Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons) drafted drafted
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
About the course
Reasons to study
We were ranked best in Yorkshire* for student satisfaction in the subject of Sport and Exercise Sciences (National Student Survey 2022).
Why Sport and Exercise Science?
The course 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.
This course prepares you for a highly rewarding career including sports science support, physical activity coordinator, health advisor, sports development officer, personal trainer, exercise referral specialist; or after further training, a teacher in educational settings or a researcher.
How will you learn?
*subjects rankings refer to Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 3 and are further filtered to include English HEI's with income over £100m+ in the 20/21 academic year.
Program Outline
Course detail
Year 1
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. You’ll also be supported to develop an understanding of homeostatic control and how this relates to the pathophysiology of disease.
Foundations of Bioenergetics Metabolism and Nutrition
You'll be provided with a foundation knowledge within the area of nutrition, bioenergetics and metabolism. The relationship between what we eat, and nutrition will be explored by looking at the importance of the food groups that make up the diet, the nutritional needs for different population groups and the link between diet and disease. You'll also look at the role of macronutrients in the diet in terms of how energy is provided and metabolised.
Foundations of Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise
Biomechanics is the study of the forces acting on and produced by the body. You’ll be supported to develop an understanding of the academic and practical skills required of a sport and exercise scientist, providing you with knowledge to interpret biomechanical principles that govern human motion. Biomechanics is one of the key sport and exercise science disciplines recognised by British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Foundations of Psychology for Sport and Exercise
This module will investigate how people think, feel and behave in a sport and exercise context. You’ll have the opportunity to improve diet, exercise and physical activity levels, and gain an understanding of psychological skills and their influence on sports performance and exercise and dietary behaviour.
Foundations of Coaching and Instructing
You’ll explore leadership and the role of the coach in the context of sport, exercise, physical activity and health. You’ll be provided with opportunities to develop practical skills such as communication, demonstration, observation, provision of feedback etc. You’ll illustrate and apply an understanding of the coach’s responsibilities and liabilities in safeguarding the physical and emotional interests of the athlete or client. You’ll also gain experience of the coaching process through working in small groups to plan, organise, deliver and evaluate an exercise or physical activity session.
Research Methods 1
This module focuses on developing the academic skills required to progress in higher education and successfully complete the degree course. You’ll examine essential areas such as essay and report writing, referencing and use of Summon in searching for information. You’ll be introduced to concepts of research design and the research process, as well as identify where support can be accessed to enable academic progression. This module will also introduce key concepts in Professional Practice to support future career goals.
Year 2
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
In the first part of the module you'll learn about the nutritional and metabolic significance of energy and the role of the macro and micronutrients in the body. This will include their function, requirements, dietary sources and the effects of deficiency and toxicity. In the second part of the module you'll apply this knowledge to explore the relationships between diet and disease. This will include looking at the link between diet and diseases of affluence including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Factors influencing the nutritional status of individuals through the life cycle will also be considered, for example during pregnancy through to older adults.
Physiology for Sport and Exercise Science
The body is an incredibly advanced and complex machine. Millions of processes occur at any given time, from the cellular level all the way up to whole-body level; and that is just at rest. When the body is ‘challenged’ by physical exertion, our nervous system and muscles become more active, initiating an exciting and intricate series of processes. This module is designed to expose you to classic and contemporary issues in sport and exercise physiology, uncovering both the fascinating way our body reacts to exercise, and how this can be harnessed and trained to improve athletic performance and our general health.
Psychology for Sport and Exercise Science
You'll be introduced to a variety of methods and approaches that are widely used in sport and exercise psychology when working with population groups. In sport psychology, you'll apply and evaluate sport psychology theory in a practical coaching setting. In exercise psychology, you'll explore why many individuals do not meet current recommended physical activity levels and look at theories of motivating and encouraging them to do so. You'll learn how to conduct, transcribe and interpret an interview in a sport and exercise psychology setting. You'll also consider and evaluate the implications of these approaches.
Research Methods 2
This module provides the opportunity to further develop your skills and knowledge of research methods from Year 1, supporting you to produce a more considered research proposal for your final year project. You’ll focus on the application of research methods to different kinds of problems, allowing experiential learning to take place. This will help you to become better equipped both to undertake your own research and offer a critique of the research of others.
Work Placement
This module provides the opportunity for you to gain work experience in an industry placement and develop an understanding of the core purpose and management of the organisation. You’ll complete 140 hours on placement where you'll identify, develop and maintain a role as a working member of the team, appreciating the rights and responsibilities of yourself and the organisation.
Year 3
Core modules:
Applied Research
This module provides the opportunity for you to undertake a research project and develop practical research skills by investigating a specific aspect of physical education, sport, exercise or nutrition of your choice and reviewing the most up-to-date research literature available. 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
The role of a strength and conditioning coach is one that is constantly evolving, requiring not only the ability to coach, but also the ability to critically understand developments in the science of strength and conditioning. It is extremely important to have the breadth and depth of knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin effective application of strength and conditioning training interventions in order to optimise and develop training prescription. Fundamentally, it is also crucial that coaches are able to deliver a training programme in a safe and effective way to an athlete, skills which you'll have the opportunity to develop during the course of your degree and this module.
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
What we eat affects our health; for athletes, the optimum diet is essential for optimum performance. Consequently, nutrition is of direct relevance to sport, exercise and health professionals. Throughout this module you'll be encouraged to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to critically evaluate nutritional requirements and to give evidence-based advice to a range of individuals within sport, exercise and health.
Sports Rehabilitation
The module introduces you to information and skills that provide the framework for making judgements to deliver appropriate remedial and rehabilitation advice throughout all stages of the recovery process. You'll explore the role of the multidisciplinary team in the rehabilitation of the injured participant. You'll also consider common sport and exercise injuries including tennis elbow and Osgood Schlatters disease and their management. The module will complement your previous knowledge of sport and exercise science to consider appropriate exercise programmes safely and effectively in order to restore maximum function.
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
The module introduces you to information and skills that provide the framework for making judgements to deliver appropriate remedial and rehabilitation advice throughout all stages of the recovery process. You'll explore the role of the multidisciplinary team in the rehabilitation of the injured participant. You'll also consider common sport and exercise injuries including tennis elbow and Osgood Schlatters disease and their management. The module will complement your previous knowledge of sport and exercise science to consider appropriate exercise programmes safely and effectively in order to restore maximum function.
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
What we eat affects our health; for athletes, the optimum diet is essential for optimum performance. Consequently, nutrition is of direct relevance to sport, exercise and health professionals. Throughout this module you'll be encouraged to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to critically evaluate nutritional requirements and to give evidence-based advice to a range of individuals within sport, exercise and health.
Strength and Conditioning
The role of a strength and conditioning coach is one that is constantly evolving, requiring not only the ability to coach, but also the ability to critically understand developments in the science of strength and conditioning. It is extremely important to have the breadth and depth of knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin effective application of strength and conditioning training interventions in order to optimise and develop training prescription. Fundamentally, it is also crucial that coaches are able to deliver a training programme in a safe and effective way to an athlete, skills which you'll have the opportunity to develop during the course of your degree and this module.
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
The module introduces you to information and skills that provide the framework for making judgements to deliver appropriate remedial and rehabilitation advice throughout all stages of the recovery process. You'll explore the role of the multidisciplinary team in the rehabilitation of the injured participant. You'll also consider common sport and exercise injuries including tennis elbow and Osgood Schlatters disease and their management. The module will complement your previous knowledge of sport and exercise science to consider appropriate exercise programmes safely and effectively in order to restore maximum function.
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
What we eat affects our health; for athletes, the optimum diet is essential for optimum performance. Consequently, nutrition is of direct relevance to sport, exercise and health professionals. Throughout this module you'll be encouraged to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to critically evaluate nutritional requirements and to give evidence-based advice to a range of individuals within sport, exercise and health.
Strength and Conditioning
The role of a strength and conditioning coach is one that is constantly evolving, requiring not only the ability to coach, but also the ability to critically understand developments in the science of strength and conditioning. It is extremely important to have the breadth and depth of knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin effective application of strength and conditioning training interventions in order to optimise and develop training prescription. Fundamentally, it is also crucial that coaches are able to deliver a training programme in a safe and effective way to an athlete, skills which you'll have the opportunity to develop during the course of your degree and this module.
Teaching and assessment
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.
Teaching excellence
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Triple 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 2022). 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 20 since 2008 (2022 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).
Global Professional Award
At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award 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 the Level 5 in Leadership and Management Award from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), meaning you’ll graduate from the University of Huddersfield with an internationally recognised professional qualification, 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
Your career
Previous graduates from the Division of Sport, Exercise and Public Health have gone on to work in education, research, teaching, community and social services in organisations including the NHS (Dietetic Assistant), Huddersfield Giants RLFC (Community Development Officer), Halifax RLFC (Performance Analyst), Barnsley Council (Senior Public Health Officer), Kirklees Active Leisure (Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor), Huddersfield Town FC (First Team Performance Analyst), Liverpool FC (Academy Fitness Coach), Everton FC (Lecturer and Coach), Manchester United (Sports Performance Analyst), Leicester City FC (Women’s First Team Performance Analyst), Project Sport (Sports Coach) and Nuffield Health (Performance Lead).**
*Percentage of graduates from this subject area who were in work and/or further study within fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20, including both UK and non-UK domiciled, other activities excluded).
**LinkedIn.
85% Graduates employed*Placements
The course includes a compulsory 140-hour work placement in your second year, in an appropriate environment, helping you to relate theory to practice and develop skills in a real work context. The teaching staff have developed excellent links with local employers and can provide assistance in finding a suitable placement.
Previous placement providers have included strength and conditioning, professional sports clubs (performance analysis and sport science support), primary and secondary schools, further education colleges, local authority sport development and physical activity units, primary care trusts, research assistants and private physical activity and sport providers. The University also has strong links with local professional sports clubs, so there may be opportunities for you to work with these athletes, for example Huddersfield Town FC and Huddersfield Giants.
For more information visit our placements page.
I undertook two placements, one at Huddersfield Giants RLFC as the strength and conditioner of the academy team, and the other at Halifax RLFC working alongside the head coach and the first team providing performance analysis stats for the team during and post-match.
Kim Field , graduated Sport Science BSc(Hons) in 2018, now Performance Analyst at Halifax RLFC
