Psychology of Sport (MSc)

Entry requirements

Academic requirements A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply. International entry requirements View the entry requirements for your country. English language requirements If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills: IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill Pearson Test of English (Academic) 54 overall with a minimum of 51 in each sub-skill IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills Last updated: 4 August 2022 See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements. Pre-sessional English language courses If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .

Course details

The course comprises five modules, including a dissertation project. You’ll need to complete them all to earn your Masters degree, although you can also graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate by completing limited elements of the course. Modules Teaching You’ll be taught through lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, tutorials, guided independent study, professional practice experiences and the University’s virtual learning environment. Individual tutorials are also available for providing feedback and for supervision of your research project and placement. Assessment Assessment involves a mixture of coursework and presentations, and will vary according to the context of each module. Classroom hours For the full-time course, in the first and second semesters there will be taught face-to-face classes throughout the week. There will also be individual and group tutorials to support your learning. In the third semester there will be individual mentorship and tutorials with staff to support you with your research project. Course director Dr Michael McDougall , Course Director Key staff Dr Michael McDougall, Course Director Michael McDougall is a Lecturer in Sport Psychology and current Programme Director for the MSc Psychology of Sport course. Michael teaches on both the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in sport psychology at the University of Stirling and is module coordinator for the Advanced Sport Psychology (undergraduate) and Research Methods (postgraduate) modules. He was previously an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Keystone College, USA, and a visiting fellow at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, supporting the "Winning in the Long Run" project, focusing on youth athletes’ construction of life trajectories and psychosocial development. Michael’s main expertise is in organisational culture(s) and in the critical and interpretative traditions of culture study that can be used to challenge orthodox management perspectives and practices, with a view to providing alternative ways of understanding and doing in sport. In recent years, these interests have expanded into several topic areas including meaningful work/sport, equity in sporting systems, the importance of place, and cultural entrepreneurship. Michael is a named external research partner of the Institute of Sport Science at the University of Bern and in this three-year role is supporting the research activities of the Sport Psychology Department in core thematic areas of meaning and meaningfulness. Outside academia, Michael has several years of consulting experience. His applied work encompasses engagements with sport and non-sport clients, primarily at leadership, organisational, and systems levels and includes specialist services in applied organisational research, cultural analysis, change, and strategy. The course is also serviced by an exceptional team – Dr Christopher Fullerton , Dr Michelle Smith , and Mr Alban Dickson , and includes contributions from other guest staff, all selected for their breadth of applied, research and teaching experience.

Fees and funding

Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Postgraduate tuition fee loans This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details. Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Scholarships and funding Funding If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances. Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships. Postgraduate tuition fee loans Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £13,900 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs. English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,858 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme . Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £19,255 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales . Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI . International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers. Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

You’ll graduate with the knowledge to meet the growing demand for expert Sport and Exercise Psychologists. Our graduates have gone on to work with professional football, rugby and tennis organisations. Sport and Exercise Psychologist salaries can range from £23,000 to £48,000 dependant on experience (source: Prospects.ac.uk), with opportunities for growth and management positions. Our graduates have gone on to jobs with organisations including: Tennis Scotland Glasgow Warriors Heart of Midlothian Football Club US Sports Scholarships Scottish Disability Sport You’ll also be perfectly placed to pursue a PhD or seek the next level of accreditation with the British Psychological Society, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, or via a Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology. These various paths can lead towards registration as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), who govern professional practice within the UK.