FACULTY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SCIENCES

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Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences
Tel: +44 (0)20 8725 2247

What our students say

Lucy Ives, 34, is keen to take her passion for teaching exercise to the next level, and is studying the MSc in Exercise for Health to help her achieve her career goals.

 

MSc Exercise for Health student Lucy Ives

“I think the MSc will help me stand out from all the other graduates”

I used to be a competitive swimmer then moved into teaching. I worked in a leisure centre teaching children and adults, then was promoted to swimming coordinator and children’s activities manager. While I enjoyed taking on a combined teaching and management role, I realised that teaching was my real passion and so I decided to work towards becoming a qualified PE teacher, for which I needed a degree. I recently completed my degree in sports science at Kingston University and am now studying the MSc in Exercise for Health. I think the MSc will help me stand out from all the other graduates.

The thought of doing a masters was quite daunting at first. Studying at masters level is very different from doing an undergraduate degree. You’re really encouraged to discuss topical subject areas, think critically and form your own opinion (as long as you can back it up with evidence!).

“I’ve surprised myself by gaining a real interest in subjects I hadn’t previously considered”

I’ve really enjoyed the range of different modules on the course. There’s been an interesting combination of subjects, from clinical aspects such as physiology and psychology, to policy and government health strategies and programmes.

The breadth of the course has really broadened my horizons. For example, I’ve become very interested in childhood obesity after studying the psychological and physiological aspects of, and reasons for, obesity. And a module on lifestages, looking at the later years, has really sparked my interest in the elderly and promoting exercise in later life.

There’s a wide range of facilities available for practical work during the course, including four exercise physiology and biomechanics labs. The labs provide a range of the latest equipment for testing physiological changes during exercise, and studying various aspects of movement such as analysing the effect of a person’s body weight distribution on their balance and motion.

“Students come from a range of different professions so you can learn a lot from each other”

There’s a really nice mix of students on the course – people of all ages and lifestages. We have a good balance of male and female students, and quite a few overseas students. People come from a range of different professions, which I've really enjoyed as you can learn a lot from each other. For example, people who’ve already had a long career as a nurse or physiotherapist have a lot of clinical experience to share, while those who’ve just completed a sports science degree come with a lot of information about recent research and new approaches.

“The MSc has made me more confident and more critically reflective”

The course really emphasises critical thinking, so you learn to constantly reflect on your day to day practice and consider how effective it is and how it might be improved. I’ve already found that beneficial in my swimming teaching, which I’ve continued to do part‐time while studying. I’m also much more understanding of my students now. Having studied aspects of psychology and obesity, for example, I have a much better understanding of why people may be overweight or why they may resist exercising, so I can work with that.

I’m near the end of the course now so I’m in the process of applying for teaching positions as part of the Graduate Teaching Programme. And if I ever want a career change in the future, the MSc will enable me to go into other more clinical areas of work within the NHS or with special populations.