Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons)

Course in brief

This course is one the best-established degrees in sport science in the UK and retains a leading reputation for its innovative approach to learning and provision of resources and facilities.

The course and the laboratories you will use are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences and include a thermal chamber, physiology labs, biochemical analysis labs, an altitude chamber and a biomechanics laboratory.

You’ll graduate with expert knowledge of the effects of sport and exercise on the human body. You can choose to complete a period of professional experience in year 3 with one of our partners, including top teams and international sports initiatives, as well as local organisations including the Sussex County Cricket Club, Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and the Sussex County Sports Partnership.

You'll also benefit from course staff who are world leaders in sport research, including Professor Yannis Pitsiladis, who is one of the leading scientists for the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Specialisms
This course offers the chance to specialise. Depending on option modules chosen, you will graduate with Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons) or one of the following awards:

Sport and Exercise Science with PE
Sport and Exercise Science with Nutrition
Sport Science
Exercise and Health Science.

Key facts

Location Eastbourne

UCAS code C600

Full-time 3 years

Approved by the British Association of Sport
and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Undergraduate
Endorsement Scheme

Book your open day place

Applying for 2018: read our guide

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level ABB–BBC (128–112 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–DMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

Applicants studying a mixture of A-levels and BTEC will be made offers based on the above grades.

International Baccalaureate
32 points including English at Standard level 5 or Higher level 4, and maths at Standard level 4.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Must include level 3 units in science-related subjects. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
Minimum of five subjects including English language and maths. We do not accept Functional Skills or Key Skills as a GCSE equivalent.

Students must be in the process of re-taking the required GCSE(s) or offered the University of Brighton equivalency test.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

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 institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

The course's theoretical material has a strong scientific and mathematical underpinning. You will get a lot of hands-on experience, improving your lab-based skills in our BASES-accredited laboratories.

In terms of choice, one third of the second year and half of the third year consist of optional modules. The remaining half of the third year consists of your dissertation and an Applied and Integrated Studies module. For your dissertation, you will be in control of your own study and look at aspects of sport and exercise science in the wider world.

You can choose to go on a placement as part of a choice module in your second year, designed to give you first-hand experience and help guide you toward your post-graduation career path.

Last year we took a group of 30 students to Peru to study the effects of altitude on human physiology and investigate why some individuals tolerate altitude and some do not. As part of the project, the students built a school and climbed Machu Picchu.

Find out all the latest news on our sport and exercise science course, students, staff and research.

Areas of study

Throughout the course you will apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems in sport or exercise contexts.

Core material in year 1 will give you a thorough introductory grounding, covering aspects of physiology, psychology, anatomy, biomechanics, research methods and study skills.

In year 2 you will further explore these areas and have the option to go on a six-month overseas exchange. A number of our students have studied studying in Europe, the USA and Canada for the second semester of their second year.

In year 3 you will develop your research method skills and complete a dissertation involving in-depth independent study. Options form half of the year and you may choose to complete a professional placement.

Year 1

Modules

Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Fundamental Biomechanics
Sport and Exercise Physiology
Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology
The Scientific Study of Sport and Exercise
Sport and the Body
Exercise for Health and Physical Performance

Year 2

Modules

Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise
Functional Physiology of Sport and Exercise
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Applied and Integrated Studies
Data Analysis and Research Methods

Options*

Independent Study Module
Exercise Referral
Laboratory and Field-based Fitness Assessment
Environmental Physiology
Strength and Conditioning
Performance Analysis
Nutrition for Physical Activity
Skill Acquisition in Sports Performance and Physical Activity
Personal and Professional Development

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

Modules

Applied and Integrated Studies
Sport Science or Exercise Science Dissertation

Options*

Independent Study Module
Physiological Aspects of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Physiology of Training and Performance
Expedition Physiology and Survival Medicine
Advanced Strength and Conditioning
Advanced Performance Analysis
Exercise, Sport and the Brain
Sports Nutrition
Personal and Professional Development in Sport and Exercise Science
Applied Sport Psychology
Psychology of Team Building in Sport
Applied Exercise Psychology

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Laboratories

Accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). our laboratories are equipped with the latest modern facilities.

You will have access to a -10 to +50°C hot-cold chamber, an altitude/hypoxic chamber that rises to the equivalent of 5500m, 3D motion analysis, ground reaction force plates, a DXA bone scanner, exercise physiology laboratories, biomechanics laboratories and three biochemistry laboratories.

Over the past year, our laboratories have appeared in BBC Horizon, BBC Bang Goes the Theory, BBC South East and more recently filming for Sky TV. They have also been used to test out products for exercising and weight loss and to prepare athletes for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Staff profile

Dr Alan Richardson Course leader

Alan is the course leader for the Sport and Exercise Science degree and leads the Physiology for Sport and Exercise, Expedition Physiology and Dissertation modules. He has won three teaching and learning fellowships – each evaluating technological teaching interventions within the school – and the national ‘I’m a scientist get me out of here’ competition for the Human Limits Zone.

Alan’s research focuses on the physiological changes of and human tolerance to hypoxia and severe heat exposure. He worked as a research exercise physiologist on the Centre for Aviation, Space and Extreme Environment Medicine Xtreme Everest Project in 2007 and 2009, carrying out cardiopulmonary exercise testing in trekkers ascending to Everest Base Camp.

Since then Alan has lead a research consultancy project (2013) with the National Fire Service investigating the immune function and inflammatory responses to repeated fire exposures in Fire Service instructors. Alan is continuing to work with the Fire Service investigating the use of undergarments for thermoregulation.

Alan lead a research project taking 30 Sport and Exercise Science students to Peru and undertaking a large number of physiological tests before, during and after the three weeks in Peru. While in Peru students and staff helped rebuild a school and then trekked for four days to Machu Picchu.

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact Alan by email at A.J.Richardson@brighton.ac.uk.

Careers and employability

A degree in sport and exercise science will open up opportunities in sports governing bodies, health promotion, teaching, professional sport, medical sales and paramedical training. You will also be well prepared for postgraduate study and research.

Some of the roles that our graduates have secured include:

Technical director for the English Institute of Sport
Head of physiology for the English Institute of Sport
National development manager for England Netball
Sport psychologist for British Rowing
Olympic sports physiologist for BBC Born to Win
Applied physiologist for Canadian Olympic Team
Altitude physiologist for British Athletes
Sports physiologist for British Rowing
Physiotherapist at Norwich City FC
Endurance physiologist for British Athletics
Research fellow for the Ministry of Defence
Research fellow on Xtreme Everest Expedition
Strength and conditioning coaches at many elite teams including Arsenal FC, Leicester Tigers RFC and the English Institute of Sport

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 13,920 GBP

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2017–18.

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/EU 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- 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. 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. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Eastbourne

Sunny, friendly and relaxed, there’s lots to do and enjoy in Eastbourne – music and arts festivals, theatre, galleries and sports – and all against the backdrop of the beach and the beautiful South Downs.

Eastbourne hosts some major sporting events, from Eastbourne Extreme – one of the biggest extreme sports festivals in the UK – to Eastbourne International, an annual tennis tournament where some of the world’s finest players prepare for Wimbledon.

Eastbourne has a close-knit community feel. From where ever you are on campus every place you need to go is around 15 minutes away on foot – the beach, the town centre and the South Downs. There is a great selection of clubs, pubs, restaurants and shops and always plenty of student-friendly deals on offer.

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Located in one of the sunniest towns in the UK, our Eastbourne campus sits between the hills of the South Downs National Park and the south coast.

The campus has extensive sporting facilities, including a sports hall, fitness suite, climbing wall, swimming pool, three gyms, a dance studio and an artificial training pitch. For sport and exercise students, there are also exercise physiology labs, a human movement laboratory and an environmental chamber.

Podiatry students gain real-life experience in the Leaf Hospital clinic, with its comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, while physiotherapy students are taught in specialist practical skills rooms. The Culinary Arts Studio allows hospitality students to engage in workplace simulations and consumer research.

Accommodation

Eastbourne

Our Eastbourne hall of residence, Welkin Halls, is in the residential Meads area, next to the Hillbrow and Welkin site and within walking distance of Darley Road. The train station is about 20 minutes away on foot.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our Eastbourne accommodation webpages, and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accomeastbourne@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 643810.

Welkin Halls

Welkin bedroom

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Eastbourne campus map

Unistats

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats is an organisation that collects specific data about university courses in the UK which enables you to compare information that is important in your decision-making when choosing a university. All universities publish Unistats data on their online course pages.

Wherever we can we have provided extra information here to help put the data into context so that it is as useful as possible when you are making decisions.

Teaching – You will be able to book and access the labs at any time for independent study. Students send a great deal of time within the labs: up to 25 hours per week when undertaking their dissertation study.

Some modules also require independent or self-directed lab-based study.

Assessment – this can be undertaken via essays, exams, presentations, lab skills exam, technique analysis, oral exam or poster project.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the official university document for each course. They are updated each year, and give a very detailed breakdown of what your course might look like.

Programme specification

Find out more

Sport and exercise news

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01273 644644

Student views

Charlotte Woolf

"I graduated from Brighton in 2009 with a BSc Sport and Exercise Science and am currently running a large fitness centre in Ghana. I am also the sports physiologist for an exciting new show in Africa called Ghana's Fastest Human. We are attempting to find the next Usain Bolt by providing talented Ghanaians the opportunity to race and receive professional coaching, tutoring and field testing to demonstrate their raw talent and help them become real athletes. Following this program I will be moving to the Caribbean to re-invent fitness holidays at a luxury retreat.

"My degree set me up for a career in fitness on many levels. From it, I furthered my education and specialised in a Physiology masters. I also became a personal trainer and athletic strength and conditioning coach and have worked around the world coaching. My degree not only set me up with an academic qualification on paper, but it taught me a range of academic, vocational and practical skills and knowledge that prepared me for my career in the sports industry.

"Your degree can be instrumental in you building a satisfying and successful career if you use it wisely and take every opportunity you can. My advice to other students is to make a business plan of where you want to be and how you are going to get there. Get as much experience as you can and don't be scared to challenge yourself outside of your comfort zone. Work hard, and with determination and educated effort you can get anywhere you want to be."

Ewan MacFarlane

"During sixth form I was undecided whether or not to apply to university, but visiting the campus gave me a positive image of university life and certainly encouraged me to apply to courses. Eastbourne is renowned for being a sleepy seaside town that comes to life in the evening, with several bars and clubs dotted around.

"This year I have been involved in organising the Healthy Lifestyle Programme, part of the university’s consultancy work. This is a 12-week exercise programme designed to educate clients about physical activity and their lifestyle choices for the future. It has been a great opportunity to work with members of the public while applying the theory learned throughout my studies at the university."

Gareth Turner

“I studied the Sport and Exercise Science BSc at the university’s Eastbourne campus and graduated in 2007. I enjoyed this degree, taking a particular interest in the physiology of sports performance and environmental physiology. I was well-supported along the way by the staff: Dr Neil Maxwell, Dr Jamie Pringle, Dr Gary Brickley and Dr Paul Castle.

“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 in Eastbourne enabled me to do this in a setting where I continued to learn, while being encouraged to find applied opportunities along the way.

“I completed my MSc in November 2008 and was fortunate enough to get a job in sports science quickly after finishing my MSc, working for the Lucozade Sport Science Team. I am now working with British Athletics as a physiologist for their endurance and altitude training programme alongside studying for a PhD, jointly funded by the University of Brighton and the English Institute of Sport.”

Karina Fox

"I chose the course at the University of Brighton as it was one of the few sport and exercise science courses that offered flexibility in both module choices and assignments in the second and third year. It had also been recommended to me by previous teachers who said it would be good for me as it included the three disciplines I enjoy – anatomy, physiology and psychology.

"The course is very flexible and allows you to develop your interests in the specific areas of sport science you are interested in. The course lecturers are very helpful in offering their time to help you with the work, and the organisation of the course is very good. I am enjoying learning how the body works in different environments and how to use a variety of equipment in the labs.

"When I first came to look at Eastbourne I felt very comfortable and at home. It is a busy town with a great nightlife, and everything within the area is nice and close – only a walking distance away."