
Start date
22 September 2025
Duration
3 years full-time
6 years part-time
Places available (subject to change)
40
About the course
Reasons to study
- This course is endorsed by The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)’ undergraduate scheme, BUES. It is also endorsed by Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), enabling you to meet industry-recognised standards and gain qualifications which are recognised by major employers.
- Benefit from specialist facilities and equipment in our biomechanics and physiology laboratories.
- Gain real-world experience on a work placement in your second year, while also putting the skills and knowledge gained on the course to the test.
Our Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons) degree aims to develop your scientific and critical understanding of issues relevant to sport and exercise, to improve both performance and health. It brings together a diverse and fascinating range of subjects, including anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, and nutrition.
You’ll learn how the body responds and adapts to exercise, how to optimise sport performance and how to promote positive behaviour change to improve health. You’ll use the fantastic range of facilities and specialist equipment in our biomechanics and physiology laboratories: from measuring fitness through gas analysis and muscle strength through isokinetic dynamometry, to measuring reaction forces on the Kistler Force Plate, and capturing high-speed movements on our 3D motion analysis system.
Why study Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons)
As well as delving into sport and exercise science on campus, you’ll gain real-world experience on a work placement in your second year, while also putting the skills and knowledge gained on the course to the test. This provides the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience that employers are looking for in graduates.In your final year, you can personalise your degree by selecting a discipline specialisation, and you’ll complete a student-led research project.
You’ll be taught by lecturers with a wealth of experience, who are research active and helping to shape real-world practice, meaning you’ll learn the very latest industry knowledge.
Reflecting our commitment to equipping you with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to effectively transition into roles in the sector, this course is endorsed by The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)’ undergraduate scheme, BUES. It’s endorsed, also, by Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)*. This enables you to gain industry-recognised standards and qualifications (including gym instructor or personal trainer, and work with people with long-term conditions) that are recognised by major employers in the sector aligned to your degree.
Following your degree, you could go on to work in sports science support and strength and conditioning, as well as a physical activity coordinator, performance analyst, health advisor, sports development officer, personal trainer, exercise referral specialist, or after further training, a teacher or lecturer in educational settings or a researcher.
If you’re interested in everything from sports performance to sports training, wellbeing, health-related behaviours, biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, this sports degree could help satisfy your passion for these subjects and more.
*Whilst studying the course, you can apply for annual student membership at a cost of just £5 per student (83 per cent saving). This provides access to e-learning, work placements, volunteering, job opportunities, and more. On successful completion of the course, you’ll be eligible to apply for CIMSPA graduate membership, at your own expense.
Course detail
Core modules:
Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology in Sport and Exercise
Two branches of science, anatomy and physiology provide the foundation for understanding the body’s parts and functions. You'll be supported to develop an underpinning knowledge and understanding of the human body systems that are of most relevance to sport, exercise and health, as well as homeostatic control and how this relates to the pathophysiology of disease.
Foundations of Bioenergetics Metabolism and Nutrition
Foundations of Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise
Foundations of Psychology for Sport and Exercise
Foundations of Coaching
Research Methods 1
Core modules:
Biomechanics and Performance Analysis for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Biomechanics is one of the key sport and exercise science disciplines recognised by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Within this module you'll build on your understanding of the basic Biomechanical principles and will be supported in your development of an understanding of how these principles can be applied to real life situations. You'll also be introduced to more advanced aspects of biomechanical theory and practice.
Nutrition for Exercise and Health
Physiology for Sport and Exercise Science
Psychology for Sport and Exercise Science
Research Methods 2
Work Placement
Core modules:
Applied Research
You'll have the opportunity to develop practical research skills by investigating a specific aspect of sport, exercise or nutrition by reviewing the most up-to-date research literature available. You'll produce a project, which will be individually negotiated with a university appointed supervisor and, in some cases, an employer or work-based supervisor who will provide ongoing support. All research projects will be approved by the University’s School Research and Ethics Panel.
Applied Sport and Exercise Science
The sport scientist must combine the knowledge base and evaluative skills of the scientist with the procedural knowledge of the practitioner. This module aims to provide you with a clear understanding of the core skills and theoretical perspectives of sport science disciplines, contextualised within a sports science support programme. An awareness of the multi-disciplinary nature of sports science work and an athlete centred approach are fundamental to this. Through group work you’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to develop an applied programme of support for a client or client group.
Biomechanics Specialism:
Applied Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise
In this module you'll focus on the practical application of basic and advanced principles of biomechanics. Application of biomechanical principles can aid athletes and coaches in improving performance and technique, as well as aiding recovery and rehabilitation. You'll be supported in both the development of your practical skills and in your understanding and interpretation of data produced from biomechanical tests.
Strength and Conditioning
Option modules:
Exercise Medicine
Despite the well-established benefits of exercise, the challenge of encouraging individuals and groups to lead a more active lifestyle remains. In this module you'll explore the scientific evidence to consider the use of exercise as a treatment for a range of long-term conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. You'll consider exercise referral schemes and be supported to develop the knowledge and skills to plan safe and effective exercise interventions for a range of long-term conditions.
Sport Nutrition: Research and Practice
Sports Rehabilitation
Physiology Specialism:
Applied Physiology for Sport & Exercise
This module is designed to give you an advanced education on human physiology within a sport and exercise setting. This module will build on the modules you have studied in the previous two years, with more detail given to the critique of classical and contemporary methods used in sport and exercise to elicit physiological adaptation.
Sports Rehabilitation
Option modules:
Exercise Medicine
Despite the well-established benefits of exercise, the challenge of encouraging individuals and groups to lead a more active lifestyle remains. In this module you'll explore the scientific evidence to consider the use of exercise as a treatment for a range of long-term conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. You'll consider exercise referral schemes and be supported to develop the knowledge and skills to plan safe and effective exercise interventions for a range of long-term conditions.
Sport Nutrition: Research and Practice
Strength and Conditioning
Psychology Specialism:
Applied Sport Psychology
This module explores current practice in applied sport psychology and will introduce you to intervention techniques that are widely used. You'll have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in this module to undertake problem solving and design appropriate interventions.
Sports Rehabilitation
Option modules:
Exercise Medicine
Despite the well-established benefits of exercise, the challenge of encouraging individuals and groups to lead a more active lifestyle remains. In this module you'll explore the scientific evidence to consider the use of exercise as a treatment for a range of long-term conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. You'll consider exercise referral schemes and be supported to develop the knowledge and skills to plan safe and effective exercise interventions for a range of long-term conditions.
Sport Nutrition: Research and Practice
Strength and Conditioning
On average 18% of study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc. You'll be taught through seminars, group work, practical experience, tutorials, independent study and lectures. Assessment will include of coursework, practice/ competency based learning and examinations.
Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.
Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance is available on request after the publication of results.
Full-time or part-time study
You can choose to study this course on a full or part-time basis. Our part-time students attend modules at the same time as our full-time students, alongside the standard full-time timetable. This course is not available to study on a part-time basis on an evening, at the weekend, or via distance learning.
Further information
The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration. As this is a full-time course, you may have to attend every day of the week.
Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.
If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.
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The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.
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Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
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We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
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We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).
Read more about academic staff at the University of Huddersfield
At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.
Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.
*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.
Entry requirements
BBC-BCCat A Level . |
112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications. |
Pass at T Level with grade C or above on core. |
DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. |
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No specific subjects are required but subjects including Physical Education, Sports Studies, Sport Development and Coaching, Psychology, Health-related or Science subjects (Applied Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry) provide a good foundation for our Sport degrees.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.
Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.
Facilities
Student support
At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.
Important information
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons
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