)
Sport and Health at UEA
Find out more about studying Sport and Health at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Professional Practice in Sport with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
Course Overview
Why MSc Professional Practice in Sport with a Placement Year at UEA?
Build the skills to lead and improve professional practice while you keep working. Explore wellbeing, ethics and social justice, and use research to plan change you can stand behind.
Why choose UEA
- Social justice: Learn how equity, integrity and wellbeing shape professional practice so you can lead fairer programmes
- Policy in practice: Study how policy affects sport or educational organisations, so you can design strategy and manage change
- Work-based research: Complete a dissertation linked to your setting, so you use your research at your workplace
What is MSc Professional Practice in Sport with a Placement Year in Sport?
This course helps you examine professional practice in sport science and physical education through research and reflection.
It suits people working in coaching, development, education, health, high performance, and community sport.
You’ll explore how organisations support performance, participation and wellbeing, and how power and culture shape decisions.
You’ll learn how to act with professional integrity and consider ethics, inclusion, and representation.
You’ll build research skills, from critical reading to choosing methods that fit your question.
You may choose a topic for your dissertation that supports your development and helps you improve practice in your setting.
)
Placement Year
Enhance your postgraduate experience with an integrated placement year, designed to help you develop industry knowledge, apply your learning in practice and gain valuable UK workplace experience before graduation.
Throughout your studies, you’ll take part in a dedicated employability programme that supports your career development and helps you prepare for the placement process. You’ll develop practical skills through career-focused workshops, personalised guidance and specialist support to help you identify and pursue opportunities aligned with your ambitions.
In your placement year, you’ll have the opportunity to complete an industry placement or undertake three employer-led projects with different UK organisations. Whether working within a professional team or contributing to real-world challenges through industry projects, you’ll gain experience that strengthens your technical abilities, professional skills and understanding of your chosen sector.
You’ll be supported throughout your placement search by UEA’s employability specialists and placement partner, while taking an active role in shaping your own career journey. If you don’t secure a placement, the industry project route ensures you’ll still graduate with practical experience and evidence of your ability to apply your knowledge in a professional setting.
Find out more about our Postgraduate Placement Year opportunities.
Careers
Career Pathways
With an MSc Professional Practice in Sport with a Placement Year, you could launch a career in:
- Sport development: Plan and evaluate programmes that increase participation and improve community sport
- Coach development: Support coaches with training and mentoring that improves learning and athlete wellbeing
- Sport management: Lead teams in clubs and organisations and manage changes responsibly
- Policy or partnership: Use evidence to shape sport policy, funding bids and cross-sector work
- Wellbeing lead: Design inclusive sport programmes that support wellbeing and reduce barriers to activity
Career Support
You’ll build skills in analysis, research and communication that support leadership in sport, physical activity, or education.
You’ll learn with/from peers in different roles and share approaches you can use in your organisation.
UEA Career Central(opens in a new window) team supports you as you write your CV, prepare for interviews, and follow your career plans.
Your dissertation can showcase your expertise and strengthen applications for leadership or development roles.
After the Course
Many students progress into leadership, development, or policy roles in sport, physical activity, and education.
You may also use the course to improve practice in your current organisation.
You may also progress to doctoral study if you want to deepen your research skills in sports science and physical education.
You’ll leave with a dissertation that provides evidence for change and supports your professional profile.
Study and Modules
Structure
During your first year, you’ll explore what professional practice looks like in sport, physical activity, or education, and why it matters. You’ll examine how organisations make decisions, and how policy, funding and culture shape what is possible in practice. You’ll focus on key themes such as wellbeing, ethics, integrity and representation, and you consider how these influence participation and performance. You’ll look at social justice questions, including who benefits from provision and who faces barriers. You’ll discuss real examples from the sector and learn how to evaluate what worked, for whom, and why.
You’ll develop strong habits of critical reading and clear writing, so you can work confidently with academic and policy sources. You’ll explore how leadership works in different settings, from community sport to schools, clubs, and public services.
You’ll also learn how to turn a practice issue into a focused question, and you’ll plan a small study that fits your setting. You’ll refine your question, choose methods that fit your setting, and plan your work in a realistic way. You’ll learn how to analyse evidence and turn findings into practical recommendations. You’ll connect your setting details to wider debates about fairness, wellbeing, and effective practice. You’ll also consider how to communicate change with different audiences, including colleagues, participants, and partners. Your dissertation helps you show impact, reflect on your leadership, and make decisions you can justify. You’ll plan the next steps for continuing development and change in your organisation. By the end of the course, you'll have produced a substantial piece of research that supports your professional development and helps improve practice.
As part of your Master’s degree, you’ll complete an Employability Skills module designed to support your career development and prepare you for your placement year. Through practical workshops, career-focused activities and personalised guidance, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the UK workplace.
You’ll gain experience in key areas including CV development, interview preparation and professional networking, helping you to strengthen your applications and make informed decisions about your future career. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis, and successful completion is required to progress to the placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll complete a 60-credit placement module, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience relevant to your discipline. During the first semester, you’ll focus on securing a placement with support from dedicated employability specialists and a programme of in-person workshops.
These sessions will help you develop your career plans, reflect on your progress and build the skills needed to succeed in your chosen sector. If you’re unable to secure an industry placement, you’ll complete three employer-led industry projects with different organisations, providing valuable experience of applying your knowledge to real-world challenges.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis through a portfolio documenting your placement search and a reflective report on your placement or industry project experience.
By the end of the placement year, you’ll have developed valuable professional skills, expanded your sector knowledge, strengthened your CV and professional network, and gained the confidence to take the next step in your career.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll learn through seminars, workshops and guided independent study, with flexible learning designed to fit around your work and life. Teaching connects research, policy and practice, enabling you to apply ideas directly to your own professional setting.
You’ll learn with peers and use case examples to compare organisations and approaches.
You’ll get support for reading, writing, and project planning through tutorials and online resources.
You’ll build core research skills and identify a practice issue you want to explore.
You’ll develop a clear question and plan for your dissertation, with feedback as you refine it.
You’ll carry out your project and strengthen your analysis and academic writing.
You’ll write your dissertation and consider how to share findings to support change.
Assessment
You’ll complete coursework that helps you connect evidence to professional practice in sport, physical activity or education.
Tasks may include essays, reports or reflective writing, based on real issues from the sector.
You’ll receive feedback to improve your argument, evidence use and writing style.
You’ll also complete a dissertation, which lets you investigate a focused question in depth.
You'll submit coursework and develop a research plan for your dissertation.
You may also complete practice tasks to test ideas before you submit final work.
You'll complete your dissertation with supervision as you write and revise.
You may also submit a final piece of coursework that supports your project or professional goals.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2:2
Degree Subject
No specific degree subject is required, however it is advantageous to have studied in the sports science subject area, health sciences, and broader social sciences.
- Additional Entry Requirements
- Applicants without a traditional undergraduate degree are welcome to apply as applications may be considered based on relevant professional experience, and/or voluntary work.
- Interviews
- Note that applicants who have had an extended period of time away from formal education may require an interview.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2:2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
No specific degree subject is required, however it is advantageous to have studied in the sports science subject area, health sciences, and broader social sciences.
- Additional Entry Requirements
- Applicants without a traditional undergraduate degree are welcome to apply as applications may be considered based on relevant professional experience, and/or voluntary work.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills:
-
- International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Interviews
- Note that applicants who have had an extended period of time away from formal education may require an interview.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
)
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
-
UK Students: £11,750
-
International Students: £25,000
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.