Intro

This course is for you if you want to work in the world of exercise for health or with more clinical populations, or if you are undecided whether you want to direct your degree towards exercise or sport and performance. You are ideally suited if you have a curiosity and passion for physiology, as it applies to exercise.

If you are not yet sure of your direction, the course will give you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of applied exercise physiology and the careers that can emerge from it.

Our Applied Exercise Physiology MSc is designed around four pillars:

  • practitioner focused
  • physiology skill-centred
  • science in practice
  • personal and professional development.

A priority throughout will be to develop a blend of hard, technical skills alongside softer interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence that is essential to become a practitioner in the workplace.

We have a strong commitment to supporting you to work towards relevant certifications, accreditations or affiliations with professional bodies such as BASES Certified Exercise Practitioner, Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists and American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist. You will be able to prioritise the achievement of criteria set out by these professional bodies within your degree to improve your employability.

Our teaching laboratories are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location 

2023 entry – Eastbourne then Brighton: Falmer from year 2 if studying part-time

2024 entry – Brighton: Falmer

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2–6 years

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

The four pillars

Practitioner focused
The course aims to develop you as an applied physiology practitioner, with the necessary skills to work with clients who are exercising for health benefits or who have clinical complications, although some graduates work in sport and performance settings after completing the degree.

We develop the hard skills needed to assess physiological function, but also the softer skills essential when working with people. Practitioners need to have emotional intelligence, where they are self-aware and able to manage themselves, but also able to read the needs of clients and different situations.

We recognise that our students come with a variety of skills and experiences and we'll draw upon these as we develop you into a well-rounded practitioner. 

Physiology skills
Physiology is core to every module of our course with most sessions taking place in one of our six sport and exercise science laboratories, or our new teaching and research strength and conditioning gym.

You will learn how to use new equipment such as 12-lead ECG, spirometers, breath-by-breath gas systems and blood sampling analysers, and advance your practice with equipment you have already used. You'll develop your laboratory skills during your two-week induction which includes the intensive Skills for Physiological Assessment module. The module is 90% practical and fully immerses you into the course, postgraduate study and university life. Subsequent modules deepen your understanding of integrative exercise physiology through advanced laboratory practicals and enquiry-based learning with discussions of real-life case scenarios you could encounter as a practitioner.

The core Clinical Exercise Physiology module will reinforce key physiological concepts covered in the first part of the course, with an added layer of complexity and application to different disease states. Being able to implement different exercise protocols such as cardio-pulmonary exercise testing, spirometry exercise challenge test and hypoxic fit-to-fly challenge test, will be a strong feature.

Science in practice
Science is at the heart of our MSc and embedded in a manner to enhance your applied practice. We'll develop your scientific rigour to assess, interpret and disseminate physiological data and information.

Of great importance is the confidence you will gain in your ability to critique your own scientific work and that of others, so that you become a life-long, independent and critical thinker.

Personal and professional development
You will gain 100 hours of real-world experience in areas relevant to your interests by working alongside experienced practitioners. Some placements take place within the university and others with external partners.

Past exercise and clinical-based projects within the university have included working with participants in cardiac rehabilitation, falls prevention and those recovering from cancer. Students have also helped to develop university guidance and policy for a heatwave health plan, while others worked with altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte to develop altitude illness guidance. Health-based placements external to the university have included working with Respiratory Healthcare NHS Trusts, Long-COVID specific NHS Trusts, Cancer rehabilitation, Cardiology wards, as well as charities focussed around mental health.

Projects for students wanting to keep a blend of sport and exercise have included working with our satellite British Triathlon programme, Brighton & Hove Albion FCs Albion in the Community, hypoxic training to mountaineers linked to Para-Monte, leading our annual Marathon des Sables Environmental Extremes Programme, and the International Paralympic Committee ahead of Tokyo 2020–21 Games preparing heat mitigation resources.

Many of our students choose to take opportunities across multiple placement experiences and outside of the university, working across the public, private and charitable sectors.

Course structure

The first two weeks are an intensive course induction where you'll also complete the taught element of the first physiology-based module.

All your modules can have an exercise physiology focus. You will take four 20-credit core modules, each finding their root in at least one of the course’s pillars. In addition, you will take two 20-credit option modules and complete a 60-credit final research project. Modules are delivered in different ways to enhance your learning. 

You will learn through a mixture of taught sessions, tutorials, online learning, group work, independent study and through work-related activities. There is a strong practical element, with most classes taking place in either our exercise physiology laboratories, research and performance gym, or a computer class with a ratio of 2:20, staff to students.

You will work in groups of four or five on problem-based situations; learning by doing in our well-resourced laboratories.

Our course is taught on two days, normally on a Tuesday and a Wednesday - see the part-time and full-time tabs for more details.

Most modules are delivered across one semester although the Personal and Professional Development module is delivered over the entire academic year to allow time for vocational experience.

The research project module is delivered over five, two-day blocks as you prepare to carry out your own research study later in the academic year.

Module assessment will aim to provide opportunities for you to show your understanding through informed, reflective, critical and analytical application of ideas. Depending on the approach judged most suitable to test the learning outcomes, assessments could include written assignments such as essays, critiques, laboratory reports, presentations, practical laboratory technique exams and reflective documents.

Each module will be assessed separately and have formative assessments that aim to provide you with feedback on your progress as you prepare for summative assessments.

You are able to book individual tutorials with every lecturer. Group tutorials are also scheduled into our teaching programmes.

In addition to the course leader, who is responsible for your education and development, you will be assigned an academic tutor to support your academic progress and your employability.

The course is flexible in that it allows you to exit with a postgraduate certificate at the end of one semester (three 20-credit modules) or a postgraduate diploma at the end of two semesters (six 20-credit modules). You must complete the 60-credit research project to qualify for the MSc.

Areas of study

A core value of our course is ‘learn in the doing’. We want you to gain confidence in your ability to interact with clients, design and conduct exercise testing, explain physiological responses to exercise and training, and prescribe effective exercise interventions.

In taught physiology modules, you'll experience and discuss the responses of the human body to various stimuli, including acute and chronic bouts of exercise, effect of environmental changes (using our thermal and hypoxic chambers) or of ergogenic aids which can be used to simulate peculiar clinical conditions and help you better understand human physiological responses and ultimately the benefits of exercise in healthy and clinical populations.

Our commonly used ‘solution to the problem’ approach to learning and teaching integrative physiology will help you to develop a host of laboratory skills while providing guiding principles to apply to any exercise physiology situation you encounter in the future.

Most of our modules are taught in our sport and exercise science laboratories where you’ll learn to be a practitioner of tomorrow.

With Personal and Professional Development, you'll also gain vocational skills to give you a competitive edge in the job market. Placement opportunities and chances to network in the world of exercise physiology, will ensure you graduate with a foot firmly in the industry. You will spend around 100 hours with one or more an organisations related to the practice of exercise physiology, which will allow you to apply your academic knowledge in an applied setting. We use lectures to introduce themes around emotional intelligence and ethical and moral dilemmas in the workplace and action learning sets as a teaching vehicle for you to reflect on your experiences, and hear the experiences of others, as you develop to being a practitioner.

To complement the physiology you'll learn, the client and your safety as a practitioner are discussed from a health and safety and risk stratification perspective, but also with awareness towards the ethical implications. This is an important feature as you move towards your own research project, where you'll embark upon a project that links to your chosen employment route.

You will be able to choose to write a dissertation, a research paper or a case study report - many of our past students have published their own work. Your ability to work with data and illuminate the meaning by using different statistical approaches is another important feature of the course and we will guide you to be able to use a range of concepts and techniques on physiology data you collect.

Modules

Core modules

  • Skills for Physiological Assessment (20 credits)
  • Science in Practice (20 credits)
  • Personal and Professional Development (20 credits)
  • Clinical Exercise Physiology (20 credits)
  • Final Research Project (60 credits)

Option modules (20 credits each)

  • Exercise Tolerance (Integrative Physiology)
  • Applied Environmental Physiology
  • Science of Physical Performance and Training
  • Professional-based Learning

While there is an expectation for you to share the position of physiologist and exerciser during laboratory practicals, this is not compulsory, making the course suitable for those with a disability or health condition.

Find out how we support students with disabilities.

Full-time route

Our course is taught over two days, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays, however days are subject to timetabling and may change from one year to the next. In addition you are expected to practice skills and carry out exercise testing outside of the taught element of the course.

Example timetable for full-time study:

Semester 1

  • First two weeks of the course: Skills for Physiological Assessment module
  • Throughout the 10 weeks: Science in Practice module and option module

Semester 2

  •  Throughout the 10 weeks: Clinical Exercise Physiology module and option module

Throughout the year

  • Final Research Project
  • Personal and Professional Development module

Part-time route 

Our course is taught over two days a week; usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition, you are expected to practice skills and carry out exercise testing outside of the taught element of the course.

As a part-time student you will discuss your personal circumstances and progress on a regular basis with the course leader. Most part-time students complete their course in two years and some in three years. Some select a part-time mode of study if they want to spend longer gathering relevant experience to improve their employability.

Our approach is to accommodate you in the best way we can and optimise your learning throughout your study. The choice of modules taken each year may therefore depend on your own unique circumstances.

We can adapt your timetable to fit with your other commitments. Some students have attended taught sessions just one day a week for the majority of their time with us.

Example timetable for part-time study over two years.

Year 1

  • First two weeks of course: Skills for Physiological Assessment module
  • Tuesdays throughout Semester 1: Science in Practice module
  • Tuesdays throughout Semester 2: Clinical Exercise Physiology module

Year 2

  • Wednesdays throughout Semester 1: Personal and Professional Development module and Option module 1
  • Wednesdays throughout Semester 2: Personal and Professional Development module and Option module 2
  • Throughout the year: Final Research Project

Facilities

From September 2024 this course will be taught at our Brighton, Falmer campus. The Falmer campus is being redesigned, renovated and upgraded and will have lots of new facilities for sport and health science students.

Our British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited facilities include:

  • two exercise physiology laboratories where aerobic/ anaerobic endurance, power and strength assessments, as well as body composition, cardiac and pulmonary screening can be carried out
  • an environmental physiology laboratory with purpose-built environmental chamber where you can simulate different climates by controlling the temperature (-20 to +50°C) and relative humidity (20 to 95%), and a 1.13m x 1.13m x 1.5m water immersion tank
  • a research-based laboratory with an oxygen-controlled chamber to simulate altitude (hypoxia)
  • a molecular genetics laboratory with biobanking
  • a biochemistry laboratory
  • a biomechanics laboratory with motion analysis equipment, various EMG systems,
  • a psychology laboratory with an immersive screen and eye-tracking equipment.

We have worked with a range of symptomatic individuals and groups in our laboratories as well as sports governing bodies including the English Institute of Sport (EIS), Team GB athletes, charities and industry partners. Our labs have also appeared in numerous TV productions, for testing products and to prepare athletes for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Our facilities also include a new teaching and research performance gym that includes a three-camera system to analyse weight-lifting actions and an isokinetic dynamometer and leg press to allow measurement of muscle strength.

The campus also has a performance gym over two floors with free weight and multigym fitness equipment, a large sports hall, two smaller gyms, a swimming pool, outdoor artificial sports pitch and climbing wall.

Find out more about the facilities available to our sport and exercise students.

student being fitted with a face mask

Click image to view a virtual tour of our labs.

Students weighlifting

Click image to view a virtual tour of our new teaching and research gym.

Why Brighton?

Four reasons to study with us

  • You will get your hands dirty. Hands-on in the lab, you will have access to all our equipment and we will teach you how to use it and how to analyse and interpret the physiology numbers.
  • We will make you think. We will challenge your knowledge and your beliefs, and get you to find solutions to the problems and challenges that are relevant to today’s exercise physiologists.
  • We will make you more employable. We’ll offer you opportunities to take on responsibilities, learn within a workplace and develop the hard and soft skills needed to be an effective practitioner.
  • You will be surrounded by experts. Our staff include internationally recognised researchers, many of whom are active practitioners themselves, and who are willing to share their knowledge with you.
student on treadmill in the labs

Staff profiles

Dr Neil Maxwell, course leader
Dr Neil Maxwell is a Reader of Environmental Physiology within the School of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Brighton.

Through his research and innovation, Neil aims to inspire health, occupational and sporting communities to engage in safe and effective exercise in environmental extremes and reduce the incidence of illness. He leads the Environmental Extremes Laboratory, where his research focus is towards heat reactions during exercise and evaluating practical heat mitigation methods (e.g. heat acclimation, pre and per cooling and hydration manoeuvers) across sport, health and clinical  populations. He also investigates how to determine altitude tolerance while working with altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte.

He believes that his experience in education has engendered an empathy when working with the different needs of students and he is prepared to try unorthodox teaching methods in the context of sport and exercise science, and particularly physiology, to stimulate their interest and make learning enjoyable.

As course leader for the MSc in Applied Exercise Physiology and Applied Sport Physiology degrees, Neil believes his primary role is to facilitate the development of those hard and soft skills that are essential for practitioners who work in the field.

Other key members of the teaching team

Neil Maxwell in the labs

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you’ll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports Scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about Sport Scholarships.

Frisbee

Careers

Career opportunities for applied exercise physiologists are growing, especially for clinical exercise physiology positions.

Many graduates pursue employment in hospitals and primary care trusts where specialists with exercise backgrounds are needed to work within health and clinical settings. Others take up clinical physiology posts through locum agencies enabling them to experience different hospitals and types of clinical physiology before making their career decisions. We also have graduates who enter the Scientist Training Programme to become clinical scientists enabling them to specialise in cardiac, respiratory, sleep or even gastrointestinal physiology. 

Some graduates work with sports governing bodies as applied physiologists, or directly with sports teams, while others have set up their own consultancy service, or worked in the public and private sector as physiologists. Some graduates focus on research positions in industry or with organisations such as the Ministry of Defence. This MSc is also ideal preparation for continuing your studies at PhD level and each year we have students following this route. 

An MSc in Applied Exercise Physiology from the University of Brighton will equip you with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and emotional intelligence necessary for a successful career and help you to stand out in today’s competitive job market.

We'll support you as you start to think about life after graduation. You will have the opportunity to undergo a mock interview for a job that meets your career aspirations. We'll provide post-interview feedback so that when you are applying for jobs in the real world you will be well prepared.

89% of our most recent graduates secured a physiology-related position within two months of submitting their final research project and prior to graduating. Most were clinical exercise physiology positions: cardiographers, respiratory and cardiac physiologists, trainee clinical scientists. 

We were one of the first 10 institutions nationally, selected by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), to become a CIMSPA Higher Education Partner. The partnership acknowledges our commitment to producing graduates with the skillset needed to be deployed straight into the sport and physical activity sector.

Roles our recent Applied Physiology MSc graduates have secured include:

  • Cardiographer, Guys & St Thomas' Hospitals
  • Regional Clinical Fitness Lead, Nuffield Health (Angel Islington and South)
  • Health screening specialist, Bluecrest Health Screening
  • Exercise scientist, Corporate Health Management, Melbourne
  • Lead physiologist, Trainsharp Cycle Coaching
  • Data analyst, Nisus Consulting Limited
  • Clinical physiologist, BUPA
  • Soft tissue therapist, Brighton & Hove Albion FC
  • Clinical (cardiac) scientist, Isle of Wight
  • Paralympic athlete assistant, Boccia, UK
  • Cardiovascular and physiological clinical trials officer, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Clinical care and IDD technician, Sussex Back Pain Clinic
  • Cardiac technician/physiologist, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Sport and exercise science technician, University of Brighton
  • Exercise physiologist, STAPS (Germany)
  • Respiratory physiologist, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
  • Performance director, Elite High Performance, Wrexham
  • Lead strength and conditioning coach, Aston Villa FC
  • Director of smart progression, India
  • Graduate teaching assistant, University of Utah
  • Personal trainer, Wave Leisure Trust
  • Senior physiologist, Malaysian Institute of Sport
  • PhD student – cancer and exercise, University of Bath.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Offers will be made by the Admissions Tutor based on a balanced judgement of the candidate’s ability to complete the programme of study and to benefit from masters degree-level study. The criteria may include:

Degree and experience
A good honours degree (normally minimum 2:2 classification) in sport and exercise science, or a relevant science-based degree such as medicine, biomedical sciences, physiology, biological science, or health science. The degree may contain a human physiology component, and should contain a research training component.

Applicants without the minimum qualifications may also be considered, providing they can demonstrate they have the appropriate background and foundation knowledge by other means. In such circumstances, candidates may be interviewed, and evidence will be sought concerning:

  • sustained and substantial work in a field cognate to the degree at an appropriate level
  • the ability to undertake, write up and present an honours level research study
  • an appropriate level understanding of research methods and human physiology
  • the ability to study independently and effectively and to communicate effectively.

Claims for recognition of prior learning will also be considered (both prior experiential learning and prior certificated learning).

Referee’s report:
A first statement from the higher education institution and a second statement from the higher education institution or an Employer that the student is prepared for, and will benefit from masters study.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Other

  • All UK applicants will be invited to attend a more informal discussion about the course. This approach will also be applied to overseas applicants where practical.
  • Students returning to academia after a long break (>5 years) will be requested to meet the course leader before an offer can be made to assess whether the candidate meets the demand of the course. They will also be requested to meet the course leader if an unconditional offer is made and accepted, to formulate an individual support plan, and receive directions for further readings (recently published materials in the field of sport and exercise physiology, research in sport and exercise physiology, and study skills for masters level).

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (Full-time) 8,100 GBP

International (Full-time) 14,300 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where health course includes a placement
    • UK students – travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund.
    • Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, this means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/ travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
  • An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
  • In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
  • For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
  • The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Our campus is within 15 minutes' walk of the beach, South Downs National Park and the Eastbourne's busy town centre.

Campus learning facilities include the Queenwood library, computer rooms, a media centre and a learning and technology suite – and there is a wide range of subject-specific facilities for our sport and health students. Welkin halls are also on campus.

Eastbourne Student Centre provides services including careers, volunteering, counselling and wellbeing, student advice, disability and dyslexia support and chaplaincy.

Queenwood Library at Eastbourne

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Eastbourne

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Welkin halls
Located in the Meads area of Eastbourne, right next to the Students' Union and Student Services, Welkin halls are a short walk or bike ride to other areas of the campus.

  • Ensuite halls with a choice of room and flat sizes.
  • All rooms are self-catered with access to shared, fully equipped kitchen facilities.
  • Rent includes all utilities, 24/7 security and support, contents insurance and cleaning of communal areas.

Private renting
Eastbourne offers good choice when it comes to student accommodation.

There’s a good supply of affordable, high quality private rented accommodation and plenty of support and advice from us if you choose this option. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Welkin bedroom

Student bedroom in Welkin halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

Easy-going Eastbourne

The South Downs National Park, the bustling town centre and the beach with the pier, prom and bandstand are all within a 15-minute walk of our Eastbourne campus. Officially the sunniest place in the UK, Eastbourne has loads on offer: a year-round calendar of sporting events, the independent shops and cafes of Little Chelsea, music and arts festivals, theatres, galleries, great restaurants and high street shopping.

Every June, leading tennis players descend on Eastbourne for one of the main warm-up tournaments for Wimbledon. One of the UK's biggest free extreme sports festivals, Beach Life, takes place on the seafront in July, bringing hi-octane action on land and sea. The international airshow Airbourne is another summer highlight.

Every autumn our students and staff participate in and support the Beachy Head Marathon, one of the UK's largest off-road marathons with challenging climbs and descents along the Seven Sisters.

The beach and the South Downs provide sports opportunities including horse riding, mountain biking, paragliding, sailing, canoeing, body boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing.

The Towner Art Gallery has world-class exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and entry is free. Eastbourne also has four theatres, two cinemas and hosts a varied programme of arts and music events throughout the year.

It's only 90 minutes by train from Eastbourne to central London and less than 40 minutes to Brighton. There are also daily direct trains to Ashford International and Gatwick Airport.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Enjoying sport above Eastbourne

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Eastbourne campus map

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Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

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Student views  

David Sheahan

"After completing my BA(Hons) degree in Exercise and Health Studies, I built up substantial knowledge in both the sporting and clinical environment. My first role on completion of my undergraduate degree was as an exercise and health specialist. This role involved both clinical metabolic testing and sport performance education within the secondary school setting. 

"It quickly became apparent that due to the nature of the industry I would have to further my education to progress my career. With a keen interest in both exercise prescription and clinical testing an MSc in Applied Exercise Physiology seemed to be the perfect fit.

"I began to research universities and narrowed down my choice to either Loughborough university or University of Brighton. From the information gathered and discussions with past pupils via the online chat within the website I got a great sense that the Brighton course was the perfect fit. For me, personally I wanted an environment where students weren’t just seen as another number, that they had a voice and that there was a sense of community within the course cohort. From my own experience I can confidently say the exercise physiology course and the university lived up to my expectations, with the state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding standard of lecturing and high success rate of employment upon completion of MSc degree. 

"With the MSc degree occurring in the height of a pandemic the university and course leaders adapted superbly to maintain their high standards of education. Putting protocols in place to allow students to continue practicing exercise and clinical testing in a controlled and safe environment. This valuable practical experience has allowed myself and my peers to gain employment during and upon completion of the MSc degree. 

"During the course I developed a keen interest in respiratory physiology and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, in which I had limited knowledge of prior. With the quality of laboratory equipment and lectures I was able gain valuable experience using the best evidence practice. This enabled me to secure a part-time role during my MSc degree as a respiratory support worker and more recent role as a respiratory physiologist."

David Sheahan sport science graduate

Ellie Noble

"I completed my BSc(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science in 2020 at Brighton and throughout my degree I took a strong interest in physiology and working practically. From this, I decided to gain more knowledge and experience in this field by undertaking the MSc in Applied Exercise Physiology. 

"The course developed me as a scientific practitioner by offering the ability to work independently and grow both professionally and personally but in an environment where support was always there if needed. The course structure taught me in-depth physiological knowledge across a variety of disciplines, such as environmental physiology, exercise testing with patients and clients and clinical physiology. 

"The facilities offered are exceptional, the Human Performance Laboratories have both a hypoxic and heat chamber with a range of scientific and clinical equipment. This allowed practical hands-on experience throughout the year with encouragement to use these resources independently out of teaching hours.

 "The staff are incomparable, with their background knowledge and teaching skills whilst consistently being supportive and assistive in creating tailored scientists in this career field. The course helped me gain experience clinically which has now led me into my career as a Cardiac Physiologist at Southend Hospital. My strong background of physiological knowledge and experience from the course helped me to secure this role which I am loving, helping patients, working practically and continually learning. 

"I recommend this course without hesitation to anyone, not only the strong course structure and delivery but also due to the extraordinary staff, facilities, and opportunities that Brighton has to offer in developing individuals into great practitioners."

Ellie Noble postgraduate student

Ramona Tinei

"When I decided to study an MSc in Applied Exercise Physiology at the University of Brighton, I knew it could only be on a part-time basis due to working full-time in London.

"During my first semester I knew I made the right choice by choosing to study and upgrade my skills at the University of Brighton because of the supportive staff and incredible facilities, where amazing projects are taking place all the time in the labs and the students have the opportunity to be involved from the start and expand their interest and knowledge.

"The course structure encourages independent learning, paving the path I chose, evidenced in all my clinical case studies, which allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of cardiac physiology. The course reassured my choice in the field of clinical physiology, and it has given me the confidence to take a leadership role as a Regional Clinical Fitness Lead helping developing cardiac rehabilitation phase 3 and 4 as well as working as a Rehab Specialist for Nuffield Health.

"I am now working towards CPET accreditation keeping my main goal of becoming a physiology practitioner."

Ramona Tinei MSc student

Greg Wright

"During my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to go on to specialising in physiology. I chose to study Applied Exercise Physiology MSc as it was one of the only courses that allowed me to combine work with both clinical and sporting populations, helping to make me a well-rounded practitioner. From talking to the lecturers, past students, and visiting the university, I knew this was the place where I wanted to study.

"Coming onto the course, I was nervous as I had not had much experience performing laboratory assessments. All the staff, and my fellow students, were very supportive and took the time to help me learn the many new techniques that I can now perform with ease. I strongly value having a good relationship with my lecturers and being able to go to them with anything. I don’t think I could have found a more accommodating or helpful group of individuals if I tried.

"I was keen to get as many work-experience opportunities as I possibly could to enhance my personal and professional development, including: running heat acclimation sessions for athletes training for the Marathon Des Sables, sport science support at Eastbourne Borough Football Club, nutritional support for athletes and the general public, and exercise rehabilitation assistant for cancer patients. I also had the opportunity to work with Paralympian David Weir in the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Additionally, I was able to collaborate on a PhD project.

"I never would have imagined going on to study for a PhD before starting this course, which is testament to the fantastic way this course, and the staff, encourage you as an independent learner. As such, I would highly recommend this course."

Greg Wright MSc student

Chanel Coppard

“Going into the Applied Exercise Physiology MSc, I knew that I would only be able do it on a part-time basis due to work commitments. However, the incredible staff and facilities meant that I did not want to study anywhere else and so from 2016–2019, I learnt many new techniques in the laboratory, and had the opportunity to collaborate on a PhD project for my dissertation.
 
"The course structure encourages independent learning, whilst being a highly supportive environment. As a part-time student commuting weekly, this helped my development as a researcher immensely. Although it was intense, I still had freedom over my research avenues and could structure my time spent at university to get the most out of lectures, tutorials and lab sessions.
 
"Part of the reason I chose the programme was because I wanted to work with people affected by chronic illness to get their version of normal back after treatment. Through the MSc, I realised that there are a multitude of ways to do this, such as furthering research in an academic setting or directly working with clients in a healthcare setting.

"I wouldn’t have thought either of these avenues would have been open to me without completing this MSc and so I would recommend this course to anybody without hesitation.”

Chanel Coppard

Charlotte Avery

"After completing the Sport and Exercise Science BSc at the University of Brighton I had a strong desire to continue my studies, particularly focussing on physiology, due to my positive experience in my undergraduate degree and the focus the university has on employability. I discovered that to increase my chance of employability, postgraduate study was preferred for my career aspirations of becoming an Exercise Physiologist.

"I chose to continue my studies at Brighton due to their focus on practical learning and choice of modules offered, allowing you to create a degree that is designed for you. The variety of assessments has improved my communication, confidence, and written work to build a good foundation as a practitioner. The placement module is a huge highlight which offers you the opportunity to put the skills you have learnt into practice and to help you determine if this is a career path you aspire.

"A further highlight is the opportunity to be taught by experts within the field. The lecturers are passionate about their area of study and are keen to pass on their knowledge through engaging lectures and published material which they have written themselves. For my dissertation I worked with my tutor closely to create an original and unique topic, which excited me to complete my final piece.

"Even after all the knowledge and skills I had learnt from the course I still was apprehensive about finding a job. However, the university brought in several guest speakers which were insightful and helpful. From this I signed up to a locum agency to work as a cardiac physiologist and in a few weeks of finishing my course I was employed. If you are looking for a masters degree that challenges you intellectually, lecturers who are supportive and passionate, and to increase your opportunities after study then this course is for you."

Charlotte Avery MSc student

 Ellen Davies

"After completing my undergraduate sport and exercise science degree at the University of Lincoln I moved to Eastbourne and enrolled onto the Applied Exercise Physiology MSc.

"The course developed me as a scientist by teaching me in-depth physiological knowledge across disciplines from clinical to environmental physiology. I really enjoyed the strong practical nature of the course which I felt developed me as a practitioner and helped me to apply what I have learned in the real world.

"The range of assessment types challenged me to expand my writing and verbal communication skills. The lecturers are passionate and experts in their field with time to support you throughout your studies.

"I am now taking my knowledge of exercise physiology and applying it to a strength and conditioning environment by working towards UKSCA accreditation, whilst working as a part-time soft tissue therapist and gaining experience within Sussex Cricket. My career goal is working as a sport scientist/strength and conditioning coach within a team sport."

Student Ellen Davies giving sports massage

Gareth Turner

“I completed the Sport and Exercise Science BSc at the university’s Eastbourne campus in 2007. I decided to continue my studies to masters level to gain more applied experience in the hope to pursue a career in sports science. 

“The Applied Exercise Physiology MSc enabled me to do this in a setting where I continued to learn, while being encouraged to find applied opportunities along the way. I gained valuable experience at Reading Football Club, the MCC Young Cricketers Academy and in Welkin Laboratories, and completed my MSc in November 2008. 

"I got a job in sports science quickly after finishing my MSc, working for the Lucozade Sport Science Team for two years. Fast forward eight months and I found myself unexpectedly applying for a PhD. This followed on nicely from my MSc dissertation looking at the effect of altitude training on endurance performance, which was jointly funded by the University of Brighton and the English Institute of Sport. Alongside my PhD, I now work with British Athletics as a physiologist for their endurance and altitude training programme."

Gareth Turner

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