Nottingham Trent University’s MSc Strength and Conditioning Programme Awarded Prestigious IUSCA Degree Accreditation

The International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) is delighted to announce that Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) MSc in Strength and Conditioning has been awarded official IUSCA Degree Accreditation. This distinguished recognition positions NTU as a leading provider of strength and conditioning (S&C) education, offering students a unique and industry-leading pathway to both academic and professional excellence.

The IUSCA Degree Accreditation is the only fully degree-embedded practitioner certification available in the field of S&C. Through this accreditation, NTU integrates International Qualification Framework (IQF) standards directly into its MSc curriculum. As a result, eligible full-time students can achieve the IUSCA IQF Level 7 Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner by Master’s (aISCP*m) status, while part-time students gain access to the IUSCA IQF Level 4 Certified Strength and Conditioning Practitioner certification during the course of their study.

Graduates meeting the IUSCA requirements demonstrate the hallmark qualities of an Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP*m):

• The ability to utilise scientific thinking to facilitate independent thought within S&C

• Breadth and depth of knowledge within S&C

• The ability to write and communicate with clarity and effectiveness

• Demonstrated technical abilities

• Significant experience as a practitioner (1,500 hours)

• The ability to review and evaluate their own and others’ practice and performance

Andrew Langford, Director of the IUSCA, commented on the achievement: “Nottingham Trent University has developed a high-quality and comprehensive MSc Strength and Conditioning programme. The integration of professional certification into the degree allows students to seamlessly transition into industry roles with internationally recognised qualifications. By embedding the IUSCA IQF-aligned pathways, NTU is providing its graduates with a robust foundation for long-term success in this competitive field.”

The accredited programme also grants students full access to IUSCA’s extensive professional development resources, including unlimited use of IUSCA Video content and practitioner-focused Short Courses. These benefits further support continuous development and ensure that students remain up to date with the latest scientific and practical advancements in the discipline.

Dr. Rhys Morris, Programme Leader in NTU’s Department of Sport Science, added: “We are delighted to announce that our MSc in Strength & Conditioning at Nottingham Trent University has been officially accredited by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA).

This recognition is a significant milestone for our programme, and we are incredibly proud to be part of a growing global network committed to excellence in applied sport science education.

For our students, this accreditation offers real value. It affirms the quality and rigour of our curriculum, aligns our teaching with international industry standards, and enhances graduate employability. Students will benefit from access to IUSCA resources, professional development opportunities and, crucially, a qualification that is recognised and respected across the high-performance sport and fitness industries worldwide.”

As part of its commitment to global engagement and applied learning, NTU students will also benefit from IUSCA-supported international placement opportunities. Previous students have successfully undertaken internships at prestigious institutions including UCLA and Stanford University in the United States, further enhancing their professional outlook and employability.

With the IUSCA Degree Accreditation now in place, Nottingham Trent University reaffirms its status as a forward-thinking and internationally aligned institution dedicated to producing elite-level practitioners in strength and conditioning.

For more information about the MSc in Strength and Conditioning at Nottingham Trent University, visit: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/pg/msc-strength-and-conditioning

To see if your university is eligible for Degree Accreditation, please visit: https://www.iusca.org/degree-accreditation

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About Nottingham Trent University: Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK. It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023). Students have voted NTU 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025). NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of almost 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries. NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment, as it was in 2019. NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2023). NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).

About IUSCA: The International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) is the peak international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the field of strength and conditioning within university settings worldwide. Through its accreditation programs, International Qualification Framework (IQF), professional development resources, and research initiatives, the IUSCA aims to elevate standards and support the ongoing professional growth of practitioners across the sector.