Course Level:Postgraduate
Next Start Date: October 2023
Duration: 1 Year
Campus Location: Bedford Campus
Attendance: Full-time | Part-time day

About the course

Increased investment in sport has opened up new careers in strength and conditioning and sport science support. This innovative course opens the way for a future as a high-performance strength and conditioning coach or applied sports scientist, at both elite level and within grassroots sport.

CIMSPAOur Strength and Conditioning Master’s provides the theory, knowledge and skills you need to pursue professional accreditation with a number of bodies including the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES); the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA); and appropriate higher coaching awards (Level 3 or above).

You explore a range of approaches - including strength and conditioning, testing physical capacities, sport science support and laboratory work – and assess their contribution to helping athletes increase performance. Areas of study may include sport science support; laboratory skills; and work placement.

Why choose this course?

  • Study with an academic team who have world-leading expertise in their fields and are actively involved in research
  • Work in the ideal environment for both scientific exploration and practical skills development. Facilities include six BASES-accredited sport and exercise science laboratories; our Human Performance Centre; a nutrition research kitchen; two molecular and cellular physiology labs; and a dedicated strength and conditioning suite with nine lifting platforms
  • Benefit from our successful partnerships with professional sports teams, elite athletes, academies, schools, colleges and other relevant organisations
  • Develop your research skills and capabilities including research design and ethics; statistics; and laboratory skills
  • Build your employability by taking a core placement unit
  • As a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), our course is aligned to the professional standards required for the Strength and Conditioning Trainer Award. This is embedded within the course at no additional cost, allowing you to work independently within the sport and exercise industry

Accreditations

  • CIMSPA Endorsed Strength & Conditioning Trainer qualification

Course Leader - Dr Iain Fletcher

I have worked in the field of Sport & Exercise Science for the last 30 years. My particular areas of expertise are in Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning, with my research exploring optimising sports performance and in particular the effect of acute exercise interventions effects on performance.

 
Find out more about Dr Iain Fletcher
The campus where this course is taught

Units

  • Advanced Strength And Conditioning (SPO011-6) Compulsory
  • Applied Strength And Conditioning (SPO075-6) Compulsory
  • Laboratory Skills (SPE002-6) Compulsory
  • Principles Of Strength And Conditioning (SPO057-6) Compulsory
  • Research Methods (SPO005-6) Compulsory
  • Sport And Physical Activity Masters Dissertation (SPO070-6) Compulsory
  • Sport Science Support (SPE001-6) Compulsory
  • Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing And Interpretation (SPO015-6) Optional
  • Exercise And Nutrition Prescription (SPO076-6) Optional
  • Placement (Long) (SPO039-6) Optional
  • Placement (Short) (SPO009-6) Optional

A wide range of assessment formats will be used within this course, including laboratory reports, case studies, portfolios, practical exams and presentations. The course will move assessments from a controlled established scientific base through to a more autonomous and practical application of research to inform the practical skills associated with performance sport as a career. This will be reinforced by original research and athlete assessment creating data to be explored and analysed through reports and research dissertations, while high order practical competency (with problem solving) will be examined in line with governing body competencies, preparing students for potential accreditation and work opportunities.

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Our students say our courses, teaching and support are a winning combination, that’s why we are 54th out of 122 for Sport in the Guardian University Guide 2023.

We’re 4th for employability in the Guardian League Table 2023 because our courses get you a degree-level job.

Sports Science ranked 5th for Graduate Prospects in the 2023 Times / Good University Guide league table.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.

To apply for a place on a postgraduate course (MA/MSc/MBA) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good first degree and the required English language qualification

Find out more about specific entry requirements for your country

To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.

We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.

You also need to have the required English language qualification

Contact your country’s International Admissions Team for more information.

 

Clicking this card will take you to /international/countries/

Entry Requirements


Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.


To apply for a place on a postgraduate course (MA/MSc/MBA) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good first degree and the required English language qualification

Find out more about specific entry requirements for your country


To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.

We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.

You also need to have the required English language qualification

Contact your country’s International Admissions Team for more information.

 

Non-Standard Entry

(All non-standard entry candidates will be required to attend an interview with the Award Manager)

a. Graduates with a first degree in a closely allied subject, where the gaps in subject specific knowledge could be closed using a negotiated programme that would include additional units from within the undergraduate modular degree scheme

b. Sport, Exercise, Coaching and Health professionals with demonstrable experience and expertise within the field who also possess an HNC/HND or GNVQ/NVQ at level 4 in an appropriate subject. These candidates will be required to provide a full portfolio of supporting evidence outlining appropriate academic and educational training and attend an interview, which will aim to assess:

  • the applicants motivation, maturity and realistic approach to their studies
  • the nature and level of life/work experience and prior study, and the learning that has resulted from such experience
  • the clarity of the applicants educational goals and objectives
  • the extent to which the applicant can provide evidence of the threshold skills and knowledge required for a given programme.

As a result of this interview candidates may also be required to bridge gaps in their current knowledge by taking additional units from within the undergraduate modular degree scheme

AP(E)L /APL

Credit may be given for prior (academic/professional) learning against some of the units. A portfolio of evidence and attainment of equivalent learning outcomes is required. Procedures for considering APL applications are determined by the Academic Board and issued by the Registry.

How will this course improve my career prospects?

Completion of this course will give you the opportunity to work within sport coaching; teaching; high-performance coaching; and performance conditioning. Specific career paths include strength and conditioning coach; sport scientist; and laboratory technician.

You can also continue to further research-based study on MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD programmes.

Fees and funding

The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £8,500 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is available at www.beds.ac.uk/intfees

If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk

The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,350 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £14,600

If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk

Fees and funding


The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £8,500 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk


The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is available at www.beds.ac.uk/intfees

If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk


The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,350 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk


The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £14,600

If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk

Extra Costs

Find out more about additional costs while studying at Bedfordshire. Click here.

How to Apply

UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form

International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online

Find out more about how to apply as an International student

International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online

Find out more about how to apply as an International student

How to Apply


UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form


International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online

Find out more about how to apply as an International student


International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online

Find out more about how to apply as an International student