Sport and Exercise Medicine

The MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine is designed to develop practitioners capable of delivering safe, inclusive, and person-centred care across sport and exercise environments.

• Gain an in-depth, contemporary understanding of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM), with a strong emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion
• Study a course that focuses on patient-centred and dynamic care
• Bridge the gap between study and practice through placement experiences and a dedicated mentoring scheme focused on your professional and personal growth
• Apply theoretical and technical knowledge in practice while developing advanced clinical and leadership skills

Take your learning to the next level

A defining feature of this programme is its alignment with the Four Pillars of Advanced Practice, recognised across UK healthcare frameworks:

• Clinical Practice
• Leadership and Management
• Education (and Mentorship)
• Research (and Innovation)

These pillars underpin the course design, helping you build the confidence and capability required for advanced professional roles.

Our MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine programme delivers industry- and research-informed content designed to strengthen your knowledge, technical capacity and applied clinical skills.

You will graduate ready to operate in complex, real-world environments - integrating evidence, navigating uncertainty, and managing increasingly sophisticated clinical presentations.

You will learn to:

• Make well-reasoned clinical decisions where guidelines are incomplete
• Interpret and synthesise diverse information sources (e.g. biomechanics, imaging, bloods, wearable technology)
• Manage complex presentations across a wide range of populations
• Communicate and lead within multidisciplinary team environments
• Mentor others, an essential skill for advanced practitioners

Inclusive, patient-centred practice

At the heart of the programme are the principles of patient-centred and dynamic care. You will develop the ability to adapt your approach to individual needs, contexts, and populations. 

This includes:

• Supporting athletes with disabilities
• Understanding and addressing women's health in sport
• Delivering inclusive, culturally sensitive care as standard practice

What you will achieve

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical, evidence-based understanding of SEM interventions, including emerging innovations
• Apply advanced knowledge of neuromusculoskeletal and vascular anatomy to assess and interpret injury and pathology
• Evaluate physical responses and adaptations to exercise to inform patient management
• Critically appraise research and expert opinion to guide complex clinical decision-making, care planning, and referrals 

Mentoring and leadership development

You will take part in a structured mentoring scheme designed to support your professional and personal growth. 

By mentoring undergraduate students, you will:

• Develop leadership, communication, and teaching skills
• Reflect on your own learning journey
• Contribute to a collaborative and supportive learning environment

An applied approach to learning

This programme is built around active, applied learning. You will engage in research, placements, and practical experiences that develop both your academic and professional capabilities.

• Learn to design, lead, and apply research through dedicated modules and projects
• Work alongside research-active staff within Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
• Access opportunities linked to Data Science and wider innovation in SEM
• Gain hands-on experience in clinical and performance settings

Prepare for an exciting future

This MSc is more than an academic qualification - it is a practitioner-focused pathway into leadership within a rapidly evolving field.

As a graduate, you will have:

• A strong foundation in Sport and Exercise Medicine theory and practice
• Confidence to manage complex cases in uncertain environments
• The ability to navigate emerging technologies and evolving evidence
• A deep understanding of multidisciplinary teamwork in delivering safe, effective care  

You will also benefit from embedded additional qualifications, supported or subsidised by the University, ensuring you graduate with industry-relevant credentials.

Excellent facilities

You will study and conduct research in our outstanding sport and exercise facilities, equipped with the latest technology for measuring performance, movement, health, and fitness.

Our facilities include:

• Physiology laboratories
• Strength and conditioning suite
• Biomechanics performance labs
• Sport therapy clinics, including a student-led clinic for placement experience

These facilities are of such a high standard that they have been used by professional organisations, including Derby County FC.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You will study a combination of discipline-specific and research-focused modules, culminating in a substantial independent project. 

• Engage in collaborative, practice-based learning
• Gain clinical experience through placements
• Develop leadership by mentoring and supervising others
• Build a personal development portfolio to evidence your skills and progress

You will receive ongoing support to help you define and achieve your professional goals. 

How you’ll be assessed

Assessment is designed to reflect contemporary professional practice, requiring you to integrate knowledge, research, and applied skills.

You will complete tasks such as:

• Subjective interview role play
• Case studies
• Data interpretation
• Live debates 
• Critical evaluations
• Viva examinations
• Placement-based portfolio assessments

Throughout the programme, you will be expected to draw on a wide range of evidence, demonstrating your ability to synthesise information and apply it effectively within clinical and professional contexts.

Assessment focuses on:

• Clear and effective communication of ideas
• Critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning
• Practical competency across a range of clinical, methodological, and analytical techniques 

An MSc in Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) provides a strong foundation for advanced practice across clinical, sporting, research, and public health settings. 

The programme develops your skills and understanding across a range of increasingly complex clinical contexts, preparing you to work with diverse patient groups and across varied sporting environments. As a result, you will graduate as a practitioner who is equipped to succeed, lead, and shape health provision with equity, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism in demanding environments. 

You will be confident in managing complexity, making informed decisions where evidence may be evolving, and contributing meaningfully within multidisciplinary teams.

Career pathways include

Elite and Professional Sport

Work in high-performance settings delivering injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete monitoring, with opportunities to progress into leadership roles.

Private Practice and Consultancy

Establish or join clinics specialising in musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation, applying advanced decision-making in complex cases.

Research and Academia

Progress into doctoral study or teaching roles, contributing to research in areas such as injury prevention, rehabilitation, and exercise in health.

Public Health and Policy

Support population health initiatives, exercise referral schemes, and policy development in areas such as physical activity, athlete welfare, and safeguarding.

Further study

Graduates may choose to continue their academic and professional development through doctoral-level study, such as a PhD or the Doctorate in Professional Practice (Sport and Exercise), which enables you to undertake applied research that enhances your professional practice, develop advanced research and critical thinking skills, and position yourself as a leader or specialist within your field. It can also support progression into senior leadership, consultancy, or academic roles within higher education and research.

This programme is aimed at applicants with at least a second class honours undergraduate degree in a related subject, such as Sport Therapy, Physiotherapy, Sports Rehabilitation, or other allied health sciences.

We also welcome applications from medical students who have completed at least three years of study (gaining at least 360 credits) and wish to undertake an intercalated masters degree.

You may be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to commencing your placement, should it be required for the nature of the work conducted. Information regarding this requirement will be provided in the applicant’s offer letter and it is their responsibility to obtain the DBS check (or international equivalent) if needed before placement activity can commence.

International applicants

International students should have the above or an international equivalent. If English is not your first language, you will need to hold IELTS qualifications of 6.5, with no lower than 6.0 in each category.

We recommend obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct if you wish to undertake placements involving vulnerable populations (e.g. NHS settings).

If you're an international student and want to improve your English language skills before you start your course, the Derby English Language Centre's pre-sessional English course can help you.

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you'll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.