Programme structure: Strength and Conditioning

This programme develops your skills and knowledge in strength training and your ability to apply them in practice. Teaching is based on the latest research and input from highly experienced practitioners in the field who can provide insight and advice that will help you prepare for your career. You can also choose to undertake an internship or placement with one of the many organisations, athletes or teams we have relationships with. 

Through our programme, you'll: 

• understand and evaluate current research and thinking in strength and conditioning 
• inform the design and delivery of appropriate training interventions 
• understand the theoretical and practical aspects of strength and conditioning interventions 
• gain the skills necessary to operate as a practitioner in a sports performance environment 

Our current teaching staff are all active researchers in the field who have experience working with sports people at all levels up to international standard. For example, staff have served as consultants to the Scottish Institute of Sport and international motorsport schemes. 

Programme redevelopment

We are always evolving and aiming to improve the teaching, learning, experience and employability of our students. If you join us from September 2025, you will join a redeveloped programme that focuses on practical learning. Our experts and accredited practitioners will prepare you to thrive in a competitive job market and a changing world.

Programme structure

Masters degrees at the University of Edinburgh comprise 180 credits.   You can take the masters degree full-time in one year. 

The first 120 credits are taught courses where you will learn about areas relevant to strength and conditioning. You'll also consider wider professional skills and issues associated with the application of scientific principles. 

Once you successfully complete the taught courses you will progress to the dissertation component (60 credits) to achieve the award of MSc.

Compulsory courses

You will complete five compulsory courses, with your learning comprised of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions.  

• Applied Practice in Strength and Conditioning (40 credits): This two-semester course encourages you to develop and exercise professional judgement in applying your strength and conditioning knowledge and understanding in practical scenarios and across disciplines, and to communicate and justify your rationale for training, coaching, and monitoring decisions.           
• Professional Development for Strength and Conditioning (40 credits): To positively impact physical performance, strength and conditioning coaches need to combine technical knowledge with knowing how to motivate and support their clients. Professional skills, such as communication, reflection, and understanding, are therefore required by coaches to positively transfer their knowledge to others. This course encourages you to appraise your current level of proficiency in skills related to your future career goals in strength and conditioning, and to plan, implement, and reflect on the development of these skills.
• Training Science (20 credits): A critical knowledge and understanding of training science is required to inform the application of particular athlete preparation strategies. This course will develop a critical awareness of the demands of a range of sports for athletes and explore how effective training promotes physiological adaptation. The research evidence to support current training recommendations will be evaluated across a range of sports and environmental contexts.

You will take two Research Methods courses to help you prepare for your dissertation: 

• Research Process (10 credits)
• Understanding Research Concepts (10 credits)

A detailed Course Description (2025-26) will be listed here from April 2025. 

Dissertation

Once you successfully complete the five taught courses, you can progress to the dissertation component (60 credits).  

Sample schedule

An indicative academic year calendar is included here to give a sense of the programme schedule. 

Semester 1 (September to December)

• Professional Development for Strength and Conditioning - full-year
• Applied Practice of Strength and Conditioning - full year
• Training Science - October-December
• Understanding Research Concepts - September-November

Semester 2 (January to April)

• Professional Development for Strength and Conditioning - full-year
• Applied Practice of Strength and Conditioning - full year
• Training Science - December-March
• Research Process - February-April

Summer (May to August)

• Dissertation (60 credits)

Internships and Placement

Alongside your academic studies, you can take up voluntary strength and conditioning internships and placements in a variety of roles. We have well-established relationships with organisations such as professional rugby and football clubs, and a range of performers, including those at elite level in sports such as athletics, rowing, swimming, cycling, basketball, hockey, fencing and tennis. 

These opportunities are not a formal or assessed part of the programme but will provide a valuable source of further development and experience that can be reflected upon during the Professional Development and Applied Practice courses. There may also be an opportunity to link your dissertation with an internship. Please discuss this with the programme director and internship provider.  

We apply governing body codes of conduct for internships and placements in strength and conditioning to help ensure that you have the chance to develop your skills and gain career-relevant experience. Several of our graduates have gone on to work with their placement providers. Please note that placement opportunities change yearly, and we cannot guarantee any aspect of placement provision.  

We also hold practical workshops to help you develop the practical skills required for accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). 

Assessment

Our assessment methods are designed to test you academically and help you develop skills and attributes you can use in your career. Some examples include:  

• written critical reviews 
• examinations 
• oral presentations 
• reflective accounts 
• infographics  
• continuing professional development plans 

Each taught course includes: 

• weekly contact with the course organiser followed by an assessment period 
• assessment, exam and/or assignments (equivalent to a 4000-5000-word assignment for each course) 

Facilities

Teaching takes place at Moray House School of Education and Sport's Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences at St Leonard’s Land. Students have access to high-quality resources, labs and research facilities, a dedicated strength and conditioning gym within the School, and a range of resources at Sport and Exercise. 

Sport and Exercise