Strength and Conditioning MSc

Key Facts

  • Level

    Postgraduate

  • Duration

    Full Time: 1 year
    Part Time: 2 years

  • Starting

    September

  • Fees UK 24/25

    Full Time: £8,250
    Part Time: £920 (per 20 credits)

  • Fees International 23/24

    Full Time: £16,995

Get in touch


For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK/EU Students enquiries

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

International Students enquiries

international@northampton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1604 893981

Overview


The University of Northampton’s Strength and Conditioning MSc course is designed to help you in your development to becoming an effective strength and conditioning coach. Based in Northampton, we have three professional sports clubs in the town and the University is surrounded by Olympic and Paralympic feeder clubs enabling you to develop skills and experience as an applied practitioner. This course will facilitate your accreditation from relevant strength and conditioning awarding bodies (UKSCA and NSCA). Our staff are actively involved in providing support to a range of elite athletes and clubs, enabling you to apply your practice and develop your network.

Our strength and conditioning masters is a practical based course; stimulating, well-structured and research-informed covering a range of areas. You’ll explore the science behind strength and conditioning, work with a range of athletes, develop training techniques and coaching skills, learn applied training methods and the assessment and management of injury. The practical elements of the masters in strength and conditioning make use of purpose-built strength and conditioning gym and laboratories to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills associated with strength and conditioning.

Updated 21/03/2024

Highlights


    • Benefit from purpose-built strength and conditioning studio and dedicated laboratories.
    • Take your career further with our UKSCA designed course content.
    • Strong industry links with Northampton’s professional sports teams

Course Content


  • The Strength and Conditioning MSc course will examine advanced and current aspects of strength and conditioning – exploring the science behind S&C – such as the development of strength, speed and power. The practical training sessions are designed to help you develop the skills and knowledge required to become an applied practitioner. The course will culminate with you conducting a research project, allowing you to demonstrate an advanced understanding of the research process. You will complete the project with the intention of submitting your findings to relevant conferences and journals for publication.

    Find out what it’s like to study on the Strength and Conditioning MSc course at UON:

    Schedule and Methods of Learning

    The first trimester of the masters in strength and conditioning focuses on S&C techniques, the underpinning theory of training and programming, the assessment and management of injuries. The second trimester allows you to develop your understanding of these specific training methods and apply them to a real-life case study as part of the applied training methods module.

    Classes are delivered in a variety of means – lectures, seminars and practical – our aim is to provide opportunities for you to become actively involved in your learning. All sessions are supported by our online learning environment, NILE. You can expect three hours of contact time each week for each module. There are no additional costs for strength and conditioning courses however, you will need sports clothes (trainers, shorts, tops) when participating in the practical sessions.

    Placement Opportunities

    There are multiple opportunities, via the University’s industry links, to develop your applied practice across a range of local and national sports organisations. Sport links include professional cricket, rugby, football, England Dodgeball, GB Carriage Driving and many more.

    For example, successful candidates that secure work placements at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (NCCC), will be under the supervision of S&C coaches and medical staff. You could potentially assist with the physical preparation of first team players and will have access to a variety of on-going applied learning opportunities to supplement continued education and academic studies.

    Modules

    Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.

    • SPOM015 S&C Specific Athletes – 20 credits – 2nd trimester
    • SPOM016 S&C Techniques – 20 credits – 1st trimester
    • SPOM017 S&C Science – 20 credits – 1st trimester
    • SPOM019 Applied Practice – 40 credits – 2nd and 3rd  trimester
    • SPOM029 Research Methods – 20 credits – 2nd and 3rd  trimester
    • SPOM024 MSc Dissertation – 60 credits – 1st and 2nd trimester

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 23/24. The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.

      • Module code: SPOM015
        Status: Compulsory
        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.
      • Module code: SPOM016
        Status: Compulsory
        This primarily practical module seeks to develop professional competencies of strength and conditioning coaches. It will enable students to effectively demonstrate strength and conditioning strategies that are used to facilitate performance enhancement.
      • Module code: SPOM017
        Status: Compulsory
        The purpose of this module is to provide students with a detailed understanding of the physiological and mechanical principles that govern effective strength and conditioning training. Students will also learn how to analyse training data to identify performance trends that can be fed back to coaches and athletes. In addition, this module will enable students to develop an evidence-informed approach to strength and conditioning practices to support current training recommendations.
      • Module code: SPOM019
        Status: Compulsory
        Applied Practice provides an opportunity for students to apply complex theoretical knowledge, innovative ideas and strategies to autonomously investigate a novel idea/proposition to a real world setting relevant to their chosen pathway through engagement in a work-based learning environment. The module will provide opportunities to develop and consolidate skills in evidence-based practice and engages the student in critical thinking, enquiry and analysis, including research and critical appraisal skills.
      • Module code: SPOM024
        Status: Compulsory
        The module provides an opportunity for the student to apply knowledge, concepts, and research techniques to a question or problem in a specific discipline within their studies. The module builds and expands on students' prior knowledge and aims to develop expertise and understanding of the scientific process including research methodology, skills to execute planning, conducting, analysis and writing up of their research. It will develop the student's ability to work independently and to reflect on the subject-specific research process.The assessment undertaken will reflect the specific pathway of the student.
      • Module code: SPOM029
        Status: Compulsory
        This module will focus on examining a specific area of interest chosen by the student, to develop their understanding of the research process and designing and developing a valid research proposal. It will also advance the students understanding of concepts, principles and techniques associated with quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses commonly used in research projects.
  • To apply for MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Northampton, you will need a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject area. Related subjects include: sports science, sports performance and coaching, physical education, physiotherapy, or an honours degree in another discipline which includes anatomy and physiology.

    Some flexibility in requirements is possible for those achieving lower degree classifications where they can demonstrate substantial industry experience and that their current commitment to study has progressed from the time of their first degree.

    For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

    If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

    English Language Requirements

    All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
      for study at master’s level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  • 2024/25 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted for the strength and conditioning masters relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £8,250
    • UK – Part Time: £920 per 20 credit module.
    • International: £16,995
    Additional costs

    You will need to wear suitable sports kit for practical sessions as part of the course. You can purchase Sport and Exercise kit (polo shirts and hoodies) but these are not compulsory. The exact cost of kit will be provided at the start of the course.

    2023/24 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted for the strength and conditioning masters relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £8,010
    • UK – Part Time: £890 per 20 credit module.
    • International: £16,500
    Additional costs

    You will need to wear suitable sports kit for practical sessions as part of the course. You can purchase Sport and Exercise kit (polo shirts and hoodies) but these are not compulsory. The exact cost of kit will be provided at the start of the course.

     

    Master’s Loans

    If you are starting a master’s course in 24/25 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

     

    For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Our MSc Strength and Conditioning course is aligned to the guidelines set out by the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA).  The module content and a number of assessments have been designed to align with the content and assessments associated with UKSCA accreditation.

Staff


Saul Cuttell, Senior Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Science
Saul Cuttell

Senior Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Science


Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Discover
Anthony Baross, Associate Professor of Sport & Exercise Physiology
Anthony Baross

Associate Professor of Sport & Exercise Physiology


Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

Discover
Mark Antrobus, Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Physiology
Mark Antrobus

Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Physiology


Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Discover

Careers and Employability


A Strength and Conditioning MSc qualification opens the doors to a number of exciting career paths. Opportunities exist as a Strength and Conditioning coach with the governing bodies, with organisations such as the English Institute of Sport, professional clubs and schools.

Graduates with a masters in strength and conditioning will also be capable of establishing their own consultancy business or progressing on to additional study.