Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc

Are you interested in enhancing your skills in Sports Medicine?

This flexible Masters course is designed to offer medical doctors, physiotherapists and sport therapists a unique and practitioner-led education in the field of sport and exercise medicine (SEM). We are based in Yorkshire, home to a range of fantastic professional sports teams. Our MSc and department is also home to 4 of the UK's Consultants in SEM. Our MSc is based in the sport science department of the university and with a faculty including some of the country’s leading Sport and Exercise Medicine Doctors and Physiotherapists we have all areas of SEM covered. This is a flexible course comprising of blended learning opportunities suitable for applicants in full-time employment.

Benefits:

• Provides specialised knowledge in sport and exercise medicine disciplines; functional sports anatomy, dissection, clinical assessment, musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine, sports injuries, exercise physiology and health, sports nutrition, physical activity and health, exercise prescription.

• Strong emphasis on the development of technical skills necessary for SEM practice

• Hands-on training in MSK clinics and pitch-side experience (organised around your diary)

• Access to brand new sports facilities and labs.

• Wide range of supervised practical experience available via club placements and clinics

• Two days a month of fixed University contact time (fits within NHS study leave allowances)

• Extensive employment opportunities exist within: NHS Musculoskeletal, private sports medicine clinics and sports clubs

With this Masters, you will be able to apply what you have learned to any physical activity, exercise or sporting event that requires qualified SEM cover, with immediate effect.

Sport and Exercise Medicine is now a recognised training route by the GMC for clinicians. SEM is a key deliverable in new government strategies, demand for training has increased with portfolio GPs and GPwSI specifically interested in training for Sports Medicine, and an increasing expectation amongst professional sports clubs that team doctors should have undergone structured training programmes to Masters Level. Within Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy there is a growing demand for postgraduate training to cover many areas of the Sport and Exercise Medicine curriculum not addressed in the undergraduate courses. This course offers the unique ability to learn and work alongside doctors, physiotherapists and sports therapists, just as you would in an elite sports setting.

Dr Stuart Egginton is the Programme Leader of the course; he is Chair in Exercise Sciences at the University of Leeds. His research interests include integrative cardiorespiratory and exercise physiology.

Dr Jon Greenwell is the Clinical Director of the course; he is a consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine, General Practitioner in Bradford & Airedale, as well as an NHS Musculoskeletal Medicine doctor, and Chief Medical Officer with British Triathlon.

Dr Dane Vishnubala is the Curriculum Director for this course; he is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine and General Practitioner (MRCGP) with 13 years Exercise Prescription experience. He currently works for the football association, Chief Medical Officer for Basketball England, York City Knights Rugby League and in the NHS. He is currently also the Lead Doctor for Public Health England’s Clinical Champions in Physical Activity programme.

"The University of Leeds has one of the best Sports Science departments in the UK and it's got one of the oldest medical schools as well. If you combined the two then you have a very interesting course led by some very high ranking individuals within this sector"

Dr Jon Powers is the Placement Director on this course; his current role in elite sport is working for the Football Association as England Men's Team Performance Medicine Doctor and as a Consultant to Yorkshire Cricket.

"The flexibility of the course allows you to continue doing a full time job whilst working around University studies without having huge amounts of face to face commitment at the University. The placements we have arranged mean that most of the clinical learning will be done in a real life sporting environment rather than in a lecture."

Sarah Hattee is the Physiotherapy Advisor on this course; she works as lead physiotherapist for Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie Academy, and Yorkshire Sports Medicine.

This Masters is available as both a one year full time course and as a two year part time course, giving you the flexibility to adapt the course to suit your needs. Course attendance is approximately two days at the University per month (Wednesdays), plus clinic and club placements which you will arrange via provided contacts.

During your studies you will focus on the following modules:

• Functional sports anatomy and clinical assessment
• Musculoskeletal medicine and sports injuries
• The sport and exercise medicine practitioner
• Exercise physiology, health and sports nutrition
• Physical activity, health and exercise prescription
• Project work and dissertation

In your first semester you will attend a two-day Immediate Care in Sport course and arrange MSK clinics and club placements to give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge through practical experience.

You will also have access to our brand new labs and sports facilities, where Olympic athletes train.

The course will equip you with strong team working skills through its interdisciplinary approach to training. You will be equipped to work in teams of professionals with complimentary expertise such as strength and conditioning, team coaches, physiotherapists and acute injury settings.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc Part Time in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

Attendance is compulsory and will be approximately two days a month (Wednesdays). Recorded lectures of shared modules with other courses will be available to be viewed online, along with specified eLearning material.

Seminars will be recorded, where appropriate. Some practical sessions, group tutorials and specific teaching sessions will be compulsory.

Placements at appropriate professional clubs and NHS clinics will be organised, with some flexibility to negotiate clinic dates and times, and contacts will be provided for self-organised additional experience opportunities. Predominantly we use a case based approach; the eLearning each week will have a relevant case or scenario identified, and required reading and practical tasks set. In the past, students have worked with high-profile sports teams such as Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United and GB Basketball.

Assessment

There will be a variety of assessments, appropriate for vocational character of the course and the nature of the subjects studied. These will include;

• Tutor observed assessment (case study presentation)
• Reflective log
• Summative MCQ
• Short essay
• Clinical competency sign-off
• Pre-hospital qualification
• eLearning completion
• OSCE stations
• OSCE- Observed Structure Clinical Examination
• Project dissertation
• Laboratory report
• Case studies.

You will have access to a wide range of supervised experience via placements. They are available at NHS Bradford & Airedale MSK clinics; York City FC, Leeds United FC, Hull City FC; options also include GB Swimming, GB Basketball etc.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a good first honours degree or at least a UK upper second class or equivalent. It is expected that applicants can demonstrate significant relevant experience and clear potential for benefiting from the programme, for example:

• Doctors (GMC registered)
• Physiotherapists (Health and Care Professions Council / Chartered Society of Physiotherapy)
• Sports therapists or Sports trainers (British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers)

This course is also available as an intercalated option to MBCHB students who have completed four years of a UK medical degree and are normally ranked in the top 50% of their year of study. In order to apply students will need to submit evidence of appropriate experience and interest. Read more about intercalation.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply (Full time)

Apply (Part time)

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
 
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Essential documents you will need; (please note there is competition for places so applications without all of the following will not be considered)

• Completed online application form (for Taught Postgraduate Study)
• A completed supporting statement that must include:
  • Examples of your aspirations, and commitment to a specialty career in Sport and Exercise Medicine
  • A plan for completion of the course (your time available/schedule)
  • Evidence of your identified funding route
  • Reasons why you wish to study this particular course
• Full CV
• Transcript of degree examination marks achieved to date
• Copy of final degree certificate (if completed)
• Evidence of English language qualification (non-native English speakers only)
• Copy of passport (if an overseas student).

Find out more about how to apply

Admissions policy

Sports and Exercise Science Taught Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2019

Fees

• UK/EU: £11,750 (total)
• International: £23,000 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's planned exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Scholarships for Faculty of Biological Sciences students

We award a generous range of scholarships to UK, EU and international students. We consider all eligible applicants who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and excellent personal and professional skills. Visit our FBS fees and scholarships page to find out more about the range of scholarships we have to offer.

Government-backed loan = Up to £10,906. Find out more.

Alumni bursary = If you are a former student of the University of Leeds you may be eligible for a 10% alumni tuition fee bursary

You can also search our postgraduate scholarships database or you can also find information on MoneySavingExpert

This course is designed to train enthusiastic professionals wishing to pursue a career in the relatively new discipline of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM). With this Masters, you will be able to apply what you have learned to any physical activity, exercise or sporting event that requires qualified SEM cover, with immediate effect.

Overall, the course aims to equip you with the skills and expertise to enhance the value of previous training to those organisations.

Employment opportunities exist within NHS musculoskeletal and private sports medicine clinics, as well as sports clubs. SEM is now a recognised training route by the GMC for clinicians.

SEM is a key deliverable in new government strategies. The demand for training has increased with portfolio GPs and GPwSI specifically interested in training for sport medicine, and an increasing expectation amongst professional sports clubs that team doctors should have undergone structured training programmes to Masters level.