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student using in the environmental lab

Applied Sport Physiology MSc (PGCert PGDip)

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Intro

This course is for you if you know you want to work in the world of sport and performance and are looking for a deeper understanding of applied sport physiology.

Our Applied Sport Physiology MSc is designed around four pillars:

  • practitioner focused
  • physiology skill-centred
  • science in practice
  • personal and professional development.

All your modules can have a sport physiology focus and option modules will enable you to study an area of interest in greater depth.

Our teaching laboratories are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

We were one of the first 10 institutions nationally, selected by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), to become a CIMSPA Higher Education Partner. The partnership acknowledges our commitment to producing graduates with the skillset needed to be deployed straight into the sport and physical activity sector.

The partnership offers many benefits for students studying this course including substantially discounted CIMSPA student membership. Membership will improve your employability and includes free CPD e-learning, magazines and digital newsletters, networking opportunities, and access to graduate work placement, volunteering, internships and job opportunities.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Eastbourne

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2–6 years

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Our sports-related courses are joint 9th in the UK and in the top 100 globally, QS World University Rankings® 2022

Course content

The four pillars

Practitioner focused
This course aims to develop you as an applied physiology practitioner, with all the necessary skills to work with clients in a sport and performance setting.

We'll help you develop the hard skills needed to assess physiological function, but also the softer skills essential when working with people. As a practitioner you'll need to have emotional intelligence, where you are self-aware and able to manage yourself, but also read the needs of clients and different situations.

We recognise that our students come into the MSc with a variety of skills and experiences and we'll draw upon these as we develop you into a well-rounded practitioner.

Physiology skills
Physiology is core to every module of our course with most sessions taking place in one of our six sport and exercise science laboratories, or in our new teaching and strength and conditioning research gym.

During your MSc, you will learn how to use new equipment such as spirometers, breath-by-breath gas systems, blood sampling analysers, and the Optojump, and advance your practice with equipment you have already used. You'll develop your laboratory skills during your two-week induction which includes the intensive Skills for Physiological Assessment module. The module is 90% practical and fully immerses you into the course, postgraduate study and university life.

Subsequent modules deepen your understanding of integrative exercise physiology through advanced laboratory practicals and enquiry-based learning with discussions of real-life case scenarios you could encounter as a practitioner. 

Two of the three option modules focus specifically on physical training and another offers an insight into applied environmental physiology. You’ll be given the opportunity to tailor the majority of your assessments to the sportive context to gain an insight into the world of the sport physiology practitioner.

Science in practice
Science is at the heart of our MSc degree and embedded in a manner to enhance your applied practice.

We'll develop your scientific rigour to assess, interpret and disseminate physiological data and information. Of great importance is the confidence you will gain in your ability to critique scientific work of your own and that of others, so that you become a life-long, independent and critical thinker.

Our Science in Practice module will help you learn how to best monitor changes over a sportive season through case studies and field work with sport physiologists.

Personal and professional development
You will gain 100 hours of real-world experience in areas relevant to your interests by working alongside experienced practitioners. Some placements take place within the university and others with external partners.

In-house projects for students wanting a sport physiology focus, have included joining our satellite British Triathlon programme, designing and evaluating training programmes leading up to the Brighton Marathon, providing support to a range of elite athletes, administering hypoxic training to mountaineers linked to local altitude charity Para-Monte, leading our annual Marathon des Sables Environmental Extremes Programme, working with Brighton & Hove FC's Albion in the Community and working with the International Paralympic Committee ahead of Tokyo 2020–21 Games preparing heat mitigation resources.

Many of our students choose to take opportunities across multiple placement experiences and outside of the university, working across the public, private and charitable sectors.

Course structure

The first two weeks are an intensive course induction where you'll also complete the taught element of the first physiology-based module.

All of your modules can have a sport physiology focus. You will take four 20-credit core modules, each finding their root in at least one of the course’s pillars. You will also take two 20-credit option modules and complete a final 60-credit research project. Modules are delivered in different ways to enhance your learning.

You will learn through a mixture of taught sessions, tutorials, online learning, group work, independent study and work-related activities. There is a strong practical element with most classes taking place in either our exercise physiology laboratories, research and performance gym or a computer class with a 2:20, staff to student ratio.

You will work in groups of four or five on problem-based situations; learning by doing in our well-resourced laboratories.

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

Most modules are delivered across one semester although the Personal and Professional Development module is delivered over the entire academic year to allow time for vocational experience.

The research project module is delivered over fiver, two-day blocks as you prepare to carry out your own research study later in the academic year.

Module assessment will aim to provide opportunities for you to show your understanding through informed, reflective, critical and analytical application of ideas. Depending on the approach judged most suitable to test the learning outcomes, assessments could include written assignments such as essays, critiques, laboratory reports, presentations, practical laboratory technique exams and reflective documents.

Each module will be assessed separately and have formative assessments that aim to provide you with feedback on your progress as you prepare for summative assessments.

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

In addition to the course leader, who is responsible for your education and development, you will be assigned an academic tutor to support your academic progress and your employability.

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.

Areas of study

A core value of our course is 'learn in the doing'.

We want you to gain confidence in your ability to interact with clients, design and conduct exercise testing, explain physiological responses to exercise and training, and prescribe effective exercise interventions. 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, effects of environmental stressors (heat, cold and hypoxia) and of ergogenic aids which can be used to simulate competition and help you better understand human physiological responses that ultimately help you to optimise sporting performance.

Our commonly used solution to the problem approach to learning and teaching integrative physiology will help you to develop a host of laboratory skills while providing guiding principles to apply to any sport physiology situation you encounter in the future. Most of our modules are taught in our sport and exercise science laboratories where you’ll learn to be a practitioner of tomorrow.

With Personal and Professional Development, you'll also gain valuable vocational skills to give you a competitive edge in the job market. Placement opportunities and chances to network in the world of sport physiology, will ensure you graduate with a foot firmly in the industry. You will spend around 100 hours with one or more organisations related to the practice of sport physiology, which will allow you to apply your academic knowledge in an applied setting. 

We use lectures to introduce themes around emotional intelligence and ethical and moral dilemmas in the workplace and action learning sets as a teaching vehicle for you to reflect on your experiences, and hear the experiences of others, as you develop to being a practitioner.

To complement the physiology you'll learn, the client and your safety as a practitioner are discussed from a health and safety and risk stratification perspective, but also with awareness towards the ethical implications. This is an important feature as you move towards your own research project, where you'll embark on a project that links to your chosen employment route.

You will be able to choose to write a dissertation, a research paper or a case study report; many of our past MSc students have published their work. Your ability to work with data and illuminate the meaning by using different statistical approaches is another important feature of this course and we will guide you to be able to use a range of concepts and techniques on physiology data you collect.

Modules

  • Skills for Physiological Assessment (20 credits)
  • Science in Practice (20 credits)
  • Professional and Personal Development (20 credits)
  • Exercise Tolerance (Integrative Physiology) (20 credits)
  • Final Project (60 credits)

Option modules (20 credits each)

  • Practical Applications of Training Theory
  • Science of Physical Performance and Training
  • Applied Environmental Physiology
  • Professional-based Learning

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.

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. In addition, you are 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, Exercise Tolerance (Integrative Physiology) modules and option module.

Semester 2

  •  Throughout the 10 weeks: option module

Throughout the year

  • Personal and Professional Development module
  • Final Research Project

 Part-time route 

Our course is taught over two days a week; usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition, you are 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. Some select a part-time mode of study if they want to spend longer gathering relevant experience to improve their employability.

Our approach is to accommodate you in the best way we can and optimise your learning throughout your studies. 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
  • Tuesdays throughout semester 1: Option module

Year 2

  • Wednesdays throughout semester 1: Personal and Professional Development and Exercise Tolerance (Integrative Physiology) modules
  • Wednesdays throughout semester 2: Personal and Professional Development module and option module
  • Throughout the year: Final Research Project and Personal and Professional Development module 

Facilities

Our British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited facilities include:

  • 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 physiology laboratory with purpose-built environmental chamber where you 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)
  • a molecular genetics laboratory with biobanking
  • a biochemistry laboratory
  • a biomechanics laboratory with motion analysis equipment, various EMG systems
  • a psychology laboratory with an immersive screen and eye-tracking equipment.

We have worked with a range of sports governing bodies in our laboratories, including the English Institute of Sport (EIS), Team GB athletes, charities and industry partners. Our labs have also appeared in TV productions, for testing products and to prepare athletes for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Our facilities also include a new teaching and research performance gym that includes a three-camera system to analyse weight-lifting actions and an isokinetic dynamometer and leg press to allow measurement of muscle strength.

The campus also has a performance gym over two floors with free weight and multigym fitness equipment, a large sports hall, two smaller gyms, a swimming pool, outdoor artificial sports pitch and climbing wall.

Find out more about the facilities available to our sport and exercise students.

student being fitted with a face mask

Click image to view a virtual tour of our labs.

Students weighlifting

Click image 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 physiology 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 sport physiologists.
  • We will make you more employable. We’ll offer you opportunities to take on responsibilities, learn within a workplace and develop both the hard and soft skills needed to be an effective practitioner.
  • You will be surrounded by experts. Our staff include internationally recognised researchers, many of whom are active practitioners themselves, who are willing to share their knowledge with you.
students using testing equipment in the labs

Staff profiles

Dr Neil Maxwell, course leader
Dr Neil Maxwell is a Reader of Environmental Physiology within the School of Sport and Health Sciences 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 reactions during exercise and evaluating practical heat mitigation methods (e.g. heat acclimation, pre and per cooling and hydration manoeuvers) across sport, health and clinical  populations. He also investigates how to determine altitude tolerance while working with altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte.

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 our Applied Sport Physiology and Applied Exercise Physiology MSc 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 Martin Bailey
  • Dr Louisa Beale
  • Dr Gary Brickley
  • Dr Jeanne Dekerle
  • Bill Filby
  • Dr Ifigeneia Giannopoulou
  • Rob Harley
  • Dr Mark Hayes
  • Flo Pietzsch
  • Professor Yannis Pitsiladis
  • Dr Nick Smeeton
  • Dr Jim Wallis
  • Dr Peter Watt
Neil Maxwell in the labs

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you’ll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports Scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about Sport Scholarships.

Frisbee

In sport and exercise sciences, leisure and tourism, 100% of our research impact is assessed as outstanding or very considerable in terms of its reach and significance in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Careers

Career opportunities for applied sport physiologists are growing, with applied performance physiology being recognised as a vital ingredient in the success and development of most sports, and for the individuals that take part it is an everyday aspect of their training.

Some of our graduates work with sports governing bodies as applied physiologists or directly with sports teams. Others have set up their own consultancy services, or work in the public and private sector as physiologists.

Some graduates focus on research positions in industry or with organisations such as the Ministry of Defence. This MSc is also ideal preparation for continuing your studies at PhD level.

An MSc in Applied Sport Physiology from the University of Brighton will equip you with both the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and emotional intelligence to help you stand out in today's competitive job market.

We'll support you as you start to think about life after graduation. You will have the opportunity to undergo a mock interview for a job that meets your career aspirations. We'll provide post-interview feedback so that when you are applying for jobs in the real world you will be well prepared.

Roles our recent applied physiology MSc graduates have secured include:

  • Strength and Conditioning Internship - Go-Perform
  • Data analyst, Nisus Consulting Limited
  • Soft tissue therapist, Brighton & Hove Albion FC
  • Paralympic athlete assistant, Boccia, UK
  • Exercise physiologist, STAPS (Germany)
  • Performance director at Elite High Performance, Wrexham
  • Lead strength and conditioning coach at Aston Villa Football Club
  • Director of Smart Progression, India
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Utah
  • Personal trainer, Wave Leisure Trust
  • Personal trainer, David Lloyd Club
  • Fitness Instructor, LivingWell Health Club
  • Performance analyst, European Sports, Munich
  • Physiology PhD studentship, English Institute of Sport
  • Strength and conditioning coach of the women’s British Tennis team, Lawn Tennis Association
  • Lead RTC physical preparation coach, Aston Villa Football Club
  • Head of sports science and medicine, Royal Yachting Association
  • High performance strength and conditioning coach at Peak Power Sport Development (US)
  • Senior physiologist, Malaysian Institute of Sport.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Offers will be made by the Admissions Tutor based on a balanced judgement of the candidate’s ability to complete the programme of study and to benefit from masters degree-level study. The criteria may include:

Degree and experience
A good honours degree (normally minimum 2:2 classification) in sport and exercise science, or a relevant science-based degree such as medicine, biomedical sciences, physiology, biological science, or health science. The degree may contain a human physiology component, and should contain a research training component.

Applicants without the minimum qualifications may also be considered, providing they can demonstrate they have the appropriate background and foundation knowledge by other means. In such circumstances, candidates may be interviewed, and evidence will be sought concerning:

  • sustained and substantial work in a field relevant to the degree at an appropriate level
  • the ability to undertake, write up and present an honours level research study
  • an appropriate level understanding of research methods and human physiology
  • the ability to study independently and effectively and to communicate effectively.

Claims for recognition of prior learning will also be considered (both prior experiential learning and prior certificated learning).

Referee’s report
A first statement from the higher education institution and a second statement from the higher education institution or an employer that the student is prepared for, and will benefit from masters study.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Other

  • All UK applicants will be invited to attend a more informal discussion about the course. This approach will also be applied to overseas applicants where practical.
  • Students returning to academia after more than 5 years will be asked to meet the course leader before an offer can be made to assess whether the candidate meets the demand of the course. They will also be asked to meet the course leader if an unconditional offer is made and accepted, to formulate an individual support plan and receive directions for further readings (recently published materials in the field of sport and exercise physiology, research in sport and exercise physiology, and study skills for masters level).

Fees

Course fees

UK (Full-time) 8,100 GBP

International (Full-time) 14,300 GBP

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 in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where health course includes a placement
    • UK students – travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund.
    • Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, this means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/ travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
  • An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
  • In sport courses, 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 sports 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.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more 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 2023–24.

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 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.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Our campus is within 15 minutes' walk of the beach, South Downs National Park and the Eastbourne's busy town centre.

Campus learning facilities include the Queenwood library, computer rooms, a media centre and a learning and technology suite. Welkin halls are also on campus.

Eastbourne Student Centre provides services including careers, volunteering, counselling and wellbeing, student advice, disability and dyslexia support and chaplaincy.

Queenwood Library at Eastbourne

Accommodation

Eastbourne

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Welkin halls
Located in the Meads area of Eastbourne, right next to the Students' Union and Student Services, Welkin halls are a short walk or bike ride to other areas of the campus.

  • Ensuite halls with a choice of room and flat sizes.
  • All rooms are self-catered with access to shared, fully equipped kitchen facilities.
  • Rent includes all utilities, 24/7 security and support, contents insurance and cleaning of communal areas.

Private renting
Eastbourne offers good choice when it comes to student accommodation.

There’s a good supply of affordable, high quality private rented accommodation and plenty of support and advice from us if you choose this option. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Welkin bedroom

Student bedroom in Welkin halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Local area

Easy-going Eastbourne

The South Downs National Park, the bustling town centre and the beach with the pier, prom and bandstand are all within a 15-minute walk of our Eastbourne campus. Officially the sunniest place in the UK, Eastbourne has loads on offer: a year-round calendar of sporting events, the independent shops and cafes of Little Chelsea, music and arts festivals, theatres, galleries, great restaurants and high street shopping.

Every June, leading tennis players descend on Eastbourne for one of the main warm-up tournaments for Wimbledon. One of the UK's biggest free extreme sports festivals, Beach Life, takes place on the seafront in July, bringing hi-octane action on land and sea. The international airshow Airbourne is another summer highlight.

Every autumn our students and staff participate in and support the Beachy Head Marathon, one of the UK's largest off-road marathons with challenging climbs and descents along the Seven Sisters.

The beach and the South Downs provide sports opportunities including horse riding, mountain biking, paragliding, sailing, canoeing, body boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing.

The Towner Art Gallery has world-class exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and entry is free. Eastbourne also has four theatres, two cinemas and hosts a varied programme of arts and music events throughout the year.

It's only 90 minutes by train from Eastbourne to central London and less than 40 minutes to Brighton. There are also daily direct trains to Ashford International and Gatwick Airport.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Enjoying sport above Eastbourne

Maps

Eastbourne campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Student views  

Rob Walton

"After completing my BSc(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise science at Brighton it was a simple decision to continue my education at such a great university with facilities of the highest quality. 

"I chose the MSc in Applied Sports Physiology route due to its wide variety of modules in both Sport Science and S&C fields. It is a very applied course with ample opportunity to work within the labs, replicating real life scenarios that may occur in future careers – this is also supported by assessment topics being self-picked to allow students to focus on sports or areas that they feel is relevant to them. 

"The course content along with the staff involved in delivering it helped me push myself to become the practitioner I am today – developing my own philosophy and more importantly teaching me the fundamental skills I now need and use in my career. 

"The applied nature led to me working as the first team sport scientist for Eastbourne Borough FC, with the Reflective Practice module having an influential role in me gaining this position. This led to me gaining an internship with Cardiff City FC academy which has now progressed to employment at the club as a lead Sport Scientist. I am also working towards gaining BASES accreditation and have aim to complete my UKSCA accreditation in the near future."

Rob Walton sport science graduate

Will Hayler

“I spent three years studying at the University of Brighton and loved every minute of it. I developed a strong passion for physiology due to numerous lab-based learning and great facilities on offer. The staff were excellent and had some expert knowledge to pass down to us. Upon graduating I knew I wanted to work within elite sport, and I ended choosing between the Sport Physiology and Strength and Conditioning MSc at Brighton. 

“I opted to go down the Sport Physiology route despite having a strong interest in S&C as I felt the course would allow me to develop as a scientist by advancing my physiological knowledge. However, I knew if I wanted to work in sport having good scientific knowledge would only get me so far and that I would need to have a good practical understanding of how to coach athletes. The Physiology MSc was great in the fact it allowed me to tailor the course to suit my needs by being able to study some S&C modules. 

“I feel one of the best aspects to the course was the huge emphasis that was placed on personal and professional development. Alongside the course I was undertaking an internship as a strength and conditioning coach at Crawley Town FC and the course helped me to reflect on my experiences during my internship to develop into a sport science practitioner. 

“I am currently now applying my knowledge and skill set as a strength and conditioning coach at a company called Go-Perform a sports performance and rehabilitation centre, whilst further working towards the UKSCA accreditation as I aim to achieve my goal of working in a team sport”.

Will Hayler sport science graduate

Mitch Raynsford

“I knew from college that sport science was a career avenue I wanted to pursue therefore, from 2013 I spent three fantastic years on the university's Eastbourne campus completing the Sport Science BSc. Straight away I took a passion to applied lab and field-based learning, simultaneously developing a great rapport with the academic staff.

"The Applied Sports Physiology MSc advanced my knowledge, skillset and confidence to the next level, in a context-driven environment that supported career pursuit. I spent a huge period of my year in environmental chambers researching deeply into the effects of neuromuscular fatigue on performance.

"The strong focus on professional development allowed me to take on a role as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for Eastbourne Hockey Club, whilst networking with a wide array of practitioners across the width and breadth of the UK.

"I then took a role at the University of Warwick as a strength and conditioning intern for two years, a few weeks before the course finished. This lead on smoothly to me becoming the Physical Performance Lead with Aston Villa Ladies RTC 2020 where I am currently based.”

Mitch Raynsford

 Carla Randall

"During my BSc at the University of Brighton, I really enjoyed the applied side of physiology and dealing with real-life clients – in performance analysis, strength and conditioning, exercise testing and environmental physiology. An MSc was the next logical step.

"By studying part-time, I could continue my professional development, carry out BASES Supervised Experience, and gain as much experience applying my knowledge and skills. With opportunities to support academic research, elite sport and external clients, I maintained my work experience at the LTA High Performance Centre.

"Coursework could be tailored, and a report-style dissertation was a valuable option. With great facilities and tutors readily available, their support really helped me publish my first journal article, which was subsequently featured in US Men’s Health and Runner’s World.

"I went on to provide sport science support to professional and semi-professional middle-distance runners – during that time there was an increasing demand for race analysis. This led to supporting several GB athletes competing at junior- and senior-level major championships, including the World Championships and the Olympics.

"I now provide race analysis and scientific support through my online business, track analysis, alongside project support for organisations including British Athletics."

Student Carla Randall using diagnostic tools

Carla graduated with an Applied Exercise Physiology MSc, companion course to Applied Sport Physiology.

Ellen Davies

"After completing my sport and exercise science undergraduate degree at the University of Lincoln I moved to Eastbourne and enrolled at Brighton.

"The course developed me as a scientist by teaching me in-depth physiological knowledge across a range of disciplines from clinical to environmental physiology. I really enjoyed the strong practical nature of the course which I felt developed me as a practitioner and enabled me to apply what I have learned in the real world.

"The range of assessment types challenged me to expand my writing and verbal communication skills. The lecturers are passionate and experts in their field with time to support you throughout your studies.

"I am now taking my knowledge of exercise physiology and applying it to a strength and conditioning environment by working towards UKSCA accreditation, whilst working as a part-time soft tissue therapist and gaining experience within Sussex Cricket. My career goal is working as a sport scientist/strength and conditioning coach within a team sport."

Student Ellen Davies giving sports massage

Ellen graduated with an Applied Exercise Physiology MSc, companion course to Applied Sport Physiology. 

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