Sport and Exercise Science, BSc

​​Starting university will be an exciting time and an important part of this is the Welcome Week. Running from 14–18 September, it’s designed to make you feel at home, orientate yourself to the campus and start your studies with confidence.

​Throughout the week we encourage you to engage with the activities, be that practical sessions, lectures, or ice-breaking activities. During which you will have the opportunity make connections with your classmates, our staff and the wider members of the university community. This will all be undertaken in a relaxed and enjoyable environment, allowing you to get to grips with how things work and to meet your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

​Your PAT is one of our academic team who will support you academically and personally, so meeting them in welcome week will be important so you can put a face to a name and know who to contact if you ever need advice or support. They will be able to answer any questions you might have and along with the wider content of welcome week, will ensure you are introduced to the wider support available to you and know exactly where to turn if you have questions or concerns during your studies. ​

Your Course​​

Your Sport & Exercise Science course starts with the development of the fundamental knowledge in the building block disciplines of Biomechanics, Physiology, Psychology and Sociology; alongside the development of the applied and research skills you will need to develop. 

These will be delivered through 4 interdisciplinary modules so from the very beginning of your studies, you develop the appreciation of how sport and exercise is underpinned by both the physical and mental sides of the human body.

​From the outset of semester one you will study Becoming a Sport and Exercise Scientist lead by Dan Stretch, the subject area of sport lead. During this module you will begin to develop the principles and competencies needed for a career in the Sport and Exercise industry.

Exploring and developing and understanding of the building blocks of the interdisciplinary nature of sport and exercise and how these link to performance and health outcomes in our state of the art labs.

​Your second substantial module will be Human Body Science lead by Caroline Digby-Bowl, where you’ll explore the basic structures and functions of the human body and how these are used in sport, exercise and physical activity.

This module gives you hands‑on experience in our sports laboratories, where you’ll learn how to use a wide range of industry‑leading equipment and begin to develop practical scientific skills.

​In addition to these modules, you will also complete a series of short online Success Modules. Each of which is designed to help you navigate the university and the local area, develop key study skills, and start thinking about your future career and professional identity.

​In semester 2, you will continue to explore the world of Sport and Exercise science through Sport and Physical Activity in the Social World lead by Martin Southam and The Forces at Play and their implications for Human Motion with me, Mat Brown.

These modules will further enhance your practical skills, while also considering the social and psychological constructs that for the basis of Sport and Exercise.

Blackboard

​All of your modules will be supported through our virtual learning environment Blackboard, on which module schedules for each module will let you know which topics will be coming up, what the expectations of your assessments will be, recordings of lectures and any other materials that will help you succeed on your course.

This will be the backbone of our blended approach to learning, meaning that your learning will be a combination of in person lectures, seminars and practicals, supported by the additional materials available to you on Blackboard.

To help you prepare

​We’ll support you closely as you settle into university life and begin studying at degree level. However, if you’d like to get a head start, you’re welcome to explore our Getting Started resources in the Learning Skills Hub before you arrive​.

• ​​The Two Hour Marathon – an overview of the Sport and Exercise Science underpinning the world recording breaking marathon by Kipchoge in 2019.

• ​HIIT Training – High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has become a very popular training method for both improving performance and health, but how can this be properly applied? This paper discusses the application of this in a group of youth athletes.