MSc Applied Physical Activity & Health

You will be taught on the MSc Physical Activity & Health through a range of learning activities, including group lectures, seminars, and laboratory classes. Lectures may consist of tutor-led sessions, as well as internal and external speakers who are research and/or practice active. The learning schedule and methods of delivery are designed to build a learning community around the topics of discussion, draw on student experience as a partnership in learning and teaching, and provide significant support for the transition to this level of study. The variety of methods aims to help you maximise your potential in an environment enriched by research and research-informed delivery.

Materials for sessions will include University-produced electronic resources designed to enhance your experience, offer different perspectives, and encourage you to consider varied views and approaches in both virtual and physical environments.

As a partner in the learning process, you will lead elements of seminars alongside staff. These sessions will focus on reading, the dissemination of key ideas, theory, and critical reflection, requiring active participation and debate. They will enable you to enhance your understanding, explore and reflect on key topics, and develop academic resilience within a supportive yet challenging environment. Relevant, research-active staff and external experts will also contribute to these learning events, ensuring that teaching remains current and aligned with industry practice to support your graduate employability.

Laboratory classes and practical work will be used to plan, demonstrate, measure, and evaluate key aspects of your study. These physical environments may represent future workplaces for some students; the laboratory work is designed to be flexible and responsive to individual and group interests.

Within this programme, the term laboratory refers to environments where you can collect robust data for analysis - both in traditional facilities and within social settings. Across both academic and practical classes, you will experience learning approaches that range from cellular function to holistic, whole-body interaction. Industry-relevant technology and IT packages will also be integrated into teaching to ensure up-to-date professional relevance. Technological support will be a key feature of your programme, including the use of the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE) for lecture notes, session recordings, video materials, key readings, and course and module information.

Each 30-credit module typically includes 66 hours of scheduled learning, 11 hours of guided learning, and 223 hours of independent learning.

The exception to this is the Research Project in Sport, Physical Activity and Health (Part 2) module, which is centred around a dissertation. This module includes approximately 6 hours of scheduled individual learning, 6 hours of scheduled group learning, 20 hours of guided learning, and 268 hours of independent learning.

You will be taught by a team of experienced tutors who are actively engaged in research and publication within their fields. Many hold professional accreditations, such as registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

In addition, you will benefit from teaching delivered by colleagues across the University, PhD students, and guest lecturers from both industry and academia throughout your course.