Applied Exercise Physiology MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course structure

On this course all your modules can have an exercise physiology focus. You will take four 20-credit core modules, each finding their root in at least one of the course’s pillars: physiology, personal and professional development, science in practice. In addition, you will take two option modules from a choice of four and complete a final project.

You will learn through a mixture of taught sessions, tutorials, online learning, group work, independent study and through work-related activities. Most classes take place in either our exercise physiology laboratories or a computer class with a ratio of 2:20 (staff:students). You will work in groups of four or five on problem-based situations.

You are able to book individual tutorials with every lecturer. Group tutorials are also scheduled into our teaching programmes.

The course is flexible in that it allows you to exit with a postgraduate certificate at the end of one semester (three 20-credit modules) or a postgraduate diploma at the end of two semesters (six 20-credit modules). You must complete the 60-credit research project to qualify for the MSc.

Our course is taught on two days, normally on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. See part-time and full-time tabs for more details.

Areas of study

In taught physiology modules, you'll experience and discuss the responses of the human body to various stimuli, including acute and chronic bouts of exercise, effect of environmental changes (heat and hypoxic chambers) or of ergogenic aids which can be used to simulate peculiar clinical conditions and help you better understand human physiological responses and ultimately the benefits of exercise in healthy and clinical populations. This original approach to teaching integrative physiology will help you to develop a host of laboratory skills.

A core value of our course is ‘learn in the doing’. We want you to gain confidence in your ability to interact with, design and conduct exercise testing, explain physiological responses to exercise and training, and prescribe exercise gains. Most of our modules are taught in our sport and exercise science laboratories where you’ll learn to be a practitioner of tomorrow.

With modules such as Personal and Professional Development, you'll also gain vocational skills to give you a competitive edge in the job market; through placement opportunities and chances to network in the world of exercise physiology, you can graduate with a foot firmly in the industry. You will spend around 100 hours with an organisation related to the practice of exercise physiology, which will allow you to apply your academic knowledge in a vocational setting. 

Previous students have worked in organisations including a cardiac rehabilitation programme and fall prevention classes with Albion in the Community. Many students have started their professional careers with the organisation that provided them with work experience.

You will also be introduced to the latest in the research field of exercise physiology and will have an opportunity to conduct your own research project. You will be able to choose to write a dissertation or a research paper, and many of our past MSc students have published their own work.

Modules

Core modules

• Skills for Physiological Assessment
• Science in Practice
• Professional and Personal Development
• Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Final Project

Option modules

• Exercise Tolerance (Integrative Physiology)
• Applied Environmental Physiology
• Science of Physical Performance and Training
• Professional-based learning

To ensure the best learning experience the option module Applied Environmental Physiology will only run if enough students choose it. A decision will be made on its status during the first month of the course however due to its popularity the popular module has always run in past years.

While there is an expectation for you to share the position of physiologist and exerciser during laboratory practicals, this is not compulsory, making the course suitable for those with a disability or health condition. Find out how we support students with disabilities.

 Part-time route 

Our course is taught over two days a week; usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You are in addition expected to practice skills and carry out exercise testing outside of the taught element of the course.

As a part-time student you will discuss your personal circumstances and progress on a regular basis with the course leader. Most part-time students complete their course in two years and some in three years.

Our approach is to accommodate you in the best way we can and optimise your learning throughout your study. The choice of modules taken each year may therefore depend on your own unique circumstances.

We can adapt your timetable to fit with your other commitments. Some students have attended taught sessions just one day a week for the majority of their time with us.

Example timetable for part-time study over two years.

Year 1

• First two weeks of course: Skills for Physiological Assessment module
• Tuesdays throughout Semester 1: Science in Practice module
• Tuesday throughout Semester 1: Option modules

Year 2

• Wednesday throughout Semester 1: Option modules
• Wednesday throughout Semester 2: Clinical Exercise Physiology module and option module
• Throughout the year: Final research project and Personal and Professional Development module

 Full-time route 

Our course is taught over two days, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays, however days are subject to timetabling and may change from one year to the next. You are in addition expected to practice skills and carry out exercise testing outside of the taught element of the course.

Example timetable for full-time study:

Semester 1

• First two weeks of the course: Skills for Physiological Assessment module
• Throughout the 10 weeks: Science in Practice module and option modules

Semester 2

•  Throughout the 10 weeks: Clinical Exercise Physiology module and option modules

Throughout the year

• Final research project
• Personal and Professional Development module

Facilities

Our facilities include a gym over two floors with fitness equipment including a three-camera system to analyse weight-lifting actions and an isokinetic dynamometer to allow measurement of muscle strength.

Our sport and exercise laboratories which are all accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) include:

• a molecular genetics laboratory with biobanking
• a biomechanics laboratory with motion analysis equipment, various EMG systems, and immersive screen
• two exercise physiology laboratories where aerobic / anaerobic endurance, power and strength assessments as well as body composition, cardiac and pulmonary screening can be carried out
• an environmental laboratory with purpose-built environment chamber where we can simulate different climates by controlling the temperature (-20 to +50°C) and relative humidity (20 to 95%), and a 1.13m x 1.13m x 1.5m water immersion tank
• a research-based laboratory with an oxygen-controlled chamber to simulate altitude (hypoxia).

Click to view a virtual tour of our labs.

Click to view a virtual tour of our new teaching and research gym.

Why Brighton?

Four reasons to study with us

• You will get your hands dirty. Hands-on in the lab, you will have access to all our equipment and we will teach you how to use it and how to analyse and interpret the numbers.

• We will make you think. We will challenge your knowledge and your beliefs, and get you to find solutions to the problems and challenges that are relevant to today’s exercise physiologists.

• We will make you more employable. We’ll offer you opportunities to take on responsibilities, learn within a workplace and develop your understanding of the business world.

• You will be surrounded by experts. Our staff include internationally recognised coaches and researchers willing to share their knowledge with you.

Staff profiles

Dr Neil Maxwell - course leader
Dr Neil Maxwell is a Reader of Environmental Physiology within the School of Sport and Service Management at the University of Brighton.

Through his research and innovation, Neil aims to inspire health, occupational and sporting communities to engage in safe and effective exercise in environmental extremes and reduce the incidence of illness. He leads the Environmental Extremes Laboratory, where his research focus is towards heat sensitivity during exercise and evaluating practical heat alleviation methods (e.g. heat acclimation, pre and per cooling and hydration manoeuvers).

He believes that his experience in education has engendered an empathy when working with the different needs of students and he is prepared to try unorthodox teaching methods in the context of sport and exercise science, and particularly physiology, to stimulate their interest and make learning enjoyable.

As course leader for the MSc in Applied Exercise Physiology and Applied Sport Physiology degrees, Neil believes his primary role is to facilitate the development of those hard and soft skills that are essential for practitioners who work in the field.

Other key members of the teaching team:
Dr Jeanne Dekerle
Dr Peter Watt
Dr Gary Brickley
Mark Hayes
Dr Jim Wallis
Dr Louisa Beale
Dr Ifigeneia Giannopoulou

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Service Management are listed here.

• DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
• For all journalism students there are professional body examinations from the National Council for Training of Journalists. The university pays for your first attempt at each examination and this cost of around £400 is included in the course fees. But if you don’t pass an exam you will be responsible for resit fees, at an average cost of £45 per examination.
• UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
• For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
• The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.
• All work is electronically submitted. You may need to provide a printed copy of your final dissertation. Estimated cost £5 per student in the final year.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2020–21.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

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