Program Overview

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MRes Sport and Exercise

Key Facts

• Level: Master's PG MRes
• Duration: One Year
• Starting: September
• Fees UK 25/26: Full Time: £8,500
• Fees International 25/26: Full Time: £17,495
• Location: Waterside

Overview

MRes Sport and Exercise will allow you to critically explore a specific research area within the overarching subject area of Sport and Exercise. You will be supported in pursuing a specialist area of research by subject experts and will draw upon a blend of theory, practical and qualitative and quantitative data analysis experiences to prepare you for related employment or further study.

Highlights

• The two taught modules will prepare you to undertake a research project
• You will be able to apply and develop your skills in a practical, real world setting with local professional industries
• Taught and supervised by motivated and research active subject experts
• Brand new campus and facilities at our £330 million Waterside Campus
• An opportunity to work with established subject experts

Entry Requirements

• Hold a 2:1 or better degree in a related subject area (the degree must reflect the subject focus of the proposed research project)
• International applicants will also require a 2:1 (or equivalent) or better degree in a related subject area (the degree must reflect the subject focus of the proposed research project)
• Show commitment and enthusiasm for the study of the dedicated pathways within Sport and Exercise to complete all requirements of the course.

Personal Statement

Within their Personal Statement, applicants are advised to demonstrate and reflect on the following topics:

• Commitment and enthusiasm for the study of the dedicated pathways within Sport and Exercise.
• Relevance of their degree and previous experiences relating to Sport and Exercise.
• Reasons and motivation for studying this programme at the University of Northampton.
• Reasons and motivation for specifically studying at Masters/ Level 7 study.

Research Proposal Guidance

Please include a short proposal for the MRes in your application (maximum 1-2 pages, 1000 words plus references). Within your Research proposal will be expected to provide evidence of your ability to plan and organise independent research. Your proposal must be a relevant topic area associated with projects listed within the specialism section on this page, but you can provide your own research topic that is of Level 7 standard.

Please include the following information within your proposal:

• Provide an overview of your research question, explaining why it is of academic and/or practical importance
• Outline the main objectives of your research, providing details of two or three key aspects
• Write a short literature review, indicating the importance of related research or literature and how your own research question might make a useful contribution to the area
• State the main research techniques (physiological, questionnaires/interviews, mixed modelling etc.) you might use
• Indicate your suggested data collection procedures, indicating sources and any possible difficulties
• Explain any analytical techniques you intend to use State your proposed timetable of activities

Finally, list the references in your proposal or provide a short bibliography.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, or you have not been educated mainly in English, you must provide evidence of your English language capability:

• IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other band (or equivalent)

Course Content

Course Details

You will apply to undertake the MRes in a specific area or in line with the tutor specialist focus, see Specialisms below. The programme is a one-year full time programme which has two taught modules undertaken in the first trimester (Research Methodologies, Research Skills) which are designed to support you to develop your knowledge and understanding in the research area as well as allow you to become familiar with the project’s protocols. Once successfully completed you will undertake the 120-credit dissertation module in trimester two and three.

Stage 1

• Research Methodologies (20 Credits)

Module code: SPOM047

Status: Compulsory

This module will advance the students understanding of the foundations of quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analyses commonly used in research projects. It will also provide the student with an understanding of the approaches and reasoning to study design, data collection and analysis

• Research Skills (40 Credits)

Module code: SPOM048

Status: Compulsory

The purpose of the module is to enable students to develop their research skills and ethical practice through the investigation of individualised research projects. Students will apply skills developed in this module to their chosen area of research to support them as independent researchers

• MRes Dissertation (120 Credits)

Module code: SPOM049

Status: Compulsory

The module is designed to give students experience conducting original research and developing research skills. Students will develop theoretical knowledge and competence in the equipment/tools to be used within the research project, the associated measures, the planned protocols and specific data analysis techniques needed throughout a research project. Students will develop project management skills relevant to the ongoing management of large scale research projects

Project Opportunities

• Investigate the influence of test duration and ability level on the VLAmax principle.
• Investigating the use of ‘Near Infrared Spectroscopy’ (mNIRS) to monitor peripheral haemodynamic status in stroke or diabetic populations.
• An investigation into the short-term training effects of eccentric exercise on stroke survivors’ muscle-tendon mechanics.
• Northamptonshire Sport

Specialisms

• Assoc. Prof. Tony Baross: Primary research areas are the acute and chronic effects of isometric resistance training and the associated central and peripheral adaptations in borderline and hypertensive individuals in addition to investigating the feasibility of undertaking homebased isometric exercise within the community.
• Prof. Tony Kay: The acute and chronic effects of muscle stretching techniques and eccentric exercise on musculoskeletal and neuromuscular characteristics associated with musculotendinous mechanical properties, architecture, morphology, exercise-induced muscle damage, muscle strain injury, and musculoskeletal and neuromuscular characteristics associated with falls and functional decline in ageing.
• Dr. Mairi Mulvenna: Motivation (Achievement goal theory, self-determination theory), stress appraisals, anxiety, well-being, performance, (sub)optimal functioning. Generally focused on how motivation enhances psychological, emotional (and in some parts physiological) functioning and performance in sport.
• Assoc. Prof. Declan Ryan: Declan joined the University of Northampton in 2019. Since then, Declan has been awarded the University’s Diamond Award for Early Career Researcher of the Year of 2020 and has gone on to manage and deliver several evaluation and research projects, including the Northamptonshire Holiday Activities and Food Programme Summer 2021 evaluation.
• Dr. Matt Wood: In the sports ecosystem it is common for coaches to be part of a multidisciplinary support team (e.g. coaches, analysts, scientists, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and psychology). According to Rothwell et al. (2020), the challenge of integrating subdisciplines originates in a lack underpinning theory of learning and development. In response to this challenge, Ecological Dynamics (Araujo et al., 2015) has been proposed as a suitable theoretical framework to support the collaborative work of coaching and science practitioners in a Department of Methodology (DoM) with the aim of benefiting individual and team performance. This area of research invites students to explore the application of contemporary pedagogical theory (e.g. Constraints-led Approach and Nonlinear Pedagogy) to the coaching process. For example, a key interaction in a DoM is the use of sport performance analysis to enhance coaches’ experiential knowledge when designing and delivering representative practice tasks (Otte et al., 2020). Research in this area seeks to contribute to practical and theoretical knowledge of sports coaching.
• Dr. Carmen Horvat: Primary research area includes elite sport policy and management, in particular within the context of small states and with a focus on the organisation of a successful elite sport system. This encompasses a wide range of topics, including the overall organisational and financial structures; overall participation in sport, talent identification and athlete support systems; sports facilities; coaching and coach education; competitions; scientific research; as well as cultural and wider contextual influences on sporting achievements of athletes. In addition to the above, I am currently expanding my research into the area of management and policy of safeguarding in sport with an aim to aid to the underdeveloped understanding of this topic.
• Dr. Stacie Gray: I currently have two active research strands. The first is situated in the area of sport policy / governance, with a focus upon implementation and compliance (at the macro, meso and micro level). My second research area aims to enhance the student learning experience and influence higher education sport management teaching practice. Specific focus is placed upon equality, diversity and inclusion in the curricula. My articles have been published in a variety of high quality sport management, policy and education journals.
• Assoc. Prof. Emma Whewell: Emma Whewell is an Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching, Emma’s research centres around, physical education, initial teacher education, mentoring, identity, digital pedagogies and inclusive practices. Her publications are nationally and international recognized for influencing public policy and driving curriculum change. Emma would be interested in supervising projects in the above areas or if an applicant has a specific interest in children’s voice in alternative provision education.
• Dr. Lucy Zhu: Esports is my primary research interest. My research areas include motivation (Self-determination Theory), perceived service quality, well-being, behavioural intentions of spectators and players. I am also interested in sport marketing, gender studies in Esports, player wellbeing and burnout in Esports, as well as performance related research topics. I have close collaboration with researchers from UK as well as China, USA, South Korea and Japan for esports topics. My primary publications focused on scale development on measuring psychological and managerial constructs and their relationships to delineate the psychological pathways behind spectators’ decision making at esports events. I am involved in a number of UK and international grants related to Esports from human resource studies, leadership studies, to legal protection of underaged players.
• Dr. Emma Buxton: Primary research areas are sports biomechanics and impact mechanics. This includes investigating gymnastics landing forces, landing impacts and landing mechanics. This area investigated F.I.G. equipment testing procedures, established with impactor drops and gymnast landings with the use of F.I.G standard landing mats via both experimental and theoretical approaches. The primary aim is to investigate landing impact forces with focus of understanding the implications for both performance and injury reduction. Publications from the research can be found in the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. Additional research areas include gymnastic skill technical analysis with the use of simulation modelling for gymnastics high bar skills published in Sport Biomechanics journals.
• Dr. Brett Baxter: Brett’s area of expertise is exercise medicine, specifically the use of eccentric resistance training to improve neuromuscular function in clinical populations. Brett’s previous work has examined the acute, training, and detraining effects of eccentric resistance training in older adults in attempt to develop a minimal-dose strategy to combat age-related neuromuscular decline. Furthermore, Brett is interested in the use of eccentric resistance training to enhance neuromuscular function in those who have had a stroke, particularly by using the cross-education effect from training the unaffected limb.
• Dr. Michael Porter: Michael currently lectures at the University of Northampton on the BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science, and Rehabilitation courses, specialising in health and exercise physiology. Michael first studied at the university of Essex where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science. After graduating in 2016, he went onto pursue a Doctorate in Sports Science also at University of Essex. The title of Michael’s PhD, which was awarded in 2020 was “The Ergogenic Effects of Oxygen Supplementation on Cycling Performance”. Michael’s current research areas are the 1) use of ‘Near Infrared Spectroscopy’ (mNIRS) to monitor muscle oxygen levels, and 2) exploring the effects that oxygen supplementation has on muscular performance. Michael’s other research interests lie in physiological testing, the use and application of the VLAmax principle in exercise physiology, and wider interests in health physiology.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted for this degree relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

• UK – Full Time: £8,500
• International****– Full Time: £17,495

2024/25 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted for this degree relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

• UK – Full Time: £8,250
• International****– Full Time: £16,995

Staff

• Lecturer in Esports: Lucy Zhu
• Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching: Emma Buxton
• Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science (Kinesiology): Brett Baxter
• Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology: Michael Porter
• Associate Professor of Sport & Exercise Physiology: Anthony Baross
• Professor of Biomechanics: Tony Kay
• Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology: Mairi Mulvenna
• Associate Professor in Physical Activity & Health: Declan Ryan
• Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Performance Analysis: Matt Wood
• Lecturer in Sport Management: Carmen Horvat
• Senior Lecturer in Sport Business and Leadership: Stacie Gray
• Associate Professor in Learning & Teaching: Emma Whewell
• Lecturer in Esports: Lucy Zhu
• Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching: Emma Buxton
• Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science (Kinesiology): Brett Baxter
• Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology: Michael Porter
• Associate Professor of Sport & Exercise Physiology: Anthony Baross
• Professor of Biomechanics: Tony Kay
• Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology: Mairi Mulvenna
• Associate Professor in Physical Activity & Health: Declan Ryan