Examine how psychology can contribute to maintaining and enhancing high-level performance.
Drawing extensively from research and practice in sport psychology, this programme examines how psychology can contribute to maintaining and enhancing high-level performance across a variety of domains such as sport, military, emergency services, forensics, medicine, business and performing arts.
You will examine issues such as anxiety and distraction, that affect individual, team or group performance. You will also study how to address those issues, as well as techniques to enhance performance.
Our staff actively consult with high-level sport performers up to Olympic and World standards. They also draw on their experience using psychology in business, performing arts, military and outdoor education settings.
Staff hold academic and professional qualifications with recognised professional bodies for psychologists.
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Visit the University’s Degree Finder for detailed entry requirements, fees, international grade equivalency, language requirements and to apply.
What you will study
Masters degrees at the University of Edinburgh comprise 180 credits.
The first 120 credits are made up of taught courses, and the dissertation is worth 60 credits.
You must receive an average mark of 50% or more and pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of the taught courses to progress to the dissertation.
Once you successfully complete all 180 credits, you receive your MSc. You can complete the masters degree in 11 months full-time.
Our MSc is not specifically geared towards sport psychology although it does draw heavily from this area. This MSc does not offer formal accreditation to students wishing to complete a Sport Psychology accreditation route in the UK.
Courses
Learning is in the form of lectures, seminars and directed reading.
You will complete a series of seven courses. These courses cover key topics related to performance psychology as well as essential skills for scientific practitioners such as legal and ethical issues and effective communication.
Courses are designed to develop your ability to critically appraise scientific literature and apply methods to plan, conduct and disseminate your research, following the established principles of rigorous scientific study.
Once you successfully complete your taught courses you may progress to the dissertation. You must complete the dissertation to receive the MSc.
You may select any topic that reflects your interests as long as it remains within the overall rationale of the programme and appropriate supervision is available.
Examples of recent topics include:
professional development issues in sport psychology
decision-making in surgeons
mental toughness in military pilots
optimism and stress in trainee teachers
emotional intelligence and elite sport performance
talent development in dance and non-classical music
experiences of flow in dance
expertise development in international sport
change blindness’s effects moderated by experience level in sport
Submission format includes the option to submit in journal article style.
Support for your studies
You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.
We will assign you to a Student Advisor in your first few weeks at Edinburgh. This should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.
As public understanding grows towards the role of psychology in boosting performance, this programme paves the way for careers in a variety of fields, including:
sport
occupational and business psychology
executive performance
emergency services
team building
outdoor management
adventurous training
I can’t imagine doing what I do now without having studied this at Edinburgh.
Matilda Mayne
MSc Performance Psychology graduate
Our graduates have gone on to jobs that include:
private consultancy in sports, business, music and performing arts
management and technical roles in sporting bodies
sports psychology practice in Sport Institute (public funded)
lifestyle management in Sports Institute
military and training agencies (for example, primary medical care)
research (PhD in sports and business or management fields)
further professional training, such as for clinical or educational psychology
initial business roles to develop into Human Resources roles
teaching or lecturing (Higher and Tertiary education).
Our graduates have gone on to work for universities all over the world. Others have found jobs with the MoD, airlines and leading Performance Enhancement Consultancies in the UK and the US.
The University of Edinburgh's Careers Service supports all current students (and graduates for up to 2 years) to develop their potential and achieve satisfying and rewarding futures.
Join in and make use of:
individual appointments
group sessions
wider campus-based activity
online services and resources
We also deliver a diverse programme of face-to-face and online events throughout the academic year.
'I really enjoyed my time there because the lecturers really know how to help us understand and incorporate what we learn in the class to the real case in the real world.'
'This is the only programme in Europe that focuses not just on Sport but on Performance as a whole. To me this is a no-brainer – other areas such as the military, the arts, business, emergency services etc, also call for the same mental skills required by athletes and sports coaches.'
Scholarship opportunities are subject to change each year. We are pleased to offer a number of School-specific scholarships, but students are encouraged to seek out opportunities from the University and external funding bodies.
More information about available scholarships and funding can be found on our Scholarships and Studentships page.
