- Give your career a head-start through the option of a one-year work placement, after year two.
- Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
- You will be taught by highly-respected chartered psychologists.
- You'll have access to our state-of-the-art physiology and biomechanics laboratories, and on-campus sports facilities.
- 100% of our psychology research has an impact on societies around the world (Research Excellence Framework 2014).
- 90% Roehampton sport psychology graduates in work or further study within six months of graduation (DLHE, 2018 results).
Summary
Learn to optimise athletic performance by studying the psychology behind sport at Roehampton. You will explore key factors affecting sports performance, such as anxiety, self-confidence, motivation, stress, concentration and the psychology of sport injury.
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society
Human performance in sport and exercise is based on three areas – body chemistry (physiology); the physical demands on the body (biomechanics); and the mind’s response (psychology).
On this course, you will gain in-depth knowledge of how psychology underpins sport and exercise, by exploring the mind, brain, behaviour and experience, and the complex interactions between these elements.
Practical sessions in the labs will also make up a key part of your degree. You’ll have access to our state-of-the-art facilities, which include our sports and exercise laboratory and biomechanics laboratory. They are equipped with highly specialist equipment, including a walk-in environmental chamber, advanced optical motion analysis systems and equipment for both laboratory and field-based physiological assessment. You can find out more information, and take a virtual tour here. On campus we also have excellent sport facilities, including a sports hall and gym.
This programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of The British Psychological Society.
We offer a range of innovative modules, such as Mind, Body, and Brain, where you will learn how the brain, nervous system and other physiological systems affect, and are affected by, mental functioning and behaviour; Psychology of Peak Performance, where you will learn the fundamental issues related to optimal athlete performance; and Advanced Topics in Psychology, where you will gain an understanding of contemporary issues within the field of sport psychology.
Content
Year one
- Explore a range of topics to build a solid foundation for understanding the key psychological concepts that affect sport performance and exercise participation.
Year two
- Broaden your knowledge base and enhance your critical awareness of applying psychological support in sport psychology.
- This part of the course embeds the subject within the wider context of sport science as a whole.
Year three
- Select modules and do research on your areas of specific interest for your dissertation.
- Follow a coherent pathway of study to facilitate your future career in the exciting field of sport psychology.
Modules
Here are examples of the modules we currently offer:
Year 1
Compulsory Modules:
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Mind, Body and Brain (1)
Social and Developmental Psychology (1)
Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
Research Methods and Statistics
Required Modules (students choose one of the following):
Fundamentals of Exercise Physiology
Biomechanical Analysis of Movement
Students for whom English is not their first language can also take the English for Academic Study module.
Year 2
Compulsory Modules:
Psychology of Peak Performance
Mind, Body and Brain (2)
Social and Developmental Psychology (2)
Individual Differences and Psychometric Research
Research Methods and Statistics (2)
Required Modules:
Physiology of Exercise
Applied Biomechanics
Year 3
Compulsory Modules
Empirical Research Project
Required Module:
Advanced Topics in Psychology
Optional Modules
Environmental Physiology
Exercise and Health
Biomechanics: Performance and Injury
Limitations to Performance and Training
Communication and Social Interaction
Cognition and Emotion
Health Psychology
Neuropsychology
Positive Psychology
Required modules must be taken and a reasonable attempt must be made at the assessment, compulsory modules must be passed.
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
Placement year
This course offers all students the option to apply for a one-year paid work placement. If you successfully secure a work placement, you will undertake the placement following year two of your programme and return following the placement to complete your studies.
A placement year is the perfect opportunity to implement the skills and knowledge that you will learn in year one and two, while gaining valuable work experience. The opportunity to make connections in your chosen industry will greatly improve your career prospects and equip you with the skills and experience you need to secure graduate-level employment.
The University Careers and Placements team will support you to develop your CV and skills though webinars, workshops and 1-2-1 appointments. You will also benefit from regular communication about available opportunities to aid your placement search.
Please note while the University will support you with your placement search and applications, a placement cannot be guaranteed.
Career options
Studying this course will provide the first step towards further professional, postgraduate training routes into a career as a sport psychologist, but also into other psychology careers such as clinical, forensic, or health psychologist. The skills developed on the course will also prepare you for a variety of private and public sector work.
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.
Research
Teaching staff on our BSc Sport Psychology are connected to our Sport and Exercise Research Centre. Find out more about their research interests here.
Academic Staff
Dr Luke Felton
Senior Lecturer
I’m Luke, I am the Programme Convenor of the BSc Sport Psychology programme. My background is in the study of athlete mental well-being from an attachment theory perspective, considering the important role of psychological needs. My current interests and research focus on a variety of factors related to athlete mental well-being, coach-athlete relationships and psychology within esports. The most enjoyable thing about the BSc, and my role as Programme Convenor, is seeing the progress our students make from when they start with us to when they graduate. Don't hesitate to contact me if you would like more details about the programme: luke.felton@roehampton.ac.uk
Life at Roehampton
At Roehampton, we can offer all new students the opportunity to live in accommodation on our beautiful parkland campus, including affordable and high-end options.
We offer scholarships, provide hardship funding and help you find advice on managing your finances while you study.
We provide plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, through volunteering, playing sport or music, or joining one of our many active student societies.
