Sport and Exercise Science
Entry requirements
A level
To include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths, Sport Science and Active Leisure Industry Entry into Year 2 with ABB to include PE and Biology or Chemistry or Physics
HNC (BTEC)
Entry into Year 2 with HNC (BTEC) Sport
HND (BTEC)
Entry into Year 3 with HND (BTEC) Sport
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths at S5 or H4 Entry into Year with 34 Points to include Sports, Exercise and Health Science and Biology or Chemistry or Physics plus one other Higher
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Sport Sport and Exercise Sciences Entry into Year 2 with D*DD Sport or Sport & Exercise Sciences
Scottish Advanced Higher
Entry into Year 2 to include PE and Biology or Chemistry or Physics
Scottish HNC
Entry into Year 2 with an HNC in one of the following:- Coaching & Developing Sport - Graded Unit B Fitness, Health & Exercise - Graded Unit B Next Gen Physical Activity & Health - Graded Unit M Professional Golf - Graded Unit B Entry into Year 1 with an HNC in one of the following:- Applied Science - Graded Unit B Soft Tissue Therapy - Graded Unit B Sport & Hospitality Management - Graded Unit B Sport & Recreation Management - Graded Unit B Sport Therapy - Graded Unit B
Scottish HND
Entry into Year 3 with an HND in one of the following:- Applied Sport Science - Graded Unit B Coaching & Developing Sport - Graded Units BB Fitness, Health & Exercise - Graded Unit B Football, Coaching & Development - Graded Unit B Entry into Year 2 with an HND in one of the following:- Professional Golf - Graded Unit B Sport & Hospitality Management - Graded Units BB Sport & Recreation Management - Graded Unit B Sport Therapy - Graded Unit B Entry into Year 1 with HND Applied Science - Graded Unit B
Scottish Higher
To include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, PE or Maths at B
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
The demand for highly qualified sport and exercise scientists is greater than ever – a consequence of the need to have practitioners equipped to work with elite athletes and teams, as well as those who can help prevent chronic diseases. This degree offers you the opportunity to achieve the expertise for these roles.
The role of the modern sport and exercise scientist continues to develop, with the promotion of an active and healthy lifestyle helping to prevent chronic and potentially life-threatening diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The scientific knowledge gained from this practical programme means you’ll be equipped to work with a wide range of populations, including athletes, young people, older people, and those suffering from, or at risk of developing, a number of disease states.
Teaching is reinforced by research, and there’s a strong emphasis on the links with industry. This includes opportunities for placements and internships. Practical sessions will be delivered in bespoke physiology and biomechanics laboratories.
We have three teaching laboratories:
- Strength and Conditioning Suite
- Human Performance Laboratory
- Biomechanics/Motion Analysis Laboratory
Within these, you'll learn practical skillsets such as Olympic lifting and fitness programming, fitness tests that encompass different factors for performance and health, effects of the environment on performance, motion analysis and forces associated with movement.
This course is endorsed by The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Undergraduate Endorsement scheme, one of only two to achieve this in Scotland. It also scored an impressive 90% for Overall Student Satisfaction and 94% for Teaching Quality in the 2022 National Student Survey (NSS).
Abertay is widely regarded as THE place to come for high quality teaching. But don't take our word for it:
- UK University of the Year for Teaching Quality (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021).
- Top 10 in the UK for Student Satisfaction with Teaching, Course and Feedback (Guardian University Guide 2021).
- UK Top 10 for Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2020).
Modules
Year 1 core modules:- SPS101 Social Science for Sport and Exercise; SPS103 Introduction to Anatomy and Biomechanics, SPS102 Introduction to Physiology for Sport and Exercise; SPS104 Psychology of Exercise and Health; SPS105 Fundamentals of Coaching; ABE101 Abertay 101 - Being Successful at Abertay
Assessment methods
Learning consists of a mixture of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars/tutorials and independent study.
The practical laboratory classes offer you the chance to learn relevant scientific techniques first hand, and provide an opportunity to engage in research by designing experiments and collecting and analysing data.
The assessment strategy is aimed at developing a variety of skills that are valued by employers. The vast majority of assessment is by coursework-related submissions, such as lab reports, essays, oral and poster presentations, portfolios, reflective logs and practical tests.
Exams form only a small percentage (approximately 15%) of the overall assessment.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Abertay Campus
School of Applied Sciences
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.
£15k
£20k
£23k
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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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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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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