Postgraduate study
Source: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/sport-exercise-science-medicine-online/ Parent: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/
Sport & Exercise Science & Medicine MSc/PgDip/PgCert: Online distance learning
Watch our latest webinar to find out more about this programme.
This online taught MSc in Sports Science aims to provide you with an advanced, research-led programme of study in Sport & Exercise Science & Medicine. A key strength of this programme is its flexibility, enabling you to specialise in physical activity and health, sports performance, or sports medicine.
- Online distance learning
- Academic contact: Gemma.ryde@glasgow.ac.uk
-
Teaching start: September
-
Online
- MSc: 36 months part‑time
- PgDip: 24 months part‑time
- PgCert: 12 months part‑time
Why this programme
- This is the only MSc in Sports Science in Scotland that merges Sport & Exercise Medicine and Sport & Exercise Science within a single degree programme, providing a broad range of options across these disciplines.
- You will benefit from access to the expertise of staff at the National Stadium Sports Health & Injury Clinic at Hampden Park, a custom-built, state-of-the-art sports medicine facility.
- Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).
- Develop and enhance your skills in:
- Application of knowledge to novel concepts and situations
- Data handling and statistics
- Experimental design
- Interpretation and evaluation of experimental data
- Literature searching and critically evaluating relevant scientific evidence
- Oral presentations
- Research methods and ethic
- Scientific writing
- Group working
- You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities to study performance and health aspects of Sport & Exercise Science, from the whole body to the molecular level. These include advanced exercise laboratories, metabolic investigation suites and a molecular biochemistry lab.
- You will have the chance to network with a number of regional/national sporting bodies and a number of professional sporting clubs. There may be opportunities for internships (in place of a research project) for some students and we work closely with the University of Glasgow Sport to provide additional opportunities to gain real world experience where possible.
- As well as our expert core staff, we engaged guest lectures who work in sport and exercise science and medicine in practice to provide interactive sessions in their specialist fields.
Video: Sport & Exercise Science & Medicine online programme
+++
Why study online?
- Flexible learning can be done at any time to fit in with other commitments. Speak to us about flexible learning options.
- Most communication is via discussion boards or Microsoft Teams so you can reply at a time that suits you, fitting in with time zones and work commitments.
- We record live sessions in case you can’t make it.
- Your learning can be accessed on your computer, laptop, tablet or phone via the internet. Find out more about the remote resources available at Glasgow Anywhere.
- We provide software to assist you, such as Office 365.
- Your MVLS Digital Education Team provides support with technology issues by email or video chat.
- Flexible payment options are available. You don't have to pay everything upfront.
- Be part of a global community of learners.
- Connect with your fellow students and tutors through our virtual learning environment where you will have access to a multitude of learning resources.
- You do not need to have experience of studying online, you will be guided on how to access and use all of our online resources.
- Access Library e-resources remotely at any time. This includes an extensive catalogue of e-books and journals, searchable from the library homepage
Programme structure
The course will involve online lectures, seminars and tutorials. During a residential week at the end of year 1 you will take part in lab classes and other interactive sessions with the teaching team (not compulsory). You will also take part in journal clubs, presentations and self-directed learning.
The programme is made up of 180 credits over the 3 years for the full MSc (60 credits per year). Each credit is around 10hrs of study which includes lectures, reading, tasks and other learning activities.
In year one, for each semester you have one core course (research methods and stats) and the option of one elective course from that semester. In year two, you will choose one elective course in semester 1 and two in semester 2. Year three you will be working on your major project.
Year one Semester one
Core
Optional
- Nutritional Aids in Sport and Exercise
- Physical Activity and Health: Biological Mechanisms
- Exercise Prescription
- Working with Elite Athletes
Semester two
Core
Optional
- Factors Influencing Performance
- Physical Activity and Health: Public Health, Policy and Behavioural Change
- Technology and Analytics in Sport and Exercise
- Sports Injuries: Scientific Basis of Prevention and Rehabilitation or Sports Injuries for Doctors & Physiotherapists (Qualified Doctors and Physiotherapist only)
Year two Semester one
Optional
- Working with Elite Athletes
- Nutritional Aids in Sport and Exercise
- Physical Activity and Health: Biological Mechanisms
- Exercise Prescription
Semester two
Optional
- Factors Influencing Performance
- Physical Activity and Health: Public Health, Policy and Behavioural Change
- Technology and Analytics in Sport and Exercise
- Sports Injuries: Scientific Basis of Prevention and Rehabilitation or Sports Injuries for Doctors & Physiotherapists (Qualified Doctors and Physiotherapist only)
Year three
Programme alteration or discontinuation\ The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
The flexibility of this programme will provide you with many career opportunities. These include working in clinical exercise, health-promotion or in sports science support.
A number of our graduates are employed in senior sports science positions with national sporting bodies and professional sports clubs.
This programme also allows doctors and physiotherapists to aid their knowledge. For science graduates, there are opportunities in rehabilitation and higher education.
It also provides an excellent basis if you wish to pursue PhD level research.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2026-27
MSc
UK / EU / International:
- £15,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits
PgDip
UK / EU / International:
- £10,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits
PgCert
UK / EU / International:
- £5,000 (total cost)
You can pay in instalments of £1,667 per 20 credits.
Fees for students funded by the NHS or UK social care organisations or UK health and social care partnership (HSCP)
- £11,943 (total cost for MSc)
- £7,962 (total cost for PgDip)
- £3,981 (total cost for PgCert)
- £1,327 per 20 credits
Fee status
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
UK Study Online Scholarship
The UK Study Online scholarship is open to UK, EU and international students taking online undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Please see UK Study Online for more details.
The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
2.2 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Life Sciences or Rehabilitation Therapy.
We may also accept degrees in other Health Professions, Psychology and Physical Education at 2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent).
International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of pre-Masters courses.
English language requirements
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:
TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)
Tests taken up to 20 January 2026
- 90 Overall, no subtest lower than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test, this includes TOEFL mybest.
Tests taken from 21 January 2026
- 92 Overall, no subtest lower than Reading 22; Listening 20; Speaking 23; Writing 21
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test, this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
- Online PTE not accepted for entry
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- Two subtests at 96 or higher, and two subtests at 80 or higher
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
- Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final year of study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS);
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University;
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
More information on our Pre-sessional courses.
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
Computer requirements for studying online
Broadband internet connection
- 3 mbps or higher
Internet Browsers
Our online learning platform Moodle is compatible with any standards compliant web browser. This includes:
Desktop:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
- Edge
- Internet Explorer
Mobile:
- MobileSafari
- Google Chrome
For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date.
Javascript needs to be enabled within your browser
Please note: legacy browsers with known compatibility issues with Moodle 3.3 are:
- Internet Explorer 10 and below
- Safari 7 and below
Computer specifications
- Processor: 2GHz**
- Operating system (minimum):
- Microsoft Windows Vista service pack 1
- Windows 7
- Mac OS X v10.4.11+
- Memory: 3GB of RAM or more
- Hard disk: 300GB
- Sound card and microphone
- Speakers or headphones
- Monitor and video card with 1024x768 display or higher
Mobile device specifications
- iOS: latest (Apple Safari & Google Chrome)
- Android: 4.4+ with latest Google Chrome
Other software
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Media player e.g. Windows Media Player or VLC
- Word processing software (that outputs to the following file types for marking online: .doc, .docx, .html, .txt, .rft, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .pps, .hwp)
- Anti-virus software
Advised hardware / software
- Microsoft Office 2010
- Headset (ideally with a USB connector)
- Webcam
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- One reference letter on headed paper
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.
Please ensure that you choose 'Part Time Study' in order to select the programme.
Application deadlines
- Applications for this online programme will be accepted up until it starts.
More information about this programme
- Background and aims
- Studying online
- Try our Sport and Exercise Science & Medicine taster course
- Watch a Q&A webinar with our programme lead Dr Gemma Ryde
For information on our on-campus Sport & Exercise Science & Medicine programme, please see: Sport & Exercise Science & Medicine
Related programmes
Online postgraduate
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
- Animal Nutrition [MSc/PgDip/PgCert/CPD: Online distance learning]
- Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law [MSc]
- Applied Conservation Science [MSc]
- Applied Neuropsychology [MSc(MedSci)/PgDip]
- Bioinformatics [MSc/PgDip/PgCert]
more related Biological & Biomedical Sciences programmes
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
- Applied Neuropsychology [MSc(MedSci)/PgDip]
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease [MSc(MedSci)]
- Clinical Pharmacology [MSc(MedSci)]
- Clinical Trials [MSc/PgDip/PgCert]
- Precision Medicine [MSc]
more related Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health programmes
Medicine
- Cancer Research & Precision Oncology [MSc]
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease [MSc(MedSci)]
- Clinical Pharmacology [MSc(MedSci)]
- Clinical Trials [MSc/PgDip/PgCert]
- Health Care, Advanced Practice in [MSc(MedSci)]
more related Medicine programmes
Sports Science
Related links
- Taught degree programmes A‑Z
- How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
- Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z
- How to apply for a postgraduate research degree
- Fees and funding
- Erasmus Mundus