Overview
Learn how to maximise athletic potential with our Masters in Psychology of Sport.
The global sports market is expected to reach £490 billion by 2028 according to Research and Markets, and the American Psychological Association says this growth is matched by increasing demand for sport psychologists.
The mental side of athletic performance is as vital as the physical side, and Sports Psychologists can help individuals and teams gain a competitive edge.
Our Sports Psychology course is the only one in Scotland accredited by the British Psychological Society. Your studies will include:
- the latest theory in Sport Psychology – and how to apply it;
- how to promote positive mental health among athletes;
- case studies and statistical analysis to deepen your expertise.
Practical experience
This course also includes a placement that will give you a chance to put your knowledge into practice. As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, Stirling is among the best places in the UK to study sport. Your placement will give you a chance to apply your learnings with some of the many sports organisations on campus, including the National Swimming Academy, the National Tennis Centre and Triathlon Scotland.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
On successful completion of the course you will be able to:
- Analyse and critically evaluate contemporary theory, research and practice in sport psychology.
- Demonstrate advanced expertise in applied sport psychology, and the ability to apply this knowledge innovatively to enhance athlete and team performance.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of sport psychology research, including an ability to formulate and conduct an impactful independent research project that contributes to the field's advancement and adhere to rigorous academic standards.
- Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills as a sport psychology professional.
- Analyse ethical issues related to sport and reflect on how these will impact your conduct as a sport psychology professional.
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). It meets the requirements of BPS Stage 1 training and enables progression onto the BPS Stage 2 on route to becoming a sport and exercise psychologist.
Work placements
Students will be given an opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to a specific client group within a sport setting in the module ‘Placement in Sport Psychology.’ Students will have an opportunity to help coaches, athletes and teams to achieve their specific goals.
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Faculty facilities
The University of Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and we have recently invested £20 million in our outstanding sports facilities. We’re consistently ranked among the best universities in the UK for our sports facilities, making Stirling the perfect destination to study sport or the science behind it.
Research overview
The University of Stirling is ranked 1st in Scotland for outputs in Sports and Exercise Sciences (REF 2021), with 80% of our research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 54 overall with a minimum of 51 in each sub-skill
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
Last updated: 4 August 2022
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The course comprises five modules, including a dissertation project. You’ll need to complete them all to earn your Masters degree, although you can also graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate by completing limited elements of the course.
Modules
Course Details
Teaching
You’ll be taught through lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, tutorials, guided independent study, professional practice experiences and the University’s virtual learning environment. Individual tutorials are also available for providing feedback and for supervision of your research project and placement.
Assessment
Assessment involves a mixture of coursework and presentations, and will vary according to the context of each module.
Classroom hours
For the full-time course, in the first and second semesters there will be taught face-to-face classes most days. There will also be individual and group tutorials to support your learning. In the third semester there will be individual tutorials with staff to support you with your research project.
Course director
Key staff
Dr Robert Morris
Robert Morris is currently Deputy Head of Sport, MSc Psychology of Sport Course Director, and an Associate Professor in Sport Psychology at the University of Stirling. Robert is a BASES Accredited, BPS Chartered, and HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Associate Fellow of the BPS. He is also currently Chair of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route Advisory Group, with responsibility for overseeing the success of one of the accreditation pathways for Sport and Exercise Psychologists in the United Kingdom.
Robert teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in sport psychology at the University of Stirling. Robert is also an applied practitioner in sport psychology, providing support to a range of team, national, international, and Olympic athletes in sports including football, rugby union, canoe, swimming, and golf. In addition, Robert has a number of research and scholarship interests which span across talent development and transitions in sport topic areas, including the support programmes in place to support elite student-athletes during their move to university, dual careers in sport, the youth to senior and retirement from sport transitions, the coach-athlete-parent triad in sport, and mental health in sport.
The course is also serviced by Dr John Mathers, Dr Will McConn-Palfreyman, Dr Michael McDougall, and Dr Chris Hartley, and includes contributions from other guest staff who bring a breadth of experience to the MSc.
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
You’ll graduate with the knowledge to meet the growing demand for expert Sports Psychologists. Our graduates have gone on to work with professional football, rugby and tennis organisations.
Sport and Exercise Psychologist salaries can range from £23,000 to £48,000 dependant on experience (Prospects.ac.uk), with opportunities for growth and management positions.
Our graduates have gone on to jobs with organisations including:
- Tennis Scotland
- Glasgow Warriors
- Heart of Midlothian Football Club
- US Sports Scholarships
- Scottish Disability Sport
You’ll also be perfectly placed to pursue a PhD or seek the next level of accreditation with the British Psychological Society. Level 2 accreditation enables you to apply for Chartered Membership of the BPS and full membership of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
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