Psychology has the ability to enhance adherence to exercise programmes, influence individuals to fulfill their sporting potential, and often plays a key role in ensuring sporting success.

Offering a unique educational experience by overlapping psychology within the broader discipline of sport and exercise science, the University of Essex MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology is dedicated to one of the fastest developing areas of psychology. It will provide students with an insight into working across a range of contexts in sport and exercise, and they’ll focus on practical and ethical considerations whilst developing essential knowledge and skills for research and applied practice in this specialized field. There will also be opportunities to gain practical experience using equipment for both research and in applied contexts, with an emphasis placed on the importance of testing in the field. Students study a variety of topics including: motor control and cognitive psychology, psychological skills and strategies, developmental issues in sport and exercise, social psychology and individual differences, professional practice in sport and exercise psychology. The sports science, fitness, health and leisure sectors are booming and provide a variety of careers for sports and exercise psychology postgraduates. An MSc will give students the edge in an increasingly competitive job market. Careers in sport and exercise psychology include counselling, psychologist for athletes and teams, exercise psychologist working with the public, developing exercise programmes and more. Students may also want to stay within the school to pursue BPS Stage 2 training, which will enable them to use the title ‘Sport and Exercise Psychologist’, or to complete a PhD.