Team Sport and Exercise Psychology
© AB Sportpsychologie
Diagnostics and Consultation
© Medienlabor IfS
Research and Teaching
© Bastian Arnholdt (Medienlabor IfS)

Welcome


to the Department of Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Muenster. We study human behavior and cognition in sports (causes, conditions, objectives) and try to predict and influence the behavior of athletes. On the following pages, you will find information on our current research projects, courses, examinations, our team, and links. Further, you can find information on sport psychological support and counseling. If you are interested in an internship, please send a motivational letter, CV and a transcript of records via email to Birte Brinkmöller.

You can find a list of the latest publications of our team here: publications (2006 - today)

We hope that you will find all the important information you need. In case there are any questions left, please do not hesitate to talk to us directly.

Prof. Bernd Strauss
Head of the Department

© Jenny Fastnacht

Students from the Anne-Frank-Gymnasium Werne visited the IfS

As part of their project days, on June 10, 2026, about 20 students from the Anne Frank Gymnasium visited the Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences (IfS) together with their teacher and IfS alumna Jenny Fastnacht.

During their visit, the participants gained fascinating insights into the research and practical applications of sports psychology. Dr. Stephanie Bünemann and Birte Brinkmöller from the Department of Sport and Exercise Psychology presented current topics and areas of application in their field and provided an overview of their scientific work.

© Universitätsverlag Göttingen

New Book about Dual Career

Barbara Halberschmidt, Laura van de Loo, and Bernd Strauss have published the book 'Duale Karriere. Die Vereinbarkeit von Studium und Spitzensport'. 

This book evaluates the “Partner University for Elite Sports” project, which was launched in 1999, and provides up-to-date empirical analyses of dual careers in a higher education context. It examines how universities, in collaboration with partners (e.g., Olympic training centers and sports federations), support athletes. Student elite athletes must navigate the demands of both systems simultaneously. This poses a particular challenge, especially given the highly structured nature of degree programs since the Bologna Process reforms.

© Minkusimages

New BISp Project CulTT-LA28 Launched

The Department of Sport and Exercise Psychology has received funding from the Federal Institute for Sports Science (BISp) to implement the transfer project “CuLTT-LA28 – Coaching and Leadership Culture of the German Gymnastics Team – Men’s Artistic Gymnastics – On the Road to LA 2028.” From May 2026 to July 2027, Sebastian Brückner will support the national team on its path to Olympic qualification to support the necessary performance development in context of the current generational shift within the team.