Overview
The Sport Performance Science MSc programme is aimed at graduates with a background in sports science and related subjects who want to build on their existing knowledge with advanced study in the multidisciplinary area of elite sports performance.
The programme aims to:
- Help you understand how a high-performance sport programme can be developed by exploring the determinants of elite performance and contemporary training interventions
- Discuss how athlete support can be optimised to meet training and competition demands and administer effective recovery strategies across a range of sports.
- Develop critical practical skills to enable the accurate measurement of performance and training responses in laboratory and field environments.
- Provide optional modules that enable you to examine key psychological factors impacting elite sports performance and better understand mental health and wellbeing in elite sport.
- Embed a professional development option module to pursue a specific area of interest, and/or work with one of our partners on a placement.
- Provide students with a coherent programme of study, which prepares them for attaining accreditation through the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
Throughout your studies you’ll be able to take advantage of our modern physiology and biomechanics laboratories and some of the best sports facilities in the UK.
Elevate your career in the dynamic and competitive world of elite sport with our comprehensive master's programme, where you'll develop an advanced and critical understanding of theoretical knowledge, practical techniques, and data analysis and communication that underpin the support of high performance athletes
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
The course is designed to give graduates with sport and/or health backgrounds added insight and expertise in the specialist multidisciplinary field of human performance using biomechanical, physiological and psychological constructs.
The MSc consists of 180 credits, 120 credits are taught content, the final 60 credits are associated with the research project (dissertation).
Teaching is structured to enable you to combine study with other opportunities such as employment or internships with in person teaching sessions condensed into Tuesdays and Thursdays. Part time study is condensed into one on campus study day per week
This course can be studied 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, starting in September.
Compulsory
- Sports Performance Science
This module explores the determinants of elite performance across a range of sporting contexts and provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to plan and implement a focused high performance driven programme.
It outlines the role of biomechanical and performance physiology applications independently and in combination to enhance the performance of elite athletes via theoretical knowledge of advanced training modalities, competition demands, competition day strategies and recovery methods.
- Assessment of Human Performance
This practical module develops practical laboratory and field based skills and techniques that are commonly utilised to reliably assess physiological and biomechanical measures associated with human performance.
Students will utilise state of the art equipment and sport-specific testing to profile athletes across a range of sports and environmental contexts.
The module also includes training for the measurement of performance specific biomarkers and the effective tracking of body composition.
- Research Methods and Data Analysis
This module helps student to develop the necessary skills to undertake a piece of performance sport research, to develop competence in the range of quantitative and qualitative research methods available, and to critically assess the appropriateness of any research method in relation to a research question.
It will teach how to analyse qualitative dataset, including the use of applied software and will allow students to undertake their MSc dissertation appropriately.
- Dissertation
The dissertation aims to enable students to demonstrate in an extended, in-depth, self-chosen independent study or project that they have a secure grasp of critical theoretical principles and the application of these principles, and to demonstrate that they have the ability to use appropriate research resources and methods in the examination of a self-chosen topic related to one or more of the scientific disciplines covered within the programme.
Optional
- Research and Application in the Psychology of Sports Performance
This module aims to advance students’ knowledge of recent developments in the theory and application of sport psychology.
The content has been designed to develop students’ ability to critically appraise and evaluate selected theories and empirical research, and to develop students’ ability to critically discuss the implications of selected theories and empirical research for applied practice.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing in Elite Sport Performance Lifestyle
Designed alongside and endorsed by UK Sport, the content of this module focuses on high achieving athletes and those tasked to care for them.
In particular, the module aims to advance students’ knowledge of the support services used by athletes and develop students’ ability to critically examine the impact of the environment on athletic success and wellbeing.
- Professional Development
This module aims to enable students to pursue an area of interest that is relevant to their professional development.
Students have the opportunity to negotiate, manage and present personal learning outcomes, and to present a critical appraisal of professional development experiences that demonstrate personal, professional development within the framework of relevant theory and practice in an area of sport and exercise science. This module may be undertaken alongside a work placement.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
Sport is a competitive world and an expanding global industry. The expert skills you’ll gain on this course will give you a head start in your career.
You may wish to go into performance science, coaching, consultancy, fitness testing and training, sport development or sport management. The course will also prepare you for formal accreditation through the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science. (https://www.bases.org.uk/sspage-professional_development-accreditation_and_endorsement-bases_accreditation.html (BASES) or to progress on to further research such as PhD study.
UK entry requirements
Fees and funding
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Our staff have national and international reputations for their research, publications and applied work. Many are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which enables them to work with high-performance athletes from a wide variety of sports – and many of them do.
This means that your education will be at the forefront of scholarship and practice, covering the most up-to-date industry knowledge.
Your courses will consist of lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory and practical sessions, online leaning and computer-assisted sessions to teach quantitative data collection and analysis and computer simulation.
We constantly review our teaching methods in response to student feedback in view of developing and improving them.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Modules are assessed by combinations of written reports, case studies, presentations, and practical competencies. You must complete a research dissertation on a topic aligned to sport performance science which can be formatted in the style of a traditional written thesis, a scientific paper, a technical report, or a coaching resource.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.