Strength and Conditioning (Taught)

This Master’s course prepares you for careers as a high-performance strength and conditioning coach or applied sport scientist at both elite level and within grassroots and schools' sport. Within an ideal environment for scientific exploration and practical skills development, you explore approaches to supporting athletes including strength and conditioning, testing physical capacities and laboratory work, assessing their contribution in helping athletes increase performance.

If you would like more information about this course, please contact Dr Iain Fletcher at iain.fletcher@beds.ac.uk

Course accreditation / industry endorsement
Once you complete your degree, you can apply for professional accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). The course is also endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), allowing you to gain additional qualifications as a Strength & Conditioning trainer.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• New strength and conditioning suite with nine lifting platforms

• BASES-accredited laboratories

• Human Performance Centre with heat chamber for high-temperature acclimatisation

• On-campus community exercise clinic supporting clients with a range of conditions

• Sports injury clinic

• Free gym

• Range of external games areas and pitches

Industry links

We are official education partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region, giving you opportunities to improve your employability through work placements. There are also opportunities to develop personal and professional networks through our links with Sport England, governing bodies, active partnerships and health-industry experts.

We increase the employability of our graduates by being a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Your student experience
In the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024, our sport sciences and biosciences courses rank 6th in their subject field for sense of community.

Study with an academic team who have world-leading expertise in their fields and are actively involved in research as well as supporting elite sports performers.

Benefit from our successful partnerships with professional sports teams, elite athletes, academies, schools, colleges and other relevant organisations.

Local placement opportunities with Luton Town FC, Bedford Blues RFC, Ampthill Rugby club, Northampton Saints, MK Dons, Saracens, Northampton County Cricket Club, Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and the USA’s National Football League (NFL).

Gain invaluable work experience at our community exercise clinic for University BUCS team athletes, and our Human Performance Centre, which offers testing to sports people, teams and the general public across the range of fitness capacities.

Regular industry speakers attend our ISPAR seminar series including Jack Wells (PGA), Tom Bromley (S&C coach for MK Dons), Mark Finney (former head of S&C at Northampton Saints), and Phil Pask (former lead physio for England Rugby).

Our graduates have gone on to careers at the Lawn Tennis Association, British Water Skiing, Red Bull Racing and the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League, to name a few.

Intermediate qualifications available: Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master's level, Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Master's level