Course summary
If you're interested in a career helping athletes achieve their performance goals, prevent and accelerate recovery from injury, and improve their overall health, this Master's in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation is ideal. You'll focus on using prescriptive exercise to improve their performance, and learn through practice with the specialist equipment you'll use in your career. When you graduate, you'll be equipped with the technical knowledge and professional skills to succeed in this growing industry, whether as part of an organisation or as a freelance practitioner. You'll be ready to confidently and effectively develop and rehabilitate athletes of all abilities and backgrounds. What you'll experience On this Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation MSc, you'll:
- Study the fundamental science underlying athletic health and performance from a strength and conditioning perspective
- Learn how to design and structure of training programmes, complementing them with the periodisation of various training methodologies
- Complete a work placement module, where you'll get 200–300 hours of practical on-the-job experience over duration of the course
- Learn about multi-disciplinary fundamentals of strength, conditioning and rehabilitation, including physiology and biomechanics
- Study in an applied environment, with a focus on advanced strength and power assessments, as well as lifting techniques
- Learn how to work with athletes with diverse needs, such as young or ageing athletes
- GymAware and PUSH bands, used for velocity-based training
- Force plates, which assess the individual total force and rate of force in single leg training
- Isokinetic dynamometer for strength capability and asymmetries
- OptoJump for assessment of reactive strength capabilities
- Electromyography (EMG) to better understand how muscles activate and fatigue during sport
- Infrared motion analysis, which records and studies body movement
- Dual force plate Isometric Mid Thigh Pull for maximum strength capabilities and and asymmetries
- Gym and fitness testing equipment, allowing you to coach athletes on using equipment
- Effective communication with clients and patients
- Presentation skills
- Team working ability
Modules
Year 1 Core modules in this year include: Biomechanics of Strength and Conditioning – 30 credits MSc Research Development and Practice – 60 credits Rehabilitation in Strength and Conditioning – 30 credits Strength and Conditioning Development (Placement module) – 30 credits Strength and Conditioning Practice – 30 credits There are no optional modules in this year. Placement The placement module totals 300 hours over the duration of the course. 100 hours of this is a blend of mentorship, taught lectures and independent work. The remaining 200 hours consist of time on placement. Possible placement destinations include: University of Portsmouth Sports Scholars and Athletics Union clubs Rugby clubs such as Harlequins Ladies, Worthing Rugby Club, Petersfield Rugby Club Football clubs such as Portsmouth FC, Southampton FC, AC Bournemouth Swimming Associations such as Northsea Swimming Tennis clubs such as Portsmouth Tennis Academy Cricket clubs such as Sussex Cricket Club and Middlesex Cricket Club Sailing clubs such as Ben Ainsley Racing During the placement module, a member of staff from your placement destination will mentor you. University teaching staff will also visit you regularly and be contactable throughout the placement. We check all placement locations to make sure a suitable mentor is available.
Assessment method
You'll be assessed through: Practical assessments – such as testing an injured athlete Client reports - generating reports for athletes and coaching staff based on tests run on athletes Video submissions Blogging Infographics Portfolios Presentations All assessments focus on gathering data through practical work, followed by delivering a training/rehabilitation recommendation, based on the situations you'll encounter professionally.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA)
Entry requirements
A second-class honours degree in a relevant subject or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Exceptionally, equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0. |
| PTE Academic | 61 | An overall score of 61 with a minimum of 54 in each skill. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 91 | 91 with a minimum of 20 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 20 in Writing |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169. | |
| Trinity ISE | Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components |
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £2970 | Year 1 |
| England | £2970 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £2970 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £2970 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £2970 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £2970 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £2970 | Year 1 |
| International | £5730 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship.
Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation.
Provider information
University of Portsmouth
University House
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
PO1 2UP