Overview

Help athletes, teams and coaches achieve their potential through the power of sport and exercise psychology.

Sport and exercise psychology plays an important role in improving sport performance, supporting mental wellbeing and encouraging lifelong participation in physical activity. From elite sport to healthcare and community settings, qualified practitioners help people perform, recover and thrive.

Our Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology (DPsych) prepares you to become a registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist.

Advanced psychological theory, applied practice and research sit at the heart of the programme. Together, they develop your expertise in performance enhancement, mental wellbeing and health promotion.

Building on your existing knowledge of psychology and sport sciences, you'll learn to understand, explain and predict the mental processes and behaviours that influence human performance. You'll apply this expertise across sport, exercise and wider physical activity settings, supporting everyone from elite athletes to people improving their health and wellbeing.

As the only DPsych in Sport and Exercise Psychology in Scotland, GCU offers a distinctive route into the profession. Designed for graduates with a background in psychology or a related discipline, this professionally accredited doctorate combines rigorous academic study with extensive supervised placements. Working with clients throughout your training gives you the practical experience needed for professional registration. It also develops your therapeutic and consultancy skills.

Throughout the programme, you'll build connections with the profession through strong links with professional organisations and opportunities to work on consultancy projects. These experiences broaden your professional network and expose you to real-world professional practice.

The programme also places a strong emphasis on ethical practice and the wider role psychologists play in improving lives through sport, exercise and physical activity. You'll explore how psychology can improve mental wellbeing, encourage healthier lifestyles and create positive change for individuals and communities.

Whether your ambition is to work in elite sport, healthcare, private practice or research, you'll graduate ready to make a meaningful contribution to performance, mental wellbeing and health. Your expertise will prepare you to make an impact at local, national and international level.

Turn your passion for psychology, sport and human performance into a career that makes a measurable difference.

Please note: Additional costs apply to this programme. Please check the 'Fees and funding' section below for more information.

Why study Sports and Exercise Psychology at GCU?

Choose Scotland's only DPsych in Sport and Exercise Psychology, offering a distinctive, professionally accredited route into the profession while preparing you for opportunities in the UK and around the world.
Benefit from our strong partnerships across sport, health and community organisations. Gain meaningful real-world learning experiences and build valuable professional networks that support your professional growth and future career.
Build confidence through extensive supervised placements. You’ll get to apply psychological theory in a range of real-world settings while developing the practical experience and professional competencies needed for future practice.
Develop advanced research and applied practice skills, combining psychological theory, critical thinking and evidence-based approaches to deliver effective interventions across diverse professional settings.
Learn in modern wellbeing facilities that support practical skills development, reflective practice and collaborative learning throughout your professional training.

Health and Care Professions Council

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British Psychological Society

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What you will study

We aim to display the most up-to-date information possible.

The modules listed on this page and the Programme Specification are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course. Please note that course content, modules, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at GCU. This might be because we are required to do so by law, by a governmental authority, regulator or accrediting body. We may also make changes for quality assurance reasons, or to enhance the course.

Year 1

Applied Psychology Practice 1S (Skills)

Applied Psychology Practice 1T (Theory)

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 1

Advanced Research in Applied Psychology 1 (D)

Consultancy and Training in Applied Psychology 1: Sport and Exercise

Interventions in Applied Psychology 1

Analytical Methods

Year 2

Applied Psychology Practice 2A

Intervention in Applied Psychology 2

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 2

Critical Enquiry in Applied Psychology 2

Advanced Research in Applied Psychology 2

Year 3

Interventions in Applied Psychology 3

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 3A

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 3B

Critical Enquiry in Applied Psychology 3

Advanced Research in Applied Psychology 3

Careers

This professionally accredited doctorate is designed to prepare you for registration as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist.

As a graduate, you'll be prepared for careers across:

elite sport
healthcare
education
research
private practice.

Applying psychological principles to improve performance, motivation and wellbeing, you'll be equipped to support individuals, teams and communities across a range of professional settings.

Career opportunities include working with elite athletes and sports teams as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist. You could also specialise in health and exercise psychology within healthcare, rehabilitation and community settings, supporting behaviour change, physical activity and healthier lifestyles. Graduates also pursue careers in research, consultancy, higher education and corporate wellbeing.

The programme also encourages entrepreneurial thinking, helping you explore opportunities in consultancy, private practice and innovative approaches within sport and exercise psychology. You'll develop the skills to apply your expertise in a range of professional and organisational settings.

This is a rewarding profession that continues to evolve as organisations increasingly recognise the important role psychology plays in enhancing performance, supporting mental wellbeing and encouraging healthier, more active lives. Your combination of doctoral-level knowledge, applied practice and research experience will prepare you for opportunities in the UK and internationally.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
DPsych	Full time	3 Years	Sep 27	Glasgow	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Minimum academic requirement

UK honours degree 2:1 (or equivalent) in Psychology that meets British Psychological Society (BPS) standards for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) plus relevant work experience.

You can find more information about eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership on the BPS website

Subject to DBS, PVG and/or occupational health checks. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.

Direct access to year two with an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology (BPS accredited) will be considered on a case by case basis in line with GCU's Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

Additional requirements

Applicants must also demonstrate a level of maturity and experience commensurate with the personal and professional requirements of the programme.

Acceptance onto the programme will be subject to the outcome of the DBS, PVG and/or occupational health checks and sufficient demonstration of the relevant skills and motivation required to undertake the programme.

Applicants should evidence the relevant skills and motivation required to undertake the programme. Students should provide an example of demonstrating relevant voluntary or paid work experience within a relevant field.

Please note, students are expected to source their own potential placements prior to registration on the programme.

Applications must include an up-to-date CV.

English language requirements

Academic IELTS score of 7.0 (or equivalent) with no element below 6.5.

International applicants

You must ensure that your psychology degree provides eligibility for DPsych study in the UK. In order to undertake postgraduate training on our programme, you must be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). The demonstration of GBC takes place through verifying your undergraduate (or occasionally postgraduate) degree in Psychology.

If this has taken place within the UK, you can check whether it is BPS-approved on the BPS website. If you have studied a psychology degree outside the UK, you will usually need to make an individual application for graduate membership of the BPS in order for your eligibility for GBC to be assessed. It is necessary to do this in advance of making your application to our programme. All offers will be subject to demonstration of BPS eligibility. You can find out more information about GBC, and contact details for the BPS on the BPS website.

Additional information for international applicants

Entry requirements by country
Application deadlines
English language tests
Knowledge of English - Applicants from a majority English speaking country may not be required to provide further proof of your English language proficiency. Information about this requirement is available on the Student Visa section of the gov.uk website.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

The tuition fees you pay are mostly determined by your fee status. What is my student fee status?

Fees are subject to change and are published here for guidance only.

2026/2027 annual tuition fees

Please visit our central tuition fees section for details.

Additional costs

As a student at the University, there are additional fees and costs which may or may not apply to you, but that you should be aware of.

View additional costs.

The fee for the programme includes all taught elements, research supervision, support for placement practice and access to all the benefits of studying at Glasgow Caledonian University.

There are additional costs as follows:

Clinical supervision

Although some group supervision is included in programme teaching, you will undertake more detailed clinical supervision externally, alongside your placement practice.

You will need approximately one hour of clinical supervision for every six hours of placement practice during your first 50 hours, followed by one hour for every eight hours of practice during the next 400 hours.

Some placements provide clinical supervision at no additional cost. Where this is not available, you will be responsible for arranging and funding your own supervision.

Clinical supervision typically costs between £60 and £100 per hour. If you need to fund all your supervision, the total estimated cost is £3,600 to £6,000. Your actual costs will depend on your placement arrangements and the supervision provided.

Other costs

In addition to tuition fees and clinical supervision fees, you should budget for the following costs during your studies:

books and additional learning materials
professional indemnity insurance (approximately £80 a year)
PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) application (approximately £60)
Occupational Health Screening, where required
professional body membership fees
travel expenses associated with placements and supervision
attendance at relevant professional development events or conferences (optional).

Learning and teaching methods

The DPsych combines taught modules, supervised practice and doctoral research to help you develop the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours expected of a Sport and Exercise Psychologist.

You'll learn through a mix of:

lectures
seminars
workshops
supervised practice
independent study.

The course is part of Glasgow Caledonian's Applied Psychology Doctoral Framework, which also comprises the taught doctorate programmes in Counselling Psychology and Health Psychology. This provides opportunities to learn alongside other practitioner psychology disciplines, broadening your professional perspective.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods vary across the programme and are designed to evaluate both academic knowledge and professional practice. You'll complete a range of assessments, including:

essays
oral presentations
case studies
reflective portfolios
critical appraisals
a doctoral research dissertation.

Placements

A key feature of the programme is the opportunity to develop your professional practice through supervised placements. You will be supported to find your own placements in settings that meet your career goals.

You'll complete a minimum of 450 hours of supervised practice across at least three placements in sport, exercise and health settings. Placements typically begin during your first year and continue throughout the programme, usually for around two days a week alongside your academic studies.

Student Route visa holders will normally have placement work capped at 450 client hours, unless additional hours are required to meet module requirements.

At least 50% of your supervised practice must be completed face to face, giving you valuable experience of working directly with clients while developing your professional competence.

Please note that while the programme provides support towards finding placements, and has links with a range of placement providers, we do not allocate students to placements. It will be your own responsibility to source your placements. Placements are unpaid. You’ll be responsible for any travel and accommodation costs, which will vary depending on where your placement is based.

Facilities

You'll have access to GCU's ARC Health and Wellbeing Facility, which supports your academic learning, research and personal development. The facility provides modern fitness, exercise and wellbeing spaces that can support practical learning across the programme.

Research with real-world impact

Research is an integral part of the programme, giving you the opportunity to explore contemporary challenges in mental health, performance psychology and wellbeing. You'll be encouraged to share your research through conferences and professional events, such as the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Annual Conference, helping you engage with the wider profession and communicate your work to academic and practitioner audiences.

Professional accreditation

The course is approved as meeting the standards for education of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is the regulator of Practitioner Psychologists in the UK. It is therefore an approved route towards obtaining registration with the HCPC as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist.

The course is also accredited by the British Psychological Society as a doctoral training provider for Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Students receiving the DPsych in Sport and Exercise Psychology are eligible to apply for Chartership as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.

Visit the HCPC website

Visit the British Psychological Society website

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus of their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

Why study Sports and Exercise Psychology at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Careers

Course information