MSc Sport and Exercise Science

Overview & facilities

Middlesex is number 1 for sport employability in the UK (2010, Unistats) and we are committed to ensuring our courses remain as relevant to employers as possible. The MSc Sport and Exercise Science is the latest of our innovative sports programmes to be launched. It has been designed to provide you with the best opportunity to further enhance your skills, knowledge, experience, and subsequently employability within the sport and exercise environment.

Sport science largely offers expert scientific intervention to enhance training and performance, while exercise science has a central role in physical activity programmes aimed at improving general health. You will develop the practical skills required to work with both the elite athlete as well as the general population, and importantly improve your knowledge and understanding of the theoretical principles underlying the practical application. Students will experience a range of teaching environments aiding them on their journey. Specifically, our new Human Movement Lab and Human Performance Lab will be the main settings of classes, allowing for learning through doing. Students will gain experience in the Sport and Exercise environment through the placement module, with time spent in our Sport Science clinic for preparation of working outside with external employers.

Course Highlights

• Designed in-line with the BASES accreditation process to provide assistance with future accreditation.
• Teaching staff are highly qualified and experienced within the field of Sport and Exercise Scienceand currently provide athlete support across a range of sports, including international athletes.
• Students are encouraged to publish their dissertation through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
• The London Sport Institute boasts an impressive research laboratory for biomechanics and physiology with excellent clinical facilities.
• Placement opportunities external and within our own Sport and Exercise Science clinic provide the student with essential experience to aid future employability.

Completed either as one year full time or two year’s part time, this course offers the flexibility to finish it in a way that suits you and meets your needs. You will be able to progress onto one of three pathways: Biomechanics, Physiology or Psychology.  

Content & modules

Modules Outline

MSc Sport and Exercise Science

• Professional Placement
• Research Methods
• Dissertation
• Two from

- Advanced Exercise Psychology
- Advance Exercise Biomechanics
- Advanced Exercise Physiology

MSc Sport and Exercise Science (specific pathways)

• Professional Placement
• Research Methods
• Dissertation

Biomechanics Pathway

- Advanced Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
- Biometric Modelling and Performance Profiling

Physiology Pathway

- Advanced Sport and Exercise Physiology
- Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology

Psychology Pathway

- Advanced Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Psychology and Exercise Performance

Research Methods

This module is designed to provide a critical overview of the main methods and approaches used for research into topics areas related to sport and exercise science, and to equip the student to apply this knowledge in the planning a research proposal. The module affords students opportunities to appraise the strengths and weaknesses of published work in their specialist area.  Students will learn in groups and will explore philosophical, ethical and methodological differences, which underpin various approaches to knowledge generation that can inform future work.  Inter-professional workshops will allow the student to develop a research proposal, to consider its adequacy and limitations, and justify the approach taken.

Dissertation

To support students to undertake research, with a focus appropriate to their programme and area of practice and building upon the research proposal formulated in SES4430.To create a peer learning community for students to critically support each other in the research process. To provide guidance, additional to that provided by the students’ supervisors, on matters of ethical application, research methods, data collection, analysis and writing-up.

Professional Placement

This module aims to develop the student’s ability to apply knowledge gained from other modules in relation to a real work scenario. You will be required to adopt a reflective and critical approach to your working practice and to promote a problem-solving approach in a work environment.

Biometric Modelling and Performance Profiling

This module aims to provide the students with the ability to undertake a technical analysis of sports performance. Students will also learn how to design and analyse technique in relation to an applied problem. With experience of a number of different software platforms they will have a good understanding of the different analysis techniques possible and know which software packages are suitable for undertaking different types of technique analysis.

Advanced Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

This module will aim to provide the student with the ability to critically analyse human movement, and the causes of this movement. The student will become sufficient in utilising biomechanical equipment to assess human movement in a number of different sporting and exercise based settings. Finally, the student will be able to use this theory and apply the principles to all settings.

Advanced Sport and Exercise Physiology

This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the acute and chronic physiological responses and adaptations to exercise and training. Student should critically appraise the principles of physiological assessment of exercise. Students should develop mastery in a wide range of contemporary assessment techniques used in the testing of exercise and sport participants and in the interpretation of laboratory findings.

Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology

This module aims to develop mastery in a) practical laboratory skills, b) research techniques that are relevant to the physiological assessment of human performance, focussing primarily on those required for the assessment of the elite performer, and c) in the interpretation of laboratory findings. The module aims to prepare students to undertake laboratory-based research in these areas.Students can utilize this experience as part of their own professional accreditation.

Advanced Sport and Exercise Psychology

Students will be involved in applying psychological theory to sport performance or exercise through the assessment of clients, planning, implementation and evaluation of intervention programmes. The aim of this module provides direction on how sport and exercise can enhance performance through behavioral change and improve the quality of experience through participation in sport. 

Psychology of Sport and Exercise Performance

The aim of this module is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of psychological theory in relation to sport & exercise that can be used as a basis for the application of techniques within a sporting environment. The focus here is on the psychological perspectives utilised to facilitate behavioural change. Students will see how motor skills, cognition, behavior and perception impacts on performance. This module also includes special issues such as eating disorders and substance and the significance of variables such as gender, age in relation to exercise and performance.

Entry & applying

We welcome applications from students that will have attained an undergraduate degree in a sport or exercise related field (2.1 or above). (Students with 2:2 degree classifications may be considered though this is discretionary).

Alternatively prospective students who have completed a lower sports and exercise or equivalent qualification and have extensive experience in the area will be considered via interview. Prospective students who fail to meet some of the above criteria may be directed to some preliminary study e.g. Summer school. Prospective students may require an interview, either in person or via Skype/telephone.

Qualifications accepted
For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 575 (no less than 4.5 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 90 (with no less than 19 in each component) Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements.

Applying

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. You will need to fill in an application form and return it to the appropriate admissions office. UK and EU students should apply directly to the London office. Non-EU international students can apply to our international admissions office in London, or use our network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application. Apply now

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for MSc Sport and Exercise Science for the academic year 2012/13 is as follows:

UK/EU Students

Full-time students: £7,500

Find out about our flexible payment plans for UK/EU students, and how they can help you spread the cost of your course.

International Students

Full-time students: £10,600

Careers & placements

Full-time and part-time career opportunities exist within professional and semi-professional sports across the UK and worldwide. Most team sports now have sport scientists, on either a part-time or full-time basis dependent on their level of funding or competition. Sport and exercise scientists can also gain employment in a clinical environment or on a self employed basis.

Work Placements can involve weekends, holidays and evenings. The London Sport Institute has a number of links with professional sports organisations e.g. Tottenham Hotspur, London Wasps, Lee Valley, England Rugby Football Union, English Institute of Sport. We also have our own Sport and Exercise clinic which will allow the student to gain confidence in a familiar, supervised setting before venturing out into the external environment.