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Studies & Degrees in Sport Psychology

Sport psychology applies psychology to sport, exercise and other kinds of performance. The British Psychological Society (BPS) describes sport and exercise psychologists as practitioner psychologists who apply psychological knowledge, skills and expertise within the context of sport and exercise. The field looks in two directions: how the mind affects performance, and how sport and physical activity affect well-being.

It is not only about elite athletes. The Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) in the United States calls that a common misconception and lists the settings where professionals work: sport, with athletes and coaches from youth clubs to Olympic and Paralympic level; exercise, with people of all ages and activity levels; tactical settings such as the military, firefighters and police; the performing arts; and business. Typical topics are goal setting, concentration, motivation, relaxation and imagery, with the general aim of teaching the mental skills needed to perform consistently. Students also learn research methods and statistics, the basics of sport science and professional ethics.

Qualifications and levels

Sport psychology is mostly a postgraduate specialisation. The usual route is a first degree in psychology or in sport science, followed by a master's degree or doctorate in sport and exercise psychology and a period of supervised practice. Some universities also offer bachelor's degrees that combine sport psychology with coaching or sport science; these give a foundation but do not on their own lead to a protected title.

  • United Kingdom. Sport and exercise psychologist is a protected title. According to the BPS, anyone who uses it must be on the register of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The BPS route, the Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP), has two stages: an accredited master's degree in sport and exercise psychology, followed by an assessed period of supervised practice. Some universities offer taught doctorates that meet the same standards.
  • United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that in most states practising psychology or using the title psychologist requires a licence, and that psychologists typically need at least a master's degree. Many practitioners in sport hold the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential of AASP instead of, or in addition to, a psychology licence. It requires a master's or doctoral degree in sport science, psychology or a clearly related field, specific coursework, a 400-hour mentored experience with at least 200 hours of direct client contact, and a certification exam.
  • Spain. The Consejo General de la Psicología has a division for the psychology of physical activity and sport, and its national accreditation commission lists sport psychology among the professional accreditations available to registered psychologists.

Where to study sport psychology

SpainExchange lists 4 active schools for sport psychology, one in each of four countries: London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, in the United States, Lund University in Sweden and Charles Sturt University in Australia. The programmes and course names differ, so it is worth checking on each university's site whether the subject is offered as a full degree, a specialisation or individual courses.

Because titles and licences are national, the choice of country matters. A student who wants to work as a registered sport and exercise psychologist in the United Kingdom should check that a master's degree is accredited by the BPS. A student aiming at the CMPC should compare the course content with the knowledge areas that AASP requires. Graduates who plan to return to their home country should ask the professional body there how a foreign qualification is treated.

Careers

Sport psychologists and mental performance consultants work with individual athletes, teams and coaches in clubs, federations, universities and high-performance centres. Others work with exercise and health programmes, in rehabilitation after injury, or with performers outside sport. The Spanish psychologists' council lists performance sport, grassroots and youth sport, leisure sport and exercise, sport for special populations and the psychology of sports organisations as the areas of practice. Many combine consultancy with teaching or research at a university.

There are no separate official employment figures for sport psychologists. For psychologists as a whole, BLS projects that employment in the United States will grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a psychology degree to work in sport psychology?

For the protected title in the United Kingdom, yes: registration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist is required. The CMPC credential in the United States is open to holders of a master's or doctoral degree in sport science, psychology or a clearly related field.

Is a bachelor's degree enough?

Usually not for independent practice. The BPS route requires an accredited master's degree plus supervised practice, and BLS states that psychologists in the United States typically need at least a master's degree.

Do sport psychologists only work with professional athletes?

No. According to AASP, professionals also work with youth and club sport, people who exercise, the military and emergency services, performing artists and business executives.

What is the CMPC?

The Certified Mental Performance Consultant is a credential awarded by AASP. Candidates need a relevant master's or doctoral degree, 400 hours of mentored experience and a pass in the certification exam.