Sport and Exercise Science - BSc (Hons) *
Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.
In order to ensure our courses are contemporary and that we offer a fantastic student experience, this course is currently under review, and there may be some changes to the course and modules on offer. The updated course information should be available on our website by July 2023....
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date September 2023
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Health Sciences
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
Overview
In order to ensure our courses are contemporary and that we offer a fantastic student experience, this course is currently under review, and there may be some changes to the course and modules on offer. The updated course information should be available on our website by July 2023.
Our Sport and Exercise Science course will equip you with the skills to become a practitioner in the sport and exercise industry; either helping leading athletes to achieve their potential, or working with members of the public to achieve their goals. You will be taught in our recently extended £71 million City South Campus based in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
What's covered in this course?
The course explores the science of sport and exercise, considering how disciplines such as physiology, psychology and biomechanics can be applied in the context of sports performance, physical activity, health and wellbeing.
You will study a range of discipline-specific and multi-disciplinary modules, equipping you with a diverse range of perspectives that will enrich your learning and enhance your career opportunities.
It won’t just be about sport - you'll be looking at different aspects of health and people at opposite ends of the health spectrum. Sport and exercise is a large and expanding global industry and levels of fitness and participation in physical activity are significant issues on the political agenda. Therefore, you’ll be trained to respond to the challenges facing society today, by exploring the profession and it's disciplines in encouraging and supporting greater physical activity.
Endorsed by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Science, the professional body for sport and exercise science, our practice-led course is full of relevant, fresh information and insight that you can take into the work environment and make a positive contribution to modern society.
Accredited By
Accreditation for Sport and Exercise Science
This course is accredited by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Science (BASES), the professional body for such subjects. This will ensure our course is fresh and relevant, as well as creating valuable industry links and knowledge.
Why Choose Us?
- Professional accreditation - this course is accredited by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) to ensure content is relevant and up-to-date with industry standards
- Gain relevant work experience - There will be live projects to work on with professional sports teams, as well as optional work-based learning experience, enabling you to gain first-hand experience and build your knowledge. See what some of our students have been up to
- Study at our £71 million campus - we have recently invested an additional £41 million into our £30 million City South campus complete with new, state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources and equipment – including a nutrition kitchen, environmental chamber
- Top 10 for Sports Science student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2023)
- Expert knowledge - you'll receive talks from guest lecturers who work within the sector and can provide relevant, up-to-date advice
- Get work experience abroad - you can apply for a travel scholarship and take part in exchange programmes, as part of our Go Abroad scheme to carry out exciting work placements overseas
- Partnerships - our Sport and Exercise department works in partnership with professional sports clubs such as Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Kidderminster Harriers Football Club
- Flexible course structure - work will be both practical and lab-based, giving you the best of both experiences; supporting your development to work out in the sporting environment, in fitness settings, or conducting lab-based research
Similar Courses
Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic
The University has put in place measures in response to Covid-19 to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day this spring. It’s your chance to learn about our courses, chat to students and explore our campus and accommodation. Before the event we’ll post you an event programme to help plan your day and find your way.
Next Open Day: Saturday 25 March 2023
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2023/24.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
Essential Requirements
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| GCSE | GCSE English Language or Literature, GCSE Maths and GCSE Science at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry requirements under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details. | |
| Scottish National 5 | English Language or Literature, Maths and Science at grade C or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) qualifications | ||
| A level and Advanced VCE |
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International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma |
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Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher |
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If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Recent relevant study to GCE A-level standard or above must have been completed within five years of the course intake date the applicant is applying for. Applicants who have not received their secondary school education in English will require an overall IELTS score of 6, with no subtest below 5.5. If English is studied at GCSE Level but as a second language, IELTS must be completed to qualify for UK L2 requirement. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
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| International qualifications | ||
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International Baccalaureate: Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall with grade 4 or above in at least one Higher Level subject from Group 4. |
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Applicants who have not received their secondary school education in English will require an overall IELTS score of 6 with no element below 5.5. |
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Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BSc (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £13,980 in 2023/24
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Our advice for applying to a health care course
Applying for a course and preparing for an interview can be a daunting process, so we have created a series of films to help you through the process, including what to put in your personal statement.
Guidance for International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module covers the process of research and enquiry in the discipline of sports and exercise science, nutrition, sports therapy, and PE and School Sport. It provides guidance on how to interpret scientific literature, so that you can find relevant sources of information for a study or an assessment, gain an understanding of different sources of information and consider how knowledge is generated.
This module aims to explore the wide-ranging activities of practitioners working in the sport and exercise science industry to enable you to appreciate the inter-disciplinary nature of professional practice. You will be introduced to the skills and knowledge required to work within the disciplines of physiology, nutrition, psychology and biomechanics, and how practitioners from these areas can work collaboratively to solve a variety of problems related to sports performance, exercise and health.
This module aims to provide you with the underpinning knowledge of various physiological systems in the human body, and key training principles, which relate to sport and exercise. You will be introduced to the concept of the body working as multiple interrelated physiological ‘systems’.
This module aims to provide you with an introduction to the core practical competencies required in sport and exercise nutrition. You will consider a vast array of nutrition-related measurements including: energy balance (intake and expenditure); anthropometrical assessments; body composition, methods of assessing dietary intake; and both physiological and biochemical markers of nutritional status.
This module provides an introduction to human anatomy, relating to structures, properties and functions of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscle, in relation to the mechanical principles, which govern human movement.
The primary purpose of this module is to introduce the mechanical principles that govern human movement and thus equip students not only with the ability to observe and measure human movement (i.e. to describe movement), but also to begin to understand the mechanisms by which human movement is controlled and effected (i.e. to explore why we move the way that we do).
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module aims to provide an insight into the strategies that can be used to analyse and quantify sports performance in a valid and consistent manner to help inform training and match-play decisions. Specific focus is placed upon the process of conducting a comprehensive needs analysis of a sport including tactics, techniques, and bioenergetics.
In this module, you will learn how manipulation of both physiology and nutrition can impact aspects of health, exercise and sports performance. You will gain extensive knowledge on how the human body tolerates and adapts to a physiological stressor both acutely and chronically.
This module is a key part of the BSc Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Therapy, Sport and Exercise Nutrition, and PE and School Sport Programmes in that it is studied in preparation for your Level 6 Final Year Project. Information and activities on more complex inferential statistics will be presented building on from your level 4 research module.
This module aims to develop your knowledge of the most common psychological processes in sport and exercise and will help you recognise situations where psychological frameworks may be useful in sport and exercise.
Within this module students will learn about a range of pedagogical practices which bring about high quality PE lessons where students are physically active for sustained periods of time. Students will identify the key principles of high quality teaching practice and relate these to practical experiences of teaching PE and sport.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits).
This module aims to develop the skills required to coach and evaluate training methods in strength and conditioning. You will examine contemporary training theories and successfully apply the principles when coaching athletes.
This module aims to develop your understanding of exercise referral. It aims to specifically develop your understanding of assessing, monitoring and managing risk to clients arising from exercise participation throughout the referral period.
This module provides you with the opportunity to design and carry out a substantive piece of independent research which is focused on an area of interest related to your programme of study. This in-depth, self-managed study will encourage you to examine a critical issue from your sector or discipline.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
In this module you will build upon your knowledge acquired in level 5 Sport and Exercise Physiology and Nutrition. This will include applying both theoretical and practical knowledge on how different environments affect human physiology in reference to both sports performance and health. In particular, this module considers the human capability to exercise in, tolerate, and adapt to, the conditions encountered in various environments. There will be a special focus on how hypoxic training methods can be used to enhance training adaptations. Some of the environments covered include hypoxic, hot, cold, and humid conditions.
The aim of this module is to provide students with the understanding and key concepts of working in a high performance sporting environment from a coaching perspective. The primary objectives are to ensure students recognise the holistic nature of high performance sport (i.e., how the coach connects with staff in other disciplines such as Sport Science, Strength and Conditioning, Performance Analysis, Psychology, and Nutrition), and are capable of delivering progressive coaching sessions in relation to a sport-specific performance plan. This is an advanced module into high performance sports coaching, which further develops knowledge and practical skills gained through The Coaching Process and Applied Pedagogy in Sports Coaching and Physical Education.
This module will consider the link between nutrition and training & competition for sports performance.
You will be able to empirically study the effect of nutritional strategies on sports performance across a range of performance types (e.g., strength & power, team, endurance). The efficacy of the nutritional strategies will be examined in relation to findings of previous studies.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete a further 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
This optional applied module will enhance your interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of sport science or exercise science. The module aims to develop some of the skills you will require to work in a sport and exercise setting. You will undertake a 12 week ‘case-study’ where you will provide advice and support to an athlete, team or health-based client. The case study aims to allow you to critically analyse a sport or individual, and interpret and synthesize data so it can be communicated in a way that is understandable to a coach, client or practitioner. You will also have the opportunity to develop essential communication skills.
This module aims to further develop your understanding of the psychological aspects of development and progress in sport. The module also explores the various ways this topic is researched. The underlying aim of the module is to contribute to your development as a more thoughtful and effective sport scientist. It will equip you with a range of strategies and tools for investigating the psychological aspects of athletic development.
This module will consider the link between nutrition, exercise and health. You will study the effect of nutritional and lifestyle choices on the development of both acute and chronic disease. Importantly, you will also consider the efficacy of nutritional and behaviour change strategies to help prevent and manage these, with reference to contemporary research and practice.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse structure
You can choose from a range of discipline-specific and multi-disciplinary modules, equipping you with a diverse range of perspectives that will enrich your learning and enhance your career development.
The sport and exercise science degree course has been co-designed with employers, ensuring you receive up-to-date and useful information, and you’ll also have the opportunity to engage in work-based placements, applying theory to practice and enhancing your employability prospects. There will also be live industry case studies as part of the core assessment diet.
All of our sport courses will provide additional, employability based qualifications at the same time as your course, building your knowledge and improving your prospects. For this course, you could gain REPS fitness qualifications, providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to become a personal trainer.
The modules involved will cover the core disciplinary areas required – physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition.
You'll have the option of taking a sandwich year between Year 2 and Year 3 of study.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
This course is accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Employability
Enhance your employability skills
Sport and Exercise Science covers a wide range of roles, sectors and challenges, giving you a wide range of career options upon graduating. Placements and live case studies, provided by existing sports teams and organisations, will increase your job prospects.
Placements
Our partnerships with Warwickshire Cricket Club and Sport Birmingham will provide you with the opportunity to undertake valuable work placements. You'll be able to gain first-hand experience, assisting with fitness testing, lab-based research and exercise regimes.
Sport Birmingham works with sports coaches and staff, so you’ll be working alongside trained professionals who can impart advice and guidance. You could also undertake placements with professional sports teams, organisations and education facilities.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested £340 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Skills Classroom
This room can be used to practise a variety of skills but is primarily home to our Anatomage tables. An Anatomage table allows you to investigate anatomy digitally, from organs and muscles to skeletal forms and blood flow, the software includes real-life MRI scan data to help you develop your understanding of anatomy.
Biomechanics Laboratory
Our biomechanics laboratory is a long room with cameras mounted on the sides, and sensors in the floor. It’s used to record motion, evaluate people’s movements and analyse gait. It’s generally used by Sports courses and Biomedical Engineering.
Basic and Advanced Life Support
The Advanced Life Support area consists of four bays and was completed in the summer 2022. It is a high dependency unit with monitoring devices which can be attached to people or manikins with outputs shown on the digital screens. The Basic Life Support (BLS) area has dropdown tables which allow students to practice BLS on manikins. Manikins are connected wirelessly to tablets with software to allow the effectiveness of chest compressions to be measured. It’s intended that all Health, Sport and Life Science students will have access to BLS training going forward.
Sports Therapy Clinic and Practice Rooms
We have several small spaces for one-to-one practice and simulation of client sessions. We run a Sports Therapy Clinic on site for staff and students, where Sports Therapy students work alongside qualified staff to offer advice on injuries and sports massage.
The Fitness Suite
Designed specifically for sport students, the fitness suite contains industry-specification equipment, including a Technogym SkillMill curved treadmill and Olympic lifting platform, barbell and weight plates.
Sports Hall
This large space is used for teaching and recreational purposes, and has a range of sports equipment from pre-marked courts, basketball hoops, score boards, and large nets to individual items such as mats and balls. It is also used for social events and clubs such as yoga by the Students’ Union.
Sports Physiology Research Room
This room contains an antigravity treadmill that allows the user to control how much of their body weight they are using (which is great for athletes who want to return to training following an injury), and a DEXA scanner which measures fat, muscle and bone density.
Human Physiology Laboratory
The Lab is home to The Altitude Centre - a selfcontained unit where the conditions can be specifically controlled, including temperature and air flow. This allows you to monitor how changes in environment can affect sporting performance.
Sports Therapy Rooms
We have a large, long room, as well as a smaller room, both with several therapy stations. It is one of the practical training facilities where you can practice working with clients in a larger group.
Nutrition Science Research Laboratory
This laboratory is used by staff or students doing specific projects such as analysing the chemistry of food in the later stages of their degree.
Nutrition Science Kitchen
Our kitchen has several workstations to allow you to wash, prepare and cook food. There are multi-coloured chopping boards (following food hygiene standard regulations) and a range of utensils and appliances. This space is used by a range of courses including Dietetics, Secondary Design and Technology and Sport. You may use this room to prepare certain meals for teaching basic cooking or baking skills to school children and exploring nutritional education, or protein high recipes for athletes.
Our staff
Rachel Black
Course Leader BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
Rachel gained qualified teacher status in Physical Education in 1999, and has a wealth of experience teaching, leading and advising in a range of both primary and secondary schools in Sussex and Shropshire. Rachel has gained considerable experience teaching in Higher Education, and prior to joining the team at Birmingham City University, taught on...
More about RachelRichard Handyside
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science
Richard has provided Performance Analysis support to The English Institute of Sport, England Netball, Arsenal Football Club and Leeds United Football Club. Richard won a Gold Medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia, and subsequent BBC SPOTY Team of the Year and Moment of the Year award with England Netball.
More about RichardDr Laura Hodgson
Assistant Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science
Laura joined Birmingham City University in 2019 and currently teaches on the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate degree programme, primarily in sport and exercise psychology. Laura obtained her PhD in 2018 which explored the role of emotional abilities in elite sports coaching. Her main interests lie in the psychological factors...
More about LauraDr Adam Herbert
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science
Adam has extensive applied experience having worked in both the elite sporting environment and private healthcare for clubs including Port Vale FC and Spire Healthcare based at the National Football Centre, St Georges Park. Adam completed his PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University, and has published in internationally renowned journal articles...
More about AdamDr Lewis Gough
Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science/MRes Course Leader
Lewis is the current research cluster lead for Sport Sciences for Health and Disease and is the Unit of Assessment lead for REF (Research Excellence Framework). He also holds editorial positions with BMC Nutrition and Frontiers in Sport and Active Living.
More about Lewis