Sport and Exercise Medicine FAQs

The Directors of Studies recommend that you spend on average 8-10 hours per week studying.

Each unit takes either three months (six credit unit) or six months (12 credit unit) to complete.

All students follow the same path on the diploma, and on successful completion of the OSCE examination can progress to the MSc phase. This phase constitutes a dissertation component and no further exam. Support is given via the online environment and through an individual Dissertation Supervisor.

To progress to the MSc, you will need to have achieved 50% minimum as an average for the diploma, and will study the Research Project design unit (to develop your research protocol) and spend the remainder of the time writing up your dissertation for submission. This normally takes about one year.

On average, we recommend two years to complete the Diploma and a further 18 months to complete the MSc - i.e. three and a half years for the MSc in total.

These times are optimum. Cases in which a student wishes to complete the programme sooner will be reviewed by the Directors of Studies on an individual basis.

There are 60 credits in the Postgraduate Diploma.

There are 90 credits in the MSc.

Students are advised to study one unit at a time. Each unit runs for three months, unless the unit is a 12 credit unit which runs for six months.

Single units (6 credits) take three months to complete, double units (12 credits) take six months.

Single units

• The Sports Doctor
• Exercise Physiology
• Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• Exercise for Health
• Sport and Exercise Medicine in Practice 1
• Sport and Exercise Medicine in Practice 2

Double units

• Functional Anatomy and Sporting Movement Analysis
• Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation

Normally, there are written assessments at the end of each unit. These can number from two to six, typically incorporating a mix of short answer questions, case histories and/or essays.

The MSc requires successful completion of a dissertation.

Assignments take a variety of forms. They can be essays, case studies, reflective commentaries, literature reviews, short answer questions. Assignments are submitted at the end of a 3 month unit and or various stages throughout the 6 month units via the online learning environment Moodle. Clear instructions are provided for each assignment.

Yes, students normally have to complete each unit in order to progress to the next.

Candidates are expected to have completed an approved course in the last year or to have completed an approved course in the last 3 years and a refresher course within the last year.

Examples of course approved by the University of Bath include the following.

• AREA (Advanced resuscitation and emergency aid) - Run by REMO sports Ltd
• Equestrian course - Event medical Ltd
• IMMOFP – Immediate medical management on the field of play (Rugby Football league course)
• REMO Sports Ltd - Resuscitation and Emergency management on the field of play
• LM Medical -Sports Trauma course
• PSITCC - Pre-hospital trauma care course. Rugby Football Union
• PSITCC - Pre-hospital sports injury trauma care course. Rugby Football Union
• SCRUMCAPS – Scottish Rugby Union Medical Cardiac and Pitchside skills
• SPORTPROMOTE - Scottish Football Association course

The above list is not exhaustive and other courses may be considered. They should generally be approved by the Faculty of Pre-hospital care and demonstrate the assessment of Basic Life Support, management of trauma including the use of a spinal board and should be relevant to the sporting environment in which the candidate works. In general, resuscitation courses such as ALS and ATLS which concentrate on the hospital environment will not be approved as these do not adequately assess pre-hospital skills relevant to the treatment of sporting emergencies in a pre-hospital setting.

An OSCE style examination takes place towards the end of the Diploma phase. This is held twice a year in May/June and September/October at the University of Bath.

Yes, the Research Phase focuses on developing you research skills and producing a novel piece of research to add to the evidence base in Sport and Exercise Medicine.

MSc students will have a 20 minute Viva Voce examination; this is 20% of the overall MSc project mark.

Those completing the Diploma qualification will be able to use PGDip after their name, whilst those completing the Masters will be able to use MSc.

We suggest you have a look at the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Once enrolled on the course, students are given access via the online environment, to reading material for each of the units. There will also be links to a wide range of library resources and journals via SEM and SPY Online.

The course is delivered using an educational software package called Moodle (see Moodle.org). The units on the course run consecutively and are delivered over three or six months, depending on the unit content. Problem based learning, delivered through online activities, centralise discussions around certain learning outcomes. The content is based on core texts (online and/or recommended text books) journal/research papers, websites and media files. Study guides help direct the learning as do the online facilitators who support discussions and solving problems.

Yes, all students must attend the clinical weeks held at the University of Bath.

Applicants must have been working for one year as a qualified and registered doctor before enrolment.

No, the Sport and Exercise Medicine programme is designed specifically for qualified medical doctors.

Yes, qualified medical doctors from around the world can apply to join the programme. Please send in your certification documents with your application form so that the application panel can review them.

Yes, you will need a current IELTS qualification certificate.

No, you do not need to send payment for the Diploma programme until we have informed you that you have a place.

An Induction Event will be held in the Autumn, along with an online induction programme for all students. It is highly recommended that you attend this event.

View current fees information.

The MSc transfer fee is a one off payment, only available to those possessing a PG Diploma in the same subject.

Yes, payments can be made by credit card, complete your payment details when confirming your place on the programme.

Yes, there is a fee of £450 applicable to those students enroled prior to 2014/15. For those students enrolled after 2014/15, the only examination fee applicable is for those students who are required to re-sit their OSCE.

Students can pay in 6 monthly instalments.

Applicants should note that it is unlikely that you will be able to APL all of the Diploma units -in fact university regulations state that it should be capped at a maximum of 50% of the total credits required for a programme ; furthermore, the Admissions Panel for individual programmes can, at their discretion, set a lower or conditional limit.

No, you may present evidence of previous qualifications but you may only be awarded up to 30 credits.

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