Psychology and Sport Studies

Psychology and sport studies is a combination that examines both the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes and the world of physical activity, sport and athletic performance. Psychology provides the empirical and theoretical tools to understand how people think, feel and behave, with applications across mental health, motivation, decision-making, social influence and individual differences. Sport studies brings knowledge of the social, cultural and physiological dimensions of sport and physical activity, including how sport is organised, how participation affects wellbeing, and how psychological factors influence performance, injury and recovery.

At the University of Derby this three-year, full-time programme includes a foundation year available for those who need additional preparation, along with a sandwich year in professional practice and a placement component giving you extended professional experience. You will study psychological theory and research alongside the broader field of sport, developing an understanding of how mental factors such as motivation, confidence, anxiety and team dynamics shape sporting experience and performance. The programme equips you with techniques to support healthy lifestyles and to facilitate physical and mental health and wellbeing across different populations.

Graduates work in sport psychology support roles, coaching, sports development, physical education, health and wellbeing promotion, community sport and leisure management. The psychology component opens routes into counselling, mental health support, human resources and research, while the sport studies element is relevant to roles in national governing bodies, professional sport, school sport and leisure services. Many graduates pursue further professional training in sport psychology, physical education or counselling, or go on to postgraduate study in sport and exercise psychology, health psychology or applied sport science.