Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology

Entry requirements

Applicants for a Master’s programme must normally have a first or second class Level 8 honours degree (NFQ or other internationally recognised equivalent) in a relevant or appropriate subject, or equivalent prior learning that is recognised by the University as meeting this requirement.

Entry will be based on the result of a written application and appropriate references. Applicants must have an academic qualification that is recognised as satisfying at least the minimum qualifications of Graduate Membership of PSI.

Entry to the programme will be based on the result of an online application and appropriate academic references. There will be no interview.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This MSc programme seeks to equip candidates with a sound understanding of theory and research and develop core competencies and professional skills across a range of key domains including performance psychology, exercise and mental health, professional issues and ethics, and research design. The core aims of the programme are to create an outstanding and distinctive learning experience through innovations in teaching, instilling a scientist practitioner approach across both sport and exercise contexts, and highlighting the role of ethical considerations in practice.

The MSc aims to:

• Provide a learner-focused and connected curriculum to enable students to develop their capacity to think critically and acquire a broad set of attributes as identified by the UL as knowledgeable, proactive, innovative, responsible, articulate and collaborative.
• Extend the traditional remit of sport psychology by focusing on performance restoration, resilience and mental health, rather than exclusively targeting performance enhancement.
• Enhance the understanding of mental health challenges in sport contexts using a positive psychology approach.
• Develop a multidisciplinary mode of graduate enquiry coupled with an ethical scientist-practitioner basis.
• Lead the provision of postgraduate training in this evolving field of Performance psychology.
• Provide stage one of the recognition process for sport and exercise psychologists for PSI and BPS.
• Include the appropriate skills to enable graduates to develop a case study submission as part of their application for professional membership of the Irish Institute of Sport.

Information for international students

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than two years prior to application):

Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following:

• Matriculation examinations from European countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved
• Irish Leaving Certificate English –Ordinary Level Grade D or above
• TOEFL – 580 (paper based) or 100 (internet based)
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6.5 with no less than 6 in any one component.
• English Test for English and Academic Purposes (ETAPP) – Grade C1
• GCE ‘O’ level English Language/GCSE English Language – Grade C or above
• Cambridge Assessment English - Certificate of Proficiency in English - Grade C / Certificate in Advanced English Grade B
• GCE Examination Boards – Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations – Grade C / Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – School Certificate Pass 1-6 / University of London Entrance and School Examinations Council – School Certificate Pass 1-6

Results in examinations other than those listed above may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.