Sport and Exercise Psychology

Sport and exercise psychology applies the science of mind and behaviour to the contexts of physical performance, physical activity, and wellbeing. It is a discipline that asks why people succeed under pressure, what motivates athletes and recreational exercisers alike, how mental resilience is developed, and how psychological principles can be used to improve both performance and health. It draws on core psychology alongside specialist knowledge of sport and exercise science, producing graduates who understand the mental dimension of physical human activity in a way that neither psychology nor sport science alone can provide.

At Coventry University this three-year full-time programme equips you to work across a wide range of settings, from elite sport to leisure, healthcare, and education. You will explore theories of motivation, goal-setting, anxiety, confidence, cohesion, and mental health, applying them to real situations in sport and exercise contexts. The course includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement component, meaning you will have substantial structured opportunities to develop professional experience in sport psychology, coaching, health promotion, or related settings before you graduate.

The typical entry tariff of 120 points gives a guide to the academic standard expected.

You will develop the ability to understand human behaviour in performance and exercise contexts, to design psychological interventions, to interpret research evidence, and to communicate findings clearly to athletes, coaches, clinicians, and organisations.

Graduates go on to work as performance psychologists, sport coaches, exercise practitioners, wellbeing specialists, and researchers. Careers in elite sport, the NHS, corporate wellness, physical activity promotion, education, and the military are all common. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study, where a master's degree is typically required to practise as a chartered sport and exercise psychologist.