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.

Our Strength and Conditioning Master’s provides the theory, knowledge and skills you need to pursue professional accreditationwith 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: advanced strength and conditioning; sport science support; exercise and nutrition prescription; and cardiopulmonary exercise testing and interpretation.

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
• 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 optional placement units
• 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 you to
  gain the Strength and Conditioning Trainer Award
• Specific career paths include health promotion specialist; clinical exercise physiologist; and clinical technician or researcher. You can also continue to further research-based study on MSc by research, MPhil or PhD programmes

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.