Exercise and Sport Sciences MRes

Start date
September
Duration
1 year Full time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Combined research and taught
Fees

£4,778 FT (UK students)
£23,520 FT (International Students)
More detail

 

 

Our Exercise and Sport Sciences MRes combines taught and research elements to equip you with the scientific understanding and practical skills to address current societal issues in sport, exercise and rehabilitation.

This combined research and taught masters programme provides students with a research orientated training in the practical, theoretical and applied elements of Exercise and Sport Sciences.

Optional modules make up the taught component of the course, and offer teaching, learning and experience in core disciplines of exercise and health as well as in sport. Research experience is offered in academic or industrial settings within exercise, health or sports sciences.

The MRes in Exercise and Sport Sciences is a one-year full-time masters course programme that provides students with a research-orientated training in a lively, highly interactive teaching and research environment.

This programme takes students who have a research focus, from a variety of backgrounds at entry and gives them new skills to enable them to move into further research and/or employment in a number of disciplines.

It is offered by the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, in collaboration with the School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy in the University of Birmingham Medical School.

The purpose of the MRes Exercise and Sport Sciences is to provide a strong foundation for research in exercise and sport sciences in health and disease

Course Information

The taught elements of the course will be delivered in the form of optional modules in core disciplines within exercise and sports sciences, allowing students to shape the course to their particular interest. Optional modules include: Neuromuscular performance through the human lifetime;Cardiovascular and respiratory physiology; Nutrition and metabolism in health and obesity; Psychology of physical activity promotion.

Extended research experience is offered in the shape of a six-month research project in the students chosen discipline.
Specific areas of active research include: 

  • Exercise metabolism: The health effects of exercise in obesity and ageing 
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory physiology, 
  • Behavioural medicine: Psychological processes, immunology and cardiovascular function. 
  • Biomechanics, neurophysiology and psychology of motor control and exercise performance 
  • Motivations for, and effects of, physical activity participation

Like many others I was instantly sold on the University simply by the aesthetics of the campus. It just so happened that the course fit perfectly with what I wanted to learn, allowed me to gain work experience and has truly lived up to the reputation of the University.

Jake Stanley

Modules

Taught compulsory module:

  • Research Methodology in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation

Optional modules include: (students will need to choose two optional modules)

  • Neuromuscular adaptation to training
  • Continuing Professional Development and Mentored Practice 
  • Innovation in Professional Development (Distance Learning) 
  • Work Based Continuous Professional Development 
  • Mixed Methods Research Designs
  • Project Management and Research Governance

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules after that date; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees for 2024/25

Code: 9983: UK students: £4,778 FT
Code: 9983: International students: £23,520 FT

Learn more about fees and funding.

How To Apply

To make an informal enquiry about this course or register your interest, contact:
Student Recruitment Team
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B15 2TT
Telephone +44 (0)121 414 8327 
Email: sportexpgtadmissions@lists.bham.ac.uk

 

When submitting your application, please ensure that you have indicated your preferred supervisor (you can list up to your top three preferred in rank order). It is strongly advised that you make contact with a potential supervisor before you apply to see whether they are taking on new MRes students and whether they would consider your application. 

International students requiring visas

Applications for international students who require a visa to study in the United Kingdom are now closed. A new application will need to be made for September 2025, when this re-opens.

UK students

Applications for UK students for 2024 are now closed, and We are not able to consider applications for 2024. A new application will need to be made for September 2025.

Making your application

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

At least a 2:1 or equivalent in a relevant science subject (E.g. Sport and Exercise Sciences, BMedSci, Biochemistry, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Biology, Biological Sciences).

Find our more about postgraduate entry requirements.

International Requirements



International Students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements

Standard English language requirements apply (IELTS: 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any band).


  • IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component

The courses have a taught component, and an extended period of research to produce a dissertation.

Assessment Methods

A variety of assessments will be used through the course, including presentation, problem based assessments, portfolio and extended writing.

 

The career opportunities available to sport and exercise scientists are expanding all the time. The 2012 London Olympics and increased National Lottery funding for sport has increased the number of jobs in elite level sport and public health. Many hospitals are starting to appoint specialists with exercise backgrounds to work in areas such as cardiac rehabilitation and health promotion. Clubs in a variety of different sports employ sports scientists as performance analysts, biomechanists and coaches. Other career routes include roles in the fitness and leisure industry, governing bodies, teaching, exercise prescription and testing, and sport promotion.

You will also have the support of a dedicated careers and employability team, to offer individual advice and guidance services and deliver an employability programme tailored to your needs.

Find out more on the Careers Network intranet pages