Course Details
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Brief Description
QS Ranked Top 100 worldwide (Sport related programmes)
This MSc programme is dedicated to providing a thorough grounding in the knowledge and application of both mental skills to enhance sport and interventions to promote mental health and wellbeing. It seeks to equip candidates with a sound understanding of theory and research and develop core competencies and skills across a range of key domains including performance psychology, exercise and mental health, professional issues and ethics, and research design.
The programme mirrors the MSc Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, but is open to those who do not hold an undergraduate degree in psychology.
This MSc has more flexible entry requirements (e.g., RPL) than the existing MSc in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. This degree runs parallel to the existing programme which aligns to the Psychological Society of Ireland accreditation requirements. The purpose of this degree is to offer a pathway for those seeking to upskill on topic areas relating to mental skills and mental health in sport and the degree is not a qualification in psychology. It offers a grounding in research and application for those who seek further training to pursue roles that don’t explicitly require a qualification in psychology (e.g., sports coaching, sports management etc.).
The MSc. aims to:
- Provide a learner-focused and connected curriculum to enable students to develop their capacity to think critically and acquire a broad set of attributes as identified by the UL as knowledgeable, proactive, innovative, responsible, articulate and collaborative.
- Extend the traditional remit of sport psychology by focusing on performance restoration, resilience and mental health, rather than exclusively targeting performance enhancement.
- Enhance the understanding of mental health challenges in sport contexts using a positive psychology approach.
- Develop a multidisciplinary mode of graduate enquiry coupled with an ethical scientist-practitioner basis.
| Semester | Research | Sport/Performance | Exercise/Health | Professional Dev | Total ECTS |
| Autumn Semester | Advanced Research Design (6 ECTS) | Psychological Skills Training (9 ECTS) | Professional Practice 1: Professional Competencies (6 ECTS) | 30 ECTS | |
| Applied Positive Psychology (9 ECTS) | |||||
| Spring Semester | Dissertation Development (6 ECTS) | Performance Psychology (9 ECTS) | Exercise Psychology and Mental Health (9 ECTS) | Professional Practice 2: Professional Issues and Ethics (6 ECTS) | 30 ECTS |
| Summer Semester | Dissertation (24 ECTS) | Professional Practice 3: Consulting and Reflective Practice (6 ECTS) | 30 ECTS | ||
Scheduling
Lectures are mainly held on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at other times. Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules
Entry to the programme will be based on the result of a written application with appropriate references (no interview required). Applicants require a minimum 2.2 Level 8 honours degree (NFQ or other internationally recognised equivalent) in the domain of sport science, psychology, sports coaching or sport management. RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) entry will be available for those without a related degree. Applicants must also satisfy the English Language Requirements of the University. Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than two years prior to application). Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following: TOEFL – 580 (paper based) or 90 (internet based)
What to include with your application:
- Qualification transcripts and certificates,
- A CV (Curriculum Vitae),
- Scanned copy of any membership of psychological societies and CPD workshop attendance,
- A copy of your birth certificate or passport
- A Supporting Statement
- If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where English is an official language this will suffice
- If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:
- English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts AND
- English language competency certificate
- Please click here for Further Information on English Language Requirements
EU - €7,000
Non- EU - €14,100
Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie.)
The purpose of this degree is to offer a pathway for those seeking to upskill on topic areas relating to mental skills and mental health in sport and the degree is not a qualification in psychology. It offers a grounding in research and application for those who seek further training to pursue roles that don’t explicitly require a qualification in psychology (e.g., sports coaching, sports management etc.)