Sport and Exercise Science
BSc (Hons)
Key facts
UCAS code
C601
Start dates
September 2020
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Part time: part-time study is possible
Department
Department of Sports, Health Sciences and Social Work
Accreditation(s)
Endorsed by BASES (the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences); meets the requirements in topic breadth and quality to fulfil the professional requirements of BASES
UCAS Tariff Points
104
Overview
Our Sport and Exercise degree will equip you to launch a career in this exciting field with:
- in-depth academic knowledge
- practical skills and experience.
You will gain experience from both laboratory and field work. Our Alpine Fieldwork module allows you to investigate the physical and physiological responses to sustained exercise.
We are one of the UK’s leading sport universities. We have a strong performance history, including producing Olympic medal winners. We have our own in-house Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Unit (CLEAR) and Human Performance Unit (HPU). This unit provides excellent hands-on experience and enhances employment prospects.
We maintain close links with local sports clubs, schools and the Oxford Sports Partnership. So there is plenty of scope for a varied range of work experience opportunities.
How to apply
UCAS Tariff Points: 104
A Level: BCC
IB Points: 29
BTEC: DMM
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. This combination of A-level grades would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
A Level: Including one A Level or a comparable Level 3 qualification in a science subject (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Maths, PE, Physics, Psychology).
GCSE: Grade 4 (C) in English, Maths and Science. For English and Maths, Level 2 Functional Skills are accepted as alternatives to GCSEs.
- Ability to demonstrate an interest in sport.
- If you do not have a background in science, we encourage you to consider our Life Sciences foundation year taught at Abingdon and Witney College.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
An IELTS score of 6.0 overall (6.0 in Reading and Writing, 5.5 in Speaking and Listening) is required for all applicants whose first language is not English.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.
If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.
We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Application process
Full time Home / EU applicants
Apply through UCASPart time Home / EU applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityInternational applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityFull time applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Please note tuition fees for Home/EU students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning home and EU students at the maximum permitted level.
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
You will be expected to participate in practical activities, which will require appropriate general sportswear.
Learning and assessment
Year 1 will provide you with a thorough grounding in:
- human physiology
- exercise science
- nutrition
- academic science skills.
In Years 2 and 3 you can choose from a range of advanced modules and select a pathway that reflects your interests. After completing the core modules, you can choose to concentrate on either sport or exercise related studies, or a combination of both.
We have developed a challenging fieldwork module. It investigates changes in energy balance and physical fitness following a week of trekking in the French Alps.
There is also an independent study module. This allows you to investigate a particular subject that interests you.
In your final year you must complete six honours-level credits for the honours component of the degree. You can choose these credits from a selection of honours-level modules. As an honours student you can choose to tailor your course towards the more established research model of a degree course by undertaking a project.
Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
This degree includes:
- theoretical study across a range of disciplines
- the development of practical or field skills.
In particular you will use IT to find, analyse and present information. We believe this is an essential part of any modern science course.
To deliver content and learning outcomes we use:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- laboratory classes.
We believe that useful scientists should also be practical. We are committed to laboratory work, surveys and fieldwork as appropriate.
We have a good range of well-equipped and modern laboratories. In this environment, under the careful supervision of academic staff, you will be taught safe and effective ways to carry out laboratory investigations.
- Lectures and seminars
- Placement
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.)
Year 1
- Lectures and seminars - 26%
- Placement - 0%
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.) - 74%
Year 2
- Lectures and seminars - 23%
- Placement - 0%
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.) - 77%
Year 3
- Lectures and seminars - 19%
- Placement - 0%
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.) - 81%
Learning and teaching percentages are indicative. There may be slight year-on-year variations.
Field trips
We have developed a challenging optional fieldwork module, available to students on a number of related degree courses (the cost of the field-trip is not included in course tuition fees). The module investigates changes in energy balance and physical fitness following a week of trekking in the French Alps.
The route follows the Tour du Mont Blanc. It takes you through 160km of amazing alpine wilderness, circumnavigating the Mont Blanc Massif and passing through France, Italy and Switzerland.
This module gives students the opportunity to investigate the physical and psychological responses to sustained exercise in a mountainous environment.
Among the many benefits of field courses are the opportunities for students to further develop their transferable skills. Students and staff conduct each day’s activities together under, at times, challenging environmental conditions. Spending long periods of time together as a group requires students to employ a range of skills including teamwork, communication and problem solving. These are competencies invaluable in the workplace.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
We use a wide variety of assessment methods to reflect the knowledge or skills being evaluated.
The majority of modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination.
Some modules are assessed by coursework only - very few are assessed entirely by examination.
- Written exams
- Coursework
- Practical exams
Year 1
- Written exams - 24%
- Coursework - 76%
- Practical exams - 0%
Year 2
- Written exams - 33%
- Coursework - 55%
- Practical exams - 12%
Year 3
- Written exams - 0%
- Coursework - 87%
- Practical exams - 13%
Assessment method percentages are indicative. There may be slight year-on-year variations.
Study Abroad
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Our graduates have found employment in a wide variety of jobs. Examples include technical sales (Human Kinetics Publishing), therapeutic childcare (Action for Children), strength and conditioning (Watford Football Club), health promotion and community sports (County Council), clinical perfusionist, clinical exercise physiology in cardiac rehabilitation (NHS) and graduate entry into the forces.
Sport and exercise scientists are key people with an informed view of both the performance and the health-related benefits of exercise. In recent years, the government has become proactive in the promotion of active lifestyles for all. Consequently, there are increasing employment opportunities in the areas of sport and health and this is reflected in the demand for related courses in the higher education sector in the UK.
Further study
Our graduates have gone on to study on a wide range of courses. These include master’s programmes in Ergonomics and Sports Nutrition (Loughborough University), Sport and Exercise Physiology (University of Chichester, Loughborough University), Physiotherapy (Oxford Brookes University), Psychology (Oxford Brookes University) and Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition (Oxford Brookes University). They also include graduate teacher training programmes at either primary or secondary level.
If you're interested in further study, Oxford Brookes also offers a flexible choice of taught and research postgraduate degrees across a wide range of subjects.
Our Staff
Dr John Jakeman
"My teaching interests revolve predominantly around the preparation of individuals for exercise and performance, as well as teaching on laboratory specialist modules."
Read more about JohnFree language courses
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Information from Discover Uni
Programme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.