Prepare to become a sport and exercise psychologist by exploring psychological influences on sports performance and exercise behaviour – gaining hands-on experience, insights and industry connections.
Learn how psychology informs practice in sport, physical activity and professional settings.
Develop practical knowledge and consultancy skills through live industry projects.
Complete research in modern clinical facilities and share findings with sports audiences.
Learn from leading researchers and sport and exercise psychologists.
Prepare for diverse roles as sports psychologists or performance consultants.
This course enhances your employability by equipping you with practical experience and specialised skills – applying psychological principles to improve sports performance, motivation and wellbeing.

After completing our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited and British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) endorsed MSc, you can train to become a registered sport and exercise psychologist. This is through the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (Stage 2) and BASES Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR).

Live projects 

The developing professional practice module helps you develop and practise your consultancy skills, with qualified supervision from registered sport and exercise psychologists. This helps you prepare for BPS Stage 2 or SEPAR training, which you can undertake after completing this course. 

Networking opportunities

You’ll learn from a series of guest speakers from academic and consultancy backgrounds. These are also great opportunities to develop your professional network for future collaborations, CPD and work opportunities. 

Competitions

You’ll be able to work towards the University's Leadership Award. This aims to enhance your competitiveness in the job market – and develop high-level employability skills for the sport profession or the wider career sector.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You’ll develop your research and consultancy skills throughout the course – as well as your core psychological knowledge, especially in the sport and exercise psychology subject area. You’ll be taught key research methods by our qualitative and quantitative research experts. With  their specialist knowledge and experience they’ll help you build confidence in conducting key forms of research.

You learn through

• lectures
• seminars
• webinars
• workshops
• staff tutorials
• student group activities
• reflective practice activities
• a major research project
• staff project supervision meetings
• technology-enhanced learning

This course prepares you for a career in

• sport
• physical activity
• psychology 
• exercise
• wellness
• research

Previous graduates have gone on to work for

• the English Institute of Sport
• the NHS
• sport national governing bodies (NGBs)
• physical activity referral schemes
• university and further education institutions

Others have gone on to further PhD study or to work as researchers.

You’ll have access to a range of specialist teaching and learning facilities. These include: 

• Consultancy rooms with an enabled camera and speakers to film practice consultancy sessions.
• Dedicated exercise research laboratories that house equipment such as treadmills, a cycle ergometer, online gas analysis and gym-based equipment.

We also provide specialist equipment such as: 

• Virtual reality headsets 
• The Portalite system for functional near-infrared spectroscopy 
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment 
• Eye trackers 
• Transcription foot pedals 
• Dictaphones 

A second class honours degree in psychology or sport and exercise psychology that provides Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS), or, completion of an appropriate conversion course in psychology (that provides GBC from the BPS).

A second class honours degree in sport and exercise science, physical sciences, physical activity, health sciences, physiotherapy, sports therapy, sports coaching, physical education or medicine (not recognised by the BPS). Please note a second class honours degree in sport and exercise science may be recognised by BASES.

A second class honours degree in a different subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for sport and exercise psychology, or equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.

Applicants will usually be expected to have studied at least 60 credits of sport or exercise psychology or psychology at first degree level. However, the course team will assess each application on a case-by-case basis.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English.

You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more

Important notice:

 

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applied Project In Sport And Physical Activity	60	Coursework
Developing Professional Skills In Sport And Exercise Psychology	30	Coursework
Psychology Of Exercise And Physical Activity	30	Coursework
Psychology Of Learning, Wellbeing And Sport Performance	30	Coursework Practical
Research Methods In Sport And Physical Activity	30	Coursework