BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year

Sport and exercise physiology is a core area of sport and exercise science, underpinning understanding of how physiological systems are structured, function, and respond to physical activity and exercise training. Building on the knowledge and practical skills developed in semester 1, you will explore the acute responses and long-term adaptations of the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, nervous, metabolic, and endocrine systems. Teaching combines lectures with supervised laboratory and field practical's to build essential knowledge and introductory technical skills. Students learn to collect, record, and interpret physiological data using standard undergraduate sport and exercise testing protocols and specialist equipment. The module places strong emphasis on professional, safe, and ethical laboratory practice. You will be introduced to ethical considerations relevant to sport and exercise physiology testing, including informed consent, participant welfare, risk assessment, and the responsible handling and storage of physiological and personal data in accordance with professional and legal guidelines. A strong research-informed approach is embedded throughout, with students developing understanding of experimental and applied research design. Students will critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of laboratory versus field-based testing, including issues of generalisability and ecological validity.

This Level 4 module, Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology, introduces students to key concepts, theories, and principles that explain how psychological factors shape behaviour, performance, and wellbeing within sport and physical activity settings. The module examines the ways motivation, learning, skill acquisition, feedback, and psychological support strategies influence athletes, exercisers, and practitioners. It also highlights the importance of societal, cultural, and ethical considerations in shaping participation and experiences across diverse groups. Students will gain an understanding of the main research approaches used in Sport and Exercise Psychology, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Through practical, applied learning activities, they will learn to use these approaches to investigate real‑world problems and analyse psychological issues related to sport performance and exercise engagement. A significant component of the module focuses on personal and professional development. Students will take part in structured mentoring designed to encourage reflective practice, strengthen interpersonal skills, and promote self‑directed learning. These experiences help learners identify areas for further development and build skills that support future career pathways within Sport and Exercise Science. Overall, the module provides a foundational platform for continued academic progression and professional growth within the field.

Succeeding at University in Sport and Exercise Science is a Level 4 module designed to facilitate your transition to university-level study. This extended induction builds academic identity and introduces essential Sport and Exercise Science principles, covering academic integrity, ethical conduct, digital literacy, and the responsible use of AI. The curriculum is structured around seven student-led themes: Ready to Study: Managing expectations and workload. Academic Skills: Developing critical thinking, time management, and digital fluency. Career Readiness: Exploring professional identity and CV building. Personal Development & Belonging: Fostering inclusion and confidence. Social Engagement: Connecting with the university community. Feedback & Reflection: Using structured feedback for growth. Wellbeing: Accessing holistic support strategies. This module provides the groundwork for the Level 5 Professional Development module. Throughout your studies, you will gain hands-on experience in lab-based and applied settings. You will use specialized equipment to assess physiological, biomechanical, and psychological performance, learning to collect and interpret data vital for both research and professional practice.

This module develops your understanding of how the major physiological systems respond and adapt to exercise, training, and environmental stress. First, you will build knowledge of the acute responses and long-term adaptations of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular, and metabolic systems. You will explore how these physiological processes influence both performance and health outcomes. Second, you will learn how physiological principles underpin exercise testing. Through laboratory and field-based practical's, you will measure and interpret responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, lactate, neuromuscular readiness, and fatigue markers. You will develop skills in collecting and analysing physiological data and understanding what these measurements reveal about human function. Finally, you will apply physiological understanding to inform exercise prescription. You will learn how test findings guide training decisions for different goals, populations, and settings, while working safely, ethically, and professionally with human participants and physiological data. By the end of the module, you will be able to explain physiological mechanisms, collect and interpret laboratory and field-based data, and use this knowledge to justify evidence-based exercise strategies for both performance and health.

This Level 5 module develops your knowledge of sport and exercise psychology principles and their application within employability and professional practice contexts. Building on Level 4 foundations, you will examine psychological factors influencing sport performance, physical activity participation, exercise behaviour, and health-related outcomes. You will explore interventions such as goal setting, imagery, self-talk, motivation strategies, arousal regulation, and behaviour change approaches, considering how these strategies support end users across both performance and health-focused environments. The module introduces key enquiry methods in sport and exercise science, enabling students to apply both quantitative and qualitative approaches to investigate applied sport and exercise psychology issues. It emphasises evaluating the suitability of diverse research and applied methods when addressing real‑world performance, behaviour change, and participation challenges, recognising their strengths and limitations. A central feature is structured peer mentoring with Level 4 students, offering authentic opportunities to apply psychological knowledge while developing communication, empathy, and professional interaction skills, with potential contribution to the University’s digital mentoring badge. Throughout the module, students communicate scientific information and analysis to specialist and non‑specialist audiences and reflect on responsibility, decision‑making, and skills development to enhance employability across sport, exercise, and health contexts.

This module builds on the reflective and professional development foundations established at Level 4, supporting students as they advance their professional identity and readiness for future careers. It is designed to help learners develop the knowledge, skills, and reflective habits needed for ongoing growth within an evolving workplace. Through a blend of practical experience and structured development sessions, students will explore key themes such as personal effectiveness, leadership, communication, ethical behaviour, and lifelong learning. Drawing on real-world work experience or professional settings, learners will reflect critically on their practice to deepen their understanding of professional expectations within the sport and exercise science sector. Case studies and sector examples may be used to connect theory to practice, while activities such as self-assessment, goal setting, and action planning help students identify strengths and areas for improvement. A significant component of the module focuses on applying sport and exercise science in authentic environments. Opportunities may include external placements in sport performance or physical activity settings, as well as campus-based roles involving research support, laboratory work, or outreach activities. The module also introduces evidence-based practice and guides students in developing researchable questions, preparing them for the independent project they will undertake in their final year.

This module explores exercise and physical activity across diverse populations, including athletes, youth, older adults, and individuals with health conditions. Practitioner development is at the heart of this module, requiring you to apply sport and exercise science knowledge through mentoring opportunities (including engagement with partners and events such as CASES Outreach Hub) and authentic, case-based scenarios that extend learning beyond the classroom. Through using a range of applied laboratory, performance analysis and field-based equipment, you will gain experience operating within a dynamic, research-informed professional environment. You will critically evaluate contemporary research to design, justify, and communicate evidence-based interventions, applying interdisciplinary knowledge to solve complex and unpredictable problems. A central feature of the module is a problem-based case study, where you take responsibility for decision-making, apply analytical and practical techniques, and present your recommendations for an external stakeholder audience, developing professional communication skills. You will undertake structured reflection on your practice, decision-making and skill development, identifying transferable skills, professional behaviours, and areas for growth. A linked digital badge enables you to evidence applied competencies and employability skills. By the end of the module, you will confidently integrate scientific knowledge, exercise professional judgement, and apply interdisciplinary approaches to enhance performance and health in real-world contexts. This module builds on earlier modules by developing your ability to apply interdisciplinary scientific knowledge to complex, real-world performance and health challenges.

This module explores how exercise can be safely and effectively prescribed for people at risk of and living with a range of chronic health conditions. This module develops practitioner competence in sport and exercise practice across public health contexts, including clinical populations. You will learn how diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disorders affect the body’s response to physical activity, and how exercise can be used to support health, function, and recovery. Through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions, you will develop the skills to assess individual needs, interpret exercise test results, and design tailored exercise programmes that consider medical history, physical limitations, and risk factors. You will also examine current clinical guidelines and gain hands-on experience applying evidence-based approaches to exercise prescription, reflecting on you practice and professional reasoning. By the end of the module, you will be able to critically evaluate exercise interventions for the prevention and management of chronic health conditions, and demonstrate the ability to plan safe, effective, and personalised exercise programmes that promote health and quality of life.

This module provides you with the opportunity to complete a short, independent professional project within your chosen subject area, supported by the guidance of an academic supervisor. You will investigate a topic relevant to your degree pathway, drawing on appropriate research, theory, and professional evidence to deepen your understanding and inform your project work. A range of topic areas that can be investigated will be provided for you, and you will choose one to focus your professional project on. Depending on your academic discipline, your project may take the form of an applied investigation, evaluation, resource development, intervention design, or practice-based study. Throughout the process, you will be expected to plan and manage your work independently, demonstrating initiative, organisation, and critical thinking. You will engage in regular supervisory meetings to receive feedback, refine your ideas, and ensure your project is academically robust, ethically sound, and professionally relevant. Reflection is embedded across the module, enabling you to evaluate your decision-making, professional conduct, and the impact of your work. By completing this module, you will consolidate your subject knowledge, strengthen your research and project management skills, and demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level employment or further study across sport, health, education, and exercise-related professions.