Overview
The world’s passion for recreational fitness and professional sport is opening doors for qualified sports coaches. The global sport coaching market is expected to grow by £6 billion between 2024-2033 (Business Research Insights).
Advance your coaching with our MSc Sport Performance Coaching course. Learn to assess performance holistically, enhance outcomes, and develop further, evidence informed, coaching strategies.
You’ll learn how to:
- use current theory and established methods to critically analyse personal coaching practice;
- develop your understanding of how to measure and analyse performance data;
- create plans to enhance your coaching practice within your context;
- implement and evaluate psychology-informed practice.
Our coaching Masters is 100% online. You can work towards your MSc Sport Performance Coaching alongside existing coaching commitments. Work at a location and pace that suits you.
Why study sport at Stirling?
We have been designated as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence since 2008 for our commitment to driving wider sports participation, preparing world-class athletes, and informing public health policy with our research. You’ll be taught by expert coaches and researchers who are helping to shape best practice in coaching internationally. The University has links to leading organisations such as sportscotland, British Rowing, British Equestrian Foundation and UK Coaching,. Our campus is home to elite athletes competing in multiple disciplines worldwide.
Our online course content includes guest lectures and interviews with leading coaches, visiting faculty staff and PhD students. You’ll also benefit from the global nature of the course – sharing knowledge and coaching experiences with fellow students from around the world and learning how course content is being applied in different contexts.
Raise your game at Stirling and study for a Masters in Coaching that gets results
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
Our Sport Performance Coaching MSc is for experienced coaches and coach developers who wish to extend their expertise alongside their sport-specific qualifications. It will develop your critical analysis and reflective practice skills, enhance your problem-solving capacity and promote innovative solutions for coaching problems.
We’ll help you become a coach or coach developer who can:
- reflect and challenge personal assumptions and beliefs to improve future performance;
- critically reflect on decisions in complex and unpredictable situations;
- recognise and resolve problematic coaching issues through the generation of innovative strategies and solutions;
- design and implement an optimal learning environment to impact athletes’ performance needs;
- design and implement a planned and strategic approach to performance improvement;
- develop and manage appropriate support structures to facilitate improved performance.
Professional accreditation
Coaches from British Equestrian study for the PGDip Performance Coaching as part of the British Equestrian Level 4 Coaching Certificate.
Coaches from British Rowing study for the PGDip Performance Coaching as part of the British Rowing Advanced Coach Certificate (Level 4).
Work placements
While there are no organised placements, to gain the most from the course it is expected that you will be actively coaching or coach developing while you complete your MSc Sport Performance Coaching degree. This will enable you to explore and critically examine your coaching practice and context using the content provided within each module. Tasks frequently require you to gather and critically reflect on insight from your own coaching.
Flexible learning
Our flexible degree structure means you can study the following modules from the MSc Sport Performance Coaching (Online) individually as stand-alone continuing professional development (CPD) short courses:
- Coaching as Learning
- Coaching Concepts
- Creating Engaging Practice
- The Coaching Process
- Understanding Performers: Psychological Perspectives
Individual modules can be taken for continuing professional development or grouped for an award such as:
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, e.g. three 20-credit modules).
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, e.g. six 20-credit modules).
- Masters (180 credits, including a 60-credit Applied Coaching Project).
The online delivery ensures you can study when and where it suits you and fit study around your current career.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
The staff delivering this programme are experienced coaches and also researchers. See individual staff pages for more information. Staff regularly work with Masters students to assist them to publish research conducted as part of the Applied Coaching Project. Examples include:
Ritchie, D. & Allen, J. (2015). ‘Let them get on with it’: Coaches’ perceptions of their roles and coaching practices during Olympic and Paralympic Games. International Sport Coaching Journal, 2, 108-124.
Ritchie, D., Allen, J., & Kirkland, A. (2018). Where science meets practice: Olympic coaches’ crafting of the tapering process, Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(10), 1145-1154.
Macdonald, S. & Allen, J. (2019). An examination of the coach-created talent development motivational climate in Canoe Slalom in the United Kingdom. International Sport Coaching Journal, 6(1), 74-87
Cooper, D. & Allen, J. (2020). “I don’t want to give them my brain for the day… and then take it back”: An examination of the coach-created motivational climate in adult adventure sports. International Sport Coaching Journal, 7(2), 175-188
Carroll, M. & Allen, J. (2021). 'Zooming in' on the antecedents of youth sport coaches' autonomy-supportive and controlling interpersonal behaviours: A multimethod study. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(2), 236-248
Mason L, Kirkland A, Steele J & Wright J. (2021). The relationship between Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull variables and athletic performance measures: empirical study of English professional soccer players and meta-analysis of extant literature. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 61 (5), pp. 645-655.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these qualifications but with significant professional experience are encouraged to apply. You should be an active practicing coach with an appropriate sport-specific qualification.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Course details
Boost your skills, grow your network and develop your career in coaching with this specialist online course.
You must successfully complete 120 credits of taught modules and an applied coaching project for the award of the MSc. For the award of the Postgraduate Diploma you must successfully complete 120 credits worth of taught modules. For the Postgraduate Certificate you must successfully complete 60 credits worth of taught modules. If you are interested in CPD only you can take individual taught modules.
If you are interested in PG Certificate or Diploma or CPD modules, please contact the Programme Director
Modules
Teaching
This online Masters degree is designed to be flexible and fit with your professional and personal commitments.
You’ll learn through a guided programme of study that includes:
- listening to short recorded presentations
- reading and reflecting on cutting edge research and literature related to coaching
- sharing views and ideas with classmates and staff through asynchronous discussions
- examining your own coaching practice, context and thinking through learning and assessment tasks that prompt you to gather insight and reflect on what you do and why
- learning from expert coaches, researchers and professionals through podcasts and short presentations.
How you'll learn online
All teaching is delivered through the University’s virtual learning platform.
Staff are responsive to requests for assistance and will assist you with your learning journey, including supervision of the Applied Coaching Project. Individual tutorials via online platforms (such as Teams) or phone are available.
Fieldwork
Although no specific fieldwork is organised, as active sport coaches, you will have an ongoing opportunity to apply your academic studies into their practical contexts.
Assessment
Module outlines include details of specific content and assessments. All assessment procedures are in line with institutional policies and will be conducted in such a way as to adhere to adult learning principles. This means that content and learning demonstrate relevance, problem solving, learning by doing and a strong element of self-direction and ownership.
Classroom hours
This course is delivered entirely online to allow students to fit their learning around their sport coaching commitments.
Course director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Total MSc course fee |
£7,875 |
£11,025 |
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Total MSc course fee |
£8,700 |
£12,100 |
This course is only offered on a part-time basis. The total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate it was set in your year of entry.
If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fees policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Applicants for our MSc Sport Performance Coaching degree are often employed in sport or coaching related roles. Our online coaching Masters gives you an opportunity to better understand yourself and your coaching practice.
Although many students are already progressing in their coaching careers, adding a coaching-specific Masters can significantly enhance your CV. In fact, many of our graduates have used their MSc qualification to secure more senior coaching positions.
Some of our graduates are working in the following roles:
- Sports Coaches in schools and participation settings
- Pathway Coaches on regional and national programmes
- Scouts with sport academies
- University Head Coaches
- Olympic Coaches
- Development Officers
- Performance Managers
Stirling graduates work in organisations including:
- Rugby Quebec
- American Canoe Association
- Colorado Rapid Youth Soccer Club
- Oxfordshire Cricket
- Melbourne Victory Football Club
- Harlequins Rugby
- Luton Town Football Club
Starting salaries for newly qualified sports coaches working for local authorities range from around £20,000 to £30,000, depending on location and qualifications.
Salaries for senior coaches employed by National Governing Bodies or professional sports clubs are usually over £34,000, while experienced coaches working at the highest level could earn over £100,000 (Prospects, July 2025).
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