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University of Bedfordshire: Strength and Conditioning
| Institution | University of Bedfordshire |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Sport Science and Physical Activity |
| Web | http://www.beds.ac.uk |
| admission@beds.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 0300 3300 073 |
| Study type | Taught |
MSc
Summary
This Master’s course prepares you for careers as a high-performance strength and conditioning coach or applied sport scientist at both elite level and within grassroots and schools' sport. Within an ideal environment for scientific exploration and practical skills development, you explore approaches to supporting athletes including strength and conditioning, testing physical capacities and laboratory work, assessing their contribution in helping athletes increase performance.
If you would like more information about this course, please contact Dr Iain Fletcher at iain.fletcher@beds.ac.uk
Course accreditation / industry endorsement Once you complete your degree, you can apply for professional accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). The course is also endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), allowing you to gain additional qualifications as a Strength & Conditioning trainer.
Facilities and specialist equipment - New strength and conditioning suite with nine lifting platforms
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BASES-accredited laboratories
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Human Performance Centre with heat chamber for high-temperature acclimatisation
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On-campus community exercise clinic supporting clients with a range of conditions
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Sports injury clinic
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Free gym
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Range of external games areas and pitches
Industry links
We are official education partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region, giving you opportunities to improve your employability through work placements. There are also opportunities to develop personal and professional networks through our links with Sport England, governing bodies, active partnerships and health-industry experts.
We increase the employability of our graduates by being a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
Your student experience In the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024, our sport sciences and biosciences courses rank 6th in their subject field for sense of community.
Study with an academic team who have world-leading expertise in their fields and are actively involved in research as well as supporting elite sports performers.
Benefit from our successful partnerships with professional sports teams, elite athletes, academies, schools, colleges and other relevant organisations.
Local placement opportunities with Luton Town FC, Bedford Blues RFC, Ampthill Rugby club, Northampton Saints, MK Dons, Saracens, Northampton County Cricket Club, Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and the USA’s National Football League (NFL).
Gain invaluable work experience at our community exercise clinic for University BUCS team athletes, and our Human Performance Centre, which offers testing to sports people, teams and the general public across the range of fitness capacities.
Regular industry speakers attend our ISPAR seminar series including Jack Wells (PGA), Tom Bromley (S&C coach for MK Dons), Mark Finney (former head of S&C at Northampton Saints), and Phil Pask (former lead physio for England Rugby).
Our graduates have gone on to careers at the Lawn Tennis Association, British Water Skiing, Red Bull Racing and the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League, to name a few.
Intermediate qualifications available: Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master's level, Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Master's level
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent. Non-Standard Entry - (All non-standard entry candidates will be required to attend an interview with the Award Manager) a. Graduates with a first degree in a closely allied subject, where the gaps in subject specific knowledge could be closed using a negotiated programme that would include additional units from within the undergraduate modular degree scheme b. Sport, Exercise, Coaching and Health professionals with demonstrable experience and expertise within the field who also possess an HNC/HND or GNVQ/NVQ at level 4 in an appropriate subject. These candidates will be required to provide a full portfolio of supporting evidence outlining appropriate academic and educational training and attend an interview, which will aim to assess: the applicants motivation, maturity and realistic approach to their studies AP(E)L /APL |
| Location | Bedford Campus Polhill Avenue Bedford MK41 9EA |
Summary
If you wish to work with sports performers as a strength and conditioner, or applied sports scientist, this innovative course is for you.
Designed to meet the needs of students interested in the optimisation the fitness capacities required for high-level performance in sport, it will provide the theory and foundation knowledge and skills you need to pursue professional accreditation with a number of bodies including the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES); the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA)
Why choose this course? - Study on a unique course with a multidisciplinary approach to strength and conditioning and gain access to world-leading staff expertise and research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) three-quarters of our work across sports science, PE and tourism and leisure have an internationally recognised impact. More than 95% of our research outputs are rated as internationally recognised or better (compared with a sector average of 93%).
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Explore a range of disciplines and their contribution to helping athletes increase performance, including: strength and conditioning; testing physical capacities; sport science support; laboratory skills.
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Develop your research skills and capabilities including research design and ethics, statistics and laboratory skills, opening up additional career opportunities
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Gain from a course designed to prepare you to for employment in the rewarding and expanding field of strength and conditioning
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Benefit from gaining the necessary skills to pursue roles including Strength and Conditioning Specialist; Applied Sports Scientist; Laboratory Specialised Technician (eg in universities, sports clubs or hospitals) and/or continue to further research-based study on Masters by research, MPhil or PhD programmes.
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Learn in the newly-opened arena facility which provides a space for modern fitness professional to train in a controlled environment designed for student only access. A wide range of cardiovascular and resistance equipment is available including a dedicated Strength and Conditioning suite with weight lifting equipment vital to the development of a Strength and Conditioning coach's delivery skills.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent. Non-Standard Entry - (All non-standard entry candidates will be required to attend an interview with the Award Manager) a. Graduates with a first degree in a closely allied subject, where the gaps in subject specific knowledge could be closed using a negotiated programme that would include additional units from within the undergraduate modular degree scheme b. Sport, Exercise, Coaching and Health professionals with demonstrable experience and expertise within the field who also possess an HNC/HND or GNVQ/NVQ at level 4 in an appropriate subject. These candidates will be required to provide a full portfolio of supporting evidence outlining appropriate academic and educational training and attend an interview, which will aim to assess: the applicants motivation, maturity and realistic approach to their studies AP(E)L /APL |
| Location | Bedford Campus Polhill Avenue Bedford MK41 9EA |
Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip
Summary
The overall aim of the course is to provide an intellectually challenging multi and interdisciplinary programme of advanced study in Strength & Conditioning. This will enable students to acquire theoretical and conceptual frameworks and skills to masters’ level preparing them for careers in associated professions or further academic study in their chosen discipline. The curriculum design seeks to create space for participants to apply their understanding of sport science and/or coaching to develop their experience. This is achieved by including units explicitly devised to address the optimisation of performance. These units require students to engage in independent analysis of performance and strategies to enhance and optimise physical capacities. This analysis will be informed by the other units that are in common with the suite of courses held within the department. The course content and design are suited to students who have an interest in Strength and Conditioning and a relevant award in a related discipline. The course content is not designed for students who have studied Strength and Conditioning formally as the major component of their undergraduate degree.
The vocational outcomes will include traditional employment opportunities associated with sports graduates. However, with a focus on performance enhancement, vocations such as strength and conditioning, sport science support, sports development and the exercise industry will offer clear routes for employment. Depending on the interests of students the course could provide opportunities to work towards United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) or British Association of Sport & Exercise Scientists (BASES) accreditation.
Intermediate qualifications available: Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master's level
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bedford Campus Polhill Avenue Bedford MK41 9EA |
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