BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science

Core units

• Academic Study Skills: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development. 
• Applied Sciences: You'll gain a basic understanding of some fundamental aspects of science underpinning more specific disciplines, and an appreciation of how various scientific disciplines impact human life. You'll understand the differences between pure and applied science, as well as the roles of different ways applied science can be funded, and implications of these funding mechanisms. 
• Introduction to Biology: Biology is the study of life and hence knowledge of plant and animal cell biology is fundamental to understanding wider concepts in biology. This unit also introduces key themes in human, environmental and ecological sciences to provide a sound underpinning in knowledge for future studies. 
• Introduction to Psychology: This unit is designed to prepare you for advanced coursework in psychology. You will complete the unit with a good understanding of the various areas of psychology and how they seek to explain behaviour. 
• Mathematics in Science: You will build your confidence in mathematics, in order to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from biology, chemistry and psychology and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format, including graphs. In order to carry this out, it is essential to be able to convert the data between systems of units and to understand how to present very large and very small numbers in standard form. Basic statistical analysis of tabulated data will be carried out to introduce the concept of confidence limits and familiarisation of statistical testing.
• Foundation Year Project: You will carry out a research task on scientific topics chosen by the unit leader which you will be able to conduct a scientific investigation on. You will devise your own investigation and produce a literature review as a final scientific report. 

In the first year you will be introduced to all the key elements of Sport and Exercise Science.

Core units:

• Beginning Research: You will be introduced to the concepts, principals and skills of social and scientific research enquiry and to the role of research more widely in a variety of rehabilitation, nutrition, sport and exercise related contexts.
• Principles of Sport & Exercise Physiology: Covering the core physiological concepts and systems, you will understand their roles in human function, sport and exercise. You will perform various exercise activities and evaluate physiological responses to these within a laboratory setting, enabling you to gain an understanding of human function through both theory and practice.
• Principles of Sport & Exercise Biomechanics: You will cover functional anatomy and fundamental biomechanics which will help you obtain an understanding of human movement, the parameters which govern it and how it should be assessed.
• Principles of Sport & Exercise Psychology: This unit will provide you with an understanding of the major theories, principles and concepts of sport and exercise psychology. It will provide you with knowledge concerning the role of the sport and exercise psychologist and introduce you to the variables that influence behaviour in the sport and exercise context.
• Fitness Assessments for Sport, Exercise & Health: You will develop your practical competencies and interpersonal skills for working with clients in sport, exercise and health settings. Additionally you will acquire an understanding of the scientific rationale and theory behind a variety of fitness and health assessments as well as be aware of the needs of healthy individuals and people with various musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological disorders.
• Principles of Food & Nutrition: The unit will cover the fundamentals of nutrition including macro and micro nutrients. The unit will also introduce the you to the nutritional composition of foods and analytical methods for assessing dietary intake and nutritional status.

The second year of the course will begin to tailor your degree to your career aspirations by choosing from a range of option units.

Core units:

• Conducting Research: Prepare for independent research and develop your knowledge and critical understanding of social and scientific research applied to a range of nutrition, rehabilitation and sport and exercise science related contexts. You’ll learn how to critically evaluate research problems, and apply coherent ethical research designs and appropriate analysis.
• Advances in Sport & Exercise Physiology: This unit aims to advance key physiological concepts and introduce complex physiological mechanisms related to both sport and exercise settings and how these integrate with one another during various scenarios. You will develop your experimental skills and understand appropriate techniques used to assess physiological functions in various sport and exercise situations.
• Advances in Sport & Exercise Biomechanics: This unit will focus on understanding human locomotion to develop a critical understanding of biomechanical concepts. This will enable assessment of movement, critical interpretation and analysis of results and effective communication of findings. 
• Advances in Sport & Exercise Psychology: The unit will explore the variables that influence and impact upon human interaction and behaviour in sport and exercise contexts. It will consider both individual differences and group perspectives in sport and exercise environments.

Option units (choose two):

• Principles of Training: You will be introduced to the key principles applied to fitness training with the aim of developing training programmes to enhance the various components of fitness necessary for peak performance for sport, exercise and health. All learning where relevant will be in-line with the Level 2 Gym Instructor, Level 3 Personal Trainer and UKSCA standards. It is intended so that you will be best prepared theoretically and practically to be successful should you progress onto professional practice qualifications in these areas.
• Nutrition in Health & Disease: This unit will develop your understanding of the link between nutrition, health and disease. You will also know how nutrition can help maintain and prevent ill health in individuals and groups.
• Performance Analysis: Introducing sports performance analysis with emphasis on team sports and match analysis, you will learn to provide systematic, objective observation of performance using both video and statistical analysis, identify key performance indicators linked to performance, generate appropriate results and communicate data effectively.
• Sport Management & Leadership: This unit will enable you to develop an understanding of the behaviour of people in organisations and how they can use management tools to adapt and respond to these demands. 
• Issues & Controversies in Sport, Culture & Society: This unit engages you as a critical user and producer of sporting cultures, by critically evaluating key contemporary issues surrounding sport through a variety of academic perspectives. You will communicate your viewpoint with regard to current debates and policies in sport and physical culture.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

The length of the work placement is optional with a minimum of 6-weeks taken as part of a 3 year degree or a minimum of 30-weeks taken as part of a 4 year degree. The placement can take place in the UK or overseas and gives you the opportunity to turn theory into practice in a business environment.

We have excellent links with sporting organisations, health and fitness clubs and national governing bodies in both the UK and Australia. This includes Sport England, UK Sport, David Lloyd, Fitness First, Holmes Place and the Australian Institute of Sport.

There are no core units in the final year, instead you will choose one option from Group A; two options from Group B and a further two options from Group B or C:

Group A:

• Dissertation: The dissertation will enable you the opportunity to initiate and carry out an independent and self-managed research project. You will apply your knowledge and understanding of the research process learned so far through the application of techniques of analysis and enquiry within a relevant sport and exercise discipline. 
• Research Expedition: You will have the opportunity to perform in-depth research on the needs and responses of individuals completing a UK based endurance expedition. Projects may include laboratory experiments and/or fieldwork exercises. All projects will require you to work independently under the guidance of a supervisor, to perform a review of literature, conduct investigative work and data analysis, develop suitable conclusions and recommendations, and present this in the form of an independent research project.

Group B:

• Applied Sport & Exercise Physiology: This unit aims to integrate detailed knowledge of physiological concepts, and for you to consider to the most appropriate and practical approach to addressing challenges within various sport and exercise scenarios. Practical sessions will reinforce the understanding of applied physiological mechanisms. Using problem solving skills, you will apply in-depth physiological knowledge and tailor understanding to specific populations.
• Applied Sport & Exercise Biomechanics: This will be a laboratory based unit, looking at the methods of kinetic and kinematic analysis and how they can be utilised to analyse sporting techniques and the optimisation of human movement.
• Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology: You will develop your ability to competently and effectively assess, evaluate and analyse factors affecting behaviour, cognitions and performance in order to implement effective evidence-based intervention strategies. 

Group C:

• Advances in Applied Nutrition: You will gain an insight into the nutritional issues encountered within a community setting and an understanding of the application of evidence based nutrition in the formulation of dietary guidelines. The theoretical underpinning of dietary-based prevention and management of chronic conditions (obesity, malnutrition, inflammatory bowel disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease) will be explored in depth.
• Nutritional Requirements Throughout Life: The aim is to develop a detailed understanding of the nutritional requirements of the population throughout life from conception to ageing and the underlying biological and environmental reasons for the requirements.
• Advanced Performance Analysis: You will develop your sports performance analysis skills with a critical understanding of notational analysis within both the applied and research settings. You will learn to provide systematic, objective observation of performance using both video and statistical analysis in order to write appropriate research to further the knowledge of performance analysis in the field of sport.
• Sport & Physical Culture: In this unit you will develop a critical awareness of sport and physical culture in a variety of contexts by bringing together theory and practice in reflexive fieldwork. Advanced application of social theories and concepts will be developed in order to encourage diversity, inclusion and sustainability in sport and physical culture contexts.
• Talent Development in Sport: Talent development is becoming an increasingly important focus for research and practice, as well as being a key part of coaching, coach education, and sport science more widely. You will gain a deep knowledge of the development of talent in sport, and will learn to look beyond headline findings and widely held myths/beliefs, in order to view current practice critically and develop a research-informed, evidence-based understanding.
• Strategy & Leadership: You will undertake strategic analysis, develop strategic plans and understand the key issues in terms of strategic implementation relevant to public, private and voluntary sector organisations using a broad range of strategic tools, models and theories, and understand the importance of leadership in strategy implementation.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

On our sports courses, you will be able to make the most of our state-of-the-art human performance measurement equipment. It enables you to measure the impact that changes to a training regime can have, and how you as a coach can use that information to better athletes or a team’s performance.

We have two human performance laboratories covering 300m2 of space with a wide range of equipment. Visit our facilities page to find out more about these laboratories and equipment available

A placement should be a highly rewarding experience for you and the employing company and we do our best to ensure that everyone involved feels that they have got the most that they can from the experience.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

• Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
• Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
• Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
• Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
• Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider
• Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

We will provide help and support to help you find a rewarding and satisfying placement. We have strong links to outside agencies and organisations to best support you along your professional development, and dedicated placement officers to support you.

Our students perform very well on placement and a number of firms return to us year-on-year to source BU placement students.

Example placement roles can include:

• Sport Science Intern
• Sports Technician
• Sport Psychology Assistant
• PE Teaching Assistant
• Performance Analyst
• Player Management & Development
• Psychology Intern
• Strength & Conditioning Intern
• Sports Activities Counselor
• Coaching
• Health & Fitness Instructor
• PE & Administration Assistant
• PE & Sports Coaching Intern
• Personal Trainer
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Assistant
• GP Referral Assistant
• Health Promoter

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application; there are usually no interviews or selection activities needed. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Previous students have gone on to work for:

• Brazillian Soccer Schools
• National Health Service (NHS)
• US Sports Institute
• Arsenal Football Club
• Hitchen Community Town Football Club
• AFC Bournemouth and various other football clubs
• Wandsworth and Poole County Councils
• David LLoyd Leisure
• Glaxosmithkline (Lucozade)
• Personal Training Academy
• Nuffield Orthopaedic
• Surrey County Cricket Club
• West Hants Tennis Club
• RNLI
• Richings Park Golf club
• Various schools, colleges, academies and universities 

Upon graduation you will be able to undertake roles such as:

• Activity Specialist
• Instructor or Fitness Coach
• Personal Trainer
• Fitness Consultant
• Healthcare Aide
• Wellness Coordinator/Educator
• Performance Analysis 
• Physiologist
• Teaching Assistant (PE)

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions 
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
• BU-branded shorts, T-shirt and jacket
• Professional body endorsement of the course.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website 
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies
• Travel costs to and from the university campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding information can be found on our website
• Additional branded clothing (optional)
• Additional course costs in sports massage or fitness instruction (optional).
• SportBU membership

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Rebecca is a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology and teaches anatomy, physiology and research methods units. She has conducted research in the Extreme Environments Laboratory at the University of Portsmouth in the areas of Exercise and Environmental Physiology and Sports Performance for the English Institute of Sport, British Triathlon, GlaxoSmithKline and the Ministry of Defence. Educated at the University of Birmingham (BSc Hons) and King’s College London (MSc), Rebecca completed her PhD at the University of Portsmouth with the English Institute of Sport, entitled: Effect of combined stressors on heat acclimation and temperate exercise.

Paul is a lecturer in Nutrition and Exercise Science. He leads the Research Methods and Principles of Food and Nutrition modules as well as contributing towards many other units across both the nutrition and sport and exercise science programs.

Paul's first degree is in Sport and Exercise Science, he then went on to study Public Health Nutrition at masters level, before completing a PhD in Human Nutrition at Bournemouth University.

Dr Susan Dewhurst is Head of Department for Rehabilitation and Sport Science. Having previously worked as a lecturer and researcher in academic institutions in Scotland, NW England, Denmark and Rome, and more recently as a Senior Scientific Officer at the Ministry of Defence, she brings a broad range of teaching and scientific experiences to BU.

Susan's primary research interests focus on helping older individuals maintain independence and quality of life through scientific research which can be readily used and translated into practical applications.

Her research has featured in a variety of applied physiology based journals including, Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience, Experimental Brain Research and Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology

Shelley Ellis' primary research interest is with the development and use of equipment within sport. This work uses a biomechanical technique analysis approach, combining anthropometry and ergonomics with performance in the sporting domain. This is currently being applied within a project that addresses the design of white water kayaks for female athletes.

As a Team Paddler for South Coast Canoes, the kayaking community have recognised the impact of Shelley’s research and the support provided has enabled Shelley to reach a large number of kayakers nationally in order to share her research, both through an invited lecture at the Ladies Paddling Symposium and a number of smaller talks and workshops. Shelley has also published in the areas of disability sport focusing specifically on lower limb amputees and their use of prostheses, tactics used in different aged football academy teams and reliability of measurement in archery. These research areas have informed much of her teaching in the performance analysis areas. 

Shelley also lectured in Sports Development for a number of years, having previously worked in the Sports Development field. This is a second area of research focus for Shelley. In her spare time Shelley participates in and coaches white water kayaking. She is also a keen sports woman in general running competitively and taking part in long distance open water swims.

With a background in electronics and computing, Dr Callaway's primary research interest is the use of technology at all levels of sport. His goal is to create comprehensive biomechanical and tactical profiles for coaches and researchers. Working across a variety of sports including Beach Soccer, Archery, Table Tennis, and Swimming has allowed application of his research in practical ways. The experience from this is relayed into his teaching and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

In his spare time he competes at archery, previously representing Great Britain at numerous international events.

Kelly is a Senior Fellow of the HEA with a varied, flexible skill set which includes the ability to teach, inspire and motivate. She is strategically minded coming from an industry background in Project Management with an in-depth knowledge of HE and exceptional understanding and empathy at many levels. Roles have included Framework Leadership, working strategically at a senior management level, working across the institution including the SU focusing on the student voice, championing the employability and student experience agendas and being a founding member of BU’s Centre for Excellence in Learning (CEL). 

Tim is a Higher Education Academy Fellow, as well as a British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow, and a BASES Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist.

His research centres on (a) the development of talent, and (b) social psychological influences on performance and physical activity. His research has been featured in all major UK broadsheets, BBC R4’s flagship programme “All in the Mind”, US National Public Radio’s “Only a Game”, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, plus Psychology Today and Huffington Post, and has informed and changed practice across all UK Olympic Sports, England Rugby, and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

His 2016 paper “The Great British medalists project” was the most downloaded paper in Sports Medicine of 2016, with 30K downloads, 47 citations (92 via Google scholar), and an Altmetric score of 250, placing it in the top 5% of all research outputs. The related three myths” piece in The Conversation currently has over 130K reads.

Dr Emma Kavanagh is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Psychology and Coaching Sciences and a BASES Accredited Performance Psychologist and Chartered Sport and Exercise Scientist, working with a number of athletes at National and International level.

Emma teaches across the sports degree programmes; her research interests are within the academic disciplines of psychology and sociology. Emma's work centres on critically examining abuse in virtual and face-to-face sporting environments, understanding the duty of care and enhancing safeguarding in sporting spaces.

Emma has recently been a member of the BASES athlete protection task group responsible for the development of safeguarding workshops which aim to educate existing and trainee sport and exercise scientists on issues of athlete safeguarding in the United Kingdom. She is also part of a number of international research networks which have a clear vision to enhance the climate and environment in which high-performance athletes function.

Andy joined Bournemouth University in 2020 to complete a Masters by Research, developing innovative measurement techniques for spinal stiffness. In 2022 he converted this to study towards a PhD in the same topic and joined the Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences at BU as a Lecturer in Sport Therapy and Physiotherapy. With a background in mechanical engineering before retraining as a physiotherapist, Andy’s research focuses on integrating engineering principles into the field of musculoskeletal therapy.

Dr. Matthew Armstrong is an academic lecturer in Exercise Physiology in the Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences. He has conducted research within the area of clinical exercise physiology, focusing on exercise and physical activity promotion in patients with COPD and most recently in those suffering long-term symptoms of COVID-19 (long COVID-19).

His PhD (completed in April 2021) focused on the combination of behavioural modification interventions (to promote physical activity), cognitive behavioural therapy (to aid a reduction in anxiety and depression) and pulmonary rehabilitation (to promote cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength and endurance) in patients with moderate to severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Dr Emma Mosley is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology in the Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences. Emma is a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, Chartered Scientist and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Emma completed her PhD in 2018 which examined themes around psychophysiology and performance under pressure. She is an active researcher within psychophysiology and sport psychology, with a particular specialism in heart rate variability and breathing exercises.

Her research strives to understand the relationship between the mind and body and how athletes can harness this for performance and wellbeing. Emma is currently working on a funded project with the International Biathlon Union to understand the use of breathing and visual interventions for biathlon performance.

Dr Louise Burgess teaches on the BSc Sport and Exercise Science course at Bournemouth University, teaching units including Sport and Exercise Physiology, Advances in Biomechanics and Research Methods.

She started her research journey at the Orthopaedic Research Institute of Bournemouth University, where she was involved in delivering world-leading research in arthritis and associated diseases, treatments, and technologies. Louise has co-authored 26 published research papers and 13 conference papers, and has collaborated with several notable industry partners, including University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, BH Live Active, and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Her research interests now include injury risk and incidence of arthritis in rugby players.

In 2023, Louise completed a PhD entitled: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation to improve muscle weakness in hip osteoarthritis: a feasibility study, and has recently been awarded a Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy.

Louise is currently acting as a demonstrator for the Sport and Exercise Science degree programme, supporting multiple units: fitness assessments, biomechanics, research methods and, human anatomy and physiology.

Alongside teaching Louise is beginning to work towards a PhD, focussing on electrical muscle stimulation in dialysis patients.

Prior to joining BU, Louise achieved a first in BSc(hons) Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Gloucestershire before completing a Masters in Sports Engineering at Sheffield Hallam.