Sport and Exercise Psychology

Sport and exercise psychology is the science of how psychological factors influence physical performance and how participation in sport and exercise affects psychological wellbeing. It asks why some athletes perform consistently under pressure while others struggle, how motivation can be built and sustained, how teams function as social systems, and how exercise interventions can support mental health. It draws on cognitive, social, and clinical psychology to understand performance from the inside, making it one of the most applied and practically relevant branches of the discipline.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year, full-time degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society and gives you access to comprehensively equipped laboratories using the latest equipment and techniques. You will study the psychology of motivation, attention, confidence, stress, and team dynamics alongside core areas of scientific psychology, developing your research skills and your ability to apply psychological knowledge in performance and health contexts. The course includes a sandwich year providing a substantial work placement opportunity, and work placements are embedded throughout the programme, connecting you with sport science, coaching, rehabilitation, and performance settings.

A year abroad is also available, giving you the chance to study psychology and sport in a different national context. A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the programme's accessibility for students with the right aptitude.

Graduates go on to work as sport psychologists, performance analysts, wellbeing advisors, sport science practitioners, and coaches, as well as in fitness and health promotion, rehabilitation services, and corporate performance roles. BPS accreditation means this degree is also a stepping stone towards postgraduate routes in professional psychology, including the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership required for applied psychology training. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in sport and exercise psychology or an applied psychology specialism to reach chartered professional status.