Nathan Thompson
Lecturer in Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning
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Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation MSc
Key Facts
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Duration
Full Time: 1 Year
Part Time: 2 Years -
Level
Master'sPG MSc
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Full Time: £8,700
Part Time: £967 per 20 credit module -
Waterside
Updated 14/07/2026
Overview
This MSc in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation provides a comprehensive and critically informed education in the science and practice of human performance and recovery. Designed to integrate contemporary theory with applied practice, the course enables students to develop the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours required to excel in high-performance sport, clinical rehabilitation, and wider health settings.
Through a blend of academic study, practical application, and work based learning, students will engage with key areas including strength and conditioning methodologies, injury prevention, rehabilitation strategies, and athlete monitoring. The programme emphasises evidence-based practice, encouraging students to critically evaluate current research and apply it effectively in real-world strength and conditioning and exercise medicine environments.
Accredited by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), the course offers clear professional pathways. Graduates can work towards becoming an Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP) or achieving Master Distinction (mISCP) status by completing a comprehensive portfolio of strength and conditioning experiences and reflections. In addition, the curriculum is aligned with the competencies required for other leading certifications, including those from the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
By the end of the programme, students will be equipped with advanced academic capability and practical expertise, preparing them for careers across elite sport, rehabilitation, and performance-focused environments, or for further research and doctoral study.
IUSCA Accredited Degree
This course is accredited by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA). IUSCA recognition highlights the programme’s alignment with the global standards for scientific S&C practice, preparing graduates for careers in elite sport, academia, and applied performance settings.
As part the course students will have the opportunity to work towards being an accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner by Master’s Degree (aISCP*m): A higher accreditation level provided by IUSCA (IQF Level 7).
Highlights
- Industry recognised international accreditation with IUSCA
- Non-academic entry routes are available for applicants with significant strength and conditioning-related professional experience
- Diverse graduate career opportunities
- Modules in research methodologies, injury prevention, rehabilitation strategies, and athlete monitoring
- Opportunity to apply for standalone 20-credit modules to support continuing professional development
Entry Requirements
You will need to have a minimum 2:2 class honours degree in a relevant science degree (e.g. sports science, sports therapy, strength and conditioning, sport coaching, physiotherapy or sports and exercise nutrition) from a UK university or international equivalent to be eligible to apply for the MSc in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation.
Non-academic entry routes may be accepted where applicants can demonstrate substantial relevant experience (typically more than two years) in strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, or a related sector, and/or hold accreditation from an appropriate professional body (e.g. UKSCA, NSCA or equivalent Level 4 Strength & Conditioning qualification).
International applicants holding non-UK qualifications in Strength and Conditioning or related disciplines will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency through an IELTS assessment and to complete an academic skills task (1200-word essay and VIVA) alongside a formal interview, prior to enrolment. In addition, these applicants will be advised to complete the IUSCA Level 1 Certificate in Strength and Conditioning.
For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.
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What You'll Learn
Students study eight modules over one year full time, or two years part-time, on this MSc in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation. Additionally, the course offers standalone modules (SAMs) of 20 credits each that can be used as continuing professional development. The course combines subject-specific learning, research methods, and a substantial independent research project, allowing you to tailor your studies to your professional interests while developing as part of a dynamic performance and rehabilitation-focused academic environment.
You will begin by developing a strong foundation in research through the ‘Research Methodologies’ module, equipping you with the skills to design, analyse, and apply scientific research. Alongside this, ‘Professional Practice in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation’ prepares you for the applied demands of the industry, integrating theory with real-world practice.
Core modules such as ‘Applied Strength and Conditioning’ and ‘Scientific Approaches to Strength and Conditioning’ explore the physiological, biomechanical, and evidence-based principles underpinning performance development. ‘Athlete Testing and Monitoring’ focuses on data-driven approaches to assessing and tracking performance, while ‘Rehabilitation and Return to Performance’ develops your understanding of injury management and safe progression back to sport.
You will also have the opportunity to study ‘Strength and Conditioning for Specific Athletes’, enabling you to tailor programmes to different populations (Youth, Female and Older adults) and performance needs. The course culminates in an independent ‘Research Project in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation’, where you will investigate a topic of your choice, applying your knowledge and skills to a focused area of interest.
Compulsory Modules
The purpose of this module is to provide students with an understanding of strength and conditioning provision for specific athletic groups such as children, adolescents, injured, female, and disabled athletes. The module will introduce students to specific athlete issues with reference to the biological mechanisms and issues underpinning the development of key performance qualities, with reference to contemporary training methods and techniques.
This module will advance the students understanding of the foundations of quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analyses commonly used in research projects. It will also provide the student with an understanding of the approaches and reasoning to study design, data collection and analysis
This professional practice module enables students to build professional relationships with employers while gaining valuable industry experience. Students will work with real-world problems to propose a range of strength and conditioning techniques, and use reflective practice to evaluate their own performance and development.
This module develops students¿ capacity to design and conduct independent research, critically engage with literature, justify methodological choices, and apply ethical procedures. It builds competence in data collection, analysis, and software use while supporting clear dissertation structure, academic writing, and effective communication of findings to professional and academic audiences.
The purpose of this module is to develop students¿ knowledge and understanding of the theories underpinning periodisation, enabling them to design effective training programmes for athletic populations. Students will gain the ability to apply strength and conditioning practices in a practical setting using relevant theoretical frameworks to effectively coach individuals.
The purpose of this module is to develop students¿ understanding and practical application of a wide range of testing and monitoring practices used within strength and conditioning environments. Students will develop competencies in using evidence-based research to inform recommendations for a variety of professional audiences.
This module explores the principles and practices underpinning rehabilitation and return to performance, with a specific focus on late-stage rehabilitation, return-to-play decision making, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Students will develop the knowledge and practical skills required to design, monitor, and justify evidence-based rehabilitation programmes for injured athletes across acute to return-to-performance phases. Emphasis is placed on load monitoring, exercise prescription, ethical practice, and progression or regression of rehabilitation strategies for musculoskeletal injuries. Through critical evaluation of contemporary literature and applied case scenarios, students will enhance their ability to communicate effectively with specialist and non-specialist stakeholders within high-performance and clinical rehabilitation environments.
The purpose of this module is to develop a rigorous, science¿driven understanding of the biomechanical and physiological principles that underpin advanced strength and
conditioning practice. The module prepares students to apply scientific thinking confidently within advanced performance environments.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 26/27. The modules relating to the academic year 27/28 will be available from June 2027.
Fees and Funding
2026/27 Tuition Fees
- Full Time: £8,700
- Part Time: £967 per 20 credit module
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 26/27 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
When assessing an applicant’s eligibility to pay home fees, we use the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) which sets out the regulations that have been decided by the UK Government Department of Education.
- International fees: £19,000
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 26/27 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
When assessing an applicant’s eligibility to pay home fees, we use the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) which sets out the regulations that have been decided by the UK Government Department of Education.
Additional Information
If you are starting a master’s course in 2026/27 either full-time or part-time, you may be able to apply for a master’s loan through Student Finance England.
The maximum period of study allowed for part-time courses is two years.
Staff
Brett Baxter
Senior Lecturer Sport Exercise Science (Biomechanics)
Michael Porter
Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology
Dominic Langdon
Senior Lecturer in Sport Rehabilitation and Injury
Michelle Daly
Lecturer in Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning