Psychology (Sport & Exercise Studies), BSc

You’ll meet me and the rest of the team during Welcome Week in September 2026, which is an essential part of your start here, helping you settle in, understand how the course works, and get to know your peers. During that week, you’ll also meet your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), who will be your main point of academic support throughout your degree and someone you can turn to whenever you need guidance. I’m really looking forward to welcoming you in person and helping you begin this exciting journey.

​​As you begin your first semester, you will study a set of core modules that introduce you to the foundations of psychology and its application to sport and exercise. These will include: 1. Psychology in Context where you will evaluate scientific methods for addressing psychological questions and interpret research findings; 2. Discovering Development and Identity, which will introduce you to how our earliest experiences shape who we become and explores the powerful forces that influence our sense of identity and belonging; 3. Investigating Brain and Behaviour that This module explores the foundations of biological and cognitive psychology, research methodology and statistics. All modules will be led by members of our experienced teaching team.

​Teaching in your first semester will involve a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and practical sessions. Your learning will take place at our Canterbury campus, supported by online materials and activities that help you prepare for classes and consolidate your understanding afterwards. This blended approach is designed to help you build confidence, develop practical skills and engage actively with the subject from the very beginning. You will also use Blackboard, which is our virtual learning environment and will quickly become central to your studies. Blackboard is where you will find weekly materials, reading lists, assessment briefs, announcements and links to additional resources. You will be shown how to use it during Welcome Week, but it is intuitive and easy to navigate once you begin exploring it.

​The first few weeks of teaching are designed to help you settle in gradually. You will be introduced to each module, meet your lecturers, and take part in activities that help you understand what university‑level study will be like. Before you arrive, it is helpful to explore a few short courses on the Learning Skills Hub. Topics such as academic writing, critical thinking, referencing and general study skills will give you a strong foundation for your first assignments. You may also find it useful to refresh some basic maths skills, particularly for research methods, and to read a short introductory text on psychology or sport psychology if the subject is new to you.

​You will not need specialist equipment to begin the course, but having a reliable laptop or tablet, basic stationery, and comfortable clothing for any practical sessions will make your first weeks easier. Any additional requirements will be explained by your module leads once teaching begins.​

​​​​Please be assured that you will be fully supported when you start at CCCU so that your transition to higher education is as smooth as possible.

The psychology team are friendly, experienced and happy to support you with your studies. The key to enjoying and getting the most from university and the Psychology course is to be fully engaged with what is on offer right from the start.

​Before you start in September, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the latest psychology news and developments in psychological science.

Have a look at the websites for the Research Digest and The Psychologist, both sites provide up to date information about the psychology discipline.

Remember to check out our CCCU Psychology Instagram for updates on what has been going on in the department.

To get into the psychology mind-set, try to ask the 'why' and the 'how' questions about any human behaviour you might come across in the news, in a movie or in your life generally.

For example, 'Why do we see colour?' might inspire you to look into the evolution of colour perception, or 'How does a peaceful demonstration turn into a riot?' will lead you into social psychology topics.

If you would like to learn a bit more about the range of topics that psychology explores, over the summer, head to the YouTube Channel SciShow Psych, which covers various topics about the human brain and how we interact with the world.