Program Overview

Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology

About this course

The programme is designed to meet BPS Stage 2 requirements in Sport and Exercise Psychology and eligibility for HCPC registration.

• The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is ranked first in the North West and top 20 in the world for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• Study full-time or part-time
• Benefit from quality teaching and supervision provided by experienced sport and exercise psychologists
• Study on a course underpinned by high-grade research and practice, designed to meet BPS Stage 2 training requirements in Sport and Exercise Psychology and eligibility for registration as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the HCPC
• Enjoy the world-class facilities in the award-winning Tom Reilly Building
• Look forward to enhanced career opportunities in Sport and Exercise Psychology professional practice and promotion, as well as education, teaching and research

The programme is underpinned by a strong focus on equipping future Sport and Exercise Psychologists with the competencies required to work in a range of professional practice scenarios. You will work closely with academic staff who are leaders in their research field and experts in training. In keeping with the nationally agreed curriculum competences for Sport and Exercise Psychologists, you will develop your professional skills in teaching and training (education and dissemination), ethics and professional standards, research and consultancy through your own work-based learning experiences, taught sessions on the programme and extensive supervision.

Course modules

Core modules

• Planning Training in Sport and Exercise Psychology (30 credits)
  • This module introduces the programme and helps you to produce a training plan in line with the competencies required by the British Psychological Society and Health and Care Professions Council. It also helps you to reflect on that plan in the form of a SWOT analysis.
• Sport and Exercise Psychology Professional Practice (270 credits)
  • The aim of this module is to capture the competences of Professional Skills and Standards (including ethics of applied practice), Consultancy, Research, and Teaching, & Training (education and dissemination) in sport and exercise psychology over the period of training.
• Reflection in Sport and Exercise Psychology (60 credits)
  • This module requires you to reflect on your learning experiences as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist by reflecting on your practitioner development and how this informs your future practice.

Professional accreditation

Designed to meet British Psychological Society (BPS) Stage 2 requirements in Sport and Exercise Psychology and eligibility for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.

Your Learning Experience

• Teaching: You will develop your skills in teaching and training (education and dissemination), research, consultancy and the generic professional skills needed to qualify as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist. This is achieved through your own work-based learning experiences, taught sessions on the programme and extensive supervision.
• Assessment: The Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology programme requires a portfolio of work to be completed. This includes: a log and reflective diary of professional practice and consultancy/teaching plus training case studies. In terms of research, you will be expected to produce a systematic literature review and two empirical papers of publishable quality.

Career paths

• A growing number of Sport and Exercise Psychology graduates work in applied settings as Sport and Exercise Psychology practitioners and promoters, as well as taking up positions in Sport and Exercise Psychology education, teaching and research.

Tuition fees and funding

• Home: £8,730 per year (full-time)
• International: £18,250 per year (full-time)
• Scholarships: LJMU provides a variety of postgraduate scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter.

Entry requirements

• Home: A good honours degree in Psychology conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership from the British Psychological Society; and a BPS Accredited MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, normally at merit level or higher.
• International: IELTS score of 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in each component)
• Additional requirements: A suitable pre-determined placement or work related learning opportunities (paid or voluntary)