I particularly valued working on a project built around case assessment and needs analysis of an athlete, which was very interesting to develop and engage with. It challenged me to think more systematically about formulation, to build a clear understanding of the athlete’s needs and to justify my decisions using theory and evidence. Receiving structured feedback and being evaluated on this work was especially valuable, as it helped me refine my clinical reasoning and strengthen my confidence in applying these skills in real-world performance settings.

Furthermore, my end-of-year project had the greatest impact on my learning, as it gave me the freedom to choose a topic, I was passionate about, supported by strong academic guidance and structure. It also gave me a real sense of ownership over the work - doing something for me and shaping it in a way that felt both personally meaningful and academically rigorous. I chose to focus on sexual abuse and harassment within international elite-level sport. Working with my supervisor was particularly insightful, as I learnt a great deal about safeguarding, ethical considerations and how to approach such a sensitive topic in a rigorous and responsible way.

Through this work, my supervisor, generously integrated me into a research project he was leading in collaboration with FIFA, focused on safeguarding and athlete welfare in elite sport environments, which gave me invaluable insight into applied research at the highest level. We published a paper in February 2026 and are currently working on a second publication which is in fact my end-of-year project, which is an amazing prospect. Loughborough and its experts, offer support not only during your time studying there but also beyond—it creates connections that can last a lifetime. The academic/research opportunities made available by my supervisor were integral to the enjoyment of my Master's at Loughborough.