Strength, Conditioning and Sports Nutrition
UCAS Code: C610
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
UCB will accept A Level in General Studies for this course and will also take into consideration applicants who are studying an extended project.
Access to HE Diploma
You will need a minimum of 96 UCAS Tariff points. A minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.
HNC (BTEC)
A relevant HNC or a foundation degree with 120 credits.
HND (BTEC)
A relevant HND or a foundation degree with 240 credits.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
You will need a minimum of 96 UCAS Tariff points
UCAS Tariff
Level 3 qualifications are accepted at UCB for entrance, a minimum of 96 UCAS Tariff points will be required. If you are unsure if your qualification is accepted call us on 0121 604 1040 or email [email protected]
About this course
**Course snapshot**
UCB's Strength, Conditioning and Sports Nutrition degree course offers a unique opportunity to combine the study of sports nutrition with strength and conditioning. Our course, one of only a small number in the UK accredited by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), features a careful balance of theoretical and practical work to prepare you for a successful career as a strength and conditioning coach, as well as opportunities in the field of sport and exercise science. You'll be supported by our brand new, state-of-the-art sports facilities, while you'll also have the chance to gain vital hands-on experience as well as the option of further accredited qualifications.
**Who’s the course for?**
Our course is suitable for anyone interested in developing a broad range of skills and experience for the conditioning of athletes, as well as anyone keen to pursue various career paths in the field of sport and exercise science.
**Why should I study the course?**
- **INDUSTRY APPROVED** – Graduate with an NSCA-accredited degree, as well as gaining NSCA student membership during your studies
- **WORK PLACEMENT** – Boost your hands-on industry experience through work placement opportunities – our past students have worked with a range of top sports clubs
- **PRACTICAL APPLICATION** – Put your training into practice through practical strength and conditioning work in our state-of-the-art facilities, including our new Human Performance Centre and gym
- **ENRICHMENT** –Gain additional qualifications during your course and network with industry professionals at our annual Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Conference
**Great. Tell me some more**
As part of your course, you will be studying in our brand new Human Performance Centre, featuring a 35m sprint track (with force plate) and sled track, eight lifting platforms, 7m rig and large screens displaying live analysis data. The centre also holds our purpose-built Human Performance Laboratory, equipped with an anti-gravity treadmill, isokinetic dynamometer, Monark LC7 cycle ergometer and SECA body composition analyser.
In addition, we have sports injury and massage clinics on campus which are open to the public and provide the ideal environment for you to put training into practice treating and assessing patients, while you will also have access to the state-of-the-art all-weather pitch and facilities at Avery Fields, which we share with leading Birmingham rugby club Bournville RFC.
Alongside your degree, we offer the option for you to gain a range of industry-accredited qualifications. These include first aid training, REPs accreditation, Level 2 Gym Instructor, UKCC 1st4Sport Level 1 and 2 Award in Coaching Weight Lifting (British Weight Lifting) and Level 3 Sports Massage.
You will need to buy a uniform for this course - UCB can help cover the costs for this through our Kick Start scheme.
**What skills will I gain?**
You will gain knowledge of strength, conditioning and sports nutrition, as well as learning more about exercise induction and delivery.
You'll learn how to use a broad range of conditioning skills to optimise an athlete's performance, and you'll develop an understanding of how a nutritional plan can be beneficial.
You will take part in practical sessions to hone coaching and lifting technique, and how to analyse movement biomechanics.
**What about the future?**
Completing this course will open the doors to a variety of roles in the exercise, health and wellness sectors. Potential career paths include:
- Strength and conditioning
- Fitness industry
- Self-employment
- Personal training/coaching
- Sports nutritionist
- Teaching (with PGCE)
You can also move onto postgraduate level study, including our Strength, Conditioning and Performance MSc at UCB, while you can also potentially progress onto BASES accreditation.
Modules
**Year 1**
- Academic Development
- Anatomy for Strength and Conditioning
- Exercise Physiology
- Principles of Nutrition
- Practical Strength and Conditioning Principles 1
- Practical Strength and Conditioning Principles 2
**Year 2**
- Sports Biomechanics
- Field-based Conditioning
- Sports Nutrition
- Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
- Research for Sport
**Plus one option from:**
- Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
- Athletic Movement Analysis
- Creative Business Enterprise
- Voluntary Initiative
**Year 3**
- Applied Strength and Conditioning
- Nutrition for Performance
- Sports Project
- Work-based Learning for Sport
Assessment methods
**Teaching**
Teaching is carried out by experienced lecturers and a typical teaching week will have up to 12-15 contact hours made up as follows:
- Large group teaching - 4 hours of lectures in lecture rooms
- Smaller group teaching - 9 hours of teaching in the practical areas (labs, gym, sports hall, Human Performance Laboratory)
- Tutorials - 2 hours per week, including a mixture of personal, group and academic tutorials
- Field trips and sports events - students are encouraged to attend a range of sporting events alongside studies, such as BodyPower Expo. Some visits to external facilities will also be included as part of the course.
- Work experience - UCB will help students to find appropriate work experience opportunities with the support of our employability tutor and [email protected]
**Individual study**
You are expected to commit to about 20 hours a week of your own study time in preparation for teaching sessions and preparing for and completing assessment. UCB Canvas provides 24-hour access to learning and support material.
**Assessment**
Assessment is designed to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your strengths in a number of ways and a variety of assessment methods are used. An example breakdown of the assessment for Year 1 is as follows:
- Coursework - 43%
- Practical assessment - 32%
- Written examinations - 25%
Please note that the information provided above is indicative only and actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued to students at induction.
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2015-2020.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University College Birmingham
School of Sports and Creative Studies - BA/BSc
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.
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
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Sport and exercise sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£16k
£20k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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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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