University of Birmingham - College of Life and Environmental Sciences
MSc in High Performance Sport
Birmingham, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 26,180 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international students | application deadline for home students - 29 August 2025
** for international full-time | GBP 13,090 - for international part-time | GBP 10,900 - for UK full-time | GBP 5,450 - for UK part-time
Key Summary
Discover why we are the UK university most targeted by top graduate employers ('Graduate Market in 2024' High Fliers report) at our on-campus Postgraduate Open Day.
Help athletes achieve greatness with MSc High Performance Sport. Created and delivered by industry experts, build the skills to excel in the ever-changing global landscape of elite sport.
Stay at the forefront of sports science as you enhance your skills working with modern hardware and software, linking to athlete training and testing. Become part of our unique learning environment as you gain insights into advanced periodization models and learn how to develop athletes in high-performance environments.
Become part of a world-leading research community. Our School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences is one of the longest-established European institutions and the largest facility in the UK. We are home to state-of-the-art research labs dedicated to exercise testing and sample analysis. You will be taught by our very own industry specialists as well as our unparalleled networks of external experts. Gain invaluable insights from professionals embedded in elite settings such as football, rugby, and Olympic sports. Our High Performance Sport MSc is the perfect degree if you are passionate about sports performance and already working within the industry or interested in embarking on the domain.
- Study at the UK's largest custom built Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences facility;
- Access dedicated state-of-the-art research laboratories;
- Delivered by industry specialists;
- Be part of a world-leading research community.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
125th Anniversary Scholarships for International Students
We have a proud heritage of removing barriers to education. In 2025, we celebrate our 125th anniversary as a University. To mark this milestone, we’re offering £5,000 scholarships to students from a select number of countries.
Scholarships for international students
At Birmingham, we believe in removing all barriers to education, so all of our talented students can achieve their full potential. As an international student, you can take advantage of our wide range of University-run scholarships as well as the many scholarships and bursaries from external funding organizations.
Study 120-credit modules completed with a 60-credit dissertation. You'll cover athlete performance, staff development, periodising and planning training, alongside considerations around physical testing and reporting.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
The following must be taken:
- Dissertation
- Research Methodology in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation
- Talent Management and Development
- Effective Strategies for Preparation and Competition
- Evaluating Performance
- Leading Others: From Principles to Practice
You must choose 20 credits from the following list:
- Innovation in Professional Development
- Theory and Practice of Leadership
- 6th In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF)
- 8th In the world - QS World University Rankings 2025
- 2nd In the UK - QS World University Rankings 2025
With the demand for highly skilled professionals in high performance sport growing, develop the skills to stand out in today’s competitive job market. This MSc develops key skills that are highly attractive to employers within the sporting industry, namely project management, critical analysis and problem-solving skills. Open doors to exciting career paths within sports organizations, professional teams, and national governing bodies. Potential positions include strength and conditioning coaches, fitness coaches and sports scientists in high-level sports organisations.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
- One-to-one career guidance from our college-specific advisors;
- CV and job application advice to help you stand out to employers;
- An annual programme of careers fairs on campus to meet employers and find out about a range of opportunities available;
- Employer presentations and networking sessions;
- Careers workshops to improve your interview skills and help you find work experience;
- Skills training for postgraduates;
- Graduate mentoring;
- Support and advice on setting up your own business;
- Online career action planning tools and self-enrolment career development courses to use in your own time and support your career planning;
- Specific support for postgraduate researchers, including events, workshops, advice sessions, socials and wellbeing events.
This course will run over 12 months in a full-time-mode. Study a range of compulsory and optional modules completed with an applied-themed research dissertation.
Engage in individual and small group learning, through a variety of teaching methods, coupled with independent and peer-to-peer reflections.
- Lectures - delivered by a mixture of academic experts and professional individuals who are active within sports related organisations.
- Seminars and tutorials - led by both tutors and students to facilitate peer-to-peer learning.
- Assessments - a combination of coursework assessments, research papers, reports, reflective commentaries and oral examinations.
Our state-of-the-art research labs are dedicated to exercise testing and sample analysis across the spectrum of sport and exercise sciences. We are also home to a wide range of practical spaces for professional and vocational related research.