Program Overview

Sport and exercise sciences involve the provision of support services to elite athlete, public health and fitness, as well as special populations such as the elderly and hospital patients. This course has substantial components of physiology, anatomy, metabolism and biomechanics, with coverage of sports psychology and sports sociology. In a growing industry with excellent and diverse employment opportunities, graduates can find roles in the fitness industry, coaching, sports therapy, exercise physiology, health promotion and teaching.

Mass sports participation and general exercise are rapidly developing occupations supported by an increasingly specialist industry specialising in testing and exercise prescription. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) defines sport and exercise science as: "The application of scientific principles to the promotion, maintenance and enhancement of sport and exercise related behaviours."

In this degree you’ll explore a wide curriculum with exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology and sociology the core areas of focus. You’ll study the short and long term changes the body experiences after physical activity, environmental stress and exercise; the biomechanics of human movement, including the interaction between the athlete and the equipment they use; and motivation and group dynamics in exercise. You’ll also develop the skills to identify the optimal techniques to boost sporting performance and analyse movement to reduce risk of injury.

Our teaching staff are experts in their field with interests varying from elite athlete performance testing, supra-maximal exercise, cardiopulmonary testing, stroke rehabilitation and neuromuscular patterns in movement. Some of our staff, such as Nick Gardiner, have even contributed to prestigious publications in clinical sports medicine.

The University has state-of-the-art facilities available to you throughout the course, this includes Cosmed breath by breath gas analysers, Woodway treadmills, a climate chamber, blood analysers, BodPod (body fat analyser), Wattbikes, EMG and 2D motion analysis.

There’s also an optional work placement module where you’ll gain experience in the culture and structure of the sport and exercise science industry.