Psychology (Sport, Health and Exercise) with Placement Year

Psychology of Sport, Health and Exercise is a discipline that investigates the mental and psychological factors that shape physical activity, performance, and wellbeing. It draws on cognitive, social, and biological psychology to examine how motivation, confidence, focus, and emotional regulation influence athletic performance, why people engage with or disengage from physical activity, and how exercise affects mental health and quality of life. As sport has become more professionalised and the science of performance more sophisticated, the role of sport and exercise psychologists has expanded significantly.

At Brunel University London, this four-year, full-time programme includes a placement year, giving you an extended period of professional experience within a sport, health, or exercise setting. You will study the psychological principles that underlie performance, learning, and wellbeing, and examine how these apply in elite sport, community health promotion, and clinical exercise settings. Topics include motivation and goal setting, group dynamics, mental imagery, stress and coping, the psychology of injury, and the relationship between physical activity and mental health outcomes.

The placement year is a substantial opportunity to work with real athletes, coaches, or health practitioners, applying your knowledge in context and developing the practical skills that make you employable from the moment you graduate. Brunel's London location and its strong links to sport organisations and health institutions provide an excellent environment for both study and professional development.

Graduates of this programme work as sport and exercise psychologists, working with professional athletes, teams, coaches, and recreational exercisers, as well as in health promotion, rehabilitation, and corporate wellbeing settings. Many progress to postgraduate study and supervised practice in order to gain British Psychological Society chartership or registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Others move into coaching, performance analysis, health research, and teaching roles.