Performance Psychology (MSc)

Examine how psychology can contribute to maintaining and enhancing high-level performance.

Drawing extensively from research and practice in sport psychology, this programme examines how psychology can contribute to maintaining and enhancing high-level performance across a variety of domains such as sport, military, emergency services, forensics, medicine, business and performing arts.

You will examine issues such as anxiety and distraction, that affect individual, team or group performance. You will also study how to address those issues, as well as techniques to enhance performance.

Our staff actively consult with high-level sport performers up to Olympic and World standards. They also draw on their experience using psychology in business, performing arts, military and outdoor education settings.

Staff hold academic and professional qualifications with recognised professional bodies for psychologists.

 

Apply now

Visit the University’s Degree Finder for detailed entry requirements, fees, international grade equivalency, language requirements and to apply.

What you will study

Masters degrees at the University of Edinburgh comprise 180 credits.  

The first 120 credits are made up of taught courses, and the dissertation is worth 60 credits.  

You must receive an average mark of 50% or more and pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of the taught courses to progress to the dissertation.  

Once you successfully complete all 180 credits, you receive your MSc. You can complete the masters degree in 11 months full-time.

Our MSc is not specifically geared towards sport psychology although it does draw heavily from this area. This MSc does not offer formal accreditation to students wishing to complete a Sport Psychology accreditation route in the UK.

Courses

Learning is in the form of lectures, seminars and directed reading. 

You will complete a series of seven courses. These courses cover key topics related to performance psychology as well as essential skills for scientific practitioners such as legal and ethical issues and effective communication.  

Courses are designed to develop your ability to critically appraise scientific literature and apply methods to plan, conduct and disseminate your research, following the established principles of rigorous scientific study. 

Please note that courses and course content may change each year.

400-SportRes-Swimmer-400x180

[The programme is] so unique in its broad perspective, connecting dots that I don’t think you could if you were only studying sport.

Matilda Mayne MSc Performance Psychology graduate

Dissertation

Once you successfully complete your taught courses you may progress to the dissertation. You must complete the dissertation to receive the MSc. 

You may select any topic that reflects your interests 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 dance and non-classical music
  • experiences of flow in dance
  • expertise development in international sport
  • change blindness’s effects moderated by experience level in sport

Submission format includes the option to submit in journal article style.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a Student Advisor in your first few weeks at Edinburgh. This should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.

Support for your studies

Careers

As public understanding grows towards the role of psychology in boosting performance, this programme paves the way for careers in a variety of fields, including: 

  • sport
  • occupational and business psychology
  • executive performance
  • emergency services
  • team building
  • outdoor management 
  • adventurous training

I can’t imagine doing what I do now without having studied this at Edinburgh.

Matilda Mayne MSc Performance Psychology graduate

Our graduates have gone on to jobs that include:

  • private consultancy in sports, business, music and performing arts
  • management and technical roles in sporting bodies
  • sports psychology practice in Sport Institute (public funded)
  • lifestyle management in Sports Institute
  • military and training agencies (for example, primary medical care)
  • research (PhD in sports and business or management fields)
  • further professional training, such as for clinical or educational psychology
  • initial business roles to develop into Human Resources roles
  • teaching or lecturing (Higher and Tertiary education).

Our graduates have gone on to work for universities all over the world. Others have found jobs with the MoD, airlines and leading Performance Enhancement Consultancies in the UK and the US.

The University of Edinburgh's Careers Service supports all current students (and graduates for up to 2 years) to develop their potential and achieve satisfying and rewarding futures.

Join in and make use of:

  • individual appointments
  • group sessions
  • wider campus-based activity
  • online services and resources

We also deliver a diverse programme of face-to-face and online events throughout the academic year.

Visit the Careers Service website


Our students

Listi

video

'I really enjoyed my time there because the lecturers really know how to help us understand and incorporate what we learn in the class to the real case in the real world.'

Matilda

Matilda Mayne

'This is the only programme in Europe that focuses not just on Sport but on Performance as a whole. To me this is a no-brainer – other areas such as the military, the arts, business, emergency services etc, also call for the same mental skills required by athletes and sports coaches.'

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees are listed on the Postgraduate Study Programme Fees pages related to your desired exit level and duration of study.

MSc Performance Psychology - 1 Year (Full-time)


Scholarship opportunities are subject to change each year. We are pleased to offer a number of School-specific scholarships, but students are encouraged to seek out opportunities from the University and external funding bodies.

More information about available scholarships and funding can be found on our Scholarships and Studentships page.

Scholarships and studentships


Contact us

Programme-specific enquiries

For programme-specific enquiries, contact the Programme Director.

Dr Urvi Khasnis

Programme Director

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport

Contact details

Questions about your application or how to apply

For enquiries about your application or how to apply, contact the Postgraduate Admissions office.

Postgraduate Admissions Office (Education)

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS)

Contact details

This article was published on