Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons)

 

Course Code

UCAS Code: C600
International Code: HLSU213

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

 

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years full-time (study abroad or work placement)

Start date

September 2022

How to apply
Book an Open Day
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Course overview

Study level: Undergraduate

If sport is your passion, this course explores how the healthy human body works during exercise, how the body responds to training, as well as how sport and physical activity promote health.

  • Joint 2nd in the Midlands for career prospects in Sport Science in the Guardian University Guide 2021
  • Enjoy specialist laboratories for sport science, biomechanics, strength and conditioning and a gait analysis track.
  • Currently endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
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Global Ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

On this course, you will have the opportunity to learn how the healthy human body works during exercise, how to prevent or rehabilitate following injury, as well as how sport and physical activity promote health.

Preparing you for a variety of graduate level career options in industry, professional sport, health and education, this degree course aims to provide you with a strong scientific understanding of human physiology, psychology, anatomy, biomechanics and biochemistry. In the first two years your learning is underpinned by the three key pillars of exercise physiology, psychology and biomechanics, reflecting developments within the industry. In the final year there is an independent research project as well as discipline specialisation.

Based in the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building, you can take full advantage of our cutting-edge facilities, including extensive exercise science laboratories, gait analysis track and environmental chamber.

This course is designed to be hands-on, with a range of approaches to teaching including problem-based learning, case studies and laboratory classes, which aim to blend scientific rigour with practical and professional experience and knowledge. We aim to develop your expertise and practical ability to prescribe exercise programmes, then evaluate and monitor their effectiveness on the human body.

We recognise that to be an effective sport and exercise scientist, you first need to be an effective communicator. Alongside an appreciation of the physiological, psychological and biomechanical factors influencing human performance, our course aims to help you develop effective listening, verbal and non-verbal communications skills through the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of situations directly related to applied sport and exercise science.

You’ll be taught by staff with a broad range of academic and professional experience, many of whom have worked with a range of health initiatives, professional athletes and clubs. Our strong employer links include local professional sports teams and NHS clinical services, such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and local authority healthy living initiatives, which may increase your employment opportunities following graduation.

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

This course is endorsed by the following bodies:

The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

This course is currently endorsed by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) up until August 2022 and has been mapped against their accreditation framework, which covers practical ability in laboratory techniques, reflective practice, theoretical basis of the physiology and psychology of sports and exercise. If any changes occur with respect to this recognition, we will notify applicants and students as soon as possible. Successful completion of this course may enable you to apply for accreditation following a successful period of supervised experience as a sport and exercise scientist (subject to successful completion of any exams, competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional fees may apply).

The course had some brilliant opportunities to get hands-on experience in the labs and to apply what I learnt in different environments.

Alex Stott, Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) graduate, 2019
Couple of students practicing sport exercising

What you'll study

In the first year, you will have the opportunity to learn the fundamental subjects of sport and exercise science including: exercise physiology and metabolism, functional anatomy and movement, motor learning and control, key laboratory and field based skills required to be a safe and effective practitioner and research methods.

Modules

  • This module introduces you to the key skills needed for sport and exercise science research. The key concepts of reflective practice, evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary work are introduced. Key aspects of the scientific method will be explored. You will have the opportunity to learn about types of information and explore how to find and use appropriate information for scientific purposes. You will be introduced to experimental design and also analysis of data. Data presentation in various formats for a variety of different scientific and non-scientific audiences will also be considered.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • This module seeks to provide you with a foundation in Sport and Exercise Science as an academic discipline. It is designed to encourage reflection upon current theory and practice across the key disciplines within sport and exercise science, namely: exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport and exercise psychology, nutrition and coaching as well as British, European and International perspectives. It will provide an opportunity for you to understand the subject and will draw examples across sport and exercise domains, from elite sports performance to exercise for health benefit.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The aim of this module is to study the structure and function of the skeletal and the neuromuscular systems in order to understand the principles that govern human movement. You should build your knowledge of human anatomy and relate this to important underpinning tissue mechanics to consider the role of different biological tissues in human movement. The module will further focus on your opportunity to develop an understanding of principal biomechanical theory such as linear and angular kinetics and kinematics and their application to human movement. The module will have a particular focus on standing, gait and jumping mechanics.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Test and portfolio

  • This professional skills module aims to help you develop an introductory knowledge, understanding, and practice of the key laboratory and field-based skills required to be a safe and effective practitioner within the five Sport and Exercise Science disciplines - exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, psychology and coaching. Further, you will be introduced to the professional competencies, expectations, and employment options following graduation and of a British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Test

  • This module aims to provide an understanding of human physiological systems and their integration in relation to exercise. The module is designed to provide an integrated systems approach to both the function and control of human physiology across the exercise spectrum. The module will focus on a range of the main physiological systems, with supporting laboratory classes designed to apply and demonstrate the underlying physiological constructs from lecture material. This module will complement other year one modules by introducing the areas of the muscular system, nervous system and energy system.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and test

  • This module introduces you to the principles of motor learning and skill acquisition in sport and exercise. You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the structure and function of the brain, explore how skills are learnt and methods of structuring the environment, designed to maximise learning and performance. There will also be the opportunity to evaluate current research and gain practical skills in laboratory and tutorial settings.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and presentation

  • You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and exam

In the second year, you will study the physiology behind different types of training, biomechanics, applications of sport and exercise psychology and explore how all these factors integrate to achieve successful performance.

Modules

  • This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to expand upon and develop the skills and knowledge required by professionals working within a Sport and Exercise Science setting. The importance of understanding research in relation to informing an evidence-based approach to practice for Sport and Exercise Scientists will be explored. Lectures will consider study design and data analysis using standard software packages in computer laboratory classes. In addition, an evaluation of professional development planning (PDP) covering a range of personal development and employability exercises, including reflection, self-awareness and opportunity awareness in relation to seeking future employment upon successful completion should be completed. Students will also be required to obtain work experience.*

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Test and portfolio

  • This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to expand both generic and specific skills and knowledge required by professionals working within an applied sport and exercise science setting. You will be encouraged to design an intervention and collect appropriate data to determine the efficacy of the intervention and given the opportunity to experience working with data collection outside the constraints of conventional laboratory classes. Key skills and underlying theories from the main sport and exercise science disciplines of physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and nutrition should be developed.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Presentation and coursework

  • This module aims to build on the knowledge of physiological response to acute bouts of exercise acquired in year one. You will study the physiological changes that occur with different types of training. The training types likely to be covered include endurance (aerobic) training, sprint (anaerobic) training, resistance training and cross training. The general principles of exercise prescription and training covered at year one will also be expanded by lectures and laboratory classes relating to understanding the rationale behind specific training methods such as interval training.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • The aim of this module is to study recent advances in biomechanical analysis and their application to sport and exercise. The use of selected examples should enable you to study a range of more advanced analytical methods, to critically assess their strengths and limitations and to appreciate their application. The emphasis is on lead lectures to introduce analytical techniques followed by students working on their own or in small group, with the chance to apply these methods to chosen examples.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module examines the theoretical underpinning of key principles within sport and exercise psychology, including motor learning and control. Emphasis will be placed on the application of these concepts to real world sporting examples in order to give you the chance to develop understanding. The theoretical underpinning and application of psychological skills techniques will be introduced as a way in which the practitioner can work with athletes to improve their performance.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and presentation

  • The initial stages of the scientific research process will be applied, giving you the chance to identifyand develop a research question within a chosen topic area. An independent research study will then be designed and communicated in the form of a research proposal. This assessment will showcase, amongst other things, your ability to seek and identify relevant information, develop research question(s) and make evidence based informed judgments.

    These are all key graduate-level skills desired by employers, as they are often representative of an individual’s ability to perform work-based tasks such as write reports, develop business cases and conduct audits. You will also have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in exploring ethical and health and safety issues, including completing appropriate documentation, surrounding your proposed research.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and exam

After successfully completing your first and second year, you have the option to spend a year on professional placement or studying abroad*. While these modules are non-credit bearing, if successfully completed, these modules will appear on your final academic transcript.

Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our placement/study abroad offering here, it is often tailored for each course every year and depending on the length of placement or study abroad opportunities that are secured. Therefore, the placement and study abroad arrangements vary per course and per student. Please contact the Talent Team for more information about going on a placement or study abroad year.

Modules

  • Optional

  • Optional

In the final year you will have the chance to carry out an independent research project, which forms a very important part of your degree course and should be linked to one of the key topic areas.

Modules

  • Within this module, you are encouraged to conduct, analyse, interpret and communicate, via a scientific abstract and oral presentation, a scientific investigation in a specialised area of sport and exercise science. You will be expected to demonstrate your ability to work independently and show high levels of organizational skills throughout all phases of your work. Once analysed, data must be presented and critically evaluated in light of the current literature.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and presentation

  • This module is designed to introduce you to conventional appraisal and performance review panels with which you may encounter within your potential future work environments. The module should allow you to take ownership of your final year project and potential career development activities, through exploring reflective activities common to most appraisal processes. In addition, this module provides the opportunity for you to evaluate and practice specific practical skills and methods relevant to your proposed research.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module aims to build on any knowledge gained in both year one and year two, regarding physiological responses to acute and chronic bouts of exercise. You should apply this knowledge to specific sport and exercise scenarios such as acclimation to different environments, newly developed training techniques or contentious debates within the exercise physiology arena. The module is therefore designed to provide an enquiring and rationale-based approach to current thoughts, theories and practices.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • Choose three from the following:

    • Exercise and Health - 20 credits:This module will examine the interactions between exercise and health and provide the opportunity for you to develop your critical appraisal of the physiological basis of this evidence. Beneficial effects of exercise in preventing disease will be considered across the lifespan. In addition, you should l develop an understanding of the exercise guidelines and the evidence supporting them.

      Assesment type: Coursework
    • Applied Sport and Exercise Biomechanics - 20 credits:The aim of this module is to apply the fundamental biomechanical principles and skills you should have developed in year one and year two biomechanics. You will be encouraged to design, conduct and report on a group research project focusing on either enhancing performance or reducing the injury risk in an appropriate sport and exercise task. Further you will be introduced to more advanced analyses of isolated and complex systems. As such, this should provide you with the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required to work within both field and laboratory-based settings within sport and exercise biomechanics.

      Assesment type: Coursework
    • Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology - 20 credits: This module focuses on current issues and concepts within the field of sport and exercise psychology. Focus is placed on exploring the essential skills necessary to successfully fulfil the role of a sport and exercise psychology practitioner. Emphasis is also placed on creating an understanding of the work of a practitioner in elite performance environments. Philosophy of practice is considered alongside ethical guidelines and BASES Code of Conduct.

      Assesment type: Presentation and coursework
    • Sports Nutrition - 20 credits:  Nutrition plays a crucial role in an athlete’s preparation, performance and recovery. The aim of this module is to provide a scientific basis for sports nutrition that covers the background principles and rationale for current nutritional guidelines for athletes. The main findings of both classic and contemporary research studies will be reviewed and their limitations critiqued. The module will also involve critically reviewing the effectiveness and potential mechanisms of action of the latest and / or most popular supplements.

      Assesment type: Coursework
    • Strength and Conditioning - 20 credits:This module aims to build upon the knowledge and understanding of the five Sport and Exercise Science disciplines which are most relevant to the strength and conditioning practitioner. You will be introduced to the professional competencies, expectations, and employment opportunities of a strength and conditioning coach. The primary emphasis of the module is placed upon applied physiology and biomechanics. As such, this aims to provide you with the theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required to work with a variety of populations within the field of strength and conditioning. You will also have the chance to develop the skills and abilities required to perform, teach and prescribe fundamental strength and conditioning activities.

      Assesment type: Coursework

    Compulsory

  • You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and exam

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

A variety of teaching methods are used including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work and practical skills sessions designed to develop experimental/practical techniques and the ability to make accurate observations and assess errors. This includes performance and fitness testing, body composition assessment and physical activity monitoring.

A series of workshops will be delivered as part of this course during the first year of study with the aim of developing your scientific writing, research and laboratory skills. In laboratory sessions, you will explore key experimental techniques and develop essential experimental, data handling, reporting and broader scientific skills, such as literature researching, information technology, bioinformatics, data processing and the use of statistics.

Throughout the course, you will receive insight from the latest research and input from current practitioners.

In addition, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will review and discuss your progress with you and can provide advice.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include coursework, tests, essays, formal examinations, group work, presentations/posters and practical or project work.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.

Job ready

The multi-disciplinary and applied nature of this degree course aims to prepare you for a potential future career in sport or exercise, including scientific support, exercise training, health promotion and rehabilitation.

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the key skills of a sport and exercise scientist: reflective practice; evidence-based practice; interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary practice; generic and specialised practical skills; health and safety (e.g. good laboratory practice) and ethical considerations.
  • Research, critique and present scientific information to scientific and other recipients.
  • Demonstrate problem solving and apply scientific information.
  • Design and implement scientific investigations, including data collection, analysis and interpretation.

Teaching contact hours

During the course you will have the chance to experience a higher level of supervised teaching and practical hours in year one, decreasing each year as you should develop and become more self-guided and independent in preparation for roles after graduation.

In a typical teaching week in your first year, you will have around 11 ‘contact’ hours of study.

The contact hours on this course may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. In addition, you will be expected to undertake around a further 18 hours of self-directed study each week e.g. working on course assignments.

Some ‘contact’ hours may take the form of synchronous online learning (e.g. live online lectures, meeting tutors via video calling etc).

International experience opportunities

Our international placement option allows a full-year work placement, which can be taken abroad, or you can undertake a study year abroad*. The university runs several schemes to allow you periods of overseas study or work experience.*

The department currently has research links with Canada, Brazil and Australia. Teaching staff also ensure that they bring their internationally rated research expertise into their teaching. Please note that postgraduate study opportunities are subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs may apply.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2022 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
A level BBC to include Biology or PE. Excludes General Studies.
BTEC DDM in the BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in a Biology or Sport Science related subject.
International Baccalaureate 30 points to include a minimum of grade 5 in Biology at Higher Level.
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 9-4/A*-C including English, Maths and two Sciences.

A levels

A level applicants are required to have three A levels. In some courses it may be necessary for entrants to have passed specific A levels in nominated subjects.

Access Diplomas

The Access Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit of which 15 must be in specified subject units - Biology and/or Sport Science units

Coventry University welcomes applicants who have completed, or who are studying, the Access to HE Diploma developed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). Successful completion of the course will require you to gain 60 credits with at least 45 to be achieved at Level 3 (with the remainder at Level 2). In some cases we will require you to have gained Merit or Distinction grades in a number of units or in nominated subjects. For more information on the entry requirements for your chosen course please see the relevant course pages.

BTEC Level 3 Diplomas

The university will accept the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma for entry to most courses. In some cases we will require applicants to have studied either certain named modules or a specific named Diploma.

We will accept Extended Diploma or Diploma in combination with another A level equivalent.

*: for Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Therapy, Exercise Nutrition and Health.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background.

Fair Access Scheme

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an International Foundation Year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Sports Science will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2022/23 Tuition fees

Student Full time Part time
UK £9,250 per year Not available
International £16,650 per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Facilities

Based in the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building, you can take full advantage of our cutting-edge facilities, including indoor running track and extensive exercise science laboratories.

Sports Therapy Student learning

Sports Therapy Clinic

The Sports Therapy Clinic is run by final-year Sports Therapy students under the supervision of qualified staff, with second-year students providing a supervised massage clinic twice a week.

Strength and conditioning suite

Strength and conditioning suite

Our multi-purpose suite is equipped with multiple Olympic lifting platforms, a 20m gait analysis track, an anti-gravity treadmill and a 3D motion capture system.

Environmental Chamber

Environmental chamber

Our environmental chamber helps us to test the effects of a wide range of environmental conditions, such as temperature and barometric pressure, on the human body.

Careers and opportunities

The leisure industry is a major employer in the UK and many of our previous graduates have gone into managerial and service delivery roles in leisure and health centres, as well as teaching and research.

Graduates who are more interested in the medical and health applications of exercise science can choose to go on to work within cardiac and other rehabilitation teams within the NHS, or with local councils within sports development or exercise for health schemes.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and helping to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market upon successful completion of your course. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your future career options. They can also help you to apply for suitable work placements* and give you advice on how to get the most out of them.

Where our graduates work

Some of our previous graduates have gone on to work with sports teams including Coventry City FC and British Cycling.

How to apply

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Your next steps

Student life
Accommodation
Fees and funding

  • Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

    Tuition fees

    The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

    For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

    Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. 

    Facilities

    Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Placements and study abroad opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

    Additional costs

    This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).