Our students

Hear from Zhen, 2021 MSc Physical Activity for Health student.

Hear from 2018 graduates of the MSc Physical Activity for Health programme.

Recent graduates shared their top tips and favourite parts of the MSc Physical Activity for Health in the following video.

What were you doing before you started studying at Moray House?

I was an undergraduate student majoring in sports and rehabilitation at Soochow University in China.

Why did you choose to study at Moray House?

The University of Edinburgh ranks very highly in the world, (QS World Rankings 2021), and it will be of great help to my future in industry or academia. In addition, the city of Edinburgh is also very attractive to me, with many stunning natural landscapes and historical buildings.

Why did you choose to study this degree?

I have ambitions and a clear plan for my academic career. This Master’s degree can improve my competitiveness and offer many opportunities to follow the world's top researchers, through daily learning and participating in the weekly meeting of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC).

What do you enjoy most about the programme?

The outstanding teaching and enthusiastic support. Firstly, you can meet some of the best researchers in the field of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and they are also keen to teach. Secondly, the Programme Director, Personal Tutor and lecturers of each course are very enthusiastic and promptly answer your questions. They will also do their best to provide you with opportunities and guidance for learning and research.

What specific skills did you develop?

Critical thinking - teachers encourage us to question and express our opinions on cases or papers in class and using discussion boards. This process requires us to read a large amount of literature in advance and think critically. This skill is very valuable both in scientific research and future clinical practice.

What is the most useful thing you have learned in your lectures, workshops or tutorials?

How to analyse and evaluate a peer-reviewed article. We conduct several additional journal club activities during the semester, led by PhD students in PAHRC. We discuss different types of articles in the field of physical activity, such as cohort studies and cross-sectional studies, to learn how to criticize and apply our learnings to future research. The Programme Director and teachers always work hard to improve our learning experience to help us achieve our goals.

Would you recommend the programme to others?

Yes! If you work hard enough, you can get everything you want. With active and helpful researchers in the field, you will be exposed to all of the skills in the field of physical activity and health, including clinical practice and scientific research. These skills can equip you well, whether it is for entering clinical practice or continuing with your education after graduation.

In what way do you think the degree will contribute to your career?

My goal is to find a PhD opportunity, and this degree can greatly enhance my competitiveness. Through systematic study, I have mastered many basic theories and research skills, and participated in many academic conferences. If I do not have an opportunity to study further, this Master's degree can also give me a relatively large advantage in the workplace.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying this programme at Moray House?

My adivce  is ‘don’t hesitate’. This programme can give you everything you want, the strongest academic atmosphere, the top researchers, and the most abundant learning and promotion opportunities.

QS World Rankings 2021

Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC)

Where are you from?

Glasgow, Scotland

What do you like best about your programme?

What I liked best was the content that was covered in each of the modules. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the different areas of physical activity for health, both physical and mental health benefits. On top of this, the programme staff were incredibly approachable, supportive and helpful which made it a very enjoyable year. In addition, the opportunities to conduct research using real-world settings provided me with great experience.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about applying to your programme?

I would tell someone that it is definitely worth applying for. It’s been so much more than a Masters! I’ve had the opportunity to make new friends, be introduced to various people within the field of physical activity for health and I’ve had the opportunity to conduct research in an area that I am truly passionate about. It has been my best experience to date at University, the staff are world-leading experts in the field of Physical Activity for health, as well as being unbelievably supportive and helpful, and it’s opened up so many opportunities for me!

What made you choose Moray House School of Education and Sport?

I chose to study at Moray House School of Education and Sport because of the breadth of expertise within the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre. I spoke to programme staff before applying and this really helped put me at ease and to realise that this was the programme for me. I also wanted to study in a different city and Edinburgh is a lovely place with lots of culture.

How do you feel your experience has better prepared you for your future career?

Doing this course has opened up so many opportunities for me. During the Masters, I had the opportunity to carry out research for a physical activity organisation. This gave me the experience of working closely with stakeholders, as well as conducting research within a real-world setting. Since completing it, I have been accepted for a life-changing opportunity to complete a PhD in Canada, thanks to the programme and staff!

Why did you choose to study our MSc Physical Activity for Health?

After completing my undergraduate degree in Health Science in 2013 from Flinders University in Australia I worked as a research assistant and tutor for a few years. During this time I decided that I wanted to pursue an academic career, which would require a doctoral research degree. However, I did not feel I was ready to undertake a PhD at that time so I started to look for MSc courses in the area of physical activity and health.

What did you enjoy most about the programme?

For me, the best part of the course was being taught by world-leading experts in the field of physical activity and health. The tutorials were always interactive with group work or class discussions part of every class. We were encouraged to develop our own thoughts and opinions on important topics and we were never lectured at for hours and hours!

What specific skills did you develop?

The most important skill that I have taken away from the MSc is being able to critique literature and synthesise evidence. These have helped me to be able to form my own opinions based on available evidence. 

Why would you recommend the programme to others?

You will be meet people from all over the world who have different work and life experiences. The teaching staff come from a variety of backgrounds (e.g. physiology, psychology, and epidemiology), so you will be able to work in a variety of areas based on your interests and experience.

How did your experience at Edinburgh help you get where you are today?

I am currently undertaking a PhD in exercise science and health. If I had not completed an MSc in Physical Activity for health, I would not have had the confidence or knowledge to be able to undertake this research degree. During my MSc, I was encouraged and supported to undertake a dissertation project that was directly related to the field of research that I was interested in, which ultimately led to my PhD programme of work.

I will forever cherish the knowledge, skills, friendships, and memories made from the MSc Physical Activity for Health.

What were you doing before you started studying at Moray House and what are you doing now?

I am from Germany and completed a BSc in Sports Science in Munich. Following my undergraduate studies, I moved to England and worked as a sports coach for an after-school club. Already during my BSc, I specialized in sports and health, so the MSc in Physical Activity and Health was my number 1 choice. After completing my Masters at Edinburgh University, I realized that I wanted to stay in academia and started a PhD in adolescent physical activity promotion at the University of the West of Scotland.

Why did you choose to study our MSc Physical Activity for Health?

I did a lot of research trying to find a programme that best matched my interests and aspirations for the future. The MSc in Physical Activity and Health fulfilled all my criteria and I was particularly intrigued by gaining knowledge around the psychology of physical activity, how physical activity changes across the lifespan, the implementation and evaluation of physical activity programs as well as the use of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of different health conditions. Edinburgh is also an absolutely fantastic city, which also helped make the decision to study here - and the time flew by!

What did you enjoy most about the programme?

The staff involved with this degree are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic about their work so this definitely contributed to me enjoying this degree so much.  I also really enjoyed the fact that we discussed so many different topics and lectures and tutorials were very relaxed and more like just having a conversat

学习方面 Aspects of Studying

一年里，你将会将学习到与此专业各种相关的课程，如研究活动与一些疾病的联系，身体活动的心理学， 实践中测量的操作的理论以及亲自动手的教学。 总的来说课程是比较全面从各方面理论，实操以及现实政策三方面开展进行的。通过学习后，在以后从事相关职业时不仅具备了相应的理论实操知识，还具备与相关实际政策联系的分析能力，真正做到学以致用。

In this one-year, you will study the theoretical curriculum like the psychology of Physical Activity and the practical curriculum like ABC, PA across the lifespan. Conclusively, you can not only get the theoretical knowledge but also have the opportunity to apply it into practice. For my perspective, the study process is really comprehensive and can be associated with a future career. 

关于课程设置而言，我们专业的老师每堂课之前都会把相应的幻灯片与相关文章上传，因此可以给我们充分的时间来准备预习。此外，课后都会有相关补充的内容提供给我们，由此让我们结合所讲再去思考。上课的风格而言，老师们都是鼓励一种大家参与讨论的互动教学模式，会有提问，而不再是比较枯燥单一的授课，特别提倡参与。

With regard to the setting of courses, the pre-class slides and suggested literature will be uploaded; therefore, students can have enough time to prepare before each session. As well, some complimentary materials will be given in order to encourage us to develop the ideas that have been taught in class. In terms of teaching style, the lecturers are always trying to ask some interactive questions and encouraging students to raise questions. As I concern, the engagement of both lectures and students is one of the best experiences in the MSc study.

从课程的考核方式来看，与国内有些不同，大多数不再是笔试而变成了写论文与演讲结合的考核模式。每门课的考核老师都会提供详细的要求，此外，前一届同学在这门课的表现也会提供， 这是为了更好地告诉我们上一届有哪些做的好的与不足， 由此给予我们在自己写时一些建议。 每门课出成绩后会有相应评语给出，自己可以由此消化哪里有需要改进，同时你也可以要求和老师一对一见面讨论你的论文。（关于每一科的作业准则，往届评价和课前提供幻灯片这两个方面，似乎只有我们这个专业有， 因此对于刚来学习时还不了解英国的考核方式的我来说，这两个方面真的给予我很大的帮助）

With regard to the assessment of courses, I would say it is slightly different from that in China. Unlike the dominant form of exams in China, assessments here are mostly by writing essays and giving presentations. However, the lecturers of our program will normally provide us with specifications and cohort feedback of each course. Consequently, students can have a clear idea of what is expected of us. Moreover, specific personal feedback will also be given to you and thereby we can conclude the shortcoming and strength within own essay. It is also available for us to arrange a personal meeting with the lecturer to discuss your essay. (As I have known, it seems that the specifications, cohort feedback and pre-class slides are only available in this programme, which I found really useful as I had no experience with the British education system or assessment).

除了平常的教学课程之外， 我们专业还有特别的阅读讨论课程和每周三的例会。在阅读讨论课上，大家会就一篇专业领域内已发表文章各抒己见，由此大家可以分析总结出优缺点并在自己的写作过程中取之精华去其糟粕。这个活动还有一个重要的意义就在于鼓励大家进行批判性思考，这也是英国大学的一个核心思想。 周三的例会有时学生是可以参加的，有时会有老师报告一下自己的项目研究，我的感受就是由此可以了解一些正在进行的相关项目研究与外界接轨，由此避免闭门造车。其次,你可以学习老师的演讲风格及回答问题方法进行模仿，因为演讲也是我们课程考核的一个重要组成部分。

Apart from the curriculum, we also have several journal club sessions and PAHRC meeting every Wednesday. In the journal club, students get the opportunity to discuss published papers. Specifically, students can share ideas and develop critical thinking when writing their own essays. The Wednesday meeting is also sometimes available for students; there will sometimes have researchers who come to give a presentation. As I concern, I can get two benefits from it. Firstly, you can get an idea of the latest study in reality and also relate it to your knowledge. Secondly, I can also learn the presentation skills from the session since the presentation is also an important component of our assessment.

最后关于毕业论文，我想说导师很负责任，在你进行论文的过程中会给予指导与帮助。（相比于我本科而言，最后论文导师平均一个人负责三个学生，因此老师指导机会更多也更了解你的论文方向. 我们专业一个特点就是有老师给出一些论文方向以供同学参考，其中很多题目都很有意思而且可以与外面机构组织合作，一方面很能与实际结合，另一方面也锻炼了与专业相关组织合作的能力。

Last is regarding the dissertation, the supervisors are really responsible for each student and offering a lot of help and instructions. (Compare to my undergraduate, the supervisors here are averagely directing three students which means you can have more chances to discuss your topic with them) Moreover, the supervisors of our program provide us with some interesting topics for our dissertation. Meanwhile, some of the topics are really associated with outside institutions. Therefore, it is really a good experience for students to work with some authorities. Again, it is indeed applying the knowledge in practice.

The tutorials were always interactive with group work or class discussions part of every class.

What were you doing before you started studying at Moray House and what are you doing now?

I completed a BSc in Sport Science at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, before also working there in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science as a research assistant for just over a year. I have a strong interest in population health, health policy and how political landscape can influence health, and I’d like to be able to link these topics together in the future, whether this is in a research setting, or in a more policy or practical based environment. I’m also looking to submit a PhD proposal to investigate further the health benefits of active travel, which would be leading on from the dissertation I completed for the MSc. 

Why did you choose to study our MSc Physical Activity for Health?

I knew after completing my BSc in Sports Science that I had a strong interest in broader population health as well as exercise, and the MSc in Physical Activity for Health was the ideal course in bringing the two topics together. The University of Edinburgh is obviously world-renowned and to have an opportunity to study here was a no-brainer. I knew Edinburgh was a great city, so there was little hesitation. This was an easy decision to make, and looking back, a great one. 

What did you enjoy most about the programme?

The teaching was excellent and the staff are all very passionate about what they do. The opportunity to take elective classes in the School of Health and in the School of Social and Political Science also really helped with enhancing and enriching the experience. The emphasis on physical activity as a research area within public health is fresh and relatively recent, so it was exciting to be involved in the area, especially as it was the first year the programme had been run.

What specific skills did you develop?

Emphasis is certainly placed on good quality research, and the teaching, therefore, involved a lot of critiquing research papers. I’ve definitely gained a greater appreciation of how important integrity and bias are in influencing the quality of research. Being required to think and write more critically was definitely something that was emphasised, and this has helped hugely in work I have been doing since graduating.

Why would you recommend the programme to others?

This is definitely an area of health that is of huge importance. It’s a relatively new and very exciting research area, and one where taking this MSc could really help you make a difference! The department is very welcoming and teaching, support, and enthusiasm from staff made it a very enjoyable year.

How did your experience at Edinburgh help you get where you are today?

The working relationships I have developed with staff and students whilst carrying out the MSc have helped provide me with a research assistant post with the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre and the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about applying to your programme?

 Edinburgh is the most lovely city in the world, for people, for nature and for life. Choosing the MSc Physical Activity for Health programme would be the right choice.

What made you choose Moray House School of Education and Sport?​​​​

My undergraduate research area was about physical activity and health recommendations among preschool children. It aligned with Dr. Fawkner’s research topic. I searched her research topic before I knew of Moray House School of Education and Sport.

How do you feel your experience has better prepared you for your future career?

Now, I am in the Science and Technology department of Chinese Winter Sport Management Centre. I have been serving Chinese elite winter sports athletes and developing sport performance measurements such as body composition, cardiopulmonary endurance and Wingate tests and data analysis. I applied research methods that I learned from Edinburgh to all the above work. And my next job is a Lecturer at an Art and Science College from this September, I will use skills I learned from the University of Edinburgh.

What specific skills did you develop?

As for rewards, I got specific research and scientific writing skills from different sessions, which effectively trained and prepared me to continue my research roads in my life. I made EUBDS (Edinburgh University Ballroom Dance Club) friends, with impressive dance competition experiences in Manchester and Blackpool.