Applied Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation MSc

Program Overview

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Applied Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation MSc

Course overview

Developed with industry collaborators, this course integrates performance physiology, biomechanics, injury rehabilitation and advanced training techniques.

• Focus on evidence-based approaches with a strong scientific foundation aligned with UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) standards.
• Gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in professional sports environments with guidance from industry experts.
• Combine comprehensive academic study with hands-on practical application in our industry-standard facilities.
• The course integrates the International Certificate of Digital Literacy (ICDL) module Data Analytics. You will be awarded an ICDL certificate and electronic badge on successful completion of the ICDL module.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

• Industry-recognised standards: course content is mapped to UKSCA and CIMSPA competencies, ensuring that on successful graduation, you meet industry standards and are well-prepared for your future professional accreditation.
• Expert-led learning: you'll be taught by active researchers and accredited practitioners, including professionals with experience supporting elite teams and athletes. Our staff bring real-world experience, with some holding positions within the UKSCA and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
• Modern facilities: utilise our strength and conditioning facility which features extensive laboratory space built to help you train smarter, get stronger and achieve your goals.
• Networking opportunities: engage with industry experts through guest lectures and collaborative projects, providing opportunities to build valuable connections in the growing field of sports performance and rehabilitation.
• Varied career pathways: develop into a forward-thinking, evidence-based practitioner, prepared for roles such as a strength and conditioning coach, cardiac physiologist, high-performance coach, rehabilitation specialist, or head of performance and physical preparation.
• Gain practical experience: boost your CV with an additional professional placement. See the modules for more details.

What you'll study

The course's core subject areas include performance physiology, biomechanics, sports injuries, corrective exercises, recovery strategies, and strength and conditioning practice. Through a blend of academic study and applied training, students will graduate with the skills and knowledge to excel in competitive and evolving professional environments.

Modules

• Strength and Conditioning Science – 30 credits Explore key areas of human physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition, and understand how adaptations to training, principles or modalities influence different performance environments. Gain the scientific knowledge necessary to apply strength and conditioning practices in exercise and sports performance.
• Testing and Monitoring for Performance – 30 credits Enhance your knowledge and practical skills in assessing and monitoring athlete fitness and performance. Learn about various tests, their principles and practical applications to deepen your understanding of an athlete’s assessment and monitoring. Use various laboratory and field-based tests to quantify physiological and biomechanical performance.
• Applied Strength and Conditioning – 30 credits Enhance your applied strength and conditioning coaching skills, including the planning and delivery of training. Develop advanced skills in programme design for strength, speed, and power development to meet the performance needs of the individual.
• Athlete Injury Rehabilitation and Return to Play – 30 credits Further develop your understanding of rehabilitation for a range of common musculoskeletal injuries using the latest evidence base. Focus on working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop training plans for injury rehabilitation from early to pre-discharge phase with a specific focus on meeting the sports-specific requirements to allow athletes to successfully return to play/competition. The module will cover rehabilitation of all peripheral joints and spinal rehabilitation in a range of different rehabilitation settings as well as developing all components of fitness for performance in a range of sports.
• Master’s with professional placement If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.
  • Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
  • The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
  • Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
  • The professional placement will be integrated into your course learning and outcomes. This will take the form of a reflective diary demonstrating your learning and engagement with the placement experience.
  • The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.
• Research Project – 60 credits Learn the skills needed to conduct independent research, culminating in a dissertation and associated artefact. It covers research methodologies, data

collection, analysis and interpretation, alongside ethical practices and effective time management. Learn to structure and write a coherent dissertation, adhere to academic integrity standards, and master academic writing and referencing. Get prepared to produce original, well-organised research and disseminate your findings effectively.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• presentations
• practical lab work
• field sessions
• case studies

You’ll also be supported with a range of online activities such as:

• online tutorials
• discussion boards
• online lectures
• online problem-based learning

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

• presentations
• group projects
• live simulations
• individual application development work
• portfolios
• written documentation
• dissertation

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

• UK
• International

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in sport and exercise science with modules that included exercise physiology or biomechanics.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

• Africa
• Americas
• Central Asia
• East Asia
• Europe
• Middle East
• South Asia
• South East Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student | Full-time | Part-time ---|---|--- UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,350 | Not available EU | £9,350 per year with EU Support Bursary** | Not available £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary** | Not available International | £18,600 | Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

• Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
• Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Facilities

• Strength and conditioning suiteOur Strength and Conditioning facility houses Olympic lifting platforms, designed exclusively for students.
• Sports scienceAssess the way a person moves and identify biomechanical abnormalities using our athletics track, 3D motion capture system, isokinetic dynamometers, pressure plate integrated treadmills and floor-integrated force platforms and anti-gravity treadmill.
• Environmental chamber Simulate how the human body performs at the top of Mount Everest, in the Sahara or at the South Pole. With climate and altitude control, you can test the effects of environmental conditions such as temperature and barometric pressure on the human body.
• Clinical skills areasThese large, flexible spaces are designed to simulate real-life healthcare settings. Practice essential clinical skills, such as patient assessment, physical examination and procedure performance in a controlled environment.

Careers and opportunities

Successful graduates could go on to work in positions such as:

• strength and conditioning coach
• director of performance
• data/ performance analyst
• athletics director
• cardiac rehabilitation
• personal trainer
• physical preparation coach

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:

• England Rugby Sevens
• The Ospreys rugby team
• Aston Villa WFC
• Coventry City FC
• IndigoFitness
• Wigan Athletic FC
• Sheffield Wednesday FC
• Kent County Cricket Club
• Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
• Elmhurst Ballet School