Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning

Overview

The need for trained S&C professionals is growing, and this is the only undergraduate Strength and Conditioning degree in Scotland. Study at Scotland's TOP University for overall student satisfaction in Sport and Exercise (NSS 2023).

Course Detail

Start Date

September

Duration

4 years (full-time)

Award Title

BSc (Hons)

UCAS Code

C604

Why Study Strength and Conditioning at Abertay?

The need for trained S&C professionals is growing all the time, and this is the only undergraduate Strength and Conditioning degree in Scotland. You'll excel in this growing industry with your key knowledge of physical performance.

Gain the skills to become a Strength and Conditioning (S&C) practitioner and develop your understanding of performance sport. You'll cover the core disciplines of physiology, biomechanics, coaching and training theory.

Learn the Sciences Behind Training and Performance

Your in-depth knowledge of the sciences behind training and performance mean you could work with young people, the elderly and those either suffering from, or at risk of, developing a number of diseases.

Work Placements and Internships

Built-in work placements and multiple accreditations really enhance your employment prospects. You'll get many opportunities to go on placements and join extra-curricular internships. This is where you learn how to apply your theoretical knowledge in practical, real-world situations.

Practitioner roles are expanding outside of the sport world. The industry is moving into other areas such as the military, the police and the fire service. You'll graduate ready to hit the ground running with your key knowledge of physical performance.

Official Recognition and Accreditations

These accreditations make you highly desirable and help improve your CV.

This is Scotland's only undergraduate degree to be formally recognised by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA).

Official recognition by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) helps to prepare you for the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification.

Accreditation by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), means you can choose to become an Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP) after graduation.

Potential Careers

Develop your knowledge of physical performance and stand out in a growing industry. Our graduates are equipped with the necessary knowledge, expertise and skills to work in various roles such as:

• Strength and conditioning (S&C) professional sport practitioners.
• S&C community practitioners.
• Sports institute physical preparation coaches.
• NHS exercise practitioners.
• Sports science support staff.
• College and school physical activity.
• Exercise and sports educators.
• Sports coach educators.

Excellent Industry Links

You'll get lots of opportunities to go on work placements and join non-curricular internship programmes. We have strong links with organisations such as:

• The Institute of Sport & Exercise,
• Dundee Utd Football Club,
• Dundee Football Club,
• Scottish Rugby,
• the Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club,
• Active Schools,
• The Fife Flyers and Dundee Stars Ice Hockey Clubs,
• ...and many more.

The Elite Athlete Development Programme

There are some international-class athletes here at Abertay involved in a range of sports competing at senior and age grade national levels. We support these athletes in their quest for international success through the Elite Athletes Development Programme (EADP).

We are immensely proud to have helped some students reach their sporting goals and represent their country. Find out how to apply.

Modules

Year 1 Core Modules

• Social Science for Sport and Exercise - SPS101
• Introduction to Anatomy and Biomechanics - SPS103
• Introduction to Physiology for Sport and Exercise - SPS102
• Psychology of Exercise and Health - SPS104
• Fundamentals of Coaching
• Abertay 101 - Being Successful at Abertay - ABE101

Year 1 MySuccess Modules

• Successful Writing At Abertay - ABE102
• Digital Skills for University and Beyond - ABE103
• Dundee and Me - ABE104
• Research and Enquiry Skills for the Digital Age - ABE105
• How to Sell Your Idea - ABE106
• Planning Your Future Career - ABE107
• Welcome to the CommuniTAY - ABE108
• Wellbeing Tools and Tricks - ABE109
• Numbers for Everyday Life - ABE111

Year 2 Core Modules

• SPS201 Psychology for Sport and Exercise
• SPS203 Key Concepts in Sport and Exercise Physiology
• SPS207 Placement and skill development when working with children in a physical activity context
• SPS202 Key Concepts in Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise
• SPS210 Physical Activity for Health and Wellbeing

Year 2 Microcredentials - Term 2

• ABE201 Being Successful at University (For 2nd year entrants)
• ABE202 Co-create (Negotiated Studies)
• ABE203 Anti-Racism in Professional Communications
• ABE204 Mind Your Language: Text Mining and Qualitative Approaches to Language Analysis
• ABE205 AWS Academy Machine Learning Foundation
• ABE206 Sustainability 101
• ABE207 Food for thought
• ABE208 Optimising your professional written communication
• ABE209 Mythbusters: Separating Breakthroughs from Fake News
• ABE210 The Future in Work
• ABE211 Social Enterprise: What, How and Why?
• ABE212 Artificial Intelligence and Society
• ABE213 My AI: Past, Present and Future
• ABE214 Digital Safety and Cybersecurity
• ABE215 Numbers for Success
• ABE216 Creative China: Culture, Regulation and Business
• ABE217 Creativity Matters: Engaging resources for Wellbeing

Year 3 Core Modules

• Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning - SPS305
• Physiological Adaptions for Performance - SPS310
• Applied Biomechanics for Performance - SPS308
• Developing Coaching Practice - SPS315
• Research Methods - SPS312

Year 3 Option Modules

• Work Placement - SPS303
• Sports Coaching: Theory and Practice - SPS301

Year 4 Core Modules

• Sport Research Project - SPS400
• Advanced Biomechanics and Injury Prevention - SPS402
• Advanced Strength and Conditioning - SPS410
• Advanced Sport and Exercise Physiology - SPS409

Year 4 Option Modules

• Duty of Care in Sport - SPS413
• Student Negotiated Learning (including work placement option) - SPS444

How the Course Works

This degree is part of a larger portfolio of five courses covering different specialisms in sport. The initial two-year foundation curriculum is about gaining a foundation in the core areas of Sport and Exercise Sciences and so all five of these courses cover the same curriculum. In those first two years we’ll give you an introduction to core aspects of each course so you can decide where you want to specialise. This means you’ll learn what you want to focus on, and your degree will suit your own interests and career aspirations. And, of course, we’ll advise you every step of the way.

If you want to work in this industry or continue your studies but haven’t worked out exactly what you want to do, this is a great way to start. Our two-year foundation approach means you can keep your options open until you’ve learnt more about what really interests you.

In those first two years we’ll give you an introduction to core aspects of each course so you can decide where you want to specialise. This means you’ll learn what you want to focus on, and your degree will suit your own interests and career aspirations. And, of course, we’ll advise you every step of the way.

Having gained two years of knowledge and discovered your own specialist area, in year three you choose from one of these pathways:

• BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning
• BSc (Hons) Sports Development and Coaching
• BSc (Hons) Physical Activity and Health
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

Your chosen course will be reflected in your degree title e.g. BSc (Hons) Strength & Conditioning

Remember, you only need to apply for ONE course, as the first two years are the same for everyone.

Shape Your Own Learning Journey

It’s all about flexibility. The first two-year common curriculum means you can keep your options open until you know which area you want to focus on. Don’t worry, our academic team will give you advice and full support when it comes to choosing what to specialise in.

Whichever specialist path you decide on, by the time you graduate you will:

• Understand how to analyse the core issues behind your chosen subject
• Have developed analytical and problem-solving skills, useful in any work environment
• Have learned to work both independently and as part of a team
• Be able to critically evaluate evidence, arguments, and assumptions and reach sound judgements
• Have learned applied professional standards, ethics and responsibilities, including good decision-making
• Developed excellent communication and digital skills so you can share your knowledge effectively across a wide range of audiences

Learning and Assessment

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars/tutorials and independent study. The practical laboratory classes offer the chance to learn relevant scientific techniques firsthand and provide an opportunity to engage in research by designing experiments and collecting and analysing data.

The assessment strategy is aimed at developing a variety of skills that are valued by employers. The majority of assessment is by innovative coursework-related submissions, such as lab reports, essays, oral and poster presentations, portfolios, reflective logs, practical tests.

Exams form only a small percentage (approximately 15%) of the overall assessment.

Accreditation

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association

Entry Requirements

Subject Requirements

• All new entrants are required to undertake a criminal records check (PVG) at the point of entry to the programme.
• All applicants must have a pass in English and Maths - National 5 grade C or GCSE grade C/4. National 5 Lifeskills Maths/Application of Maths at C accepted in lieu of Maths. Higher Application of Maths at grade C accepted.

UK Entry to Year 1

• Qualification Type | Grade Requirements | Essential Subjects
• Higher (standard entry) | BBBC | To include one of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths at C
• Higher (minimum entry) We may make you an offer at the minimum entry grades if you meet the criteria. Find out if you're eligible for minimum entry (see below). | BBC | To include Biology or Chemistry or Physics or PE or Maths at C
• A-Level | CCC | To include one of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths, Sport Science and Active Leisure Industry
• T Level | C or higher | in Core Component in one of the following:- Health, Healthcare Science or Science
• Irish Highers | H3H3H3H3 | To include at least one of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Based Programme (IBDP) | 27 Points | To include at least one of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE and Maths or Analysis & Approaches at S5 or H4
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) | We encourage applications with the IBCP but understand that your combination of qualifications may differ depending on where you are studying. | We accept the International Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme (IBCP). Any subject requirements must be met as per our published IB Diploma requirements.
• BTEC Extended Diploma | MMM | Sport/Sport and Exercise Sciences
• AHEAD | Successful completion of the relevant stream of our AHEAD programme
• SWAP Access | ABB | Access to: Life Sciences, Health & Life Sciences, Sciences, Biological Sciences, Biological & Biomedical Sciences, University Study (to include all 4 Human Biology units)
• SQA HNC/HND | C | Our College Qualifications pages list approved HNC/HND courses

UK Entry to Year 2

• Qualification Type | Grade Requirements | Essential Subjects
• Advanced Higher | ABB | To include PE and Biology or Chemistry or Physics
• A-Level | ABB | To include PE and Biology or Chemistry or Physics
• BTEC Extended Diploma | D*DD | Sport/Sport & Exercise Sciences
• International Baccalaureate | 34 Points | To include Sports, Health & Exercise Science and Biology or Chemistry or Physics plus one other Higher
• SQA HNC/HND | C/CC | Our College Qualifications pages list approved HNC/HND courses
• BTEC HNC | M | Sport
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) | See next column | If you are taking HNC/HND with one or more Higher Levels IB subjects, your offer will be similar to our BTEC + A Level offer (see 'BTEC National Diploma / Diploma') but with an HL requirement of 6 for A, 5 for B, or 4 for C.

UK Entry to Year 3

• Qualification | Grade Requirements | Essential Subjects
• SQA HND | C/CC | Our College Qualifications pages list approved HND courses
• BTEC HND | M | Sport
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) | See next column | If you are taking HNC/HND with one or more Higher Levels IB subjects, your offer will be similar to our BTEC + A Level offer (see 'BTEC National Diploma / Diploma') but with an HL requirement of 6 for A, 5 for B, or 4 for C.

International Entry

• UGPGPreparation
• We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants from across the world. Please select your country from the searchable list below to view different qualification entry requirements. If you have different qualifications to those listed, please contact us using the form below.

Academic Requirements

• All courses at Abertay University are taught in English. If your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate that you meet our English language requirements.
• Please see English Language Requirements for the full list of accepted qualifications and further details.

Fees and Funding

• The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.
• Undergraduate student fees - Scottish Students
• Undergraduate student fees - UK Students (outside Scotland)
• Undergraduate student fees – EU & International Students

Scholarships

• We offer a range of scholarships to help support your studies with us.
• As well as Abertay scholarships for English, Welsh, Northern Irish and international students, there are a range of corporate and philanthropic scholarships available. Some are course specific, many are not. There are some listed below or you can visit the Undergraduate scholarship pages.

Abertay RUK Scholarship: Science and Social Science

• A scholarship for prospective undergraduate Science and Social Science students applying from England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Abertay International Scholarship

• This is an award of up to £12,000 for prospective international undergraduate students.

The Robert Reid Bursary

• Two £1,000 awards for students who have overcome challenges to attend university.

Get Inspired

• Meet some of our Sport graduates and find out what they've gone on to do.

Paul Brand

• Paul is currently Head of Performance Analysis at Manchester United Football Club.

Fraser Murray

• Fraser is Head of Strength and Conditioning for the First Team of Biella Rugby Club in Italy.

Tatenda Nyatsanza

• Tatenda is a Health and Fitness Lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College.

The Discover Uni Dataset

• The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats) is an official source of information about higher education. It collates comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study.
• Strength and Conditioning (Full time) KIS