Curious about studying Psychology of Sport and Exercise - BSc (Hons)at University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Staffordshire (Stoke Campus)
Flexible
Sep 2026
3 Year
Study on the UK’s only sports and exercise psychology online learning degree and kick-start your future career. Explore how athletes think, feel, and behave through our distinctive degree, designed for those aspiring to become sport or exercise psychologists, performance lifestyle practitioners, or professionals looking to support health, general wellbeing, and performance through psychologically informed practice. It is also ideal for those already working in related roles who want to deepen their knowledge and develop a more psychologically informed approach. We offer the UK’s only BSc (Hons) Psychology of Sport and Exercise to be delivered through online learning. It’s the ultimate flexible approach for students with busy lifestyles. You’ll learn how psychology plays a pivotal role in both human performance and wellbeing. This includes helping athletes cope better under pressure and developing people’s confidence, motivation and resilience. We teach the fundamentals of sport and exercise psychology from day one, while also giving you a valuable multi-disciplinary perspective through topics such as social, cognition and developmental psychology. Alongside this, there is a strong focus on employability and industry-led teaching, helping you to build your professional identity and put yourself in the best possible position to achieve your career ambitions. The course covers a wide range of engaging topics, from group dynamics and leadership to the interaction between the brain and body. You may also explore areas such as the psychology of exercise addiction, dark triad, as well as interventions for managing stress and irrational beliefs. . We place a strong emphasis on applying theory to real-life situations. Our team of academics are research-active and internationally recognised in contemporary research, with many also working directly in the field, ensuring your learning is both research-informed and rooted in professional practice. The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, which means we meet rigorous national standards. It’s an ideal springboard for careers in a range of specialist roles, including working with professional sports clubs, becoming a wellness coach or performance consultant, or setting up your own business. We have extensive experience in delivering online distance learning degrees and attract a diverse student cohort. Our students include athletes competing at national and international level, sports coaches, military personnel, professional business coaches, and those progressing directly from school or college. You can develop your professional skills while at home or in the workplace, with the option of using our facilities on campus too. The degree can be taken full-time or part-time. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
Psychology as a scientific discipline and a professional career - ethical, professional and research standards, routes to training and ACCREDITATION, and your developing professional identity.
How people think, focus, decide and perform - attention, perception, memory and decision-making, and how these influence performance and behaviour.
Why athletes and exercisers differ - personality, motivation, intelligence and core beliefs - with applied case studies on tailoring psychological support.
Key theories shaping how athletes, coaches and exercisers think and perform, plus hands-on research design culminating in your own mini research project.
How biological systems shape behaviour, emotion and performance - brain structure and function, nervous system and endocrine processes.
Designing and justifying psychological research - literature review, methodological planning, ethical decision-making and proposal writing, producing an ethically sound research report.
Physical, cognitive, social and emotional development across the lifespan, with a distinctive focus on QUALITATIVE research methods.
The psychology of groups and leadership - social identity to transformational leadership - using video and transcript analysis of real coaching scenarios.
Performance psychology across sport, business, military and exercise - ethics, adherence, evaluation methods, plus practising strategies such as imagery and self-talk.
Design and carry out an independent research study, reporting findings in a VIVA. NOTE: the published description refers to 'sports therapy and rehabilitation' - see notes.
How stress and emotion influence skill acquisition and performance under pressure, why skills break down, and coping and emotion-regulation strategies.
The relationship between sport, physical activity, performance and mental health - psychological, social and cultural factors, through applied case study analysis.
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