Sport and Exercise Science
SS34This dynamic degree prepares you for a career in the fast-growing field of sport and exercise science. On graduation, you’ll be at the forefront of laboratory-based performance evaluation, able to boost the achievements of elite athletes, devise a recovery programme for an injured amateur, as well as help people lead healthier and happier lives.
Course overview
Centred around our industry-standard sport and exercise facilities at the King Alfred Campus, this innovative, science-based programme allows you to focus on the disciplines of psychology, physiology, biomechanics and research methods within the field.
Expert teaching combined with bespoke amenities, such as biomechanics, physiology and psychology laboratories, ensure you have the knowledge base to critically evaluate and engage with contemporary sport and exercise research and practice.
You also develop the necessary skills to actively initiate and conduct scientific projects linked to individuals, teams and agencies from across the wider spectrum of sport and exercise.
This course comprises four key strands:
Sport and Exercise Psychology
This strand enables you to make an informed assessment of those psychological factors that are thought to influence an individual's involvement and performance in sport and exercise. Specifically, you explore how elite athletes cope with the expectations and outcomes of high level competition, as well as examining what motivates the child and amateur performer.
Sport and Exercise Physiology
Here, you study the underlying physiological adaptations that occur during sport and exercise and address issues pertinent to today's competitive athlete. This strand specifically addresses whole-body system integration, and looks at factors such as metabolism, nutrition, trainability and adaptation, as well as hormonal and cardiorespiratory responses.
Sports and Exercise Biomechanics
This strand centres on the mechanical analysis of human movement with a focus on reducing injuries and improving performance within both competitive sporting and recreational exercise settings. You study mechanical principles of motion, kinematic and kinetic concepts, develop anatomical knowledge as well as explore a range of quantitative measurement techniques.
Research Methods in Sport and Exercise
This strand seeks to develop a familiarity with both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and apply these to various sporting and exercise contexts. The supervised dissertation then provides an opportunity to carry out an independent piece of research in an area you are particularly interested in.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
Winchester campus
Course length
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years sandwich
Apply
SS34
Typical offer
104-120 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Enjoy high-quality teaching in a friendly learning environment
- Excel in your studies and favourite sports at our bespoke sport and exercise facilities
- Study abroad at partner institutions near Chicago and Washington and professional practice opportunities
- Take a course that is professionally endorsed by The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
Course details
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
- Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
- Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 264 hours
- Independent learning: 936 hours
- Placement: 0 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
- 25% coursework
- 37% written exams
- 38% practical exams
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
- 66% coursework
- 0% written exams
- 34% practical exams
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
- 62% coursework
- 0% written exams
- 38% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Further information
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module offers an introduction to the study of sport from a socio-cultural perspective. Specifically, this module will engage students in contemporary discussions about what matters in sport, culture, and life.This module will help students to understand difficult concepts and explore some of the fundamental questions and challenges in sport today. Using examples from across the globe, students will also be encouraged to reflect on their basic assumptions with regards to sport. At the same time, an emphasis will be placed on the development of transferable academic skills and critical thinking in particular.
This module will seek to raise student awareness about the importance of developing graduate employability skills alongside their academic studies. Working with personal tutors, students will consider the various graduate careers they might pursue, the skills needed to undertake such roles, as well as reflecting on the skills they currently possess and how they might ‘bridge’ any gaps. Although there will be a focus on the sport, exercise, and health industries, students will also be encouraged to consider the transferable nature of graduate employability skills to other professions (e.g., teaching).
This module will introduce students to key topics in sport psychology. It will cover some of the key psychological theories and concepts that influence peoples’ experiences in the sport environment. These might include exploring what happens when athletes fail to cope with stress and anxiety; how athletes respond to and deal with injury; and what role personality and mental toughness might play in athletes reaching their potential. Students will also begin to discuss key readings related to some of the central concepts and thus develop their understanding. Fundamentally this module establishes a knowledge base that links to other sport psychology modules at levels five and six.
This module aims to introduce the basic concepts of biomechanics and relate these to human movement and sport performance. Students undertaking this module will extend and add to their knowledge of biomechanics and will gain the foundation of knowledge required for sport and exercise biomechanics modules at levels five and six.
This module will introduce anatomy with specific reference to human movement. Students will learn key terminology relating to muscular and skeletal structures and how those structures operate during different types of motion. Students will also be given the opportunity to explore anatomical structures in practical settings and gain a thorough understanding of how the human body moves.
This module will introduce the importance of research and explore the different philosophies that underpin scientific research in sport and exercise. It will also introduce a variety of specific qualitative and quantitative methods appropriate for the interdisciplinary study of sport and exercise. Consideration will also be given to key concepts such as validity, reliability and ethics.
This module will introduce students to thinking psychologically about physical activity and exercise participation. It will explore some of the key psychological theories and concepts that impact experiences with regards to physical activity and exercise. These might include how physical activity and exercise can improve our psychological well-being and mental health, or how social and environmental factors might support active travel. Students will also begin to discuss key readings related to some of the central concepts and thus develop their understanding.
This module intends to give students a basic yet broad grounding in key physiological systems that underpin sport and exercise performance. Students undertaking this module will extend their basic knowledge of physiology and will gain the foundation of knowledge required for sport and exercise physiology-based modules at levels five and six.
This module aims to provide students with the essential laboratory skills and knowledge associated with physiological and biomechanical testing in sport, exercise and health settings. A particular emphasis will be placed on practical skills and the awareness of the importance of valid and reliable measurement techniques.
Modules
This module will examine quantitative approaches to research in sport. An emphasis will be placed on practical research skills (e.g., key methods of data collection, management, analysis) and critical skills (e.g., evaluating research papers and methods), alongside a broad awareness of ethical issues in sport research.
This module aims to extend students’ knowledge of physiology by exploring the acute responses of physiological systems to sport and exercise. Additionally, the long-term adaptations to exercise training are investigated as well as the transitional effects of starting exercise from rest. Students will be given an opportunity to further enhance their laboratory skills and to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical settings.
This module will aim to give students an understanding of a number of theoretical models concerned with the development and control of human movement patterns. Students will explore quantitative approaches to analysing these movements with a particular focus on the student’s ability to accurately analyse the data collected and provide scientifically underpinned reasons for their findings. There will be a range of topics covered from single joint skill performance to whole body co-ordination tasks as well as the role of movement variability in skilled performance.
This module aims to extend students’ knowledge into the application of biomechanical assessment in sport and exercise activities. There will be an emphasis on the evaluation of technique through the practical assessment of movement. Allied to this, students will develop additional proficiencies related to the use of biomechanical laboratory equipment and the collection, collation, analysis and presentation of data. The biomechanical principles underpinning performance in a range of sport and exercise settings will also be considered, compared, contrasted and evaluated and particular attention will be paid to the academic skills needed to succeed within an applied biomechanics research setting.
This module will examine those psychological factors that affect physical activity and exercise behaviour. Specifically, this module will use theories and behavioural models to examine the possible barriers related to the adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle in an environment where sedentary living is becoming ever more prevalent. The psychological processes that underpin the physical activity and exercise motivation literature will then be used to appraise the specific intervention programmes that practitioners may undertake.
This module aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge required to perform laboratory and field physiological testing on a variety of athletes. It will focus specifically on the broader aspects of fitness by examining components of body composition, cardiovascular responses to exercise, pulmonary responses to exercise and anaerobic fitness.
This module aims to provide students with the knowledge that underpins the effect of various clinical diagnoses on the physiology of the human body. It will focus specifically on clinical diagnoses associated with the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system, neurological conditions, diabetes and obesity.
This module aims to extend students’ knowledge into the application of biomechanical assessment in sport and exercise activities. There will be an emphasis on the evaluation of technique through the practical assessment of movement. Allied to this, students will develop additional proficiencies related to the use of biomechanical laboratory equipment and the collection, collation, analysis and presentation of data. The biomechanical principles underpinning performance in a range of sport and exercise settings will be considered, compared, contrasted and evaluated and particular attention will be paid to the academic skills needed to succeed within an applied biomechanics research setting.
Modules
This module aims to provide students with the experiences of planning and executing an in-depth and independent research project that investigates a specific area within sport/exercise. Students will negotiate the focus of the project with tutorial guidance and will be expected to show an awareness of research methodology appropriate for an empirical research project. Emphasis will be placed on topics that are analytical, interdisciplinary and/or evaluative in nature. This is the opportunity for students to produce a research project in a particular area of interest that relates to the curriculum being studied.
This module aims to use the knowledge gained at levels 4 and 5 to expand into the specific areas of human gait patterns and functional movement screening. Students will become proficient in a number of methods of movement analysis as well as further developing their existing skills relating to laboratory equipment and the collection, collation and analysis of data. There will be an additional focus on client interactions and some of the unique challenges that come with working in an applied health and exercise setting.
This module aims to critically evaluate the physiological and biochemical principles of sport and exercise within a nutritional context. Detailed consideration will be focused towards macronutrients and their role for individuals within a range of sport and exercise contexts. The module will provide students with skills surrounding the assessment and analysis of nutritional intake. The use of nutritional and supplement strategies will be critically evaluated in terms of performance enhancement and health.
- Sport Entrepreneurship and Innovation - 15 Credits
- Study Abroad - 15 Credits
- Professional Placement - 15 Credits
- Advanced Physiological Assessment - 15 Credits
- Rehabilitation Biomechanics - 15 Credits
- Eating Well: Food and Value in the 21st Century - 15 Credits
- Psychology of Injury - 15 Credits
- Clinical Exercise Prescription - 15 Credits
- High Performance Biomechanics - 15 Credits
- Clinical Exercise Biomechanics - 15 Credits
Optional
This module aims to provide students with the experiences of planning and executing an in-depth and independent research project that investigates a specific area within sport/exercise. Students will negotiate the focus of the project with tutorial guidance and will be expected to show an awareness of research methodology appropriate for an empirical research project. Emphasis will be placed on topics that are analytical, interdisciplinary and/or evaluative in nature. This is the opportunity for students to produce a research project in a particular area of interest that relates to the curriculum being studied.
This module aims to use the knowledge gained at levels 4 and 5 to expand into the specific areas of human gait patterns and functional movement screening. Students will become proficient in a number of methods of movement analysis as well as further developing their existing skills relating to laboratory equipment and the collection, collation and analysis of data. There will be an additional focus on client interactions and some of the unique challenges that come with working in an applied health and exercise setting.
This module aims to critically evaluate the physiological and biochemical principles of sport and exercise within a nutritional context. Detailed consideration will be focused towards macronutrients and their role for individuals within a range of sport and exercise contexts. The module will provide students with skills surrounding the assessment and analysis of nutritional intake. The use of nutritional and supplement strategies will be critically evaluated in terms of performance enhancement and health.
- Sport Entrepreneurship and Innovation - 15 Credits
- Study Abroad - 15 Credits
- Professional Placement - 15 Credits
- Advanced Physiological Assessment - 15 Credits
- Rehabilitation Biomechanics - 15 Credits
- Eating Well: Food and Value in the 21st Century - 15 Credits
- Psychology of Injury - 15 Credits
- Clinical Exercise Prescription - 15 Credits
- High Performance Biomechanics - 15 Credits
- Clinical Exercise Biomechanics - 15 Credits
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Merit in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSEs in Mathematics and English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.
2024 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £50,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,600 | £53,440 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2024, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Kit
Students are expected to wear appropriate attire for practical sessions. Students can buy branded kit from us or wear their own. Students can buy as little or as much they like. Indicative cost is £15-£50 per item.
Core Texts
These are available from the University Library; however, some students prefer to purchase their own copies. Some Core Texts can be bought second hand, or as an eBook which can often reduce this cost. Indicative cost is £50-£200 per academic year.
Professional Courses
We deliver several professional courses (e.g., coaching courses, Combined Level 3 Gym Instructor and Personal Training, etc.) either as part of or alongside the taught curriculum. However, any course that is mandatory is delivered free of charge, with optional courses often heavily subsidised. Indicative cost is £10-£600 per course.
Volunteering or Placement
Students may incur travel costs on volunteering and/or placement modules. However, we will consider each individual students’ circumstances when undertaking these experiences and seek to minimise any such costs as appropriate. Indicative cost is £10-£30 per day for travel.
Printing and Binding
The University is pleased to offer our students a printing allowance of £5 each academic year. This will print around 125 A4 (black and white) pages. If students wish to print more, printer credit can be topped up by the student. The University and Student Union are champions of sustainability and we ask all our students to consider the environmental impact before printing.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates work in sport and exercise science support or performance sport support. Others enter careers in teaching, leisure, tourism, education, research and health.
Over the duration of the course, students develop a wide range of transferable employability skills including the ability to communicate effectively and work both independently and collaboratively.
These skills are valued in a range of graduate careers, including those not directly related to sport and exercise.
Many students also continue on to study for postgraduate qualifications to further enhance their employability. A number of our students will undertake the MRes Sport and Exercise and MSc Applied Sport Psychology at the University.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
Accreditation
The programme is accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) through the BASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (BUES).
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