The Sport and Exercise Science course team would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Canterbury Christ Church University. We look forward to working alongside you over the next 4 years and are excited to see how you develop and grow as a Sport and Exercise Scientist.
Dr Mathew Brown
Course Director for Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year
Academic Calendar: Semesters
View key dates for this Academic Calendar for 2024-25 including when teaching starts and finishes and when you break for holidays.
We know you have worked very hard to gain your place, and so must be very excited to start this September.
Our sport-related courses have a long-established track record of student success. From the outset of your degree, we will encourage you to engage with a variety of materials, to make sure you hit the ground running!
As part of this, we look forward to meeting you as you begin your studies, exploring your ideas and future plans and answering any of those nagging questions that have arisen as you start your journey with us.
You will be taking part in a learning experience that will expose you to new ideas, technology and the application of scientific theory in this field. Our teaching is supported by our excellent research work. Your student experience will also be enhanced by the work of our consultancy unit, SportsLab, with staff and students employed to deliver scientific services to sports people. Sport and Exercise are a large part of the culture at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Alongside the academic study of sport, there will be the opportunity to engage with university clubs and organisations which are a great benefit to our student experience and help contribute to our very high overall student satisfaction recorded in the National Student Survey. If you have any queries regarding your course before you arrive at University, please to not hesitate to contact us by email.
Our Sport & Exercise Science with Foundation Year course starts with the development of the fundamental knowledge and skills required to succeed during the 4 years of your course, alongside an orientation to the expectations of studying at university and the research skills you will need to develop.
This will be delivered through a variety of different teaching techniques (seminars, lectures, and practicals) to provide the theoretical knowledge and practical competency from which you can build upon as you develop through your degree.
Across each year, your studies will be divided into 2 semesters, each with 3 modules. For the first year (level 4) the core modules you will study are:
We understand that starting your degree is a big step, so please be reassured that we are not just here to provide the knowledge and practical skills you will need to succeed, but are also here to support you with our pastoral care, to make your transition to higher education as smooth as possible.
From the beginning of your course, you will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), who you will have the opportunity to meet with on a regular basis throughout the year. They will be the touch point for you to ask any questions that might not directly relate to the specifics of your course, and be the guide to point you in the direction of any additional help that you might need during your time with us.
A big step in succeeding with us is to immerse yourself in information and experiences aligned with the areas of your interest, through following social media, periodicals and online content. While engaging with these, always try to keep a critical mind of how the information being presented might be interpreted in a different way, as this will be key to becoming an effective and analytical Sport & Exercise Scientist.
You may also wish to keep track of what we are doing by following us on our Faculty Instagram!
Your welcome and induction will be w/c 16th September 2024 - we look forward to meeting you then.
On the social side, the Student Union (CCSU) has a huge range of clubs and societies – all of which have unique social calendars of their own and offer endless opportunities to make lifelong friends and discover new hobbies. And you can always create your own society and cultivate your own community!
CCSU will be hosting their Welcome Fayre on Wednesday 18 September 2024. Make sure you keep checking the CCSU website for further details and how to get involved.
We understand that you may be nervous about your first few weeks on campus but rest assured - you'll be joining a nurturing and supportive environment where diversity, equality and individuality are part of everything we do.
Find out more about our welcoming community and making friends
If you are an International Student joining us then please see our International Student Support pages for further information and guidance.
We would also encourage you to engage with the most up to date information and research throughout your degree; therefore, we recommend you follow some of the following X accounts which post up to date research and current themes in Sport and Exercise Science:
International students: don't miss out! Make sure you register for our international student success programme which provides practical advice on preparing to live and study in the UK.
If you have any queries, please feel to contact the SERS Course Team at