MSc
/PG Diploma in Performance Psychology
This programme focuses on the study
of psychological factors associated with high level performance. Drawing
extensively from research and practice in sport psychology the programme
examines how psychology can contribute to maintaining and enhancing high-level
performance across a variety of domains such as sport, business, performing
arts, military and emergency services. Students will study the issues salient
to performance from individual and team or group perspectives and will
consider the necessity of reducing the influences of common limitations
to performance, such as anxiety and distraction, as well as structures
and techniques designed to enhance performance such as developing coherence
amongst performance teams.
"... the programme examines how psychology can contribute
to maintaining and enhancing high-level performance across a variety of domains"
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Professional
developments |
The demand for sport psychology services in the UK has increased exponentially
since the 1990’s and the number of individuals accredited as sport
psychologists by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
(BASES) doubled in one five year period during this time. In the same
time period the Sport and Exercise Division of the British Psychological
Society (BPS) was created and is now recognized by BPS as a distinct
professional area with identifiable training and qualification requirements.
Whilst these events reflect the emergence of an organised new profession
there has also been a growth in demand for other psychological related
services such as occupational/business psychology, executive coaching,
team building, outdoor management and adventurous training. Public understanding
about psychology and the way in which this specialist knowledge can be
effectively applied to enhance performance is a significant factor in
this change.
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Career opportunities & destinations |
The programme is ideally suited for those interested in working in sport
psychology and in other related areas such as occupational/business psychology,
executive coaching, team building, outdoor management and adventurous
training.
Job destinations of recent graduates include:
• Private consultancy in sports, business, music/performing arts
• Management and technical roles in sporting bodies
• Sports psychology practice in Sport Institute (public funded)
• Lifestyle management in Sports Institute
• Research (PhD in sports and business/management fields)
• Further professional training e.g. for Clinical or Educational psychology
• Initial jobs in business to develop into Human Resource role
• Teaching / Lecturing (Higher & Tertiary education)
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Programme staff |
Programme staff are actively engaged in consulting with high level
sport performers up to Olympic and World standard. In addition they are
able to draw on experiences of applying psychology to business, performing
arts, military and outdoor education settings. Staff hold academic as
well as professional qualifications with one or both of the recognised
professional bodies for psychologists. The programme also benefits from
the input of Dave Collins as a Visiting Professor in Sport Psychology
who is currently Performance Director of UK Athletics.
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Programme
structure
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The programme starts with a series of taught courses which make up the
Postgraduate Diploma. These courses cover key topics related to performance
psychology as well as essential professional skills for scientific practitioners
such as legal and ethical issues and effective communication. Courses are
also designed to develop the ability of students to be able to critically
appraise scientific literature and to apply research methods to enable
them to plan, conduct and disseminate their own research, following the
established principles of rigorous scientific study. Successful performance
on the taught courses enables student to progress to the dissertation element
of the programme which must be completed for the award of MSc.
A 20 credit course typically comprises of ten weeks lecture content followed
by a two week period to complete assessments. Course assessment is by 4000
word assignment, or equivalent. Contact and assessment for 10 credit course
is approximately half that for 20 credit courses.
Research:
The individual research project completed for the dissertation course represents
a major proportion of the award - about one third of the programme in
terms of time and credits. Topics can be selected to reflect the interest
of the students as long as it remains within the overall rationale of
the programme and appropriate supervision is available.
Examples of recent topics include
• Professional development issues in sport psychology
• Decision making in surgeons
• Mental toughness in military pilots
• Optimism and stress in trainee teachers
• Emotional intelligence and elite sport performance
• Talent development in non-classical music
• Experiences of flow in dance
• Expertise development in international sport
• ‘Change blindness’ effects moderated by experience level
in sport
Submission format includes the option to submit in journal article style.
Some student research has subsequently been successfully submitted for
publication in scientific journals.  Click
here to see list of publications
Note: Some of the links above
are Adobe Acrobat files . What
is this? |
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Dates / Duration
of awards |
Dates for 2008/09:
• Monday evenings and Tuesday afternoons and evenings
in Semester 1+2
• Semester 1 and assessment period: 22 Sept - 19 Dec 2008
• Semester 2 and assessment period: 12 Jan - 27 Mar 2009
• Dissertation: completed from 21 April - 28 Aug 2009
NB Monday 20 April is a public holiday
Duration of Awards:
- 11 months full time, or up to 72 months part-time
- Students must successfully complete all taught modules and the dissertation
- Students
successfully completing all taught modules attain the Postgraduate
Diploma in Performance Psychology
- Students going on to successfully complete the dissertation element
attain an MSc in Performance Psychology
- Part-time students will be able to complete the MSc in Performance
Psychology by attending evening sessions only over two years
followed by the dissertation
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Entry
requirements |
Normal entry requirements to the MSc in Performance Psychology are a good
honours degree in a relevant discipline such as psychology, sport and
exercise psychology, organizational behaviour, sport science or equivalent
professional qualifications. Where an applicant does not meet these requirements
consideration may be given to other equivalent academic qualifications
and significant professional training and experience.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL):
Prospective students who have undertaken
a programme of study or have undertaken substantial professional development
at Masters level through professional experience within the last five years
may be eligible to apply for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). If
granted, APL effectively provides exemption from one or more modules up
to a maximum of three.
Tuition Fees:
Current fee levels can be found at: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/fees-finance
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Further information |
For further information about how to apply, fees and other administrative
issues please contact:
The Postgraduate Office
College of Humanities and Social Science
The University of Edinburgh
David Hume Tower (First Floor)
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9JX
Telephone 0131 651 3122
Email educationpg@ed.ac.uk
For academic information about the MSc/PG Diploma in Performance Psychology
please contact the Programme Secretary:
Sarah McNeil
PE, Sport & Leisure Studies (PESLS)
The Moray House School of Education
The University of Edinburgh
Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh EH8 8AQ
Email sarah.mcneil@education.ed.ac.uk
Useful information is also available on the following websites:
 International
Office
Disability
Office
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