Clinical Exercise Physiology, MSc

Develop the skills to work with patients to optimise their health with exercise

Man being observed on exercise bike

Course Overview

Clinical Exercise Physiology is a fast-growing and essential specialism both in the UK and around the world.

With longer life expectancy comes a greater risk of chronic health conditions, and with an increasingly ageing population, the NHS and other healthcare providers are being, and will continue to be, put under increasing strain from the burden of managing these long-term health conditions. The significant role played by Clinical Exercise Physiologists is becoming increasingly recognised, and the demand for skill sets in this area have never been higher.

Our MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology will equip you with the critical, research-informed knowledge and understanding, and the diverse range of applied and practical skills, required to work with service users.

Our programme combines scientific theory with real-world practice. Throughout our programme, you will learn how to design, conduct and interpret a range of disease-specific health and fitness assessments, you will explore the design and delivery of evidence-based physical activity and exercise interventions, and how to support service users to promote meaningful behaviour change.

Our MSc is Accredited by the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS). Students who pass all modules, including the clinical assessment of competencies, as well as 140 clinical placement hours, will be eligible to register as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist with the AHCS.

Why Clinical Exercise Physiology at Swansea?

As an MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology student, you will be taught at our School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, based on our beach-front Bay Campus.

The School boasts state-of-the-art facilities, that enable you to apply learned theory through real-world application, and will further enrich your experience.

Our Physiology Laboratories house a range of specialised equipment, including:

  • A range of exercise ergometers - cycling, recumbent cycling and treadmills
  • Online metabolic carts with integrated 12-lead ECG
  • Muscle function testing equipment
  • Vascular ultrasounds
  • A DEXA scanner
  • Lung function equipment
  • Facilities to collect and analyse venous blood samples for various biomarkers

Your Clinical Exercise Physiology Experience

When you study MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology at Swansea, you will receive an outstanding research-led education, guided by our world-leading researchers in clinical exercise science, exercise physiology, physical activity and health, and behaviour change.

The programme will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of various chronic diseases, the principles that underpin the safe and effective prescription of exercise testing, and physical activity interventions in the management of these conditions.

The programme typically includes a 60-credit supervised clinical placement with the Welsh National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) or NHS and private healthcare services. This placement will allow you to authentically apply your learning to real-world settings, while developing practical competencies in a wide range of physiological and phenotypic measurements that relate to clinical exercise physiology.

Students who do not meet the requirements to ensure they are eligible to go on placement will instead undertake a dissertation as a final major project. This project enables individuals to hone their research skills, and deepen their knowledge on a specific theme that will be developed in partnership with a supervisor.

The MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology at Swansea empowers you to work towards competency in the wide range of practical skills required to design, prescribe, and deliver personalised, evidence-based physical activity and exercise interventions, that are tailored to individual health statuses, functional capacities and disease aetiologies.

Your studies will also be nourished by our supportive learning environment. You will join our thriving international community of postgraduate students, and will receive study support in the form of access to our on-site library, an assigned Personal Tutor, and the encouragement to build strong relationships with staff, who you can approach for additional support and guidance.

Modules

We've enhanced our modules to deliver an engaging learning experience, designed to help you develop the skills employers are looking for. Discover what's on offer and feel inspired by the modules you can study.

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

Careers and Employability

Our graduates are highly skilled exercise professionals, capable of working safely and effectively within a multi-disciplinary healthcare team to improve health and wellbeing in clinical populations.

MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology graduates are equipped to use their skills across a range of healthcare settings including:

· Primary Care

· Secondary Care and Rehabilitation Settings

· Private Hospital Settings

· Public and Private Clinics

· Leisure Services

· Defense Medical Services

Many of our graduates will also be well-positioned to take on roles beyond healthcare settings, including:

· Public health policy, workplace health and rehabilitation, research, and academia