A practice-led professional doctorate that combines supervised placements, research outputs and taught modules to prepare you for registration and applied work in sport and exercise psychology
The Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University is a training route designed to develop applied practitioners who meet national professional standards. This programme is structured so that graduates become eligible for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration and fulfil the British Psychological Society’s Stage 2 requirements.
Study pathways accommodate a range of personal and work commitments, and the curriculum blends supervised practice, taught sessions and doctoral-level research to ensure you grow as both a clinician and an academic.
The programme is delivered by the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, ranked first in the North West and in the top 20 globally for Sports Science in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Students benefit from teaching and supervision by experienced, HCPC-registered practitioners and active researchers. Facilities include the award-winning Tom Reilly Building and the Student Life Building, which host practical labs, teaching spaces and selected CPD activities. These resources support applied learning and create a professional environment for developing consultancy and research skills.
Programme structure and study options
The doctorate is offered with flexible durations to suit different working patterns. Full-time routes include a statutory minimum of two years, and a three-year fuller option; part-time equivalents run over four or six years. The programme’s core content and taught sessions are common across modes, typically concentrated in the early stages, while the pace of supervised practice and research activity varies depending on your placement commitments. If circumstances change, students may switch between full-time and part-time study subject to approval, enabling the degree to align with career and life demands.
How study mode links to placement work
Choosing full- or part-time study will largely depend on how much of your working week you can devote to doctorate-related activity. Those employed full-time on doctorate tasks often choose a full-time route, while professionals balancing substantial external employment usually take the part-time option. Importantly, anything below half-time employment is considered unsuitable for doctorate completion. If you plan to use the Doctoral Loans scheme, note that funding is currently available only for programmes of three years or longer, so consider this when selecting a study timeline.
Learning, assessment and placements
Applied learning is central: to join the programme you must already have secured a suitable placement or work-related opportunity that will provide the client contact hours required by the training standards. Assessment is varied to match professional practice and doctoral expectations. You will compile a professional portfolio that includes a log and reflective diary, consultancy or teaching case studies, a systematic literature review, plus two empirical papers intended to reach publishable quality. This combination ensures competency across practice, research and dissemination.
Supervision, CPD and teaching methods
Each student is allocated two academic supervisors to guide practice and research. The programme integrates bespoke continuing professional development sessions—typically scheduled on selected Thursdays across January to June and September to December—and a mix of taught seminars, workshops and supervised work-based learning. Teaching emphasises reflective practice, ethical standards and applied consultancy skills, while supervisors help you translate workplace experiences into demonstrable professional competence and research outputs.
Modules, recognition and career outcomes
Core modules map to professional competencies: Planning Training in Sport and Exercise Psychology (30 credits) supports the creation of a training plan and reflective SWOT analysis; the extensive Sport and Exercise Psychology Professional Practice module (270 credits) captures core skills across ethics, consultancy, research and teaching; and Reflection in Sport and Exercise Psychology (60 credits) documents practitioner development. The programme is explicitly designed to meet BPS Stage 2 requirements and to support eligibility for HCPC registration.
Entry criteria include a good honours psychology degree that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society, and normally a BPS-accredited MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at merit level or above (LJMU offers an accredited MSc). Applicants must provide evidence of relevant work experience and a confirmed placement (paid or voluntary). International applicants should meet an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component. The programme accepts recognised prior learning and allows progression to MPhil/PhD study (full-time PhD up to four years, part-time up to seven years). LJMU’s employability record shows strong outcomes for postgraduates—97% in work or further study fifteen months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2026)—and alumni advance into applied practitioner roles, academic posts and research careers.
From professional supervision to research output and practical placements, this Professional Doctorate offers a robust route into registered practice and academic roles in sport and exercise psychology. For details on how to apply, funding options and module availability, prospective students should consult the programme webpage and contact the admissions team to discuss individual circumstances and supervisory arrangements.
