of technologies to understand the process behind analysis of performance and data analytics. You will learn what it is like to work in the applied performance analysis field with guest lectures from current performance analysts at a range of sporting organisations. You will be able to, by the end of the module, understand how to collect, analyse and present objective and reliable performance analysis data which can then be used to infer about individual’s and teams’ sporting performances.

The module “Working with elite performers” aims to support coaches and practitioners who aspire to or already work with athletes of high potential to reach their goals. This module connects the latest in research and theoretical developments with applied practice and reflection and is designed to dovetail harmoniously with your current coaching and applied sports science practice. You can shape the module to suit your current or aspirational needs and will enjoy the benefits of accessing our world class learning facilities throughout your degree. Your learning will be supported by academics who are active researchers and practitioners in this area, alongside tutors, who are, or have been active Coaches, Coach Educators and Trainers for National and International federations. You will undertake research yourselves to develop key skills and deepen your overall learning experiences. These skills can then be applied in your own context to support the performance improvements which are desired.

Year Two Core Modules

This module provides you with the opportunity for independent study in an area of relevance to your degree. You are expected to use skills and knowledge acquired in modules as the basis for an in depth investigation of specific issues in the discipline. The aim of this module is to provide you with the opportunity to carry out an extensive, empirical investigation related to a topic of your own choice, where you will develop skills in communication, critical thinking and independent enquiry.

On Sport Professional Practice you will engage in activities that further your professional development, and enhance your employability as a Northumbria graduate. You will be challenged to apply the knowledge and skills you are learning on your degree programme to real-world contexts. You will select and complete a range of activities aimed at furthering your skills and experience as a practitioner. You will be challenged to develop your own philosophy of support, and to use reflective practice to help your continued professional development.

You will learn a range of research approaches and data analysis methods applicable to your subject of study as well as a critical understanding of their relative strengths and weaknesses. You will learn how these approaches can be applied in the planning of a methodologically-rigorous and ethically-sound research study.

Year Two Optional Modules

Optional modules may include:

  • Physiology of Sport Performance
  • Applied Sport Nutrition
  • Sponsorship and Strategic Sport Brand Management

Entry Requirements 2027/28

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject area such as sports science, sports performance and coaching, physical education, physiotherapy, social sciences. Work experience in a relevant field and/or a professional qualification may also be considered.

International qualifications

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry    

English Language requirements

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2027/28 Entry

Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.

*if your course is longer than one year


This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.

The core sport professional practice module requires you to attend a short external placement for which there may be travel costs incurred. Students may choose to undertake additional qualifications, for example professional qualifications, coaching qualifications, ISAK course, etc. which can vary between approximately £200 and £700.



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options available for UK and International applicants.

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Start your application

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

How to apply

Apply directly to Northumbria using our online application.

WHY NORTHUMBRIA

students stretching outdoors with trainer

Applied Learning Environment

Northumbria's specialist laboratories and performance analysis hardware and software, used by professional sport organisations, enable you to build practical skills from the outset.

student taking notes in a notepad

Research-Active Teaching Staff

Learn from highly qualified coaches and coach educators with extensive elite sport experience, in a department ranked 5th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021).

student lifting weights with trainer beside

Professional Practice Focus

A dedicated professional practice module supports the building of a professional portfolio through CPD activities, volunteer experience, and reflective practice throughout your studies.

exterior of sport central

Holistic Performance Perspective

This course examines technical and tactical preparation, stakeholder relationships, athlete welfare, and ethical practice, preparing you to work effectively across diverse high-performance environments.

student reading mobile tablet screen

Reliable Weekly Schedule

All teaching aims to take place on Mondays and Tuesdays, giving you a reliable structure to balance your studies with wider commitments.

Accreditations & Partnerships

This course has been designed with input from industry practitioners and reflects the latest academic and professional advances in performance coaching and analysis. The school has established links with a range of sport organisations, complementing the academic content with authentic applied learning opportunities.

Career Prospects

Graduates of this course can aspire to advance into careers such as performance analyst, sports coach, member of a multidisciplinary performance team or performance development officer. Completing this course can also open routes into further study or research in the field of sport performance and analysis.

This course includes a dedicated professional practice module, building employability through CPD activities, volunteer experience, and reflective practice. Additionally, you will learn to articulate your skills and aspirations in relation to your future career, with support from careers services to assist with career planning, CV writing, and interview preparation.
close up of student smiling with peers around her

Student Projects

Project work on this course is grounded in the real demands of high-performance sport. Potential student projects could span topics such as opponent analysis, player performance profiling, data-driven training design, and the application of data analytics to athlete advancement. Students on this course have the opportunity to engage in volunteering with the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, gaining hands-on experience in authentic sport environments.

The final project is an independent empirical research study, designed by the student with support from an allocated supervisor, exploring a topic relevant to sport performance and analysis.
woman pointing to words on a page

Facilities

Northumbria's purpose-built Sport Central facility houses a strength and conditioning suite, indoor sprint track, nutrition laboratory and kitchen, body composition laboratory, and exercise physiology laboratory, enabling students to train and practise in a professional environment. Industry-standard performance analysis hardware and software, used by professional sport organisations, is also available as part of this course.

You will also have access to flexible learning spaces, and 24/7 access to the city campus library throughout term time to support your independent study.

You can now experience Northumbria University from the comfort of your own home. Our immersive virtual tours and interactive 360 images allow you to explore our vibrant campus and dynamic learning spaces, all from anywhere in the world.

Teaching Staff

The teaching staff on this course have research and industry-rich backgrounds, including highly qualified coaches and coach educators with extensive experience in elite sporting environments. Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria is ranked 5th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021).

Study Options

You are currently viewing Sport Performance and Analysis MSc, 2 years Part Time with a September start.

The following alternative study options are available for this course:

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901.

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