Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Option for Extended Degree
This programme is British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited and endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) (formerly BASES).
The Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as Stage 1 training, which when accompanied by the BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) will provide a basis for professional development as a practitioner in the form of Stage 2 training, as well as further study, employment and enterprise.
Sport and Exercise Psychology is a vital discipline that examines how psychological factors influence performance, participation, and wellbeing in sport and physical activity. It supports athletic performance by enhancing motivation, resilience, and focus, while also promoting behaviour change, mental health, and quality of life across broader populations. Practitioners apply evidence-based principles to help individuals achieve goals, manage stress, and maintain healthy lifestyles, making the discipline valuable in both performance and health contexts.
Delivered by research-active academics and HCPC-registered practitioners, this employment-focused Masters develops the theoretical knowledge and applied skills required for careers in sport and exercise psychology. Through research-led teaching, practical learning, and innovative assessments, the course prepares graduates to make meaningful contributions in a growing and impactful field.
This BPS-accredited Stage 1 MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology is ideal if you are aiming to pursue a career as a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist. It provides a solid foundation in psychological theory and applied practice, preparing you for supervised professional training via the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP Stage 2) or the BASES Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR), both of which lead to HCPC registration. Entry onto these routes depends on your undergraduate background, and eligibility will be carefully reviewed prior to enrolment.
The course also aims to offer extensive applied knowledge across sport and exercise contexts, enhancing employability and preparing you for diverse roles in performance and health settings. Graduates may also use the qualification as a stepping stone for enhancement in related careers such as coaching, physiotherapy, performance consultancy, wellbeing support, sport science, or academic research and teaching. Additionally, the critical thinking and research skills gained provide a strong foundation to pursue a PhD or professional doctorate qualification in the future.
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
28 months Part Time
1 other options available
School
Psychology
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2027
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Discover the funding options available to you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Julius Jooste
Programme Leader
Dr Angela Rodrigues
Assistant Professor
Dr Melissa Fothergill
Lecturer
Elizabeth Partington
Senior Lecturer
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in Psychology that provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society, or a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a related field with relevant experience.
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
Full UK Fee: £11,565
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
Full International Fee: £21,500
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.
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
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Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.
Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.
The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.
You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
PY0757 -
Motor Processes in Sport (20 Credits)
The production of skilled movement is a central feature of human behaviour and is of paramount importance in sport and exercise settings. In this module you will learn how movement is developed, learned and controlled in order to produce the complex patterns necessary for skilled behaviour. By considering a broad range of topics from child development through to expert modelling, you will be able to apply the principles to your own experiences of motor learning, and design practices that will address movement issues and maximise performance. Key topics within the module include:
- Human Information Processing
- Dynamical System Theory
- Attention, anticipation and decision-making
- Motor learning and the learning process
- Designing practice to enhance learning
The practical application of theoretical knowledge is a central tenet to the module and therefore, in addition to critically evaluating the research evidence from multiple theoretical perspectives, you will be required to contextualise the material in relation to current practices in sport and exercise domains.
PY0758 -
Psychological Skills for Sport Performance (20 Credits)
On this module you will explore a range of issues relating to contemporary professional practice in sport psychology. You will learn how to be an evidence-based practitioner. You will understand how to apply appropriate ethical principles and guidelines to sport psychology practice and will be introduced to the theory behind current intervention techniques and professional decisions. You will learn how to assess and classify an athlete, and how to design bespoke mental training programmes for athletes for the purpose of performance enhancement. You will also learn about performance dysfunction, performance impairment and performance termination issues, and when to refer athletes to other allied professionals. You will have the opportunity to try out selected mental training techniques yourself and will learn how to teach them to athletes. You will explore and develop your own personal professional philosophy for sport psychology practice, and will develop your skills as a reflective practitioner.
More informationPY0759 -
Counselling and Interpersonal Processes in Sport and Exercise (20 Credits)
This module brings together theory, research and practice from the literature of counselling and interpersonal processes in the context of sport and exercise. You will gain knowledge of, evaluate and debate the underlying principles of the most widely used counselling perspectives (focussing on psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive behavioural approaches) and reflect on their rationale for proposing distinctive ways of working with clients in the sport and exercise domain. These perspectives will be contextualised through typical challenging interpersonal processes such as life events, belief systems, cohesion and venue effects. You will reflect critically on cognitive processes, including self-aggrandizement, unrealistic optimism, illusion of control and counterfactual thinking, and theorise on the means by which counsellors should attempt to deal with these. This module meets criteria set by the British Psychological Society for the core areas of cognitive processes, psychological skills and strategies and social processes, as well as professional skills with regard to ethics and practice, thus enhancing your graduate attributes for further qualifications and employability.
More informationPY0774 -
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (20 Credits)
The module is designed to give you a theoretical and practical knowledge of common and more advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting and analysing data in psychology. A range of methods will be studied, and relevant hardware and software will be used in exercises. The communication of findings according to the most recent conventions and with due regard to the audience will be addressed. The approach is to provide a theoretical background for each technique, so that you are not simply capable of carrying out and reporting analyses, but also capable of reflecting critically on their appropriateness in psychological research and practice.
More informationPY0756 -
Exercise Psychology (20 Credits)
On this module you will be prepared to work in the growing field of health promotion. The module focuses upon initiating behaviour change in relation to health behaviours in general and physical activity in particular. The module explores both the impact of exercise on mental health and the underpinning psychological variables that shape people’s decision-making in relation to exercise participation. The module is devised to provide you with a thorough theoretical grounding as well as giving opportunity to develop your practitioner and employability skills. You will learn about the effects of exercise on mental health as well as theories of behaviour change, and how to devise and implement tailored strategies to support exercise promotion across different populations. You will explore and develop your own working practice and will learn how to be become a reflective practitioner. This module will enable you to develop your communicating and influencing skills, to engage in decision making and creative problem solving, to work collaboratively, to gain self-awareness, to help develop others and to adhere to professional standards.
More informationPY0775 -
Professional Skills (20 Credits)
This module is designed to provide you with a range of professional skills important for your academic and professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology. It will assist with preparation for your thesis as you learn about advanced bibliographic skills, project proposals, and research management, ethical and legal issues. You will learn employment-related skills, media skills, and personal and career development skills such as communication as well as C.V. enhancement. You will also make practical applications of skills using online resources and employ self-reflective approaches to recording and enhancing awareness of your professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology.
More informationPY0776 -
MSc Thesis (60 Credits)
In this module, you will be able to independently conceptualise, plan and undertake a novel piece of research that contributes to psychological knowledge and understanding. You will critically evaluate current theories and evidence to generate your own research question. You will use the relevant ethical guidelines to design a feasible project plan. You will develop your independent research skills during this module and identify points of collaboration with supervisors, research staff and other potential stakeholders. You will use a variety of relevant skills, techniques, and research methods to implement your study and finally, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your findings in written form.
More informationThe following alternative study options are available for this course:
Sep start
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Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning.
Most courses run as described on our website and in our marketing materials. Occasionally we may need to make changes, for example due to a change in the law or regulatory requirements, requirements of a Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body, or our quality assurance processes. Where a change is significant (in line with the Competition and Markets Authority's guidance on "substantial changes"), we will consult with affected students in advance where the change is being decided, and will explain the reason for the change and inform you at the earliest opportunity.
If we make a significant variation to your programme, you are entitled to: request a transfer to an alternative, appropriate programme; withdraw and have your tuition fees adjusted; or raise a complaint through the Student Complaints Procedure.
Optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year. Where a module you selected is withdrawn, the options above apply.
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Page last reviewed: 16 October 2026
