MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology
Course Overview
The BASES-endorsed and BPS-accredited MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Bolton offers you the opportunity to develop a comprehensive theoretical understanding of the sport and exercise psychology literature, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge in professional sport and exercise environments. This focused postgraduate qualification forms an ideal springboard for those wishing to pursue further professional training towards chartered status as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist.Our expert team will work with you to develop your theoretical and applied knowledge. To facilitate and deepen your learning, you’ll undertake two professional practice placements in relevant sport and exercise environments. You’ll work alongside seasoned practitioners who will challenge you to apply your knowledge to a variety of key stakeholders. Alongside the professional practice placements, you’ll learn a range of practical skills relating to performance enhancement and the development of psychological wellbeing. Your studies will also focus on assessing the needs of an organisation and developing and delivering culturally sensitive interventions within a professional environment.
You’ll be encouraged to critically reflect on your applied experiences to help you learn from your mentors and integrate theory with practice. This will begin to develop and shape your philosophy of practice and practitioner identity in preparation for supervised training towards chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist status, should this be your goal after graduating from this course.
Highlights
- This programme focuses on supporting you to develop in-demand knowledge and skills that are fundamental to supporting individuals and groups in a professional sport and exercise psychology environment.
- The professional practice placements will offer you the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a sport and exercise context.
- Our highly qualified and dedicated sport and exercise psychology team offer a wealth of experience working in professional sport and exercise settings.
- Placements and practical assessments throughout the course will help you develop critical applied skills highly sought after by employers.
Key Features
- This MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology meets the master’s-level academic requirements set by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) as a pre-requisite for their Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR). The SEPAR programme is a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) approved training route for Sport and Exercise Psychologists.
- This programme also meets the master's-level academic requirements set by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as a pre-requisite for their Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) (Stage 2) supervised training pathway to become a chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist.
- You’ll be expected to complete two placements (45 hours each), totalling a minimum of 90 hours – one in a sport setting and one in an exercise setting.
- Your research project will bridge the gap between theory and practice and offer you an opportunity to engage in the publication process to advance knowledge in the field of sport and exercise psychology.
- Learning and teaching are student-centred, with small group sessions and one-to-one tutorials. This is supported by the University’s virtual learning environment.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- Normally, you should have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree in a relevant subject. Relevant subjects include psychology, sport and exercise psychology, sport and exercise science, and sport rehabilitation. We’ll also consider other psychology, sport or exercise-related undergraduate programmes.
- If your intention is to pursue a career as a chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist through supervised training with the British Psychological Society (BPS), then please read the entry requirements for the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) (Stage 2) route on the BPS website,
- Alternatively, if your intention is to work towards chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist status through supervised training with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), then please read the full entry requirements for the Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR) on the BASES website.
- You’ll be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- Many professional practice placements involved in this course involve unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable young people and adults, also known as regulated activity. If you’ll be undertaking a placement that involves regulated activity (and the vast majority of our students will do), you’ll have to get an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) beforehand. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.5 with normally no less than 6.0 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This master’s degree is ideal if you wish to pursue a career in sport and exercise psychology. After graduating from this course, you’ll possess a strong grounding in sport and exercise psychology. If your ultimate goal is to become a chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, you’ll also possess a wealth of knowledge and skills required to progress onto the required professional supervised training.
How you work towards chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist status will depend on your undergraduate qualifications and prior knowledge of psychology. The British Psychological Society (BPS) offers the Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) (Stage 2). This MSc is a pre-requisite requirement for the BPS Stage 2 supervised training route. This route is often preferred by students who possess a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree or conversion course and have already achieved the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC).
Alternatively, you may be able to pursue the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR) supervised training. This route is often more appropriate for students who hold a sport-related undergraduate degree as well as a BPS-accredited psychology conversion course (or other psychology qualification that is acceptable to BASES).
Once you’ve successfully completed either the BPS QSEP Stage 2 training or BASES SEPAR training, then you’ll be eligible to apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to practice as a chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist.
Please note:
As every student’s prior qualifications and experience are different, it is your responsibility to research your route towards chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist status thoroughly before you enrol on this MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology. This will ensure you fully understand the entry requirements of your chosen professional body.
What can I do with this qualification?
As the course offers the opportunity to engage in practice-based learning in both sport and exercise settings, you can learn to apply your theoretical knowledge and practical skills in a variety of professional contexts. This can enhance your employability and give you the edge over candidates whose experience is limited to one type of setting.
In addition, the research and critical thinking skills you’ll develop will provide you with an excellent foundation should you wish to pursue a PhD or professional doctorate qualification in the future.
Alternative career options
This course is primarily designed for students wishing to pursue a career as a chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist. However, graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or alternative or additional postgraduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:
- Sports coaching
- Physiotherapy
- Sport and exercise science
- Sport rehabilitation
- Performance lifestyle advisor
- Well-being officer
- Higher education teaching and research
Professional Recognition
The University of Bolton's MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). BASES is the professional body representing the sport and exercise sectors. The BPS is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK.
This MSc meets the criteria outlined by the BASES Postgraduate SEPAR Endorsement Scheme (PSES). The BASES Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR) programme is a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) approved training route for Sport and Exercise Psychologists.
Our MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science is a pre-requisite for the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) (Stage 2) programme. The BPS QSEP (Stage 2) programme is an HCPC approved training route for Sport and Exercise Psychologists.
Fees & Funding
Please note the total course fee for a Home student starting this course in 2023/24 will be £7,920. As this is an 18-month course, the fees are £5,280 for the first year and £2,640 for the final semester.
Home/EU Fees
Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £5,664 for the academic year 2024/25.
International Fees
Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £15,950 for the academic year 2024/25.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
Thank you for your interest
In order to determine your suitability for this course as an international student and also to confirm you meet any initial eligibility criteria, we need you to answer a few short questions.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching will occur in small groups as we believe that this is the most effective way to support you to develop the knowledge and skills required to complete the programme successfully. Rather than formal lectures, you can expect face-to-face sessions to feel more like seminars. This will allow our academic team to engage you and your classmates in debates and discussions, share good practice, and demonstrate core psychological skills. You’ll also be expected to take part in role-play activities. These are designed to consolidate your learning, helping you develop practical skills in delivering psychology support in sport and exercise settings. We’ll also set individual and group work during classroom teaching, and tutorials will be available to supplement your in-class learning. In particular, we’ll encourage and support you to use reflective practice to support your progress and consolidate your learning.
The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to support your professional development and reflective practice. We use a variety of assessment methods such as case studies, research proposals, one-to-one practical activities, workshops, vivas, and stakeholder reports.
Practical placement experiences will be arranged for you and are a core component of the programme. The Sport and Exercise Psychology in Professional Practice (SEP7002) module will run throughout the programme, offering you the opportunity to engage in, and learn from, a variety of practical experiences. During the placements, you’ll receive informal feedback on your performance to help you assess your progress and improve your practice, as well as formal assessment that will contribute to your overall grade for the course.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Research Project
- Sport and Exercise Psychology in Professional Practice
- Psychological Strategies: Exercise and Behaviour Change
- Individual Support: Person and Performer
- Organisational Psychology: Context and Culture
- Research Methods
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 45% Practical exams 55% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 80% Placement/study abroad 5% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 15% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
