Sports & Exercise Medicine

The course is aimed at clinical professionals working as medical doctors, physiotherapists, or other health professionals (e.g. podiatrists). The overarching aim of this course is to develop practitioners who understand the importance of evidence-based and specialist reflective practice, and who will enhance the healthcare of people involved in sport and exercise within the UK, Ireland and beyond.

You will acquire the knowledge, critical awareness and transferable skills required for clinicians aspiring to engage in the field of sport and exercise medicine. The teaching faculty is multidisciplinary and comprises clinical specialists from physiotherapy, sports medicine, exercise physiology, orthopaedics, radiology, and biomechanics. Modules focus on sports injury management, sports rehabilitation, biomechanics, research methods, and exercise and disease prevention. Core modules comprise both theoretical and practical components and have significant clinical and vocational relevance. You will be required to undertake an independent research project in your final semester.

The specialist knowledge and skills gained will enhance your opportunities to progress in your career.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one

Optimising Exercise and Load: Effective monitoring and management
In order to optimise the performance of an athlete, it is essential to understand the key scientific and practical concepts of biomechanics, athlete monitoring and load considerations to prevent injuries, or optimise rehabilitation of an athlete's return to play. This module will advance the students' ability to observe and collect athlete data, analyse, interpret, act upon and communicate with the athlete and within, or across, multidisciplinary settings. This module draws upon the student's previous knowledge and skills to ensure a multifaceted approach to the development of professional practice in sports and exercise medicine.

Advanced Research Methods for Sports and Performance
This module is designed to enhance the knowledge and competencies of students to prepare them to undertake research in Physical Activity and Public Health; Psychology and Sports Nutrition. It focuses on the application of advanced elements in experimental design, conducting quantitative analysis, research synthesis and the presentation of data and findings. It equips students to review, conduct and commission research.

Research Project in Sports and Performance
Carrying out an original, independent piece of research from the formulation of a research question through to reporting findings in accordance with the conventions of the academic area is an important part of the research training provided by Masters level study. This module provides students with an opportunity for students to carry out an original independent piece of research within the area of their own profession, or special interest in sports and performance, and present findings in the form of a journal manuscript and a conference presentation.

Sports Injury Management: Maximising Clinical Effectiveness
In order to provide an optimal outcome for the sports person, it is essential to understand the physiological and psychological response to injury. Assessment skills, clinical reasoning and a range of treatment strategies are also essential for successful sports injury management and outcome. This module draws upon the student's previous knowledge and skills to ensure a holistic approach to the management of the injured athlete.

Sports Rehabilitation: Critical Thinking and Dynamic Practice
In order to provide optimal care to the injured athlete it is essential that health professionals working in the area of sport and exercise medicine are proficient in a wide range of assessment and monitoring skills, enabling successful rehabilitation planning and outcome. During this module the student will develop an advanced knowledge of the physiology of injury and repair at key points in the rehabilitation process allowing for tailored rehabilitation programmes to be developed across a range of sporting injuries.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

If English language is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0, or equivalent. Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details on English language requirements.

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
You can apply directly to Ulster any time of year. We advise that you submit your application two weeks prior to your course start date to ensure sufficient time to review your application and, should you be made an offer, complete all necessary enrolment admin.

To start an application, you must create an Ulster University account. Do not worry. You don't need to complete your application in one go. We understand that this is a big decision. Our admissions team are on hand to help you with both the form and any documentation that you may need as part of your application.

Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Attendance

Full time or part time options are available. Students can enrol on the programme on a Full time (over 1 year; 3 semesters), or Part time basis (over 3 years; 6 semesters).

Year of entry: 2020/21

Postgraduate Information Session 20 February 2020
Register at: ulster.ac.uk/pg-information-events

Career options

All students enrolling on this course will already possess a relevant professional qualification (eg. medical doctor, physiotherapist, podiatry). It is anticipated that most students on this programme will be employed or will be seeking employment within the National Health Service, Social, voluntary sectors, or in independent practice. The programme therefore has significant clinical and vocational relevance. The specialist knowledge and postgraduate level skills gained will enhance students' opportunities to progress in their careers.

We have also ensured that the content of the programme meets the postgraduate education requirements and levels of competencies for accreditation, set out by key professional bodies: 1). Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (Physios in Sport UK) and 2). International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists.

Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) statistics provided by the University Careers Service for the last three years show that a significant cohort of students graduating from Ulster with sport and exercise related undergraduate awards go on to full-time employment (statistics are available on request). It is anticipated that this programme will allow the Faculty and the USA to continue its excellent track record of producing multi-skilled graduates who are attractive to a range of employers. This will be achieved in conjunction with the Career Development Centre at the University, with all students encouraged to avail of the relevant employability training and support.