Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology

Overview

Sport psychologists help athletes enhance their performance and well-being through mental skills training, coping strategies, and psychological support. Increasingly in demand due to growing recognition of the importance of psychology and mental health to performance, sport psychologists work across a range of sport, health, performance, and physical activity settings with an expanding demographic of clients.

Our BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology degree will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the diverse, complex, and wide-ranging territory of sport psychology.

Key Facts

• Award: BSc (Hons)
• Start date: September 2025
• Duration: 48 months
• Mode of study: full time, part time
• Delivery: on campus
• UCAS Code: CC68
• Study abroad opportunities

Accreditations

Accredited by the British Psychological Society

Why Choose Stirling for this Course?

• Stirling is one the best places to study sport in the UK. We’re Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence and were awarded UK Sports University of the Year 2020 (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide). We're also 1st in Scotland for sports research with 80% of our research in Sport and Exercise Sciences classed as world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).
• We have strong partnerships with many national governing bodies of sport and other sporting organisations, some of which are based on campus (e.g. Tennis Scotland, Triathlon Scotland, Sport Scotland Institute of Sport). We also work alongside many innovative community sport and active lifestyle organisations, meaning that our students have a range of excellent networking and development opportunities.
• You will be taught by leaders in the field. Our sport psychology faculty are experienced and active applied practitioners and researchers, meaning they bring their real-world knowledge and cutting-edge research into the classroom.
• The course integrates sport psychology modules with key modules provided by our innovative and award-winning psychology department, along with well-chosen modules in broader sport and also exercise psychology. Students therefore build important foundations across key knowledge areas that will support entry into a variety of employment or further study options.
• Based on a single campus, the sport psychology course maintains a community atmosphere. Students benefit from small seminar sizes and social and professional development events where you can get to know your instructors and other students.
• There are exciting opportunities to study abroad (e.g., Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand) for a Year 3 semester through Stirling’s well-established connections with several international universities.

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• We're ranked Top 5 in Scotland for Sports Science (The Complete University Guide 2025)
• You’ll have the opportunity to study abroad through our well-established connections with universities in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe
• We will support you to gain relevant work experience and during the course you will receive lectures from guest speakers in the sports industry

Entry Requirements

Year 1 Entry – Four-year Honours

• SQA Highers: AABB
• GCE A-levels: BBB
• IB Diploma: 28 points
• BTEC (Level 3): DDM
• Widening access students: Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
• Care-experienced applicants: Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Year 2 Entry – Three-year Honours

• SQA Advanced Higher: ABB
• GCE A-level: ABB
• IB Diploma: 32
• Essential subjects: Psychology

Other Scottish Qualifications

• Scottish HNC/HND: Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
• Access courses: University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
• SWAP access course: for mature students only.
• Foundation Apprenticeships: Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

International Entry Requirements

View the entry requirements for your country

Advanced Entry

• Year 2 entry: Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
• Other qualifications: Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team.

Other Routes of Entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the routes available.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

Course Details

BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology is an innovative four-year course that will give you in-depth understanding of sport, exercise, and general psychology. You will complete a novel research project related to the application of psychology to sport and/or exercise and have the opportunity to undertake relevant and exciting work experience within the sport industry.

Year 1

Sport modules in Year 1 will introduce the importance of sport to individuals and communities, focusing on physical activity and health, sport and exercise science, sports psychology, sociology, and management.

You will also study mainstream psychology modules delivered by the Psychology department. These will be on a wide range of topics designed to give you an introduction to psychology and provide key foundations on which to build, including laboratory practice and reporting.

Year 2

In your second year, you will study a module focused on sport as a global phenomenon. This module will increase your awareness and appreciation of the far-reaching impact of sport around the world by exploring not only the social, political and cultural benefits of sport, but also the less favourable impacts of sport. Additionally, you will study a module focused on the foundational knowledge, theories and contemporary issues of relevance in sport and exercise psychology. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of what sport and exercise psychology is and an appreciation of what sport and exercise psychologists are seeking to achieve.

Additionally, you will continue to study mainstream psychology modules delivered by the Psychology department. There are two themed modules in Year 2: The Social Mind and Brain and Behaviour–Clinical Perspectives. The Social Mind integrates material from social, cognitive, developmental and biological psychology, while Behaviour–Clinical Perspectives integrates material from biological and cognitive psychology. You will also take a module in Research Methods delivered by the Psychology department.

In the first three semesters, you will be given the choice of one additional module from across the University. This will broaden your knowledge in a range of topics and develop your academic abilities ready for a more in-depth and specialised exploration in sport and exercise psychology in your final two years.

Years 3 and 4

In the final two years, you will deepen your understanding of the sport sector/industry by completing two subject-specific modules in sport and exercise psychology, and develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to undertake academic inquiry into sport.

All students take an Advanced Studies in Sport module to help them prepare for a major independent project on a topic that reflects their interests and/or career aspirations. You will also complete a Professional Practice in Sport module, which includes a period of work-based learning and guest lectures on working in the sport and exercise psychology industry.

You will also study a range of core subjects: cognitive psychology, social psychology, individual differences, and developmental psychology. These modules will provide opportunities to develop skills in group work, practical work, and experience of working with pre-school children. You will also get the chance to sharpen your communication skills through group discussions and oral presentations.

We would encourage you to develop your knowledge, skills and experiences in sport and exercise psychology by engaging in voluntary and/or paid sport and exercise psychology opportunities beyond the course.

You will complete your BSc (Hons) Sports Psychology course as an independent learner, capable of critical analysis and communication through various mediums to a range of audiences. You will have also laid the foundations of being an independent researcher, prepared for further study at MSc and/or PhD / Professional Doctorate level.

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2025. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Teaching

The Sport Psychology course will be delivered using a blended learning approach of face-to-face and online learning. Modules will be delivered through lectures, small group seminars and practical classes. Learning also takes places through a wide range of activities within and beyond these classes:

• group project work;
• participating in experiments run by staff and other students;
• oral presentations;
• opportunities to undertake work placements.

Materials posted online through our virtual learning portal will support this contact time. Additional learning materials will take the form of podcasts, video lectures, and additional reading material.

Assessment

The courses uses a wide range of assessment approaches. The assessments are designed to improve and assess students’ attainment of the learning outcomes, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication, and group working skills. Assessments make use of coursework and exams.

Coursework assessments can take the form of online tests, essays and digi-essays, reports, as well as individual/group presentations. Exams include multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, essay-based questions or a combination of question types. The assessments and marking criteria are aligned to the appropriate level on the SCQF Framework.

Work Placement Opportunities

In the final year of the course, there is a sport professional practice module which involves a placement element. The placement opportunity will either be

• a role students are currently in (e.g., in a sport/exercise/psychology role) which they can reflect upon, demonstrate key learning, and utilise for the purpose of the course, or;
• a placement opportunity from within the University (e.g., University sports teams), or;
• running an event within the University with fellow students.

In the latter option, students may be tasked with, for instance, running a sport and exercise psychology event series, putting on a school sport event, running a webinar series around sports and exercise psychology topics of interest, running a sports tournament for charity or running an academic conference.

Study Abroad

You’ll have the opportunity to study abroad through our well-established connection with several North American, Australian and European universities.

Fees and Funding

Fees and Costs

• Scottish students: This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
• International students (including EU): Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

Additional Costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips.

Funding

• Sports scholarships: Our International Sports Scholarship Programme is one of the largest high-performance sports programmes in the UK.
• Students from Scotland: Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
• International students: Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

After You Graduate

A sport psychology degree also makes you eligible for further study and training to become a qualified sport and exercise psychologist. Having a sport psychology degree will equip you for a range of career options in sports, performance, exercise, and/or psychology industries.

What Jobs Can You Get with a Sport Psychology Degree?

• Graduates from this course will be well placed to source a range of jobs in the sport and exercise industry. For example, by working directly with athletes and clients (e.g., as a coach, personal trainer, etc.) or by working with sport and fitness organisations (e.g., as a sport development officer, administrative staff, or team co-ordinator).
• With further postgraduate training, graduates from this course can be employed to work with a broad range of clients including individual athletes, teams, and support staff across a range of sporting disciplines, providing sport psychology support to help them deal with the demands of their sport.
• With further postgraduate training, graduates from this course can be employed in exercise psychology settings, including being employed to work with individuals and groups in GP surgeries, employers' premises, client's homes, clinical settings, and local fitness centre roles, to counsel clients about the potential benefits that can be derived from participation in regular exercise.
• Graduates from this course can be employed to conduct research in sport and exercise psychology in commercial and academic settings.
• With further postgraduate training, graduates from this course can be employed to teach and train sport and exercise psychology students (in lecturing roles, for example) and/or establish and direct private practice in sport and/or exercise psychology.

96% of our graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes, HESA).