About this course
The Clinical Exercise Physiology MSc focuses on the practical application of research, including an introduction to phlebotomy and immediate life support.
- Choose this course developed by world-leading academics in our pioneering School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Benefit from a small class size - student numbers are capped at 20 for this highly competitive course to give you dedicated access to staff and facilities
- Use state-of-the-art laboratories in our award-winning Tom Reilly Building
- Enjoy a combination of invaluable practical experience (including a substantial clinical placement) and theoretical learning
- Access cutting-edge equipment, including 12-lead ECG and cardiopulmonary stress exercise testing equipment. We also house several ultrasound machines – echocardiography and vascular physiology – and we are world leaders in utilising this equipment in a practical-based setting
- Look forward to enhanced job opportunities in NHS and private clinical physiology
- We are currently applying for accreditation with The Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP). Once this has been achieved, if you pass the Clinical Assessment of Competencies module alongside all of the other MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology modules, you can automatically apply for RCCP registration.
There has never been a more exciting time to undertake an MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology. Exercise now represents one of the world’s major businesses and scientists have an increasingly prominent role in working with healthy and clinical populations to maintain healthy lifestyles and reduce disease.
This Masters programme is ideal if you want to go on to specialise in exercise physiology in a clinical setting. The course provides a detailed knowledge of
physiology applied to clinical contexts, but is also designed to extend your knowledge beyond ‘classical’ exercise physiology studies and into novel techniques and theories underpinning exercise physiology and health.
You will gain extensive practical experience in key physiology laboratory tests such as ECG and cardiopulmonary testing. You will also develop a good understanding of modern and novel ultrasound assessments of cardiovascular function. Academic development is provided in fundamental scientific techniques including research methods, statistical analysis and scientific communication.
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Irene's story
Argentinian Irene Heyn came to Liverpool in 2016 to study for her masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology at LJMU.
“After my undergraduate degree I decided that further study was not f...
Fees and funding
Fees
The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to use your own)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses, living costs and DBS checks)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, youll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.
Employability
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
The substantial placement that you will undertake during the course of this programme will prepare you for a number of relevant roles in Clinical Exercise Physiology. Previous students have gained their experience at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Harley Street clinics, and a range of NHS Royal Trust clinics.
This programme gives you the opportunity to learn from national and international leaders in the field, and its unique combination of theory and practice provides you with invaluable practical experience, giving you a distinct advantage when securing a job in this highly competitive market.
Many career opportunities will be available on graduation. The majority of graduates move into the clinical field (e.g. rehabilitation, clinical physiologist, STP, wellbeing and fitness), as well as teaching and lecturing in schools, colleges and universities. You may choose to continue in education or research, even taking your studies to doctoral level.
The student experience
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Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your course
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules. One module is a clinical placement - this replaces your dissertation or research project and will demonstrate your advanced learning.
Core modules
Technical Training for Exercise Physiology
40 credits
The aim of this module is to provide the knowledge, technical and critical appraisal skills required to work as an effective clinical physiologist. The module focuses on the practical skills required for the assessment of patients with non-communicable diseases at rest and during exercise. Techniques include 12-lead ECG, resting and exercise blood pressure, CPEX, respiratory function tests and an introduction to novel cardiac and vascular ultrasound measurements.
Advanced Exercise Physiology
20 credits
This module aims to extend and deepen knowledge and understanding related to the acute and chronic physiological responses to exercise. This will focus on cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic responses to exercise that will link/underpin later content related to ‘patho-physiology in these systems’ and ‘exercise prescription’. It also develops knowledge of how advancements in technology and assessment illuminate our understanding of advanced exercise physiology.
Pathophysiology
20 credits
This module focuses on the pathophysiological processes underlying several non-communicable diseases. The main focus is on cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases and metabolic diseases. The role of exercise in primary and secondary prevention and treatment of these diseases is discussed. The module follows on from the Advanced Exercise Physiology module and then leads onto the Exercise Prescription and Promotion module to provide a full understanding of the physiological system, how diseases can develop and how to best treat them using exercise.
Clinical Placement
60 credits
This module involves a 140-hour clinical placement and is underpinned by research led practice. The aim of the module is to provide the experience and knowledge required to work as an effective clinical physiologist. The module focuses on the skills required for the assessment of special populations at rest and during exercise and the effective prescription and monitoring of exercise.
Exercise Programming
20 credits
This module considers exercise programming design, prescription, understanding and delivery for individuals with long-term medical conditions. It will include theoretical knowledge and practical experience. This will be delivered in a 4-week block.
Motivation, Adherence and Behaviour Change
20 credits
This module considers the application of theory and evidence to enhance adherence to clinical exercise interventions and promote sustained physical activity behaviour change. This will be delivered in a 4-week block.
Clinical Assessment of Competencies
0 credits credits
This module is solely for assessment and is based on clinical competencies. We are currently applying for accreditation with The Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP). Once this has been achieved, if you pass this module alongside all of the other MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology modules, you can automatically apply for RCCP registration.
Teaching
An insight into teaching on your course
Study hours
Students will have approximately two hours per module per week of taught material and/or seminar work. This may be supplemented by reflective tutorials during the semester. Private study will cover both time spent studying (e.g. in the library), collecting data in the laboratory and completing directed tasks and coursework. Taught sessions will provide an orientation to the topic and opportunity for classroom discussion and debate. You will also be expected to read widely using primary sources of reference material.
Teaching is on Mondays and Fridays in semester 1 and Tuesdays and Thursdays in semester 2. Semester 3 is for your clinical placement – times and hours will vary depending on the placement provider.
Teaching methods
Our teaching is delivered primarily through lectures, laboratory practicals and student-centred learning techniques, such as problem-based learning.
Applied learning
In place of a traditional research project, you will have the opportunity to gain essential experience through a 140 hour clinical placement, based in a hospital clinical exercise physiology department or related department in the NHS or private healthcare sector. This extensive placement affords you the unique opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge gained during the Masters in a ‘real-world’ setting, and places you in a highly employable position.
Assessment
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
On this course you will be assessed in a variety of ways, including: interactive problem solving exercises; oral presentations in front of a peer group; coursework and essays, in some cases combined with oral defence.
The case report and literature review is a substantial piece of work based on your 140 hour clinical placement.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Ellen Dawson
Programme Leader
Dr Ellen Dawson
Programme Leader
Ellen is a senior lecturer in cardiovascular physiology at LJMU. She completed a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, followed by an MSc in Human and Applied Physiology at Kings College London. Ellen then returned to Manchester Metropolitan University to do a PhD in Exercise Induced Cardiac Fatigue. She has undertaken post-doctoral fellowships at the Copenhagen Research Center in Denmark and the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Ellen is particularly interested in vascular function in health and disease – including responses to acute exercise, adaptation to acute injury and improved vascular function with exercise training. The aim of the research is to understand the mechanisms underlying vascular function (both dysfunction and improved function) and its associated links with cardiovascular disease and health.
Seeingstudents develop their skills, confidence and knowledge is one of the bestparts of my job. It’s also very rewarding to hear from past students about howwe provide them with the tools to succeed in their future careers.
School facilities
What you can expect from your School
This MSc programme is delivered in the City Campus, in the £28million Tom Reilly Building, which provides world-class sport and exercise science facilities. For Sport and Clinical Exercise Physiology this includes 12-lead ECG and cardiopulmonary stress exercise testing equipment, ultrasound machines, echocardiography and vascular physiology, and we are world-leaders in utilising this equipment in a research setting. The School also houses 800m2 of exercise physiology laboratory space and 100 m2 of molecular/biochemistry laboratory space.
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Entry requirements
You will need:
- Candidates will be required to have academic qualifications commensurate with entry to postgraduate study, and be able to demonstrate an aptitude for scientific study. Candidates would normally be expected to have a good honours degree (i.e., upper second or first) in sport science, science or a related discipline.
Please note that initial applications for this programme will close on January 30th 2023 and decisions will be made on all applications before 20th February
Additional Information
- IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 5.5 in each component)
- Pearson PTE Academic 64 (minimum 59 in each component for UKVI purposes)
- RPL is accepted on this programme
- International students applying to study a full-time taught Masters, MRes, Mphil or PhD at LJMU should check if they require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme or ATAS certificate. International students entering on a Tier 4 visa cannot study part time. Please contact LJMU’s International Admissions Team for further details
- The majority of the placements offered by this programme will require a DBS check
If you have any specific queries please contact scspgt@ljmu.ac.uk
Please note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check via NARIC.
View country specific entry requirements
Contact LJMU's International Admissions Team for guidance on visa information. Further information is also available from our international web pages.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
You will apply for the majority of postgraduate courses using our online application form. You should complete the form thoroughly and provide a detailed personal statement which reflects your suitability and aptitude for the programme.
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.