Sport and exercise degrees

Get a head start in your career with sports related degrees at the University of Brighton.

7th in the UK for sport science courses - Guardian University Guide 2024
5th in the UK and 1st in the south-east for sports science graduate prospects – Complete University Guide 2024
UK top 7% for graduate earnings in sport and exercise science, three years after graduating – Longitudinal Education Outcomes 2022

Our sports-related courses are joint 9th in the UK and in the top 100 globally, QS World University Rankings® 2023

In sport and exercise sciences, leisure and tourism, 100% of our research impact is assessed as outstanding or very considerable in terms of its reach and significance in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

You'll join a learning community of elite coaches and world-leading researchers.

You'll learn in specialist labs and sport facilities and build your skills and knowledge through placements, consultancy projects and on field trips. Courses include a variety of specialisms, including coaching, management and rehabilitation.

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Our degrees in sport and exercise

Undergraduate degrees

Our sports related degrees open doors to a wide range of career opportunities.

You'll build your skills, knowledge and confidence through hands-on experience, and benefit from extensive on-campus facilities as well as take advantage of the surrounding environment

Our integrated foundation year provides an extra year of study at foundation level, opening up opportunities if you do not hold the required A-levels or equivalent qualifications, are changing career or returning to study:

Sport BSc(Hons) with integrated foundation year

Postgraduate degrees

Our masters courses are designed to take your learning and career to the next stage. They also provide a comprehensive foundation for further study at doctoral level and high-level research-based and research-informed practice.

If you are looking to train as a teacher a PGCE will enable you to qualify in just one year.

(Secondary) Physical Education PGCE

PhD

We have a proud research heritage in the areas of sport and exercise science and medicine and sport, tourism and leisure.

Much of our work has real-world application and staff are well-connected to sporting and health organisations including the Great Britain Paralympic team, GB swimming, the English Institute of Sport, World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee.

Our sport and exercise PhDs include:

Accrediting bodies and professional links

Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons) and our laboratories are accredited by The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

Our Sport Management BSc(Hons) and Sport Coaching BSc(Hons) are endorsed by CIMSPA confirming that they meet their professional standards providing graduates with the knowledge and skills that employers have identified as most valuable.

We are a Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Higher Education Partner which offers many benefits for our students.

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You can expect

Placements
All of our courses offer placement opportunities where you can build your professional experience with local, national and international sports organisations. Past students have worked with Arsenal Football Club, British Cycling, Freedom Leisure and Hayters Sport Agency.

You'll also have opportunities to work with community projects and do volunteering.

Student chatting to cardiac rehab patient

Work-related experience
Our modules include visiting guest speakers who present on a range of topics and discuss the skills needed within the wider sector.

You'll also get to work on live projects with our partners.

Field trips take your classroom learning into the real world and let you get behind the scenes of organisations.

Gary Brickley with David Stone on a static bicycle

After graduation
Our graduates go on to careers in all areas of sport from education and youth work, to research, consultancy and coaching.

Previous graduates have worked for the English Institute of Sport, the Canadian Olympic Team, Xtreme Everest Expedition, NHS Foundation Trusts and Sky Sports.

View our sport science labs

The laboratory facilities are accredited by BASES and include a biomechanics lab, an environmental chamber, exercise physiology labs and a biochemistry lab. The labs have featured in many TV programmes and help athletes prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics.

View our teaching and research gym

The gym features the latest weight-training and exercise equipment so you can conduct fitness tests and movement screenings.

Equipment includes six Olympic lifting platforms, single and dual force platforms, 18m running track and high speed camera.

View some of our sport facilities

Sport facilities include a fitness suite, sports hall, a swimming pool, gymnasiums, outdoor pitches and courts, and dance studios.

There are plenty of opportunities to take part in sport and exercise outside of fitness degrees too.

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 about Sport Brighton.

Sport scholarships
Our sports degree UK 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 about sport scholarships.

What jobs can I do with a sport and exercise degree or masters?

The sport sector employs more than half a million people in the UK alone offering wide-ranging career opportunities.

You'll also learn many transferable skills during sports related degree studies for roles outside the sector.

10 jobs you could do with a sport and exercise degree or masters:

Sports development officer
PE teacher
Sports therapist
Strength and conditioning coach
Exercise physiologist
Sports administrator
Personal trainer
Outdoor activities instructor
Performance sports scientist
Leisure centre manager.

Stay in touch

Meet us at an event

If you have a question about these courses, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Find out more about what it's like to study sport and exercise at Brighton by subscribing to our subject blog.

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School of Sport and Health Sciences

Sport and exercise degrees are taught on the university's Eastbourne campus alongside some of our health courses. From 2024 all our courses will be based at the Brighton: Falmer campus.

Our research in sport and exercise

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Starting at uni with us in 2023?

We know you’re going to have a brilliant time here!