Program Overview

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Sport and Exercise Sciences

Gain an understanding of the traditional and cross-disciplinary sport and exercise sciences. This degree will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to step into a rewarding career within the fast-moving sport and exercise industries.

Start Dates

• September 2026
• September 2025

Degree Type

BSc

Course Length

3 years full-time

Location

Durham City

UCAS Code

C606

Typical Offers

• A Level: AAB
• BTEC: DDD
• International Baccalaureate: 36

Course Details

Are you fascinated by the relationship between exercise, performance, and health? Would you like to embark on a BSc that is aligned with industry developments and the latest research?

With an emphasis on employability, there are opportunities for you to develop your transferable skill set and take a placement module in a sport or exercise vocational setting, as well as 'open modules' from other departments. You also have the choice of applying to add an industry placement year or a study year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.

The final-year dissertation research project is an opportunity to engage in deeper investigation of a sport or exercise topic that particularly interests you.

Our approach to learning, teaching, and assessment links academic knowledge with real-world examples and practices in sport, exercise, and physical activity. This is brought further to life in the Human Performance Laboratory, which is equipped with the latest in exercise physiology and exercise nutrition equipment.

Studying Sport and Exercise Sciences, you will develop intellectual capacities and personal qualities, while acquiring a broad range of practical, professional, and employability skills that can be applied to a range of careers in the sport and leisure sector and beyond. Our students graduate with the skill set to take on challenging roles across the sport and exercise industries.

Here at Durham, our expertise across the Department prepares you to tackle traditional and emergent sport and exercise problems from a variety of academic disciplines and perspectives. With a curriculum developed and delivered by an academic team actively involved in research, you’ll build a firm foundation of knowledge in traditional sport, exercise, and health sciences, including: physiology; psychology; physical activity, nutrition, and health.

The course also offers the flexibility to select modules from cognate disciplines, such as: Sociology of Sport; Sport, Health, and the Environment; and Sports Development, so that you develop a broader, more holistic knowledge across the wider field of sport and exercise.

Course Structure

Year 1 Modules

Core Modules:

• Critical Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences: develops the essential academic skills required for degree-level study in the sport and exercise sciences, as well as the workplace. You will develop skills in personal effectiveness, verbal and written communication, collaborative working, critical thinking and problem-solving, information and research, numeracy, and digital literacy.
• Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology: familiarises you with major theories, intervention strategies, and methods of data collection used in the field of sport and exercise psychology.
• Introduction to Anatomy and Exercise Physiology: familiarises you with the basic anatomical and physiological functions of the human body in the context of exercise. The module includes an examination of the cellular, nervous, musculoskeletal, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and thermoregulatory systems.
• Introduction to Physical Activity, Diet, and Health: provides you with an introduction to the key theories, debates, and issues for physical activity, diet, and health in the UK.

Optional Modules:

• In recent years, optional modules have included:
  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Industries
  • Introduction to Sociology of Sport

Year 2 Modules

Core Modules:

• Contemporary Research in Sport and Exercise Sciences: develops conceptual knowledge and understanding of the qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods used in sport and exercise sciences. This includes an understanding of ethics, designing a research study, collecting and analysing data, and developing abilities in statistical analysis.
• Advanced Sport and Exercise Physiology: increases your understanding of the current methods used to enhance athletic performance in an applied setting. Using a mix of taught and laboratory sessions, you will investigate areas such as hydration; the validity and reliability of laboratory and field-based testing; lactate threshold testing; maximal and sub-maximal exercise and power and strength adaptations through training.
• Advanced Sport and Exercise Psychology: examines the psychological theories behind participation in sport and exercise. You will develop a critical awareness of the strengths and limitations of psychological research and theory, and apply this knowledge and understanding in a real-world context. The module covers stress and resilience; mental health and well-being; and evidence-based interventions in sport and exercise. By the end of the module, you will develop the skills required for effective one-to-one psychological consultations.

Optional Modules:

• In recent years, optional modules have included:
  • Nutrition for Sport and Health
  • Sport, Health, and the Environment
  • Sports Development
  • Advanced Sociology of Sport

Year 3 Modules

Core Modules:

• Dissertation: is a detailed and critical examination of a relevant area of sport and exercise sciences. It develops your ability to plan and manage your own learning and provides you with an opportunity to research a specific topic in greater depth and present your findings and conclusions. The 6,000–8,000-word dissertation, supported by a 750-word critical reflection, is worth one-third of your final-year marks.
• Applied Exercise Physiology in Sport and Health: applies your previous learning to critically examine the role of exercise and physical activity in a variety of populations, from elite sport performance to clinical populations. You will cover the principles of exercise prescription; the role of exercise and physical activity in the management of health and performance; advanced assessment and support of clinical and athletic performance; and the underpinning physiology of health and performance.
• Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology: applies your acquired sport and exercise psychology knowledge to complex sport performance and physical activity/health contexts. You will develop a critical understanding of the application of psychological sciences within complex and dynamic, and often politicised, consultancy contexts, such as high-performance sport and other health and exercise settings. Attention is also given to issues of ethical and professional conduct in the practice of sport and exercise psychology.

Optional Modules:

• In recent years, optional modules have included:
  • Active Communities Placement
  • Futures in Sport, Exercise, and Health
  • Applied Sociology of Sport
  • Physical Activity, Sport, and Inequalities

Additional Pathways

Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway. Places on these pathways are in high demand, and if you are chosen, your studies will extend from three years to four or four to five, depending on the course.

Learning

Learning comprises lectures, small-group seminars, workshops, and laboratory work. Practical lab sessions provide a real 'hands-on' experience of the type of work and testing performed by sport and exercise science professionals. Workshops allow you to develop knowledge and skills through investigating real-life sport and exercise issues and undertaking practical tasks, such as working with different client groups, designing diet plans, and infographic design to promote healthy lifestyles.

Our emphasis on small-group and practical teaching, supported by one-on-one guidance and self-directed learning, is embedded into the learning experience, so you gain more from your studies.

As you move into your final year, the focus on self-directed learning and independent research increases, particularly around your dissertation project.

Teaching and learning are centred around the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, a vibrant learning environment, which is home to a lively research community. This innovative research is fed into the curriculum, challenging you intellectually and keeping your learning relevant to the world around you.

Assessment

Your degree is assessed through a combination of coursework and practicals, which may include: psychological profiling of sport performers, oral presentations, and reports on physiological testing undertaken in our Human Performance Laboratory.

Methods of assessment vary between modules and have been designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of course material, test critical thinking skills, enhance written and verbal communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues within sport and exercise settings.

The final-year dissertation project enables you to undertake in-depth exploration of a specific topic that you are passionate about.

Entry Requirements

• A level offer: AAB
• Contextual offer: BBB/ABC
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DDD
• IB Diploma score: 36 with 665 in higher level subjects
• GCSE requirement: A minimum Grade 5 (or B) in GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• You do not need to have studied a PE or Sports Studies A level to apply.
• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements.
• You are welcome to apply if you are taking resits; resitting your qualification(s) will not negatively affect your application.
• We are willing to consider applications for deferred entry.

Fees and Funding

The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

We have an excellent graduate employment record. The quality of our degree courses is reinforced by employers who have identified Durham as a World Top 100 source of the most competent, innovative, effective graduates.

Our students progress into a wide range of careers in the field of sport and health and beyond. They have taken up roles in sports science support, sport management, and sport development, including management roles in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Other graduates lead development projects for local councils and major charities, and have taken up roles with sporting organisations like Sport England, English Cricket Board, The Football Association, and Williams F1. We also have alumni working in media roles with organisations such as Sky Sports, BBC Sport, and British Eurosport, as well as in health promotion, nutrition, and clinical settings.

Some graduates have gone into professions outside of the sporting world, and work in banking and finance, business, management, public relations, human resources, and the armed forces.

Sport courses also act as a springboard to postgraduate study, and a number of our graduates have continued to PGCE or Master’s level study, leading to careers in fields including teaching and physiotherapy.

Department Information

Sport and Exercise Sciences

Study on an outstanding sport and exercise degree in a highly regarded department that offers unbeatable opportunities for skills-based learning, as well as participation and excellence in sport.

Durham University's Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is a welcoming and vibrant community. We are passionate about the benefits of sport and physical activity for all, from recreational participation through to competitive and high-performance sport.

Both our BA and BSc qualifications examine the connections between sport and exercise with issues such as inequality, lifestyle, and discrimination. These lines of study, which closely align with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are woven through everything we do from undergraduate through to research level.

Our staff are known around the world for the work they pioneer, using findings from their research to inform the undergraduate curriculum and keep it current and relevant to the real world. This approach gives you a valuable insight into developments within the sector and the confidence to put your developing knowledge to use in analysing, engaging with, and enhancing real-world practices across the sport and exercise industry sectors.

Our courses also offer the flexibility to tailor your study to your interests and career goals. This includes offering a range of optional modules and the chance to spend a year working in industry or studying abroad. You will also benefit from our commitment to small group learning, which enables a more personalised approach and individualised support from staff.

For more information, see our department pages.

Rankings

• 4th The Complete University Guide 2025
• Top 10 The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• Top 100 The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

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Find out more:

Use the UCAS code below when applying:

C606

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) handles applications for all undergraduate courses.

How to Apply?

• Contextual Offers
• Admissions Policy

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