MSc Advanced Coaching in Strength and Conditioning

USW's blended learning MSc Advanced Coaching in Strength and Conditioning is a programme all about helping you enhance your coaching in strength and conditioning. The programme takes an applied and real-world approach to the challenge of S&C coaching, to help you enhance your decision making, multi-disciplinary knowledge and inter-personal relationships.

The course is taught by an expert team of industry professionals, is endorsed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) via its Education Recognition Program (ERP) and aligned to the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association’s (UKSCA) expectations for Chartership.

While all MSc’s in strength and conditioning will focus on sets and reps, exercise technique and training methods, once you have this basic knowledge your effectiveness as a strength and conditioning coach is based more upon when and how you do things, rather than simply what you do. Our coaching focus moves you towards thinking about leadership, reflection skills, teaching and problem solving for long term career success.

Our blended learning approach allows you time to apply what you have learned in your own environment and learn in a flexible way. This provides the perfect opportunity for you to study, coach and grow as a practitioner with skills that matter and that set you apart from the competition. We welcome applications from coaches in all corners of the profession and different parts of the world.

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2023
2024

Study Mode 2023	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
Full-time	1 Year	September	Glyntaff	A
Part-time	2 Years	September	Glyntaff	A

Study Mode 2024	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
Full-time	1 Year	September	Glyntaff	A
Part-time	2 Years	September	Glyntaff	A

The Advanced Coaching in Strength and Conditioning course can be studied full time over a year or part-time over two years. The following modules will be studied. Part-time students can distribute these modules over two years.

Each module is delivered in either a block, on-campus or a blended format with residential practicals, online synchronous workshops and asynchronous lectures.

Effective Coaching - 20 credits
Module Leader: Mel Tuckwell
You will develop an advanced understanding of critical self-reflective skills through the use of video analysis, which includes identifying key coaching styles, behaviours, and feedback techniques required in advanced coaching situations. In addition, you will develop an in depth understanding of the interdisciplinary approaches that contribute to the coaching process, including your ability to recognise and develop current coaching practice and coaching philosophies.

Maximising Human Performance - 20 credits
Module leader: Dr Chris Marley and George Rose
This module is designed to provide a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach to performance, thus providing the coach with the widest possible variety of tools and approaches to maximise their athlete’s performance in a range of performance settings.

Strategic Planning and Decision Making for Human Performance - 20 credits
Module leader: Richard Clarke
This module will outline the nature of effective strategy and provide students with the necessary mastery of strategy to enable the most productive actions to be taken on a daily basis. It will also develop the ability to apply the three-tiered approach to evidence-based practice enabling coaches to generate effective solutions to multiple performance problems.

Movement Analysis - 20 credits
Module Leader: Dr Morgan Williams
This module aims to develop your awareness of the analysis of sports performance, with particular emphasis on technique analysis and notation analysis. The use of systematic observation techniques in the analysis of sports performance will also be considered.

Advanced Methods in Strength and Conditioning – A Solutions-based Approach - 40 credits
Module leader: Richard Clarke
This module will allow students to develop a solutions-based approach to training; critically evaluating key performance indicators (KPIs) and applying a range of training methods and techniques to address these KPIs.

Applied Strength and Conditioning Solution - 60 credits
Module leader: Mel Tuckwell
This module will extend the course aim of developing multidisciplinary, independent thinkers, enabling students to generate true evidence-based practice that can be directly applied into their own coaching practices.

Teaching

The postgraduate course is delivered in a blended format with varying formats of residential practicals, online synchronous workshops and asynchronous lectures. This is adapted to suit the content and learning needs of each module.

This format allows people to study whilst undertaking their normal coaching activities. Material will be provided on a weekly basis and students will be able to access this at their preferred time.

The blended format is ideal for students from all over the UK and overseas, allowing them to study online and attend the residential blocks at USW.

The residential blocks are designed to provide practical instruction, to discuss content covered online and to carry out appropriate assessment.

Your studies will be underpinned by the latest research undertaken by the University’s Sport, Health and Exercise Science Research Group which collaborates locally, nationally and internationally with partners from industry and academia to provide world-leading knowledge and impact. For you, this means you will be taught by academics who are at the forefront of their specialist field.

Assessment

Assessment is built around the application of knowledge and wherever possible reflects the tasks coaches undertake in their daily work.

It entails a range of assessments, portfolios, reports and case studies, together with a final applied research project.

Accreditations

The MSc Advanced Coaching in Strength and Conditioning course is endorsed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) via its Education Recognition Program (ERP).

Being focussed completely around the coaching process, this specialist strength and conditioning course ensures that students have the requisite skills in order to work effectively in any performance environment. The blended format also ensures that students are picking up critical practical experience whilst studying. Our strength and conditioning postgraduate course also helps prepare students for external accreditation with the NSCA and UKSCA. This blend of knowledge, accreditation and experience maximises employability.

Facilities

The residentials are based at the USW Sport Park which houses one of the finest strength and conditioning centres in the UK.

This centre has been specifically designed to cater for the training needs of athletes and has been used by some of the world’s finest teams and athletes.

Lecturers

Find out about the great research happening in sport, health and exercise science.

We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Entrance to the course normally requires an Honours degree classification of at least a 2:2 in a relevant subject/or extensive coaching experience.

Candidates will be expected to be actively coaching in the field of strength and conditioning

International Entry Requirements

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications who are looking for strength and conditioning courses uk. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.

August 2023 - July 2024 Fees

Full-time UK: £9500
Full-time International: £15100
Part-time UK: £1055 per 20 credits

August 2024 - July 2025 Fees

Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: £16000
Part-time UK: TBC

Student Perks

At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.

Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.

Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

* Obligatory

Item	Cost
Other: Travel to Residential (Compulsory) *		Students will have to fund the cost of travel to the residential elements of the course.

Funding

Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs

Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.

USW Postgraduate 20% Alumni Discount 2023/24

The University of South Wales is offering a 20% reduction in tuition fees for all University of South Wales* graduates starting a taught/online*** MA,MSc, LLM,MBA or DBA course from September 2023 (this includes students starting a course in January/February 2024). T's and Cs apply. Click here for more details and eligibility criteria: USW Postgraduate Alumni Discount 2023/24

Apply directly to the University for this course.

Admissions statement

For more information, a casual chat or study/career advice please e-mail our Course Leader Richard Clarke: [email protected]

The MSc Advanced Coaching in Strength and Conditioning aimed at people wishing to pursue a career in the coaching of strength and conditioning or anyone wishing to pursue a career as a coach in the fitness industry. It is ideal for graduates from strength and conditioning degrees or wider sport science degrees. It is also designed to cater for experienced coaches or personal trainers looking to study at Masters level.

Career options for graduates include strength and conditioning coach, personal trainer, fitness industry coach and high performance coach. Students may also progress to a sports PhD or research degree.