Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc

Course overview

Are you passionate about Sport and Exercise Medicine?

This flexible Masters course is designed to offer medical doctors, physiotherapists, sport therapists, and allied healthcare professionals a unique and practitioner-led education in the field of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM). With this Masters, you will gain the knowledge, skills and experience to assess and manage patients and athletes with musculoskeletal (MSK) problems as well as the expertise and proficiency to work in sport. Indeed, there is currently a rapidly growing expectation amongst professional sports clubs that healthcare professionals working in professional sport will have undergone structured training programmes to a Masters level.

Your course will feature three of the UK’s consultants in SEM and a number of the UK’s leading physiotherapists in MSK medicine and elite sport. Ensuring the course is taught and led by experienced clinicians in the field is key to the career mentorship we also provide all our students during and even after your studies. As the course is based in the Faculty of Biological Sciences, you will also have the opportunity to learn from country-leading sports & exercise scientists. As an added bonus, being based in Yorkshire means you will have access to a range of fantastic professional sports teams and MSK services.

Suitable for full-time or part-time study, this course comprises a mixture of face-to-face learning, placements in clinics and leading sports clubs, alongside online learning, providing a course that’s suitable for applicants in full-time employment as well as those looking to study full time. You will join a student-focused cohort of healthcare practitioners, with a strong student to staff ratio, offering you the opportunity to network and learn from peers alongside excellent tutor support and senior clinician mentorship. This course provides you with the unique ability to learn and work alongside a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, physiotherapists and sports therapists, just as you would in an elite sports setting.

For doctors, SEM is now a recognised training route by the General Medical Council for clinicians. A key deliverable in new government strategies has meant demand for SEM training has increased, with portfolio doctors and those wishing to work with an extended role in MSK medicine or SEM now able to gain formal training through courses such as this MSc in SEM.

Course highlights

• Strong emphasis on the development of technical skills necessary for SEM practice.
• Anatomy: Bring anatomy to life, students are taught in our state of the art anatomy labs using cadavers and prosections run by our experienced anatomists and clinicians.
• Pitch-side and Prehospital Course: The University runs a sports pitch-side course led by our expert team including consultant sports medicine physicians, emergency medicine physicians and sports physiotherapists.
• Hands-on training: clinics and pitch-side experience in professional sport (organised around your diary).
• Facilities: Access to brand new sports facilities and labs.
• Flexible learning: Two fixed mandatory teaching days a month on campus (commensurate with NHS study leave allowances), with additional flexible teaching activities, tutor meetings and placements scheduled around this.
• Research: Chance to study a SEM topic in depth for the research project with the opportunity to disseminate the findings at conferences and/or in peer-reviewed journals.
• Career mentorship: Allocated SEM mentors to support not only your MSc study but also to provide careers advice and mentorship.
• Extensive employment opportunities subsequently exist within: NHS MSK, private sports medicine clinics and sports clubs.
• Expert-led teaching: Teaching delivered by a range of handpicked UK leading clinicians in the field of SEM, physiotherapy, podiatry, orthopaedics, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, sports science, research and rehabilitation.

Below are just a few of our leading academics and clinicians that teach on our programme:

• Dr Dane Vishnubala MBBS MSc (Med Ed) FRCGP (MSc SEM) DipSEM(UK) FFSEM PGCert MSK US SFHEA PhD | Clinical Lead | Consultant Physician in SEM.
• Dr Camilla Nykjaer BSc MSc PhD FHEA | Programme Lead | Lecturer in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health | Honorary Research Fellow Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
• Dr Craig Zalecki BSc(Hons) MBBS FFSEM MRCGP DipSEM (UK) PGCert MSK US | Clinical Lecturer | Consultant Physician in SEM
• Dr Jon Powers MBBS MRCGP MSc DipSEM (UK) FFSEM | Clinical Tutor | Consultant Physician in SEM.
• Dr Sarah Astill BSc PhD | MSc Research Lead | Associate Professor in Motor Control.
• Dr Scott Bowen | Module Lead | Associate Professor in Exercise Physiology.

Meet more of our team and find out why they are at the forefront of their fields.

Course details

This Masters is available as both a one-year full-time course and as a two-year part-time course, giving you the flexibility to adapt the course to suit your needs. Course attendance is approximately two full teaching days per month (Wednesdays) on campus plus additional flexible online teaching activities such as tutor meetings and clinical and pitch-side placements.

During your studies you’ll focus on the following areas:

• Functional sports anatomy and clinical assessment.
• Musculoskeletal medicine and sports injuries.
• The sport and exercise medicine practitioner.
• Exercise physiology, health and sports nutrition.
• Clinical exercise prescription.
• Project work and dissertation.

You’ll also attend a University led immediate care in sport course and arrange MSK clinics, SEM Doctor and Physiotherapy led clinics, specialist SEM MDT clinics with the military, as well as club placements to give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge through practical experience.

The course will equip you with strong team working skills through its interdisciplinary approach to learning. You’ll be equipped to work in teams of professionals with complementary expertise such as strength and conditioning, team coaches, physiotherapists sports nutritionist, and acute injury settings.

Year 1

• This course will enable you to recognise and treat both acute and chronic MSK conditions with hands-on teaching from experienced clinicians.
• This course will cover key topics required to be a practitioner, not just the clinical condition knowledge components.
• Blended delivery including face to face and online delivery will include a mix of pre-recorded material and live interactive support sessions and self-directed learning. On-campus teaching will feature immersive practical workshops.
• Resources range from videos, hands-on patient examination sessions, case based learning, workbooks, and live seminars.
• The course will support career development and professional accreditation.

Modules

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc Part Time in the course catalogue

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

• Core course material will be delivered by means of online seminars, interactive workbooks, and tutorials, independent e-learning.
• Private study will be centred around accessible resources completed at a student-appropriate pace, involving practitioner-led material relevant to professional development.

Attendance is compulsory and will include approximately two to three days a month (Wednesdays) on campus. This will be supplemented by recorded lectures, online resources including workbooks to structure your learning, tutor meetings, and clinical and pitch-side placements.

Placements at appropriate professional clubs and clinics will be organised, with some flexibility to negotiate clinic dates and times. Contacts will be provided for additional self-organised opportunities to further improve our students' experiences and CVs.

In the past, students have worked with high-profile sports teams such as Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United, Huddersfield Giants, Real Madrid, Chelsea FC, Crystal Palace FC, Volleyball England, Burnley FC, Castleford Tigers RL, Hull KR RL and GB Basketball amongst others. MSK clinics have included NHS and Private MSK, SEM and Orthopaedic clinics.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

There’ll be a variety of assessments, appropriate for the vocational character of the course and the nature of the subjects studied. These will include:

• Tutor observed assessment (case study presentation).
• Reflective log.
• Summative MCQ.
• Short essay.
• Clinical competency sign-off.
• eLearning completion.
• Infographic.
• OSCE- Observed Structure Clinical Examination.
• Project dissertation.
• Laboratory report.
• Case studies.
• Group and individual presentations.

Applying

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have at least a 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent), in a related discipline. Currently, we are accepting candidates with degrees in medicine, physiotherapy, sports therapy, sports rehabilitation/training. Appropriate professional registration should also be held with the GMC, Health and Care Professions Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers. Applicants without professional registration with the GMC, Health and Care Professions Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers are required to have at least one year of relevant post-graduation clinical experience. All applicants should be able to demonstrate clear potential for benefiting from the programme.

This course is also available as an intercalated option to students studying Medicine who have completed three years of a UK medical degree. In order to apply, you will need to submit evidence of appropriate experience and interest. Find out more about the intercalation application process on the intercalation website.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

The Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc is a competitive programme with limited places so early applications are advised. Please note the deadline for international applicants is on 31 July 2025, in order to ensure sufficient time to complete all the necessary arrangements for studying at Leeds, e.g. visa and funding applications and securing UK accommodation, etc.

Next steps

• We process your application.
• Providing you meet the entry requirements, we invite you to an online interview with the programme leads (15 to 20 minutes).
• We inform you of our decision.
• If we make you an offer, you respond by accepting or declining.

Applications without all of the following will not be considered:

• Completed online application form (for Taught Postgraduate Study).
• A completed supporting statement (one page maximum) that must include:
  • Examples of your aspirations, and commitment to a specialty career in Sport and Exercise Medicine.
  • A plan for completion of the course (your time available/schedule).
  • Evidence of your identified funding route.
  • Reasons why you wish to study this particular course.
• Full CV.
• Transcript of degree examination marks achieved to date.
• Copy of final degree certificate (if completed).
• Evidence of English language qualification (non-native English speakers only).
• Copy of passport (if an overseas student).

Taught postgraduate confirmation

Taught postgraduate applicants are required to submit their results for consideration as soon as possible. Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK are recommended to submit their results no later than 31 July, although they will still be considered if submitted after this date.

Interviews

It is standard procedure to interview applicants, prior to making a decision on their application, for MRes Neuroscience, MRes Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial) and MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine. Interviews do not form part of the standard admissions process for other programmes in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Contact us

Faculty of Biological Sciences postgraduate taught admissions team

Email: fbspgt@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £15,750 (Total)

International: £33,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Scholarships for Faculty of Biological Sciences students

The Faculty of Biological Sciences offers a number of Masters scholarships to support and reward students from the UK and around the world. Don’t miss out on available support, visit our dedicated faculty scholarship page to check your eligibility.

Government-backed loan = If you are ordinarily resident in England or the Republic of Ireland and planning to start your first full-time, part-time or distance learning taught or research Masters course from September 2023 you may be eligible to apply for a UK government Postgraduate Masters Loan to help towards your study-related costs. Find out more.

Alumni bursary = If you are a former student of the University of Leeds you may be eligible for a 10% alumni tuition fee bursary

You can also search our postgraduate scholarships database or you can also find information on MoneySavingExpert.

Career opportunities

Career Opportunities

Many of our graduates gain employment or increase their seniority in NHS or private clinics as well as in sports organisations. Upon completion of this course, students are well-placed for further study, e.g. recent graduates undertaking PhD research in this field. Through support with your clinical mentor on the course, a range of opportunities for career development are available.

Careers support

The Careers Centre and staff in your Faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website. Alongside the support, advice and guidance from the University’s Careers Centre, you will have an academic mentor and a clinical mentor who will meet you regularly. They will help you to plan your career path and identify the experiences, qualifications and people that can help you on your way. Our Sports and Exercise Medicine tutors will continue to support you even after the degree!

Graduate roles and destinations

• Head of Academy Yorkshire Carnegie.
• YSM Clinic Senior Physiotherapist.
• GB Basketball U20 W Physiotherapist.
• York Knights RL Doctor.
• Leeds Rhinos Academy Doctor.
• A&E Registrar ST6.
• GP Registrar, Hull KR Club Doctor.
• Head Physiotherapist, Catalan Dragons.
• Head of Performance Hull KR
• F3 Doctor.
• GP Training
• Emergency Medicine Training
• Millwall Football Club
• Crystal Palace Football Club
• Leeds United Football Club
• Hull KR Club Doctor
• PhD
• NHS Physiotherapy Role.