Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year, 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 foundation year is designed to help you settle into university with confidence while building the academic and practical foundations you’ll need to succeed as a future sports professional.

​In Semester 1, you’ll start with The Big Picture module. This helps you understand what university study is really about by exploring big questions and global challenges and how these relate to the world of sport and physical activity. Through lectures and small-group discussions, you’ll develop critical thinking skills and begin to see yourself as a university student from day one.

​Alongside this, you’ll study Behaviour, Body and Biology, an exciting, hands-on module that explores the connection between psychology, sport, and the life sciences. Through practical activities, workshops, and seminars, you’ll start engaging with real research while developing key academic skills such as analysis, reflection, and scientific thinking—essential skills for anyone aiming to work in sport-related careers.

​From your very first weeks, you won’t be left to figure things out on your own. We’ll guide you clearly through what each module involves, what assessments look like, and where to find support whenever you need it. 

​In Semester 2, your learning becomes even more focused on your future. You’ll study CCCU Student Success modules, short and flexible online units designed to help you build strong study skills, find your way around university and the local area, and start thinking confidently about your future career and professional identity.

​You’ll also take Practical Studies in Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise, where you’ll develop essential sport and exercise knowledge through learning about fundamental movement skills and key fitness components. These are the building blocks that help participants enjoy sport, improve performance, and stay active—core foundations of becoming a sport and exercise scientist.

​Alongside this, the Interdisciplinary Communication Skills module will help you develop the writing, digital, and presentation skills you’ll use throughout your degree and beyond. You’ll learn how to share ideas, data, and evidence clearly and professionally—skills that are vital in working with athletes and clients as a sport and exercise scientist, and the wider sport industry.

Blackboard

Our teaching uses a blended approach, which means you’ll also have access to Blackboard, our digital learning platform. Here you’ll find everything in one place—session slides, videos, podcasts, and extra resources—so you can learn in a way that works best for you.

​By the end of your foundation year, you won’t just be ready for your degree—you’ll feel confident, capable, and clear about your future in sport and physical activity.

• 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.