Program Overview

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Introduction to the Psychology of Exercise Rehabilitation MSc

The Psychology of Exercise Rehabilitation MSc is a postgraduate program offered by Loughborough University, designed to equip students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills required to work safely and effectively in contexts that employ exercise or physical activity as rehabilitation.

Qualification(s) Available

• MSc

Fees

• Dependent on start date.
• See below for specific fee details.

Scholarships Available

• Available for eligible students.

Entry Requirements

• 2:1+ honors degree or equivalent international qualification in sport and/or exercise psychology, or other relevant degree that contains elements of exercise psychology.

Full-time and Part-time Study Options

• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: Typically 2 years

Location

• Loughborough

Start Date

• October 2025 or October 2026

Department

• Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Program Description

This flexible program will enable students to develop fundamental knowledge, understanding, and skills across all aspects of rehabilitation sciences in an exercise context, before giving them the opportunity to develop an in-depth insight into the psychological factors that influence the rehabilitation process. Students will have the chance to gain practice-based experience, as well as undertake an independent research project to address a scientific question or real-life issue.

Why Choose Loughborough University?

• 1st in the world for the ninth time running for sport-related subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject).
• Silver Athena Swan Silver Award for Commitment to Gender Equality (2025).
• Sports University of the Year (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025).
• 100% of research impact in Sport and Exercise Sciences rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (REF 2021).

What You'll Study

The program is designed to equip students with the psychological knowledge, skills, and competencies required to work safely and effectively in contexts that employ exercise or physical activity as rehabilitation. For more information about part-time study patterns, please contact the School/Department.

Semester 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Quantitative Research (15 credits)
  • Further Research Methods and Project Preparation (15 credits)
  • Rehabilitation Sciences (30 credits)
  • Professional and Reflective Practice in Exercise Rehabilitation (30 credits)

Semester 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • Professional and Reflective Practice in Exercise Rehabilitation (30 credits)
  • Psychological approaches to rehabilitation (30 credits)
  • Research Project in Sport, Health and Rehabilitation (60 credits)

Summer

• Compulsory modules:
  • Research Project in Sport, Health and Rehabilitation (60 credits)

How You'll Be Assessed

You will be assessed both theoretically and practically via essays, reports, presentations, and exams, as well as a research project.

How You'll Study

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Practical sessions

Where You'll Study

As a student on the Psychology of Exercise Rehabilitation MSc degree, you will benefit from the unparalleled facilities and expertise available at the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine – East Midlands on campus and the nearby National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC).

Entry Requirements for International Students

The University uses the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities to identify the required final mark for students from China. For other countries, the entry requirements are as follows:

• Afghanistan: Masters, 95%
• Albania: Diplomë e Nivelit të Pare, 9.5
• Algeria: Licence, 16
• Argentina: Licenciatura, 8.5
• Armenia: Bakalavri Kochum, 90%
• Australia: Honours degree, First Class, 80%
• Austria: Degree, A (or 1.5)
• Azerbaijan: Bakalavr Diplomu, 4.5
• Bahamas: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bahrain: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Bangladesh: 4 Year Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1st (70%)
• Barbados: University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Belarus: Specialist Diploma, 9
• Belgium: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Belize: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Benin: Maitrise, 18
• Bermuda: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bolivia: Licenciado, 8.5
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja, 10
• Botswana: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Brazil: Bacharel or Licenciado, 8.5
• Brunei: First
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie, 6
• Burundi: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 18
• Cambodia: Master's, 80%
• Cameroon: Bachelor degree, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Canada: GPA 4.0/Percentage, 3.7/85%
• Chile: Grado de Licenciado, 6
• China: Shanghai Rank Top 250, 83%
• Colombia: Licenciado, 4.5
• Costa Rica: Licenciado, 9
• Croatia: Baccalaureus, 4.5
• Cuba: Titulo de Licenciado, 5
• Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 8.5
• Czech Republic: Bakalár, 1
• Denmark: Candidatus, 12
• Dominican Republic: Licenciado, 3.8
• Ecuador: Título de Licenciado, 8.5
• Egypt: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• El Salvador: Licenciado, 8.5
• Estonia: Bakalaureusekraad, 5
• Ethiopia: Master's, A or GPA 4.0
• Finland: Kandidaattii, 3
• France: Licence, 14
• Georgia: 4-year degree, 5 (95%)
• Germany: German Bachelor, 1.5
• Ghana: Bachelor degree, First
• Greece: Ptychio, 8.5
• Grenada: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Guatemala: Licenciado, 90%
• Guyana: Master's, GPA 4
• Honduras: Título de Licenciado, 91
• Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, 1st or 3.5/4
• Hungary: Alapfokozt, 4.5
• Iceland: Baccalaurreatus degree, 8.5
• India: Institutions listed on the National Institutional Ranking Framework, 65%
• Indonesia: Sarjana I, 3.3
• Iran: Bachelor degree, 17
• Iraq: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Ireland: Bachelor degree, First (70%)
• Israel: Bachelor degree, 90%
• Italy: Diploma di Laurea, 109/110
• Ivory Coast: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 16
• Jamaica: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Japan: Gakushi, 85%
• Jordan: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Kazakhstan: GPA 5.0/percentage scale, 4.5
• Kenya: Bachelor degree, First (70%)
• Kosovo: Bachelor degree, 10
• Kuwait: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.6
• Latvia: Bachelor degree, 9
• Lebanon: American, 90% (3.5)
• Liberia: Master's, 4.0 or 90%
• Libya: BSc Engineering, 85 (3.6)
• Lithuania: Bachelor degree, 9
• Luxembourg: Bachelor degree, 18
• Macau: Bachelor degree, 1st or GPA 3.7
• Macedonia: Magistar, 10
• Malawi: Master's, A or 80%
• Malaysia: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Malta: Bachelor degree, 1st (80%)
• Mauritius: Bachelor degree, 1st (70%)
• Mexico: Licenciado, 8.5
• Moldova: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
• Mongolia: Диплом Специалиста, 90%
• Montenegro: Diplomirani, 10
• Morocco: Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État, 16
• Mozambique: Mestrado, 16
• Myanmar (Burma): Master's, 5 or 85%
• Namibia: Bachelor (Honours), 80%
• Nepal: 4-year professional degree, 80%
• Netherlands: Bachelor degree, 8
• New Zealand: 4 Year Honours degree, First (7.0)
• Nicaragua: Licenciado, 90%
• Nigeria: 7 point Scale, 6
• Norway: Kandidatexamen, A / 1.8
• Oman: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Pakistan: 4 Year degree, A- or GPA 3.7
• Palestine: Bachelor (4-years), (85%) 3.5
• Panama: Licenciado, 91
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor (Honours) Degree, 1st
• Paraguay: Título de Licenciado, 4.5
• Peru: Título de Licenciado, 14
• Philippines: Degree from prestigious state universities, Summa Cum Laude 4.0
• Poland: Bachelor Degree, 5
• Portugal: Diplom de Estudos Superiores Especializados, 18
• Qatar: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Romania: Diploma de Licenta, 9
• Russia: Bakalavr, 4.5
• Rwanda: 4-year bachelor (Hons) degree, 1st, 16/20 (80%)
• Saudi Arabia: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Senegal: Maitrise, 16/20 or Tres Bien
• Serbia: Diplomirani, 9
• Sierra Leone: Honours degree, 1st (70%)
• Singapore: Bachelor (Hons), First
• Slovakia: Bakalár, 1.5
• Slovenia: University Diplom, 9
• South Africa: Bachelor (Honours), 1st or 75%
• South Korea: GPA out of 4.5, 3.8 / B+
• Spain: Licenciado, 8.5
• Sri Lanka: 4-year Professional degree, 90%
• Sudan: 4-year degree, 1st, 70%, B+
• Sweden: Kandidatexamen, Overall grade of VG
• Switzerland: Bachelor Degree, 10 / 5.5 / 1
• Syria: State universities, 80%
• Taiwan: Category 1 (4 year degree), 80%
• Tajikistan: Диплом специалиста, 5
• Tanzania: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Thailand: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Trinidad and Tobago: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Tunisia: Licence, 16 (tres bien)
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi, 3.5
• Turkmenistan: 4 Yr Bakalavr, 5
• Uganda: Bachelor degree, 1st or 4.4
• Ukraine: Dyplom Magistra, 4.5
• United Arab Emirates: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• United States of America: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Uruguay: Licenciado, 9
• Uzbekistan: Majistr Diplomi, 90%
• Venezuela: Licenciado, 18/20 or 8/9
• Vietnam: 10-point scale, 8.0
• Zambia: Master's, A or 4.0 or 80%
• Zimbabwe: 3/4 year degree, 1st or 75%

English Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Fees and Funding

Fees for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

• UK fee: £13,250 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £30,950 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

• UK fee: £13,700 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £31,900 Full-time degree per annum

Your Development

We are committed to helping you develop the skills and attributes needed to progress successfully in your chosen career. Specifically, the program aims to:

• Provide students with in-depth knowledge of the psychological principles and considerations underpinning exercise and physical activity rehabilitation
• Provide students with critical insights and awareness of the psychological theory and practice of sport, exercise, and physical activity rehabilitation
• Equip students with the practical knowledge, skills, and strategies to be able to support the rehabilitation of patients/clients as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Equip students with the research methods knowledge and skills relevant to studying the psychology of rehabilitation
• Develop reflective and professional exercise rehabilitation practitioners who can contribute to further advancement of the field.

Your Future Career

This degree program will help you to integrate psychological principles into your work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a clinical/medical exercise rehabilitation setting or wider exercise and fitness industry context. It will be ideal for individuals either currently working, or wishing to work, across contexts in which movement, physical activity, and exercise are core components of effective rehabilitation. This might include current or aspiring health care or exercise/fitness professionals wishing to extend or develop their psychological knowledge, understanding, and skills to enhance individuals' physical and mental health or chronic disease risk reduction.

Related Master's Degrees

• Exercise Rehabilitation MSc
• Sport Rehabilitation MSc
• Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc
• Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences PhD