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Sports and Exercise Science

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

A level grade B in one science from the following; Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Sports Science.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30,M:15

in a relevant subject

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32

with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including one science subject at HL grade 6 from the following; Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sports, Exercise and Health Science.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM

Applied Science, Sport and Exercise Science, or Sporting Excellence and Performance

UCAS Tariff

128

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Sports studies

Lancaster University’s BSc Sports and Exercise Science is one of the first in the UK to be delivered by a medical school. Lancaster Medical School is recognised for its subject expertise, supportive community and satisfied students. This is your chance to study sports and exercise science within an academically rigorous environment and to combine scientific knowledge with professional practice.

You will explore the science behind human performance in sports, exercise and health. The course balances scientific focus with employability, so you will study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and psychology alongside subjects such as nutrition, digital technologies in sport and exercise, and data analysis.

The mix of lectures, workshops and laboratory sessions also includes valuable experience of sports and exercise science research. You may find yourself analysing warm-up strategies to prevent injury, developing effective training and nutritional approaches for high-performing athletes, or assessing the effects of exercise for weight loss in obese people. You will also be encouraged to consider the increasing prominence of exercise and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, and to engage with current debates on public health and disease management.

You will be taught by Lancaster Medical School’s research-active academics with expertise in sports and exercise science, plus specialists ranging from bioscientists and clinicians, to sports nutritionists and public health experts.

Our Human Performance Laboratory gives you access to specialised sports facilities featuring cutting-edge technology used by today’s elite athletes. You will learn anatomy using Lancaster Medical School’s life-size anatomical models and benefit from access to Lancaster University’s £4m life science teaching laboratories.

Using our state-of-the-art equipment, you will gain the skills to capture and analyse physiological and biomechanical data to better understand human performance and activity. You will learn how to act to enhance performance and activity - whether for competition or disease management - and how to provide feedback to an athlete, a patient or member of the general public.

In your first year, you will begin to explore the science behind human performance in sports, exercise and health through a broad range of core modules. The degree content covered in year one offers you the opportunity to complete an industry-recognised fitness qualification.

In your second year, you begin to tailor your degree to your own interests or career aspirations by choosing to study an optional module in either Exercise Medicine (health performance) or Sports Medicine (athletic performance).

In year three, you will make a unique contribution to sports and exercise science research and undertake a research project on a topic of your choosing. You will also finalise your professional practice programme by delivering a sport and exercise science-based event.

The Uni


Course location:

Lancaster University

Department:

Lancaster Medical School

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What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

85%
Sports studies

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Sport and exercise sciences

Teaching and learning

83%
Staff make the subject interesting
85%
Staff are good at explaining things
88%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
73%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

85%
Library resources
70%
IT resources
73%
Course specific equipment and facilities
65%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
65%
Male students
35%
Female students
72%
2:1 or above
11%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
B
D

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Sport and exercise sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,000
med
Average annual salary
98%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

13%
Science, engineering and production technicians
13%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
9%
Teaching and educational professionals

One of the fastest growing subjects in the country, the number of sports science graduates went from under 3,000 in 2003 to over 10,000 in 2013. Numbers have fallen slightly since 2015, but we still have over 9,000 graduates in the subject. However, the good news is the country's appetite for good health and fitness - and the adaptability of graduates in the subject - means that sports science grads are less likely than average to be out of work. Sports science graduates, not surprisingly, tend to get jobs in sport, fitness and health - coaching and teaching especially - but they're found all over the economy. Management and business are also popular options for graduates from this subject — and sports science graduates are particularly found where drive, determination and physical fitness are an advantage.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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