2023/24 entry
BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology
Why study Sport Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Taught by BPS Chartered and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered sport and exercise psychologists
- Study in state-of-the art laboratories and teaching facilities
- Applied learning opportunities within LJMU, with regional partners and remote opportunities further afield in the UK and abroad
- Includes a free applied focus event on understanding the world of applied sport and exercise psychology. Previous events have included engagement with the English Institute for Sport, Manchester United Football Club Academy, and a global online symposium with world-leading sport and exercise psychologists, including our own alumni working in sport and exercise settings across the world.
- Step one on the career path to becoming an HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist
- Entrepreneurship and employability themes are integrated throughout the programme
- The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is ranked 9th for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2022)
- This degree is available to study following a foundation year
- International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more
About your course
BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society. The course offers exciting placement opportunities that are all, uniquely for the sector, both external and pre-sourced across a range of settings including schools, councils, local charities and sports clubs.
The basis of the programme is to take the core psychological principles and apply them to real scenarios in professional sport, exercise and physical activity settings, plus areas such as physical education or therapeutic professions.
On this course you will develop scientific research skills, theoretical knowledge and skills in reporting empirical findings so that you will be able to carry out research projects based on real practice. Moreover, a key component of the programme structure is to develop applied skills that will allow you to operate effectively in a wide range of contexts.
You will develop fundamental and principal skills in Levels 4 and 5, culminating in a core applied placement and major project in Level 6. On applied placement, you may spend a proportion of your final year working with an external placement provider. In doing so, you will also develop transferable skills that are essential in most careers, such as critical evaluation and verbal and written presentations. For your major project, you will fully experience the research process through the planning, production, analyses and report of a piece of independent research conducted in a responsible, safe and ethical manner.
Practice is an essential part of your studies, so you will have use of our £25 million state-of-the-art science laboratories and equipment, as well as opportunities to gain experience during your core placement.
"On my placement I had the opportunity to work with children with autism and trampolining, supporting the children and parents to enjoy the exercise sessions. This was an opportunity to help me to grow as a trainee sport and exercise psychologist."
Professional accreditation/links
The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and confers eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). To be eligible for Chartered Membership via your undergraduate degree you must have achieved at least a 2:2 award.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above 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 purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- 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 study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Additional course costs
A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.
Employability
LJMU is one of a limited number of UK universities to provide a complete training route to become a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist.
Further training is required after a degree in BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology in order to become a sport and exercise psychologist. This involves completing a postgraduate qualification, such as an accredited masters in sport psychology and a period of supervised practice. A British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited and British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) endorsed MSc Sport Psychology can be undertaken at LJMU.
Some of the staff within the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences are approved supervisors for the HCPC-approved Stage 2 Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology through the BPS and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) independent programme Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR).
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences also offers a BPS accredited and HCPC approved Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology, which will enable students to complete their training at LJMU.
The demand for high-quality science graduates continues to increase. This course puts you on the pathway for a career in sport and exercise psychology and sports science management roles within the world of sport and national governing bodies. Alternatively, you could pursue further study at PGCE, masters or PhD level. With your BPS Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), you will be eligible to apply for other psychology MSc programmes, such as Health Psychology, Clinical Psychology or Educational Psychology.
Find out more about career opportunities in sport and exercise sciences.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
We are committed to ensuring all our students experience a transformation in their employability skills and mindset and their career trajectory. A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course.
Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose. It will enable you to become more proactive, adaptable and resilient in your awareness and approach to career possibilities.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU’s state-of-the-art suite of online tools, resources and jobs board. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU’s in-house recruitment service, ensuring students can build experience whilst they study.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones to accelerate your job search and applications, CV and interview technique. Themed careers and employability workshops, a programme of employer events and recruitment fairs run throughout the year and students have the opportunity to hear from a range of alumni who openly share their own onward experience.
Student Futures work with businesses to create opportunities for fully funded internships which help students increase their network within the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or option in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations.
Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules may also be included to provide you with an element of choice within the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Academic Skills
20 credits
This module helps you to develop your academic skills (e.g, academic writing, data management, data presentation and critical thinking) and study skills (e.g. time management, using feedback and academic conduct) to support your transition into Higher Education.
Psychosocial Principles of Sport and Exercise
20 credits
This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the psychosocial concepts that underpin the sport and exercise environment.
Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Individual Differences
20 credits
This module presents a range of topics in developmental psychology and individual differences research. The module introduces the methods applied to understanding key issues in developmental psychology and individual differences research. It also enables you to consult and summarise appropriate sources to explain key issues in developmental psychology and individual differences research.
Professional Practice in Sport Psychology 1
20 credits
This module introduces you to the history, philosophies and paradigms of sport and exercise psychology. The module familiarises you with the fundamental role and professional training requirements of the sport and exercise psychologist and provides an outline of the role of the BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology and BASES SEPAR development pathways for sport and exercise psychologists. It also explores the ethical and diversity considerations in sport and exercise psychology.
Introduction to Cognitive and Biological Psychology
20 credits
This module explores theories and processes within cognitive and biological psychology and familiarises you with the neuroanatomy and components of the nervous system. The module will develop your appreciation of behavioural and neuroscientific evidence underpinning the study of cognitive and biological psychology, respectively.
Research Methods 1
20 credits
This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts of research methods, along with covering the basic application and interpretation of various data analysis techniques.
Level 5
Core modules
Professional Practice in Sport Psychology 2
20 credits
This module explores the main psychological techniques that govern sport and exercise psychology needs analysis and client education. The module enables you to understand the main psychological skills training interventions and how they can be implemented in a sport and exercise setting. You will also discuss how to evaluate professional practice and use reflective practice to ensure practitioner development.
Advances in Cognitive and Biological Psychology
20 credits
In this module you will relate original research data and contemporary theories within cognitive and biological psychology. You will learn to understand state-of-the-art experimental techniques and how they are adapted for the field of cognitive and biological psychology. You will also reflect on the uses and scientific rigour of benchmark techniques and study paradigms from cognitive and biological psychology.
Exercise and Health Psychology
20 credits
This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the role of psychology in promoting physical activity and exercise for health.
Developmental and Social Psychology
20 credits
In this module you will explore how developmental and social psychological processes influence group behaviour and individual differences. You will investigate core areas underpinning human development and core areas underpinning the social self in society.
Sport and Performance Psychology
20 credits
The module aims to develop your abilities to evaluate psychological principles associated with sport and performance and motor control and learning, considering individual (e.g. personality) and environmental (e.g. culture) factors.
Research Methods 2
20 credits
This module enhances your understanding of the research process and related methodological approaches, whilst also developing your knowledge, skills and ability to complete investigations involving data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Level 6
Core modules
Major Project
40 credits
This module aims to critically extend your understanding and deployment of the research process through the production of a piece of independent research.
Professional Practice in Sport Psychology 3
20 credits
The module prepares you for your placement activity in semester 2. The module aims to develop your ability to plan, prepare, initiate and reflect upon effective applied sport and exercise psychology practice with a client or service. The module will address topics such as legal requirements of placement/practice, personal conduct, working in effective project teams and some requisite skills for applied sport and exercise psychology practice.
Applied Motor Behaviour
20 credits
This module aims to develop a critical understanding of contemporary issues in motor behaviour, and the ability to synthesise and apply findings to sport, exercise and health settings.
Current Issues in Sport and Exercise Psychology
20 credits
The module aims to develop your ability to critically evaluate contemporary issues in sport and exercise psychology that influence participants’ performance, physical activity, wellbeing, health, and development.
Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology Placement
20 credits
This module aims to apply your skills and knowledge to work in applied practice through a programme sourced group placement and supervision processes akin to that of professional training. The module is primarily delivered through placement activity and supervision seminars and will allow you to apply group working skills, create an effective product/service related to applied sport and exercise psychology and utilise reflective practice skills.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is via formal lectures (including guest lectures from sport psychologists working in industry), seminars, online activities and tutorials, plus fieldwork and laboratory sessions. Guided independent study using our libraries and the web accounts for 70-80% of each module.
Web-based content is also available through our virtual learning environment – Canvas. Seminars and tutorials give you the chance to go over material covered in lectures in the form of group discussions, presentations, worked examples or practical demonstrations, while fieldwork and laboratory sessions help you develop your applied skills.
Work-related learning
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
Throughout your degree programme you will have the support of a personal tutor, so that you always have someone who can discuss your coursework planning, assessment feedback and any other course-related issues. Your personal tutor will also give you one-to-one feedback on your exam performance and advice on areas for improvement. Additional support is provided when you come to write your research dissertation in the final year. You will also work with your personal tutor in small groups to develop study skills essential for the sport psychology programme.
The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include:
- written assignments (essays, brief response questions)
- exams (seen and unseen)
- practical work
- portfolios (including e-portfolios)
- presentations (group and individual)
- and reflective practice/diaries
You will then complete an independent research dissertation supervised by one of your tutors in your final year. You will be given plenty of help with planning your workload as a full assessment schedule is provided at the start of each academic year.
Feedback on all coursework is provided within three weeks of submitting it and may be given via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face and/or in writing. You can always arrange one-to-one sessions with your tutors to discuss or clarify issues related to feedback as well. We believe that constructive feedback is vital in helping you identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Gillian Cook
Programme Leader
Dr Gillian Cook
Programme Leader
Gillian studied BSc (Hons) Psychology and MSc Psychology of Sport and Exercise. She conducted her PhD at Loughborough University in collaboration with British Swimming and examined the psychology of the world’s best Olympic swimming coaches, in particular understanding how they optimise their own and their athlete’s performance. Gillian is a British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, and a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Practitioner Psychologist. She is the club and first team sport psychologist at Dundee United Football Club, and has worked with teams and organisations including British Swimming, British Athletics, Birmingham City Football Club’s Academy, Scottish Hockey, Loughborough Sport, Nike, the NHS and the BBC. She is regularly interviewed about sport psychology-related topics on British national radio and news outlets, such as BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Wales and The Sunday Times. Her research interests include high-performance leadership and the psychology of performance excellence. Specifically, her research examines how effective leaders create the conditions for others to thrive and deliver optimal outcomes in high-pressure environments.
I enjoy the opportunities for extensive undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and interactions with students and staff, student mentoring and supervision, and applied sport psychology consultancy work
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
You will study in Liverpool city centre at our City Campus. Our sport and exercise sciences facilities are world-leading and feature state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for our current and future sport scientists. The Avril Robarts library is within easy walking distance and here you'll find all the information you need to support your studies.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Minimum points required from qualifications: 120
GCSE and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A Levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
- Subject specific requirements: At least one A2 in sport, science or social science related discipline
- Is general studies acceptable? No
- Average A Level offer: BBB
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
T Levels
- T Level requirements: 120 UCAS points in a related subject area. Contact Faculty Admissions for details.
BTEC qualifications
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: DDD in a relevant subject area is required if no other level 3 qualifications are taken
Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: Access programme must have been taken be in a relevant subject area, minimum of 24 Distinctions and 12 Merits required
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 26 IB Diploma Points. Specific grades may be required in science.
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 120 UCAS points from a minimum of 5 subjects. Specific grades may be required in science.
NVQ
- Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Not Acceptable
Alternative qualifications considered
Please contact the University if you have any questions regarding the relevance of your qualifications.
Reduced Offer Scheme
No interview required (UCAS application form only)
IELTS6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
International entry requirementsPlease Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Can this course be deferred?Yes
Is a DBS check required?No
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.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.