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Performance Psychology

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MSc Performance Psychology - 1 Year (Full-time)

MSc Performance Psychology (ICL) - 2-6 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)

PgDip Performance Psychology - 9 Months (Full-time)

PgDip Performance Psychology (ICL) 1-4 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)

Information on fees & costs

Individual programme fees are linked above. For detailed information on fee status, policies, payment and funding opportunities see:

Part-time intermittent study is available for this programme: you can pay on a course-by-course basis rather than pay for a complete programme at the outset. If you were to pay for a full programme at 2012/13 rates, the fees would be as follows: MSc: UK/EU students £5,750; international students £13,050 PgDip: UK/EU students £3,835 As fees change each year, the length of time you take to complete your programme will affect the total cost.

Contact information: Postgraduate Admissions
Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3571
Email: educationpg@ed.ac.uk; Hugh Richards (Programme Director)
Phone: +44 (0) 131 651 6092
Email: perfpsych@ed.ac.uk; Address: Moray House School of Education
Old Moray House
Edinburgh
EH8 8AQ

Increasingly, high-level performance relies on an understanding of the psychology of stamina and success, not only in sport but in areas as diverse as business, the performing arts, the military and emergency services.

Entry requirements

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent is required in a relevant discipline, such as psychology, exercise psychology, organisational behaviour, or sport science. Alternatively, you may be considered on the basis of employment or relevant experience.

International students

All applicants must meet our general entry and language requirements. Detailed advice for international students is available here:

Programme description

Drawing on current research and practice, this fascinating programme introduces you to the issues that relate to both individual and group performance, then encourages you to develop techniques to minimise the influence of limitations, such as anxiety and distraction.

Striking a balance between psychological methods and the wider professional skills needed to apply them, the courses you will undertake will also give you the knowledge and tools you need to be able to critically appraise and apply scientific literature, and to plan, conduct and disseminate your own research.

Programme structure

Your learning will be in the form of lectures, seminars and directed reading.

You will complete a series of seven courses:

Understanding Research Concepts
Research Process
Professional Skills
Stress: Coping and Control
Peak Performance
Planning and Instruction for Performance
Dynamics of Performance Teams

To graduate with the MSc degree, you will also produce an independently researched dissertation.

Career Opportunities

This qualification could lead to a career that capitalises on the increasing interest in the application of performance psychology in a number of fields. Recent graduates have taken up roles in areas as diverse as sports psychology, private consultancy in sports, business and the performing arts, outdoor and adventure training, and higher and tertiary education.

You may instead choose to extend your studies with a doctoral degree (after completion of the MSc) or use the transferable skills you will gain in areas such as communication and project management in an unrelated career role.

Funding

Please see Scholarships and Student Funding Services for information about funding opportunities:

Scholarships and Student Funding Services

Further Information

This article was published on Apr 25, 2013