Programme structure: Physical Activity for Health

Intercalated medical students 

Please note, intercalated medical students (after at least three years of their Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB/MBBS) programmes) can only apply for entry to the one-year, full-time master's programme. 

Programme structure

A master's degree at the University of Edinburgh is 180 credits. The first 120 credits are made up of taught courses. The master's degree culminates in a supervised dissertation worth 60 credits. 

The first 60 credits include three 20-credit compulsory courses:  

• Assessment of Physical Activity and Body Composition (20 credits)
• Physical Activity for Health (20 credits)
• Psychology of Physical Activity (20 credits)

You must achieve an overall average of at least 40% to earn the 60 credits. To exit with a PgCert, you must pass at least 40 of the 60 credits with a mark of at least 40%. 

The next 60 credits include 3 compulsory courses and 30 credits' worth of option courses. 

Compulsory courses

• Physical Activity For Health Across the Lifespan (10 credits)
• Research Process (10 credits)
• Understanding Research Concepts (10 credits)

Option courses 

You will take 30 credits of option courses (subject to availability and suitability for the programme).  Students tend to select courses from programmes within the Institute for Sport. Courses in physical education and health sciences related to Sport Management and Policy or human performance science and exercise rehabilitation and medicine are also popular. However, you may select courses from other programmes across the University related to psychology and public health. 

Example option courses taken in previous years by our students include: 

• Sport, Society and International Development
• Sport and Exercise Medicine
• Preventive Dance Medicine
• Social Determinants of Health and Public Policy*
• Developing and Evaluating Complex Public Health Interventions*

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

* Denotes courses offered in other Schools. If you are studying on a part-time intermittent basis, courses offered in other Schools may have different fees.  

Course descriptions (2024-25)

Masters 

A masters degree at the University of Edinburgh is 180 credits. The masters degree culminates in a supervised dissertation worth 60 credits. 

If you achieve an average mark of 50% or more overall and pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of your courses, you may progress to the dissertation component.   

The dissertation is a piece of independent research that allows you to identify and undertake a research study to address a research or professional practice issue in physical activity for health. This process involves planning and executing the study and interpreting and writing up the data. Studies may be based in the field, laboratory or desk. The assessment includes an oral presentation and a journal article submission write-up. 

You will be supported through specialist research training clinics at the beginning of the process, and by a designated supervisor through individual and/or group tutorials. Where appropriate, you will have the chance to link with existing research projects in the area. 

Potential dissertation topics include: 

• The prevalence and nature of sedentary behaviour in school children 
• The use of physical activity trackers in measuring and motivating physical activity behaviour 
• The relationships between physical activity and mental health and psychological well-being 
• Understanding physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour in University students 
• How to communicate physical activity messages to different populations 
• The impact of conducting physical activity in ‘blue space’ on health and well-being. 

This is not an exhaustive list. Where possible, we support students to pursue projects in areas of their personal interest. 

Intercalated medical students 

Please note, intercalating medical students may be required to submit their dissertation at an earlier time than other students on the programme. 

Teaching and assessment

Staff employ a range of teaching methods, including lectures, tutorials, seminars, discussions and independent and group work to provide a stimulating teaching environment. To ensure the quality of students’ experience, we aim to maintain a cohort size that allows for optimal engagement between staff and students.  

Courses are assessed by many different methods to allow students to develop key graduate attributes. We often assess students through formative work, such as in-class feedback on a journal paper critique. This provides students with ongoing feedback.  

An overall assessment is submitted for credit. Other assessments include essays, written examinations, case study reports, oral presentations and health-related practical assessments.  All courses are supported by an online learning environment. 

Enthusiastic, friendly and expert instructors - Interactive and relaxed atmosphere made learning easier.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

If you are already employed within the field, you can choose to take individual courses that contribute towards your CPD. Teaching times are carefully considered so you can fit studying around your work and personal commitments. 

Physical Activity for Health Research Centre

This programme draws expertise from the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC). PAHRC is led by the internationally renowned Professor Marie Murphy, in the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS). 

Members of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre are currently researching: 

• active travel
• physical activity communication and messaging
• physical activity in young people 
• physical activity for people with medical conditions 
• physical activity prevalence
• the promotion of walking 
• reducing sedentary time 
• the role of the environment in physical activity promotion 

This research informs teaching, ensuring students engage with the most up-to-date issues. We encourage master's students to participate in our current research. 

Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC)

Facilities

Students benefit from ISPEHS’s excellent psychology and physiology laboratory facilities. 

The University also offers world-class library facilities and access to online and print journals. 

The University is ranked among the best in the world for its sport and exercise facilities. Students can participate in any of the more than 60 sport societies on offer, including fencing, skydiving, horse riding, ice hockey, rugby and rock climbing. 

Related links

Sport and Exercise

Edinburgh University Sport Union