Clinical Exercise Physiology

Entry requirements

Take a look at the latest entry requirement information on our website: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/guide-to-applying-to-uob/before-you-apply/entry-requirements/

Months of entry

October

Course content

This unique Master’s course allows you to build on your sport and exercise background so you can transition into clinical settings specialising in exercise physiology. It gives you the opportunity to investigate the physiological consequences of chronic, debilitating diseases and the role of exercise testing in detecting the changes these diseases cause. You complete practice-based learning hours in applied settings with a range of clinical populations including neurological, cardiac, dementia and hypotensive, among others.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• BASES-accredited laboratories including a biomechanics laboratory with 3D camera system
• Community exercise clinic
• Human Performance Centre with an environmental heat chamber where professional athletes and sports people come to train
• Nutrition research kitchen
• Sports injury and rehabilitation centre
• Additional equipment includes a Woodway treadmill; metabolic cart with integrated 12-lead ECG and RMR hood; hydrostatic weighing tank; and echocardiogram machine

What will you study?

Studying our Clinical Exercise Physiology MSc course will equip you with in-depth knowledge and skills around physiology, exercise and sport. In clinical areas of study, our Exercise and Nutrition Prescription unit will allow you to explore how exercise programmes and nutritional interventions can benefit the treatment of a variety of diseases. Based on scientific research, you will develop an understanding of exercise testing and assessments used in clinical settings and how to interpret using its results in our Exercise Testing and Diagnosis unit. This closely links to our unit in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Interpretation where you will critically analyse the underlying mechanisms of a variety of diseases where exercise testing has proved to be useful.

In practice, our Laboratory Skills unit will teach you to use a variety of physiological assessment tools for athletes and patients while also enabling you to prepare, perform and interpret results of physiological tests. Similarly, you will analyse how physical activity and nutrition contribute to adverse conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in our Metabolic Health unit. From this, you will learn to formulate recommendations for exercise prescription and nutritional advice based on a diverse range of patient needs. In other areas of study, you will also look at the role of Behavioural Science and Public Health in relation to the promotion of health and prevention of disease and illness.

A major component of this course includes our Placement (Long) unit where you will be able to develop your skills and knowledge in the application process and practice employability skills for a work-based environment. Additionally, you will also be able to complete a Placement for Clinical Exercise Physiology that will expose you to professional standards of practice by clinical exercise physiologists while getting the chance to work with clinical patients. Finally, you will complete a Sport and Physical Activity Master’s Dissertation where you will undertake a research project into a topic of interest relevant to your subject area. To help you with this, our Research Methods unit will facilitate your ability to understand, evaluate and conduct research in sport and exercise science while also enabling you to collect and analyse data.

Careers

On completion of this course, you will be able to build on your sport and exercise background, knowledge and skills to transition into clinical settings specialising in exercise physiology. The course opens the way to a career in the NHS, local authorities, private healthcare, insurance or within the health and fitness industry in roles such as a health promotion specialist; clinical exercise physiologist; clinical technician; or researcher.

You can also continue to further research-based study on MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD programmes.

Information for international students

Please see our website for the latest fee information.

Fees and funding

Take a look at the latest fees information on our website: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/money/fees/fee-schedule/