Course Details
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Brief Description
QS Ranked Top 100 worldwide (Sport related programmes)
This MSc programme is dedicated to providing a thorough grounding in the knowledge and application of psychological principles to sport, exercise and performance settings in order to enhance wellbeing and performance. There is a demand for training in this field for those whose ambition is to work in high performance sport settings. In Ireland and the UK, many of those trained in sport psychology have undertaken roles as performance directors, professional sport coaches and sport management.
The programme is currently seeking accreditation by the Psychological Society of Ireland. As such, it is open to those with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. For those with a degree in a different subject, we have the MSc Mental Skills and Mental Health in Sports and Exercise. The two programmes are taught together.
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.
| Semester | Research | Sport/Performance | Exercise/Health | Professional Dev | Total ECTS |
| Autumn Semester | Advanced Research Design (6 ECTS) | Psychological Skills Training (9 ECTS) | Professional Practice 1: Professional Competencies (6 ECTS) | 30 ECTS | |
| Applied Positive Psychology (9 ECTS) | |||||
| Spring Semester | Dissertation Development (6 ECTS) | Performance Psychology (9 ECTS) | Exercise Psychology and Mental Health (9 ECTS) | Professional Practice 2: Professional Issues and Ethics (6 ECTS) | 30 ECTS |
| Summer Semester | Dissertation (24 ECTS) | Professional Practice 3: Consulting and Reflective Practice (6 ECTS) | 30 ECTS | ||
Scheduling
Lectures are mainly held on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at other times. Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules
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.
What to include with your application
- Qualification transcripts and certificates,
- A CV (Curriculum Vitae),
- Scanned copy of any membership of psychological societies and CPD workshop attendance,
- A copy of your birth certificate or passport
- A Supporting Statement
- If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where English is an official language this will suffice
- If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:
- English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts AND
- English language competency certificate
- Please click here for Further Information on English Language Requirements
EU - €7,000
Non- EU - €14,100
Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie.)
The MSc in Sport, Exercise and Performance psychology, the first programme of its kind at university level in Ireland, aims to prepare students for a range of employment opportunities across the four tracks identified by the American Psychological Association, Division 47 Sport and Exercise Psychology. Specifically, these include:
Track I: Teaching/research in sport sciences & also consulting;
Track II: Teaching/research in psychology & also consulting;
Track III: Clinical/Counseling services to various populations including athletes;
Track IV: Health promotion and working with clients but not necessarily athletes.
Furthermore, there is a demand for training in this field for those whose ambition is to work in high performance sport settings. In Ireland and the UK, many of those trained in sport psychology have undertaken roles as performance directors, professional sport coaches and sport management. Thus, employability is likely to be strong not just for those who wish to train as practitioners, but for those for whom a postgraduate qualification in this domain augments their other qualifications and professional experience.
Still Curious?
The team from the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences regularly host and take part in webinars to support future students. If you would like to learn more or ask questions at an online information session, click below.