Mscr Performance Analyst Placement at Edinburgh Rugby
Job Description
The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with Edinburgh Rugby, is offering a fully funded Masters by Research (MScR) combining postgraduate research with embedded experience working as a Performance Analyst within a professional rugby environment.
The successful applicant will undertake research within the University's Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences while spending dedicated time each week working with Edinburgh Rugby.
The research will investigate off-the-ball activity in elite-level rugby, with findings designed to support:
Coach decision-making | Training design | In-game performance | Performance analysis practice
The programme is a full-time, in-person postgraduate research degree rather than a taught Master's. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Ali Pearson and Professor Tony Turner.
Alongside the research project, the successful applicant will spend dedicated time each week at Edinburgh Rugby working as a Performance Analyst, providing an opportunity to integrate academic research directly within professional rugby practice.
The role is particularly relevant to practitioners interested in:
Performance Analysis | Coaching & Feedback | Sports Science | Rugby Analytics | Applied Research
Applicants should have:
- Minimum 2:1 degree in Sports Science or a related discipline.
- Previous experience as a Performance Analyst or Sports Science practitioner, ideally within professional rugby.
- An understanding of performance analysis, feedback and the coaching process.
- Awareness of contemporary research and the ability to identify gaps in published literature.
- Experience with data-analysis tools such as SPSS, R or Jamovi.
- Strong IT and analytical skills.
- High attention to detail and a proactive approach.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with coaches, players, supervisors and other stakeholders.
Relevant qualifications or professional accreditation are also valued, with the advert specifically referencing ISPAS or ASPA accreditation.
Experience with sports-performance technology is desirable, including:
Hudl Sportscode | Nacsport | Opta | StatsPerform | Catapult GPS | Excel | Power BI
The opportunity provides:
Fully funded UK tuition fees
£10,900 scholarship
Full-time MScR
Embedded professional rugby Performance Analyst experience
The programme runs from January 2027 to January 2028.
Applicants must complete both parts of the application process by 12:00 on 2 October 2026:
1. Research proposal + CV
Submit a one-page research proposal outlining a potential project investigating off-the-ball activity in professional rugby, supported by relevant published research, alongside a CV detailing relevant experience.
Send to:
Dr Ali Pearson – alastair.pearson@ed.ac.uk
2. Scholarship application
Applicants must also submit the separate University scholarship application. Both components are required to be considered for interview.
Interviews will take place week commencing 12 October 2026, with the successful applicant expected to be notified by the end of the week commencing 19 October.
Scholarship page - https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/scholarships-and-student-funding/prospective-postgraduates/funding-for-uk-students/college-of-26 *
MScR programme - https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/postgraduate-research/1051-sport-physical-education-and-health-sciences
Scholarship webform - https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/scholarships-and-student-funding/edinburgh-rugby-scholarship-application-form
⏰ Application deadline: 12:00, Friday 2 October 2026
MScR + Performance Analyst Placement | Edinburgh Rugby (Jobs in Rugby Performance Analysis TheASPA)