Physical Activity for Health MSc

Insufficient physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for death worldwide. The levels of inactivity evident across the world, in both adults and adolescents, make physical inactivity a pandemic and a global public health issue.

The MSc Physical Activity for Health is open to recent graduates, intercalating medical students and the existing national and international workforce. It is designed to provide postgraduate-level academic training in the area of physical activity and public health from a range of disciplines including:

• sport and exercise sciences
• health sciences
• psychology
• epidemiology
• physiology

The MSc is the only dedicated postgraduate degree in this area in Scotland. The programme is directed and delivered by members of the internationally renowned Physical Activity for Health Research Centre.

• Physical Activity for Health Research Centre.

As such, the teaching activities of the MSc link closely with and are informed by ongoing world-leading research. You will receive teaching and mentoring from researchers who are active in the field.

The MSc Physical Activity for Health will equip you with the critical knowledge of, and the ability to critique, the current research evidence relating to the role of physical activity in improving and maintaining health.

The degree will also provide you with specialist measurement and research skills to investigate issues in the field, and a broad range of transferable intellectual and study skills designed to foster your development as an independent learner.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as sport and exercise science, physical education, health sciences, psychology or physiology.

We may also consider your application if you have equivalent academic qualifications and significant professional training and experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

Applicants currently undertaking a medical degree and seeking to intercalate on the MSc Physical Activity for Health will be eligible after at least three years of their Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB/MBBS) programmes, or equivalent and will need to have achieved a minimum standard equivalent to a UK 2:1 honours degree at first attempt.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

There has been an increasing interest in the area of Physical Activity for Health. The skills you will develop in this programme will enhance your opportunities for employment in careers in many areas related to physical activity.

Recent graduates have taken up roles in:

• Physical Activity and Sports Development
• Health Promotion (for example, within workplaces and local authorities)
• Health and Fitness Industry (for example, within gyms and sporting facilities)
• Physical Activity and Health Consultancy
• Research positions (for example, within academic and non-governmental organisations)
• Teaching positions

Many of our graduates have chosen to extend their studies by undertaking a Doctoral degree following graduation. Following completion of their PhD, several have progressed into lectureship positions or stayed within academia in funded research assistant roles.

For any intercalated medical students, we anticipate that you will return to your medical studies on completion of the programme, and utilise your new knowledge and skills to widen your career options.