Sport and Physical Activity

Sport and Physical Activity is a diverse and exciting field. You could work with school children through to elite athletes whose overall goal is to improve their health, fitness and performance. Topics in this area include:

  • sport science disciplines (for example, psychology, physiology and biomechanics)
  • coaching science (such as pedagogy and sociology)
  • exercise science (such as behaviour change and clinical populations)
  • physical education (such as curriculum design and applied practice).

You’ll learn from academics who bring real examples from their own practice. Our degrees are designed to prepare you for a career by developing your skills, confidence and network.

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Choosing the right course

CourseDuration (if taken without placement year)Course focusIdeal for people interested in a career in
Life Sciences Foundation1 year leading to a 3 year degree courseThis foundation course focuses on developing your scientific skills and knowledge including fundamental biological, biochemical, mathematical and academic skills.This foundation year will enable you to progress on to any of our undergraduate Biosciences or Nutrition, Sport and Physical Activity degrees.
Undergraduate
Sport and Exercise Science3 year full-time, 6 years part-timeThis degree provides the main scientific knowledge in the areas of physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition to allow a good understanding of how to improve  athletic performance and health. You will gain a variety of laboratory based-skills, such as maximal aerobic capacity testing, gas exchange measurement and blood lactate sampling, as well as field-based skills to test specific healthy and clinical populations  in various environments.
  • Exercise physiologist
  • Personal trainer
  • Professional sports club coach
  • Sports therapist
  • Sports nutritionist
Sport, Coaching and Physical Education3 year full-time, 6 years part-time This degree is suitable for people with an interest in sports and physical activity, whether they want to work with sports professionals, explore physical education with students or improving the health and fitness of the general public. You will develop key coaching methodologies and have the opportunity to develop specialised coaching attributes and skills from both a practical and theoretical perspective.
  • Sport coaching
  • Sports development
  • Community sport and recreation
  • Professional sport
  • Performance analyst
  • Physical education teacher, and other teaching disciplines
Sport, Physical Activity and Health Promotion
3 years full-time, 6 years part-timeOn this degree you’ll focus on physical activity and applied exercise science, nutrition and health promotion and public health. You’ll develop the knowledge and practical skills including the ability to critically analyse existing sporting organisations and demonstrate an ability to apply strategic and development planning skills within sporting organisations.
  • Exercise referral specialist
  • Physical activity coordination
  • Health promotion officer
  • Community projects and national governing body coaching
  • Physiolology
Postgraduate taught
Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition1 yearThis degree focuses on the role of nutrition in the optimisation of sport and exercise performance. You’ll develop theoretical and practical skills essential to monitoring athletic programmes, optimising sport performance and recovery from an exercise nutrition perspective.

  • Exercise referral
  • Working with sports teams
  • Assisting with food provision for athletes
  • Nutrition consultant

Student and Alumni experience

Alumni, Laura Dorrell talks about her time at Brookes

Example of fieldwork in the exercise science module

Sport and Physical Activity Insights

Injury Prevention in Football

Sports drinks vs. Flavoured water