Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is ranked first in the North West and top 20 in the world for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2025). The course is taught in a 25 million state-of-the-art building with world-class laboratories and equipment. There are excellent employment prospects in elite performance or promotion of healthy lifestyles. Students have the option to undertake work placement of up to 12 months. There are also options to study abroad for part of the degree with support from schemes such as the Go Global Fund and Erasmus+. An International Foundation Year course is available, offering direct progression onto this degree programme.

About your course

The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree is delivered by world-leading experts in state-of-the-art facilities in our award-winning Tom Reilly Building.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

About BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

Sports scientists work either in the sports industries with athletes, coaches and governing bodies to help improve elite performance or in communities promoting healthy lifestyles.

Through the multi-disciplinary study of the behavioural, physical and life sciences, this degree prepares you for a highly rewarding career in sports or exercise contexts. This includes scientific support, rehabilitation, exercise training and health promotion.

The foundations and principles underpinning sport and exercise science are covered in the first two years. This provides the multi-disciplinary grounding recommended by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES). In the final year there is discipline specialisation and an independent research project led by the student.

Thanks to strong links with industry partners, we have a clear understanding of the needs and expectations of employers and are able to design the course with your future employability in mind.

Formal work-related learning opportunities are provided in the final year, during which you will apply the skills and theory you have learnt through an applied placement module. Many of our graduates continue onto postgraduate study to allow them to compete for the top sport and exercise science jobs in the country.

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU is one of the best places in the country to study sport and exercise science. It pioneered the first degree of its kind in 1975 and is now formally recognised as a centre for world-leading research in the field.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Foundation Year

• Skills and Practice in Sport (20 credits)
• Health and Wellbeing (20 credits)
• Practical Delivery in Sport and Physical Activity (20 credits)
• Behaviours in Sport and Physical Activity (20 credits)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)
• Projects in Sport and Nutrition (20 credits)

Year 1

• Research Methods 1 (20 credits)
• Exercise Physiology 1 (20 credits)
• Psychosocial Principles of Sport and Exercise (20 credits)
• Human Movement (20 credits)
• Professional Practice in Sport and Exercise Science 1 (20 credits)
• Physical Activity and Health 1 (20 credits)

Year 2

• Research Methods 2 (20 credits)
• Exercise Physiology 2 (20 credits)
• Sport and Performance Psychology (20 credits)
• Professional Practice in Sport & Exercise Science 2 (20 credits)
• Physical Activity and Health 2 (20 credits)
• Biomechanics (20 credits)

Year 3

• Major Project (40 credits)
• Applied Placement in Sport and Exercise Science (20 credits)

Optional modules

• Applied Motor Behaviour (20 credits)
• Current Issues in Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 credits)
• Behaviour change (20 credits)
• Performance Analysis in Sport (20 credits)
• PE Teacher Education (20 credits)
• Interdisciplinary Coaching Science (20 credits)
• Sports Biomechanics (20 credits)
• Physical activity across the lifecourse (20 credits)
• Exercise Metabolism (20 credits)
• Clinical Biomechanics (20 credits)
• Physical Activity for people with long term conditions (20 credits)
• Environmental Physiology (20 credits)
• Health & Performance Nutrition (20 credits)
• Strength and Conditioning (20 credits)
• Cardiovascular Physiology (20 credits)

Professional accreditation

The course is endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme.

LJMU is a member of ASET, the UK’s leading authority on work-based and placement learning (WBPL). This membership reflects our commitment to providing students with high-quality WBPL experiences that are well-supported and aligned with best practice guidelines.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Support Assessment

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is via a combination of lectures, interactive seminars, one-to-one tutorials, online activities, laboratory-based practical work and group work. Guided independent study using our libraries, laboratories and the web accounts for 70-80% of each module. Web-based content is also available through our virtual learning environment.

Work-related learning

Work experience plays a key role in your career development. In your final year, you'll complete an applied placement to practise what you've learned and gain a head start in the job market. You can also choose an optional Sandwich Year in your third year for a full year of work-based learning.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

From day one of the degree programme, you will be allocated a personal tutor and remain under their guidance throughout your time at LJMU. They will be available to discuss any academic or personal issues on a one-to-one basis as well as helping you to put together your educational and future career plans. You will also work with your personal tutor in small groups to develop study skills essential for the sport and exercise sciences programme.

The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include: written assignments (essays, lab reports, literature reviews), exams (MCQ, seen and unseen), practical work, portfolios, presentations (group and individual), and reflective practice/diaries. You will also be expected to complete a dissertation in your final year.

Your tutors will provide feedback on assessments within three weeks, allowing you to quickly identify your successes and the areas where you may need to put in more work. This is provided via our virtual learning environment, face-to-face and/or as written comments for coursework and one-to-one for exams. You are also welcome to arrange further meetings with staff to discuss your feedback.

Career paths

The diversity of careers that our graduates pursue is testament to the variety of skills you develop during your course.

Some students continue their studies at master’s level at LJMU in sport and clinical biomechanics, sport psychology, sport and exercise physiology, sport nutrition, strength and conditioning and teaching. You may also study other master’s degrees, such as physiotherapy.

Whatever your career choice, the transferable skills you will gain on the course are sought after by a wide range of employers, many of whom tell us they value our graduates because they "think differently and have excellent people skills".

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Foundation first year: £9,535
• Second and subsequent years: £9,535
• Placement year: £1,905

International

• Full-time per year: £18,250
• Placement year: £3,910

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

• Grades/points required from qualifications: CCD (88)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

GCSEs and equivalents

Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification.

A levels

• Minimum number of A Levels required: 1
• Is general studies acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• Average A Level offer: CCD
• Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20

BTECs

• National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Diploma subjects / grades required: DD if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMM if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications

Access awards

• Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Further information: 88 points from qualification

International Baccalaureate

• International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Additional information: 88 points from qualification

Irish awards

• Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Grades / subjects required: 88 UCAS points from a minimum of 5 subjects

Welsh awards

• Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

NVQ

• Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

Alternative qualifications considered

Please contact the University if you have any questions regarding the relevance of your qualifications.

Additional requirements

• Interview required

No interview required

Further information

• DBS, Occupational Health requirements

No DBS check required

• OCR National acceptability
  • National Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
  • National Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
  • National Extended Diploma: Acceptable on its own and when combined with other qualifications
• Can this course be deferred?

Yes

• Reduced offer scheme

At LJMU, we are dedicated to widening participation in education. We understand that academic potential isn't always accurately represented by grades alone. Therefore, we consider additional information included in your application. If you meet certain eligibility criteria, we may make an offer lower than our typical entry requirements.

International requirements

• IELTS

6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.

Further information

• DBS, Occupational Health requirements

No DBS check required

• OCR National acceptability
  • National Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
  • National Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
  • National Extended Diploma: Acceptable on its own and when combined with other qualifications
• Can this course be deferred?

Yes

• Find your country

Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.