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Why choose the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
One of the only Master’s courses in the UK to embed the CIMSPA Strength and Conditioning Trainer qualification at no extra cost
The University of Bedfordshire ranks 3rd in the UK for overall taught-postgraduate student satisfaction; 1st for student engagement and learning community (PTES, 2024)
Block course delivery (two four-hour days for full-time students and one four-hour day for part-time students) allows time for work experience and employment
About the course
This 60-credit postgraduate qualifications is designed to develop your knowledge, key competencies and skills in your subject field; support you to fit study around your other commitments; and boost your career prospects.
This course provides you with the knowledge and practical skills for a career as a strength and conditioning coach or applied sport scientist at both elite level and within grassroots and school sport.
Course accreditation
Once you complete your degree, you can apply for professional accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA).
We increase the employability of our graduates by being a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
Facilities and specialist equipment
- New strength and conditioning suite with nine lifting platforms
- BASES-accredited laboratories
- Human Performance Centre with heat chamber for high-temperature acclimatisation
- On-campus community exercise clinic supporting clients with a range of conditions
- Sports injury clinic
- Free gym
- Range of external games areas and pitches including a 4G pitch
Industry links
We are official partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region such as Bedford Tigers RLFC, MK Dons, Cricket East and Be Active, giving you opportunities to build your employability through work placements.
There are also opportunities to develop personal and professional networks through our links with Sport England, governing bodies, active partnerships and health-industry experts.
We increase the employability of our graduates by being a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
Your student experience
In the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024, our sport sciences and biosciences courses rank 6th in their subject field for sense of community.
Study with an academic team who have world-leading expertise in their fields and are actively involved in research as well as supporting elite sports performers.
Benefit from our successful partnerships with professional sports teams, elite athletes, academies, schools, colleges and other relevant organisations.
Local placement opportunities with Luton Town FC, Bedford Blues RFC, Ampthill Rugby club, Northampton Saints, MK Dons, Saracens, Northampton County Cricket Club, Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and the USA’s National Football League (NFL).
Gain invaluable work experience at our community exercise clinic for University BUCS team athletes, and our Human Performance Centre, which offers testing to sports people, teams and the general public across the range of fitness capacities.
Regular industry speakers attend our ISPAR seminar series including Jack Wells (PGA), Tom Bromley (S&C coach for MK Dons), Mark Finney (former head of S&C at Northampton Saints), and Phil Pask (former lead physio for England Rugby).
Our graduates have gone on to careers at the Lawn Tennis Association, British Water Skiing, Red Bull Racing and the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League, to name a few.
Course Leader - Dr Iain Fletcher
I have worked in the field of Sport & Exercise Science for the last 30 years. My particular areas of expertise are in Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning, with my research exploring optimising sports performance and in particular the effect of acute exercise interventions effects on performance.
What will you study?
In the unit Principles of Strength and Conditioning, you will be introduced to coaching concepts around running- and jumping-based actions such as acceleration, deceleration, plyometrics and metabolic conditioning, enabling you to design training sessions that optimise these physical capacities.
Our Applied Strength and Conditioning unit will concentrate on resistance training, with session design and coaching lifts at its core.
Advanced Strength and Conditioning will provide more complex information and skill development in areas such as periodisation, weightlifting and agility.
These core S&C units allow you to design and coach training programmes for specific sporting physical requirements.
Broadening your knowledge base, our unit Sport Science Support will give you experience of the support systems used to optimise sports performance in specific populations, such as children, athletes with a disability, women and the aging athlete.
Careers
Completion of this course will give you the opportunity to work within sport coaching; teaching; high-performance coaching; and performance conditioning. Specific career paths include strength and conditioning coach; sport scientist; and laboratory technician. You can also continue to further research-based study on MSc by Research, MPhil or PhD programmes.
