Find a course

Expand

Sport and Exercise Science

BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: C601

Start dates: September 2023 / September 2024

Full time: 3 years

Part time: part-time study is possible

Location: Headington

Department(s): Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work

Overview

Fascinated by how the body responds to physical activity? Keen to work with sports professionals to help them reach their best? And want to impact societal health issues?

Our Sport and Exercise degree, endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), will help you to explore these topics and analyse the impact of exercise science.

You’ll cover a range of core subjects including biomechanics, physiology and psychology as well as optional modules such as nutrition, strength and conditioning, and performance analysis. Our specialist labs will give you plenty of scope to test results. Plus, members of our teaching team have a strong track record in helping elite sports teams.

In recent years, the government has recognised the benefits of the population being involved in physical activity and has invested heavily in sport. More people than ever go to the gym or get involved in some form of exercise. And sports professionals expect a whole raft of people to fine tune their performance. All this means you’ll be in great demand when you graduate.

Order a Prospectus Ask a question Attend an open day or webinar

Group work

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Extra accreditations

    Stand out with an internationally-recognised vocational qualification from the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

  • A field trip to Morocco

    Spend a week in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains, testing the effects of mountain trekking on your body. This gives you real data to analyse on your return.

  • Links with local clubs

    Benefit from our strong network which gives plenty of scope for interesting work placements so you can impress employers with your practical experience.

  • Top-of-the-range facilities

    Make use of our specialist labs to look at physiological responses or biomechanics and motion analysis. Plus, try out our hi-tech strength and conditioning suites.

  • Our Inside Track programme

    Be inspired by a range of industry experts at our popular mentoring events. And learn what a career in sport science is like in the real world.

  • Free 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

    • The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
    • CIMSPA Endorsed

Course details

Course structure

In year 1, you’ll gain a thorough grounding in human anatomy and physiology, psychology, biomechanics, nutrition and professional skills.  

Our Professional Skills for Sport and Coaching Sciences module will highlight the different aspects of the role and show you the range of career opportunities available. You’ll analyse where your existing strengths lie and develop the competencies of a successful sports practitioner to enhance your employability.

In year 2 and 3 you can pick from a range of advanced modules. You can choose to focus on sport or health and exercise science or a combination of the 2. You could look at our forward-thinking module Emerging Technology and Exercise and Health, sport focussed Applied Practice in Sport and Exercise Science module or health focussed Clinical Populations and Rehabilitation module.

There are optional work experience placements which will help you develop your skills, gain confidence and network with professional contacts. You also get the opportunity to choose a research-based project on a topic that interests you.

Student working on laptop

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.

Assessment

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. 

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.

Study modules

Please take note of the following modules marked as below:

  • # can be studied in semster 1 or semester 2
  • * modules required for CIMSPA personal training award
  • ** alternate complusory (choose at least 1).

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Nutrition

Introduction to the Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Anatomy for Sport and Exercise

Professional Skills for Sport and Coaching Sciences

Human Movement and Skill in Sport

Physiology for Human Movement

Fitness and Assessment

Introduction to Biomechanics

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology

Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

Research Methods

Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

Physical Activity and Health

Optional modules

Principles of Training for Sport and Exercise*

Performance Analysis

Sports Development

Laboratory Techniques in Sport and Exercise

Motivating Health Behaviour

Sport and Exercise Nutrition

Work Experience 1

Independent Study 1#

Year 3

Compulsory modules

Final project/ Dissertation**

Applied Pratice in Sport and Exercise Science**

Optional modules

Strength and Conditioning for Sport and Health*

Advanced Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Clinical Populations and Rehabilitations

Emerging Technology in Exercise and Health

Sport and Exercise Nutrition

Sports Injuries

Independent Study 2#

Work Experience 2

Work placements

Optional modules

Work experience modules

This is a placement which you will organise to align with your employment interests, although we can provide a range of possible alternative options. On site, the Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Unit (CLEAR) and Human Performance Unit (HPU), based at Oxford Brookes' Centre for Sport, are excellent environments for practical experience of laboratory exercise tests. Local hospitals, sports clubs and sports centres also provide similar environments for hands-on field-based exercise tests. Recent work placement projects include: the development of exercise training programmes for CLEAR unit clients with significant movement disorders; performance analysis of Olympic-level athletes in the HPU.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Download course structure chart

Careers

As well as building up specific subject knowledge, you’ll develop general skills over the programme such as communication, teamwork and leadership – all highly rated by today’s employers.

With the increased focus on the importance of an active lifestyle for everyone, you’ll find there are many job opportunities in sport and health. And with the greater use of technology, there’s an even wider range of roles you can step into as an exercise scientist.

You might choose to follow in the footsteps of some of our graduates in roles such as:

  • professional sports coach,
  • personal trainer,
  • performance analyst,
  • strength and conditioning practitioner at sports clubs/gyms,
  • rehabilitation specialist,
  • health promotion,
  • sports development officer/community support,
  • sports scientists in sports clubs,
  • clinical exercise physiology in cardiac rehabilitation (NHS),
  • graduate entry into the forces.

Other graduates decide to specialise in a particular area of their studies and go on to do a research-based master’s related to their degree.

Student profiles

Entry requirements

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 104

A Level: BCC

IB Points: 29

BTEC: DMM

Contextual offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 88

A Level: CCD

IB Points: 27

BTEC: MMM

International qualifications and equivalences

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

International full time
£15,500

Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

International full time
£16,100

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

International full time
£15,500

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

International full time
£16,100

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home 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 students at the maximum permitted level.

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

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 are detailed below.

You will be expected to participate in practical activities, which will require appropriate general sportswear.

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

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.