Sport Performance Analysis MSc
Learn about the course below
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Viewing course details for 2025 year of entry
- Code
- PGC60A
- Attendance
- Blended learning
- Start
- September 2025
- Fees
- £10,700 (UK) * £17,100 (INT) *
- Duration
- 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
- Course Leader
- Professor Nic James, Dr Nimai Parmar
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- Placement year
- No
- School / Department
- Faculty of Science and Technology
Sports Performance Analysis is an area experiencing massive growth, virtually every professional club and elite athlete employ or work with performance analysts who provide them with objective data to ultimately improve sporting performance. Roles typically include preparing statistical reports, preparing specific videos i.e. set pieces, coding matches via performance analysis software, identifying differences between teams/players via statistical analysis etc. This master’s course prepares students to work as a performance analyst by giving you the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to fulfil those roles.
Read all details on our Sport performance analysis MSc distance education course.
Why study MSc Sport Performance Analysis* at Middlesex?
Learn from academics who regularly work and consult with international teams, national governing bodies, elite clubs and athletes. Our pioneering programme is designed to prepare you for accreditation with the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport. You will learn how to identify and develop performance indicators, how to create performance profiles, how to test reliability and get to grips with performance analysis software that is used in the industry.
You will gain experience as a performance analyst through our work-placement module. In our partnership with Saracens Rugby Club, you’ll have access to the fantastic resources at StoneX Stadium, including the brand new £23 million redevelopment project of the West Stand which offers state-of-the-art facilities as a top educational and high performance centre for teaching and research excellence. With some of the most advanced equipment in the UK, you will be able to utilise the new specialist spaces, simulation suites, specialist labs, plus much more. You will build invaluable industry contacts and we maintain contact with many of our graduates who have gone on to work in professional sports.
Course highlights
- Based in London, we are surrounded by the greatest density of top sports clubs and organisations in the UK.
- We believe that our graduates should be high achievers both practically and academically. As a result, we actively encourage students to publish their dissertation through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
- This course prepares you for accreditation from the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport.
- Our performance analysis staff publish frequently and therefore underpin teaching with relevant and new research. Alongside this, our PA staff also consult with a number of high profiles organisations, teams and athletes.
- Small class sizes allow you to receive the personal attention required to thrive in your studies.
- As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.
- 20% Tuition Fee Scholarships (Diversifying Sport Performance Analysis) for up to 10 students from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds.
About your course
Our specialist degree covers relevant topics such as performance indicators, performance profiling, reliability testing, creating bespoke performance report sheets, statistical analysis, whilst utilising industry leading performance analysis software packages. These topics allow you to develop your expertise as a performance analyst, ensuring that you understand relevant techniques and procedures for a number of different scenarios, which you would expect to face as an analyst. You’ll also receive training on research methods which will help you with your dissertation, where you can pursue a topic of interest or even a research question that has arisen during your placement. *Subject to validation
This module aims to allow you to gain a systematic understanding of performance analysis of sport. This is achieved through critically engaging you in appropriate processes and developing a comprehensive understanding of relevant techniques used in the discipline. It also aims to develop your research skills so you are able to disseminate complex information to both coaches and athletes with the aim of providing greater insight to performance. You'll critically evaluate current research in the discipline in order to evaluate methodologies, design, interpret and synthesise sport performance data and literature.
This module aims to equip you with the relevant knowledge and skills to undertake appropriate research in their subject areas. You'll learn searching strategies to identify relevant literature, how to critically appraise literature and relevant research methods topics such as research design, selecting and using suitable statistical tests appropriate to the subject area. This module will be delivered predominantly through shared and subject-specific online video tutorials allowing you to access a wide variety of resources which will prepare you for undertaking their dissertations. This innovative approach allows you to develop their research methods skills at your own pace with relevant step-by-step videos produced, allowing you to revisit the content at any time.
This module aims to develop your ability to apply and see the application of knowledge gained from other modules in relation to a real work scenario. You'll be required to adopt a reflective and critical approach to your working practice and to promote a problem-solving approach in a work environment.
This module aims to support you to undertake research, with a focus appropriate to your programme and area of practice and building upon the research proposal formulated in SES4030. To create a peer learning community for you to critically support each other in the research process. To provide guidance, additional to that provided by your supervisors, on matters of ethical application, research methods, data collection, analysis and writing-up.
This module aims to develop your data analysis and visualisation skills. The ability to manage data and check for errors in datasets is an important and sought-after skill in performance analysis. You'll learn to visualise data in a variety of software packages such as spreadsheets and business intelligence software. You'll be able to analyse and interpret data using predictive based statistics like regression and determine important variables using techniques like dimension reduction (principal component analysis) and assess relationships (correlations).
See the course specification for more information about typical course content:
Course specification
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
Register your interest
Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.
Teaching
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
The course is taught through blended learning using a mixture of both face-to-face and online teaching methods. This will typically consist of pre-recorded and live lectures, seminars, problem-base learning activities, group discussions and presentations, self-directed learning and, where possible, practical sessions.
Classes will typically take place once a week, from 10.00am to 5.00pm.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown:
|
1. |
Live learning |
Contact time per week, per level: |
3 hours |
|
2. |
Self-paced learning time |
Average hours per week, per level: |
6.5 hours |
|
3. |
On demand resources |
Average hours per week, per level: |
3 hours |
This information is likely to change slightly for 2024/25 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Definitions of terms
Live in-person on campus learning – This will focus on active and experiential sessions that are both:
- Led by your tutors including seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations We'll schedule all of this for you
- Student-led by you and other students, like small group work and presentations.
Tutor set learning activities – This covers activities which will be set for you by your tutor, but which you will undertake in your own time. Examples of this include watching online materials, participating in an online discussion forum, completing a virtual laboratory or reading specific texts. You may be doing this by yourself of with your course mates depending on your course and assignments. Outside of these hours, you’ll also be expected to do further independent study where you’ll be expected to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time.
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
You will be assessed by a variety of methods including seminar presentations, written assignments, laboratory reports, unseen examinations (online or on campus) and practical demonstrations.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.
Learn moreFacilities and support
Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.
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Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.
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We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.
Our facilitiesStudent support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Diversifying Sport Performance Analysis Scholarship
There is a clear under-representation of Black, Asian and people with other ethnically diverse backgrounds in full-time Sport Performance Analysis (SPA) positions within professional sport.
This ground-breaking scheme is the first of its kind in Sport and Exercise Sciences, particularly within Sport Performance Analysis. It was established in September 2021 and we are now inviting applications to participate in the 2024/25 Scholarship.
Careers
How can the MSc Sport Performance Analysis support your career?
This Sport Performance Analysis programme is for students who would like to develop key skills and competencies, acquire a body of knowledge, and gain exposure to new and innovative areas of the subject. A Sports Performance Analysis degree opens the doors to a number of exciting career paths, with excellent career progression opportunities.
Career opportunities exist for well-qualified sport performance analysts in both professional and amateur sports. Previous graduates in Sport Performance Analysis are currently working in soccer (English Premier League, English Championship, the FA); Rugby (Welsh Rugby Union, Professional rugby teams in England and Wales); multiple Olympic sports (working for the English Institute of Sport is sports such as cycling, canoe slalom, disability swimming, hockey, judo); squash (England Squash); badminton (England badminton) and regional bodies (Irish Institute of Sport). Work placements typically coincide with the sporting season (August to April for soccer or rugby).
Graduates will also be capable of establishing their own consultancy business or progressing to additional study/research including MPhil/PhD.
Hear from our partners
“We highly value the expertise within Middlesex University’s Sport Performance Analysis team and have collaborated on several postgraduate studentship opportunities over the past three Olympic and Paralympic cycles.
The supervisory teams bring years of experience in sports analysis research and its application to elite sporting knowledge on the front-line. We also value being able to support the programme leadership team on the progression and direction of module delivery on their postgraduate course”
Dr Julia Wells | Head of Performance Analysis at English Institute of Sport (Industry Partner)
Entry requirements
Qualifications
- We normally require a second class honours degree 2:2 or above in a sport or exercise related field
- We would also welcome applications from students with undergraduate degrees in all sciences, maths and IT areas
- Alternatively prospective students who have completed the ISPAS accreditation and have extensive experience in the area will be considered via interview
Further requirements
DBS (disclosure and baring service) is required for student placements*.
These checks will be explained and conducted during the first semester. Obtaining a successful DBS will enable you as a student to undertake a placement or work experience hours as agreed by the programme or module leader. An unsuccessful DBS or lack of a DBS, could hinder a student’s ability to achieve any placement hours and prohibit you from graduating with a full degree.
*May be required for MSC SPA and MSC S&C (DE).
Eligibility
UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.
Academic credit for previous study or experience
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Prospective students may require an interview, either in person or via Skype/telephone.
Qualifications
We accept the equivalent of the below qualifications from a recognised overseas qualification.
- We normally require a second class honours degree 2:2 or above in a sport or exercise related field
- We would also welcome applications from students with undergraduate degrees in all sciences, maths and IT areas
- Alternatively prospective students who have completed the ISPAS accreditation and have extensive experience in the area will be considered via interview
To find out more about the qualifications we accept from your country please visit the relevant Support in your country page. If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest Regional office for support.
Academic credit for previous study or experience
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.
Visas and immigration
You will need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our Visas and immigration page for further information.
International students who require a Student route (formerly tier 4) visa to progress on a course at Middlesex University must apply for study on a full-time basis. However, this course is offered part-time so you are eligible to apply on a part-time basis.
Part-time study
Changes to the Immigration Rules introduced in January 2018 now allows international applicants to apply for Student route (formerly tier 4) visas for part-time postgraduate study (courses leading to a qualification at RQF level 7 or SCQF level 11 and above).
Student route visa students studying part-time are subject to certain restrictions:
- no work (paid or unpaid)
- no work placements as part of the programme
- no dependants
- no extending under Student route visa in the UK. This includes Student route visa applications to work as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer or for the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists
- not eligible for the Student route visa Doctorate Extension Scheme
*Please note that, if the course of your choice involves work experience, unpaid work, placements or internships, we will be unable to sponsor you to study a part- time course under the Student route (formerly tier 4) visa.
English language requirements for international students
You must have competence in English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all components). We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted tests and qualifications.
If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive Pre-sessional English course.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Prospective students may require an interview, either in person or via Skype/telephone.
Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university.
Please visit our Postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.
Fees and funding
The fees below refer to the 2025/26 academic year unless otherwise stated.
UK students
Full-time students: £10,700
Part-time students: £71 per credit
Part-time students: £35 per dissertation credit
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.
International students
Full-time students: £17,100
Part-time students: £114 per credit
Part-time students: £57 per dissertation credit
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.
Additional costs
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
- A free electronic textbook for every module
- All printing and copying required for your study
- Self-service laptops available for loan for a maximum of 24 hours
- Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders
Scholarships and bursaries
As an undergraduate alumnus continuing postgraduate studies at Middlesex, you are eligible for an alumni awards worth 20% off your fees.
Applications for the Diversifying Sport Performance Analysis 2023/24 Scholarship are open until 31 August 2023. This includes a tuition fee scholarship worth 20% of UK Tuition fees and both academic and industry mentorship and upskilling opportunities to up to 10 recipients from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Dr Nimai Parmar
Director of Programmes - Post Graduate
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Prof Nic James
Professor-Sport & Exercise Science
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Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.