Master's Degree Programme in Biology of Physical Activity
Jyväskylä, Finland
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
22 Jan 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* applications open from January 8th to January 22nd.
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Read our survival tips for international students moving to Finland to help you settle in and enjoy student life in Jyväskylä.
The MasterBPA programme educates academic experts who understand the interactive mechanisms between different physiological systems and physical exercise, and their theoretical background. The programme is designed to prepare students for careers in research centres, medical rehabilitation centres, sports medicine and exercise testing centres, sports academies and physical exercise and sports organisations. It also qualifies students to apply for postgraduate studies in the field. The programme offers three possible fields of specialisation to choose from: Exercise Physiology, Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing and Biomechanics
The aim of the MasterBPA programme is for students to understand the interaction between different systems of the body during physical exercise, as well as the relevant theoretical background.
Programme Description
The programme offers three fields of specialisation:
- Biomechanics (muscle-tendon mechanics, neuromuscular function, human movement)
- Exercise Physiology (cellular and molecular adaptation, cardiorespiratory function, human physiology)
- Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing (scientific bases and applications of fitness testing, strength and power training, endurance training)
The two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) is designed to prepare students for careers in research centres, medical rehabilitation centres, sport medicine and exercise testing centres, sport academies and physical exercise and sports organisations. It also provides qualifications to apply for postgraduate (PhD) studies.
Our Master’s degree programme provides you with
- high quality teaching in English in a state-of-the-art research laboratory
- lectures given by leading international experts in the field
- an individual study plan
- 2-year full-time education
- experience of both the Finnish culture and an international campus
- comprehensive services organised by the International Office of the University
The master’s thesis will be constructed in the form of a scientific paper with the aim of publishing it in an international peer-reviewed journal.
The 120 ECTS required for the Master’s Degree consists of mandatory 28 ECTS of common courses, advanced studies according to the major subject (80 ECTS in Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology, 70 ECTS in Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing), and optional courses that you can choose freely (12 ECTS in Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology and 22 ECTS in Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing). It is, however, recommended to include Finnish language courses in your studies. All Finnish citizens should include XRUL004 / XRUL904 Svenska för idrottsbiologer (2 ECTS) in their studies. You can find the detailed course descriptions in our curriculum.
Common courses
The objective is to get acquainted with the terminology and research in the field of biology of physical activity, to understand the scientific research process and to achieve practical skills in measurements related to biomechanics, exercise physiology and fitness testing.
| LTKY006 | Orientation to Studies | 1 ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| LBIY010 | Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods | 3 ECTS |
| LBIA001 | Scientific Literature Seminar | 4 ECTS |
| LBIA003 | Measurement of Neuromuscular Function and Performance | 8 ECTS |
| LBIA004 | Measurement of Cardiorespiratory Function and Fitness | 8 ECTS |
| LTKS1001 | Advanced Research Ethics | 2 ECTS |
| LTKS1010 | Professional Development and Expertise 2 | 2 ECTS |
| Total | 28 ECTS |
Complementary courses
The objective is to deepen theoretical knowledge and to get acquainted with the state of the art problems in the field of biology of physical activity.
| LBIA006 | Literature | 1-5 ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| LBIA032 | International Symposium | 1-3 ECTS |
| LBIY005 | Optional Studies in Biology of Physical Activity | 1-5 ECTS |
| LBIY006 | Worklife Training in Biology of Physical Activity | 3-5 ECTS |
Advanced studies according to major subject
The objective is provide the student with qualifications as an academic expert in the field. The aim is that the student is able to think scientifically, master the theory, methods and their applications in solving practical problems. The Master’s thesis will be constructed in the form of a scientific paper with the aim of having it published in international peer-reviewed journal.
Biomechanics
| BMES1000 | Motor Control and Human Neuroscience | 5 ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| BMES1001 | Clinical Biomechanics | 5 ECTS |
| BMES1002 | Sports Biomechanics | 5 ECTS |
| BMES1003 | Report Seminar in Biomechanics | 3 ECTS |
| BMES1004 | Neuromuscular System Adaptation | 4 ECTS |
| BMES004 | Advanced Literature in Biomechanics I | 5 ECTS |
| BMES003 | Research Methodology in Biomechanics | 6 ECTS |
| BMES1005 | Biomechanics Work Placement | 5 ECTS |
| BMES002 | Research Training in Biomechanics | 4 ECTS |
| BMES006 | Thesis Seminar I | 5 ECTS |
| BMES007 | Thesis Seminar II | 3 ECTS |
| BMES008 | M.Sc. Thesis | 30 ECTS |
| BMES400 | Maturity Examination | 0 ECTS |
| Total | 80 ECTS |
Exercise physiology
| LFYS1000 | Acute Physiological Responses and Chronic Adaptations to Physical Training | 5 ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| LFYS1001 | Exercise Physiology in Different Environments | 2 ECTS |
| LLTS1001 | Physical Activity and Cardiometabolic Diseases | 6 ECTS |
| LFYS1002 | Physical Activity and Fitness Connections to Physical Functional- and Occupational-Capacity | 2 ECTS |
| LFYS1004 | Advanced Clinical Exercise Physiology and Its Applications | 3 ECTS |
| LFYS1100 | Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology | 5 ECTS |
| LFYS1101 | Exercise and Musculoskeletal Cell and Molecular Biology | 2 ECTS |
| LFYS1102 | Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory Practicum | 2 ECTS |
| LFYS1005 | Exercise Physiology Work Placement | 5 ECTS |
| LFYS002 | Research Training in Exercise Physiology | 4 ECTS |
| LFYS003 | Research Methodology in Exercise Physiology | 6 ECTS |
| LFYS006 | Thesis Seminar I | 5 ECTS |
| LFYS007 | Thesis Seminar II | 3 ECTS |
| LFYS008 | M.Sc. Thesis | 30 ECTS |
| LFYS400 | Maturity Examination | 0 ECTS |
| Total | 80 ECTS |
The programme educates academic experts who understand the interactive mechanisms between different physiological systems and physical exercise, and their theoretical background. The programme is designed to prepare students for careers in research centres, medical rehabilitation centres, sports medicine and exercise testing centres, sports academies and physical exercise and sports organisations. It also qualifies students to apply for postgraduate studies in the field.
The programme is designed to prepare students for careers in research centres, medical rehabilitation centres, sport medicine and exercise testing centres, sport academies and physical exercise and sports organisations. Graduates of the programme are also qualified to apply for PhD studies at the higher education institutions in the field.