Sport and Exercise Science
Entry requirements
A level
At least a Grade C at A Level (or equivalent) from a Science subject, which can include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Education or Psychology
Access to HE Diploma
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
T Level
UCAS Tariff
We encourage you to outline all your qualifications and achievements in your application to provide us a full picture. Your offer will typically be based on your predicted and/or achieved grades from full level 3 qualifications or above e.g. A levels, BTEC Ext Diploma, Access to HE, etc. Any subject specifics are outlined below in the Further Information section, and these specifics are applicable across all equivalent qualifications. A strong application/performance and appropriate experience will be taken into account where typical criteria is not met.
About this course
**This course gives a detailed understanding of the roles of biomechanics, physiology and psychology in sport performance. If you're interested in the science behind sport and exercise, this is the degree for you.**
**KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE:**
- **PROFESSIONAL CREDIBILITY:** Our course is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) so you can be confident that the the training, curriculum and resources available to our students is in line with professional standards.
- **FLEXIBLE LEARNING:** Tailor your studies to your career plans, with specialist optional modules in areas such as strength and conditioning, injury rehabilitation, nutrition, applied biomechanics and performance analysis.
- **ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY:** Access state-of-the-art equipment such as our High Performance Resistance Training Facility, VICON 3D motion capture system and breath by breath analysis system. You’ll also be well catered for if you want to take part in recreational sport – whether as a first timer or as an elite performer. We have a 44-station fitness facility, equipped with the latest Technogym and Wellness system technology.
- **PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE:** Build vital career skills through work placements; our students have enjoyed placements with organisations such as Derby County FC, hospitals and leisure centres. We also have an excellent Internship Programme - you could apply for an internship supporting athletes at local sports clubs – an experience which will help you build your professional networks and help you to stand out in a competitive job market.
- **ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:** As part of the course, you’ll have the chance to gain additional sport and exercise science professional qualifications which are recognised and highly valued by employers. These include National Governing Body coaching awards and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Higher Professional Diploma. All will develop your confidence and leadership skills.
- **RESEARCH ACTIVE STAFF:** Teaching from accredited professionals who are involved in research, high-performance sport and applied sport science consultancy. They are also members of leading professional bodies such as BASES, NCSA, CIMSPA and the UK Strength and Conditioning Association.
- **TEAM DERBY:** If you enjoy a challenge and would like to make the most of your own sporting passion and prowess, you could become involved with Team Derby which is the focal point for the University’s sporting community. It encompasses all aspects of sport, including courses, numerous sports clubs, the Athletics Union and sport development activities.
**HOW YOU'RE ASSESSED:**
- You’ll learn through lectures, practicals, and seminars and will be assessed through written coursework, verbal presentations, and examination-style assessments to create a well-balanced assessment portfolio.
**WHAT YOU'LL COVER:**
- In your second and third year you’ll choose from specialised areas in subjects such as nutrition, performance analysis and strength and conditioning. You’ll also have the chance to undertake your own independent research into a theme of your choice, culminating in a major conference where you will showcase your findings.
**YOUR CAREER:**
- Our recent sport and exercise science graduates now enjoy roles as cardiac physiologist assistants, sports coaches, health advisors, physiotherapy assistants and performance analysts. Some have secured employment on the basis of their success on work placements and internships.
**STUDY OPTIONS:**
- This course is available with a Foundation Year option.
- This course is also available with an Industrial Placement Year.
Tuition fees
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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.
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
£21k
£24k
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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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
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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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