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.

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FAQs

Is it possible to complete the online MSc in less than 3 years?
Yes, it is possible to complete the programme in 2 years, but not less than one year. Please note that completing the MSc in a shorter timeframe does not change the overall cost - you pay per course, and online tuition fees still apply (not on-campus fees).

How long do I have to complete the MSc?
You have up to 6 years to complete the full MSc. You can pause your studies between semesters and resume at a later date. Please note that extensions beyond this timeframe are not possible, so it’s important to plan ahead.

If I don’t finish the MSc, do I still get recognition for my studies?
Yes. You can exit the programme with a recognised qualification at the following milestones:

• 60 credits (3 courses): Postgraduate Certificate
• 120 credits: Postgraduate Diploma
• 180 credits: MSc

You can study on a flexible, pay-as-you-go basis, taking one course at a time if you are unsure how far you wish to progress.

How do assessments work?
All assessments are coursework-based submissions, except for the final-year project, which includes a live online viva/presentation.

Most courses follow a consistent schedule:

September–December: Teaching materials, with submissions due in early January.
January–April: Teaching materials, with submissions due in early June.
May: Catch-up period.
July–August: Break.

The exception is Evidence Based Biomedical Research Methods and Statistics (EBBMRS), where assessments are due in July and August (though you can submit earlier). Assessment windows open from the start of each course, allowing you to submit work when you are ready.

Do I have to come to Glasgow?
No. The programme is fully online, including all teaching, assessments, and discussions. There is an optional one-week residential in June each year, where you can visit campus and take part in labs and practical sessions. Attendance is not compulsory and does not affect your grades.

Are there any live sessions?
There are no live teaching sessions. However, during induction week, we run live welcome sessions (scheduled across time zones), which are also recorded. You will also be invited to some live sessions when online but these are always recorded and content put online afterwards. These are typically ad hoc and not frequent.

Each course has a Teams space where you can interact with other students. While teaching materials are released weekly, you can study at your own pace. Discussion boards are available if you want regular engagement, but you can also review them later.

What is the timetable for the programme?
The online programme follows the same structure as the on-campus version but allows more flexibility:

Semester 1 (Sept–Dec): Teaching materials, with submissions in early January (approx. 16 weeks)
Semester 2 (Jan–Apr): Teaching materials, with submissions in early June (approx. 20 weeks)
May: Catch-up period
July–August: Break

Because Semester 2 is longer, it is often a good time to take two courses.
The only exception is EBBMRS, which runs from September to June. Assessments are due in July and August, but can be submitted at any time.

Can I study alongside work and other commitments?
Yes, it is possible. This depends on your personal circumstances and whilst we can help you and be flexible, only you know how to make it work. Further study requires time and commitment so plan when you will study.
Each 20-credit course involves approximately 200 hours of learning on paper. This includes:

• Watching lectures and completing weekly tasks (around 2–4 hours per week)
• Additional reading
• Assessment preparation

In practice, for a full-time study, each course is around 10-12 hrs per week per course. For online students who are part-time, this would be around 6-10 hrs per week per course.

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Video: Sport & Exercise Science & Medicine online programme

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

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

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of pre-Masters courses.

How to apply

Please note: our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 09:00 - 11:00 (BST) Thursday 11 June 2026 due to essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

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.

Please note: our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 09:00 - 11:00 (BST) Thursday 11 June 2026 due to essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

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