Programme structure: Performance Coaching and Development

Our students come from academic and non-academic backgrounds and have experience in diverse settings, including: 

• team, individual, action and adventure sports 
• working with tactical athletes 
• professional development 

This programme compliments their work by extending their knowledge and understanding of coaching and coach development.  

You’ll work in a stimulating environment with a skilled team that combines real-world coaching expertise with development and sector-leading research. 

Our staff have a unique record of achievement in this field. They have worked with over 90 world or Olympic medallists, international sports teams, world-class sports performers and senior leaders in business and national sports organisations across several continents. 

From a research perspective, our Institute includes two research centres accredited by the International Olympic Committee: 

• The Olympic Research Centre drives major projects including a longitudinal study of injury, health and wellbeing in Olympians (in partnership with Bath University). 
• The Scottish Centre for Olympic Research (SCORE) provides education and research in sociocultural aspects of Olympism. 

Programme structure

This is a part-time programme that you can take over a 24- to 72-month period. The programme combines academic study with practical application based on your coaching practice.  

To successfully complete the master’s programme, you will take six taught courses (20 credits each for a total of 120 credits) followed by a supervised dissertation project (60 credits).  

You can earn the MSc by completing 180 credits or exit earlier with a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits). The possible outcomes and, therefore, the level of commitment are very flexible. 

Postgraduate Certificate

To exit the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate in Performance Coaching and Development, you will complete the following courses (worth 20 credits each):

• Managing the Coaching Process (SPRT10048) 
• Diagnostic Analysis of Coaching Practice (SPRT11010)
• Performance Development and Expertise (SPRT11006)

Postgraduate Diploma

After completing the courses above, you can exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Coaching and Development by taking a further three courses (20 credits each):

• Coach Development (SPRT11014)
• Developing Professional Expertise (SPRT11015)
• Real World Research in Performance (SPRT11016)

Masters (MSc)

After successfully completing the above six taught courses (120 credits), you will undertake a final research project: a supervised dissertation (60 credits). Once this is done, you receive the MSc in Performance Coaching and Development.  

Your final research project will allow you to focus on innovation, creativity and flexibility in your coaching domain. You may write a 'traditional' dissertation or a peer-reviewed journal article. 

The dissertation is a major piece of research that demands significant time and commitment. Through the dissertation, you have the opportunity to identify a research topic, develop and implement a plan for gathering data and undertake systematic analysis and write-up of that data. You will receive support through both the Real World Research in Performance course and individual meetings with a designated supervisor. 

• Coaching Dissertation (SPRT11017)

Course descriptions (2024-25)

Course adaptability and flexibility

You begin with the Managing the Coaching Process course, then move on to the four compulsory courses, concluding with the Real World Research in Performance course in which you plan your dissertation. 

Courses can be taken in your own time, giving you the flexibility to fit your study around your coaching commitments. 

Those wishing to delve even further into the design and deployment of innovation in coaching can apply for our PhD programme.  Achieving a doctorate at a world-class University is a marker of your ability and a tremendous cachet for your future career. 

Postgraduate Research degrees (PhD) at Moray House

Learning outcomes

The programme aims to develop coaches: 

• as professional, lifelong learners who can design career-long learning opportunities for themselves and others 
• who are critical thinkers, able to assess and evaluate the quality of knowledge, theories and policy that informs their coaching practice 
• who can identify the challenges that inform coaching research 
• with specialist research skills who can analyse, critique and evaluate coaching programmes, practices and processes 
• capable of designing impactful interventions that develop performance 
• as learners with transferable skills who can conceive, construct and implement socially responsible contributions to the coaching field