| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
MSc Clinical Exercise Science
Overview
This course covers three key areas: rehabilitation and training, physical activity and health, and clinical exercise physiology. It will prepare you for a variety of careers within clinical exercise science, including roles in clinical rehabilitation, clinical exercise physiology, health, and wellbeing.
Highlights
- Gain valuable experience in clinical settings and develop your applied skills through a placement
- Explore clinically based research and conduct your own research project in an area that interests you
- Our academics are leading experts in clinical exercise science, and there is a thriving community of postgraduate sport and exercise science students here
- If you don't want to take the full masters, you can choose to gain a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma instead
Clinical Exercise Science is a Growth Area
The role of the clinical exercise scientist is relatively new but increasingly important nationally and internationally. These specialists draw on the skills, knowledge, and underlying principles of sport and exercise science, in order to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Clinical exercise scientists are often involved in helping people manage long-term health conditions or recover from serious illness.
Preparing You to Enter the Profession
This masters enables you to make the most of these new job opportunities, by developing your current understanding of human function and behaviour so you can improve people's health outcomes and quality of life. We focus on giving you real-world learning opportunities that develop your intellectual, analytical, and critical skillsets.
Get First-Hand Experience of Clinical Exercise Science
You'll get the opportunity to experience what it's really like working in the field, through a 150-hour placement. To organise your placement, you can draw on our strong links with local and regional hospitals and community health organisations. You will be supported in this placement by a workplace mentor, as well as your tutors.
Learn from Tutors that are Leading Experts
Our academic team are active researchers and practitioners, so your learning will include current research and the latest developments in industry. They are leading experts in sport and exercise psychology, physiology, exercise and health, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, performance analysis and nutrition.
Top Facilities
You’ll hone your skills and conduct research in our first-rate sport and exercise science facilities. These include our:
- Sport and Exercise Physiology Lab, which has equipment to help us investigate the effects of certain variables on exercise.
- Sport Therapy Room — a large space which is laid out to resemble a real working environment, including therapy beds and privacy curtains.
- Performance Suite, which includes high-speed cameras that capture movement and enable us to analyse it in incredible detail.
What You Will Study
All of the modules for the MSc Clinical Exercise Science are core modules. However, through your research and placement, you will get the opportunity to focus on the specific areas that interest you.
- Advanced Research Methods
- Independent Research in Sport and Exercise
- Advanced Clinical Exercise Physiology
- Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Training
- Global Physical Activity and Public Health
- Professional Practice in Clinical Exercise Science
How You Will Learn
A range of teaching and learning methods will be used to enhance advanced learning and skill development, which include lecture-seminar style sessions, guest lectures, computer-based sessions, practical laboratory sessions and field-based sessions.
Assessment
Students will complete both summative and formative assessment throughout the course to include written essays, reports and case studies, oral presentations, and viva-voce exams. Students’ will be assessed on their practical skills, their application of scientific knowledge to practitioner settings, and their ability to critically evaluate the role and requirements of an applied practitioner.
Careers
After graduating from this programme, you could apply for a variety of jobs within clinical exercise science — for example, roles in:
- Clinical rehabilitation
- Clinical exercise physiology
- Health
- Wellbeing
These jobs could be in public or private organisations, and in academic, community and clinical settings.
Entry Requirements
Applicants to the course are required to hold a relevant undergraduate degree at 2.1 or higher. This relevant degree should be in a science subject and have covered content related to the modules listed as part of the MSc programme.
International applicants should have the above or an international equivalent, and must meet English language requirements, these being IELTS 6.5 with no lower than 6.0 in each category.
Fees and Funding
- UK fee: £9,000 for the full course or £1,000 per 20 credits (2024/25)
- International fee: £14,900 for the full course (2024/25)
Additional Costs and Optional Extras
- If not already owned, appropriate clothing for practical sessions such as tracksuit bottoms and trainers - approximate cost is £50-£100
- Travel to placements - cost varies depending on your placement venue of choice
- Optional textbooks or e-books to support your studies - costs for these are dependent on your choice
- You may wish to undertake additional qualifications as part of your studies - costs will vary depending on your choice
International Student Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships and discounts available to international students which can be used together to offer a reduction in your tuition fees.
Program Outline
Clinical Exercise Science MSc - Sport and Exercise - University of Derby
Degree Overview:
This MSc program in Clinical Exercise Science focuses on three key areas: rehabilitation and training, physical activity and health, and clinical exercise physiology. It aims to prepare students for a variety of careers within clinical exercise science, including roles in clinical rehabilitation, clinical exercise physiology, health, and wellbeing. The program emphasizes real-world learning opportunities to develop intellectual, analytical, and critical skillsets. Students gain valuable experience in clinical settings and develop applied skills through a placement. They also explore clinically based research and conduct their own research project in an area that interests them. The program highlights the growing importance of clinical exercise science, particularly in addressing public health challenges and relieving pressure on the NHS. It emphasizes the role of clinical exercise scientists in helping people manage long-term health conditions or recover from serious illness.
Outline:
The MSc Clinical Exercise Science program is a full-time, one-year program or a part-time, two-year program. It is delivered at the Kedleston Road, Derby Campus.
Modules:
- Advanced Research Methods: Develops knowledge and skills for designing, collecting data, analyzing, and reporting Masters level research. Covers all aspects of the research process, including practical skills and critical understanding.
- Independent Research in Sport and Exercise: Undertakes an independent research project specific to the student's subject area within sport and exercise science. Involves planning, designing, organizing, and conducting a research study, drawing upon research methods and skills developed throughout the program.
- Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Training: Introduces students to the stages of rehabilitation and teaches key screening techniques and considerations for designing, developing, and monitoring intervention approaches to improve functional capacity. Explores the importance and differentiation of preventative and management of conditions, as well as the role of adjunct technologies to facilitate rehabilitation.
- Global Physical Activity and Public Health: Explores the role and importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviors in promoting positive changes in public health. Covers key areas such as behavior change techniques, prevention and management of chronic conditions, intervention mapping, and health economics.
- Professional Practice in Clinical Exercise Science: Engages students with existing clinical research training opportunities, such as good clinical practice training, clinical research ethics training, and the development of knowledge in clinical statistics. Includes practical aspects of designing clinical research and engagement with placement opportunities in community and clinical settings to develop and reflect on real-world practical experience.
Assessment:
Students complete both summative and formative assessments throughout the course, including:
- Written essays, reports, and case studies
- Oral presentations
- Viva-voce exams
- Practical skills assessments
- Application of scientific knowledge to practitioner settings
- Critical evaluation of the role and requirements of an applied practitioner
Teaching:
The program utilizes a range of teaching and learning methods to enhance advanced learning and skill development, including:
- Lecture-seminar style sessions
- Guest lectures
- Computer-based sessions
- Practical laboratory sessions
- Field-based sessions Real-world learning is an important element of the course, with applied placement and internship opportunities, as well as the chance to develop independent study skills. Learning takes place in the University's £10.8m Sports Centre, specialist sport science laboratories, and in conjunction with multiple sports-based partners in the region.
Faculty:
The academic team consists of active researchers and practitioners, ensuring that learning includes current research and the latest developments in industry. They are leading experts in sport and exercise psychology, physiology, exercise and health, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, performance analysis, and nutrition. Notable faculty members include Dr. Mark Faghy and Dr. Ruth Ashton, who are accredited Clinical Physiologists with the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) and the Registration Council for Clinical Psychologists (RCCP).
Careers:
Upon graduation, students can apply for a variety of jobs within clinical exercise science, including roles in:
- Clinical rehabilitation
- Clinical exercise physiology
- Health and wellbeing These jobs can be in public or private organizations, and in academic, community, and clinical settings. Some roles in clinical science may require further qualifications or accreditation, such as:
- ACSM-certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
- RCCP-registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist
- Certified Exercise Practitioner through BASES Graduates also have the skills and knowledge to undertake research-based roles or to move onto a research degree in the biomedical and clinical sciences research area.
Other:
- The program offers a 150-hour placement opportunity to gain real-world experience in clinical exercise science. Students can draw on the University's strong links with local and regional hospitals and community health organizations.
- The program provides access to top-notch facilities, including the Sport and Exercise Physiology Lab, Sport Therapy Room, and Performance Suite.
- The Human Performance Unit (HPU) provides expert sport science services to sports clubs and individual athletes, from beginners to elite performers.
- Students can graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) after successfully completing 60 credits or a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) after completing 120 credits.
- UK fee: £9,000 for the full course or £1,000 per 20 credits (2024/25)
- International fee: £14,900 for the full course (2024/25)
