Overview
Guided by a dedicated team of internationally recognised researchers in the field, you’ll examine a number of themes related to both sport and exercise psychology.
Psychology seeks to understand human thoughts, emotions and behaviour through scientific study such as observations, interviews, experiments and questionnaires. Our degree gives you the chance to study a fascinating subject, within the specific contexts of sport and exercise, while offering you many opportunities for future development and employment.
You'll cover all the core areas of psychology: biological; cognitive; developmental; individual differences; social; conceptual and historical issues, as well as research methods that will give you the skills to summarise contemporary evidence related to sport and exercise psychology.
During the course, you'll have a ‘consultancy’ and ‘research’ informed experience whereby you'll participate in activities linked to our consultancy unit, SportsLab, which provides scientific services for national and international athletes aiming to compete at the highest standards.
You will also have the option to spend an additional year on professional placement between your second and third year. Choosing to study with a placement year is an excellent way of widening and developing your experience and applying your learning to a specialist area in line with your chosen subject. A placement will provide you with contacts, personal development opportunities, and enhances your employability.
Our degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This ensures that the course is of the highest quality and will give you the opportunity to gain the BPS Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and begin the process of becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
Your chance to begin your journey as a BPS chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist starts here.
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. This is why we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Our 2026 course will reflect this new approach. The 2026 course page will be made live shortly.
Accredited by the British Psychological Society
Our course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), ensuring quality standards. Accreditation from the British Psychological Society gives qualifying graduates the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. It allows graduates to pursue postgraduate vocational training in areas such as clinical, educational and health psychology.
British Psychological Society
93%
of our Psychology (Sport & Exercise) students were in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 202490%
of our Psychology students were satisfied with the learning resources on their course.
National Student Survey 2024Entry requirements
112
UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBC |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access | 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits |
| International Baccalaureate | 29 Points |
The grades in this table provide an indication of what is required to study this course. If you have qualifications that are not present in the table or want to tell us more about you specific situation then please contact our friendly Course Enquiry Team.
Extra information
We do not require you to have taken psychology (or sport related studies) at A level (or equivalent), although a background in the subject is always helpful.
Level 2 qualifications
You will need a GCSE in mathematics, or equivalent (for example, statistics): Level 4/Grade C.
Don’t meet these entry requirements?
If you do not meet these entry requirements, a foundation year is a great way of beginning your university journey. We recommend you speak to our Course Enquiries team who will advise on a route to study that fits you.
More information
Contact us
Module information
As well as the core modules, you may also have the opportunity to study a number of option modules. Option modules will not be pre-selected for you. We provide examples of option modules. The availability of specific option modules may vary from year to year. The offer of an option will be subject to a minimum number of students choosing the module to ensure the appropriate student experience. The offer of option modules may also be affected by staff availability. It means we cannot guarantee the availability of a particular optional module. However, we will ensure you have a choice of option modules.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
You will be taught through a combination of real and virtual lectures, seminars, practical sessions, labs, workshops and tutorials.
Seminars and tutorials in smaller groups will enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures and other sessions. In addition, you will meet with your personal academic tutor on a regular basis.
All courses are informed by the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy 2015-2022.
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will continue learning through self-study. Typically, this involves reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, and preparing for workshops, seminars, coursework and examinations.
Each module tutor will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities to complete before and/or after class to support your learning and development. Your allocated personal academic tutor will help you review your performance, and support your independent learning.
You will have access to your own IT lab, and all teaching is supported by online study skills material.
During the final year of study, the research project (dissertation), offers the opportunity to engage in an independent research programme where you will work under the supervision of a member of the academic staff who you will meet regularly.
Your overall workload typically consists of 10-14 contact hours per week. In addition, you will undertake 15-20 hours of independent learning and assessment related activity per week.
Your actual contact hours depend on the option modules you select.
The teaching team consists of highly qualified academics, supported by specialist professional services and skilled technical teams. They have a range of expertise and experience across the breadth of disciplines in Psychology, and Sport and Exercise Psychology.
The majority of staff hold the highest academic qualification (doctorate), with a small number of staff working towards achieving this standard. Staff are research-active and many of the teaching team are at the forefront of their research fields in the UK and beyond. They have substantial experience in delivering research led and research informed teaching.
You can find out more about the current teaching teams on our Staff web pages. You should note that members of the teaching team might change.
Postgraduate students sometimes assist in teaching and assessing some modules. However, experienced academics teach the vast majority of lectures and seminars.
How you’ll be assessed
The course frequently provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Many modules contain practice or 'formative' assessments or similar submissions for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Formative or practice assessments and submissions are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.
The formal or 'summative' assessments on each module are planned to take account of two interdependent aspects - the acquisition of relevant theory / principles, and the development of both academic and practical skills.
Assessment methods include a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, your final year project (dissertation) and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.
Feedback
You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor. We aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of hand-in. The quality and quantity of our feedback is often highlighted as exceptional by external examiners who annually review our academic practices.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework over the duration of the programme is approx. 70%.
Your future career
A degree in Psychology (Sport & Exercise) gives you many employment and postgraduate study options. Careers in the health and fitness professions are common, and sport coaching roles are underpinned by the skills developed within the course, as are a variety of teaching positions (via postgraduate teacher training) or roles as sport ‘scientific support’ personnel. Psychology graduates also often find employment in the caring professions, education, business and management, and other people focused occupations.
Accreditation from the British Psychological Society gives qualifying graduates the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. It allows graduates to pursue postgraduate vocational training in areas such as clinical psychology, educational psychology and health psychology.
Studying Sport and Exercise Psychology at CCCU not only helped me become a teacher of PE but it also helped me become a subject specialist and am now helping students find their own passion in sport psychology! My own sporting achievements and coaching benefitted too - helping to channel arousal, stop negative thoughts, focus attention and to know what makes a team tick. Helpful on the hockey field, tennis and netball courts! I cannot recommend this course and staff highly enough - the best decision I have ever made. You will never watch sport the same way again!Laura GreenPsychology (Sport & Exercise) graduate
Related courses
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. The fees represented here are for study with Canterbury Christ Church University. If you are looking to study at a partner institution, please visit their website for fees information.
Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 our undergraduate home tuition fees are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Placement further information
The responsibility for finding, applying for and securing a placement ultimately rests with you. This is because if you make the initial investment in securing the role, you gain the most benefit at the end. However, the Psychology Team are on hand to help with your search and to find suitable placement roles to apply for.
The year-long placement is overseen by the academic lead for placements with mentor sessions for each student. Support is also available via the University Careers Team to develop your CV and covering letter, as well as help preparing for placement interviews.
Although a placement benefits you enormously, it is not guaranteed and if you are unsuccessful in securing a role you’ll continue on with the non-placement version of your course.
Industry links
The members of staff who will teach you on the course collaborate and have strong links with a number of local, national and international organisation, who can give you the insight and knowledge for a range of graduate careers. Examples include, the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, British Athletics, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and the Kent Football Association. Similarly, we have strong links with the NHS, Mind and Kent County Council and the team of staff has several connections with professionals and practitioners who can provide you with the tools and knowledge for building your own career in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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