Sport and Exercise Science

Sport and Exercise Science
This degree explores how sport, exercise and physical activity affect the human body and its abilities – and how this knowledge can be used to improve lives, from enhancing elite sporting performance to managing chronic disease. You’ll study core scientific areas such as physiology, biomechanics and psychology, while developing practical skills through lab sessions, applied projects and real-world tasks.

Whether you’re interested in working with elite athletes, supporting recovery through exercise, or promoting public health, the course helps you build the scientific understanding and transferable skills needed to succeed in your future career. You’ll learn to gather and analyse data, solve problems, and communicate your findings effectively - core skills required in the fields of healthcare, professional sport, research, and education.

You’ll study in outstanding facilities including our biomechanics lab with state-of-the-art 3D motion capture systems, and our respiratory clinic for exercise-related breathing problems. You’ll be supported by expert staff with experience working in elite sport, health, education and research – and benefit from strong connections with industry. You will have the opportunity to work towards extra qualifications like the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) Strength and Conditioning Trainer Award and industry recognised Pre Hospital Immediate Care Trauma qualification.

With opportunities to take a year in industry, study abroad or complete a placement, this degree helps you build confidence and experience. You’ll graduate with the scientific insight and practical skills to make a real difference in performance, fitness and health.

Professional Endorsement

Our course is endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES), the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.

Year in Industry

Our Year in Industry option gives you the chance to develop hands-on experience working in a professional environment and gain a competitive edge for future employment after you graduate.

Foundation Year

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Foundations of Science 1

  Since the dawn of time, humans have explored the natural world that surrounds us. Questions like, “What is life?” and “How did it all begin?” are essential because they intersect with virtually every aspect of human thought and activity, from the search for knowledge and meaning to the practical implications for science, ethics, and society.

  The foundations of biological and chemical sciences are built on a set of fundamental principles and concepts that underpin the structure, behaviour, and interactions of matter and life. These foundations are vital for understanding the complexity of living organisms and the chemical processes that sustain them.

  In this module you’ll be starting from the structure of simple atoms and molecules to the incredible complexity of the human genome. You’ll investigate the building blocks of matter and examine how atoms form complex molecules, which ultimately give rise to living organisms.

• Scientific Methods and Data Handling

  You will ignite your curiosity while gathering critical practical experience, skills and confidence in conducting scientific experiments.

  You will test hypotheses with laboratory classes that investigate the science that surrounds us. You will analyse your own experimental data, develop your numeracy and data handling skills and use appropriate software to draw meaningful conclusions.

  Blending theoretical understanding with practical laboratory investigations, you’ll be equipped with the tools necessary to progress in scientific inquiry and analysis.

• Foundations of Science 2

  In this module, you’ll continue your journey into the foundations of scientific theory and method and find answers to questions like these.

  You will learn the essential proteins and enzymes that exist in everyday life, the metabolic processes that allow us to create energy, and some of the chemistry that underpins these processes such as equilibria, acids and bases. You will deepen your academic knowledge in these areas, and explore the factors that drive chemical and biological processes.

• Scientific Methods and Academic Skills Development

  In this module, you’ll outline the essential steps associated with undertaking scientific research, and consider issues related to the experimental process and statistics.

  You’ll undertake experiments that develop proficiency in collecting, analysing, and interpreting large data sets. You’ll also be able to communicate as a scientist and improve your skills in academic writing and referencing, information retrieval and analysis, and effective presentation.

• Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science

  You will be introduced to fundamental principles and concepts, and examine these in real-life sport and exercise contexts and scenarios. You will learn to identify human anatomy and physiology, and understand how this relates to sport, exercise, rehabilitation and massage. You’ll learn how to assess amateur and elite sporting performance via performance testing and scientific analysis. You’ll also examine the psychology of sport and exercise and the biomechanics of human movement.

Optional modules may include the following

• Fundamental Human Biology and Genetics

• Chemical Reactivity and Analysis

Please see our website for module information.

Year 1

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Introduction to Exercise Physiology and Nutrition

  Exercise physiology is the study of the physiological responses and adaptations that occur in the body in response to acute or chronic exercise. In this introductory module, you’ll deepen your understanding of the core principles of anatomy and physiology, including the structure and function of different physiological systems, and how the body maintains homeostasis and adapts to exercise.

• Introduction to Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

  Through a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical lab classes, you’ll discover the basic mechanical principles of human movement and their applications to sports performance and exercise. You'll be able to apply theoretical biomechanical concepts to sporting scenarios, which will help you gain the foundational knowledge you’ll need for a career as a sport and exercise scientist, whether in an applied setting or in teaching or coaching.

• Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology

  You’ll consider key psychological theories and how they relate to sport and exercise contexts. Furthermore, you’ll also develop a personal and professional understanding of how cognitive and social factors impact group and individual behaviour. This knowledge will help you support athletes to get to the next level in their game and achieve new heights.

• Principles of Sport Science, Physical Activity & Health

  Lots of us enjoy either playing or watching performance sports and prioritise exercise for health, or incorporate functional physical activities into daily life. These activities all fall within the framework of physical activity and sports participation, but why is the intersection and alignment of physical activity (in terms of health and performance) so important? This module will cover the fundamentals of training principles, consider how to tailor these to meet individual needs, and look at barriers and enablers that affect participation.

  You’ll consider how to support the population to be more active by examining real-world examples of activity promotion campaigns. You’ll examine national and international sporting initiatives and you’ll have the chance to design creative approaches which address unmet needs in sport and physical activity access to promote wider engagement and remove barriers to sport participation.

• Introduction to Research Methods

  Using examples of contemporary scientific research across the fields of sports performance, therapy and rehabilitation, and health, you’ll compare different methods of scientific testing. You’ll also determine what we consider ‘best practice’ and examine the challenges and limitations associated with conducting research with human participants.

  You’ll get to grips with research terminology, start to understand how research studies are designed, and discover how data can be analysed. You’ll learn to dissect information, determine what is credible evidence and gain an understanding of the implications and impact of research findings in an applied context. Practical and seminar sessions will provide hands-on experience in conducting applied research and effectively communicating scientific information and results to drive improvements in sport and exercise science as a field.

Year 2

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Applied Exercise Physiology

  Understanding how the human body responds to exercise is fundamental when striving to improve performance. Building on your knowledge of human physiology, you’ll explore the body’s responses to both acute and chronic exercise, learning concepts relating to both aerobic and anaerobic performance, and the impact of fatigue on physiological processes.

  You’ll discover the key physiological factors that determine and limit exercise performance in humans, and examine approaches to improve performance. Practical and seminar sessions will support and reinforce your understanding of the theoretical concepts, enabling you to apply your knowledge and master a range of laboratory techniques and methods that can be used to evaluate physiological responses to exercise.

  You’ll learn how to handle, process and interpret the data you collect to inform your understanding of physiological determinants and approaches to improve exercise performance. This will help you develop the ability to apply physiological principles to practical situations.

• Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

  In this module, you’ll learn how to bridge the gap between theory and practice, using real-world scenarios to tackle sport and exercise participants' issues.

  Based on supporting literature, you’ll design an appropriate intervention strategy to enhance performance or encourage behavioural change. You’ll also gain a critical understanding of the strengths and limitations associated with psychological research and theory, and learn to appreciate the link between theory and applied sport and exercise behaviours. This will allow you to act professionally and effectively in the field of sports psychology, helping athletes break down mental barrier to performance.

• Research Methods, Design and Planning

  In this module, you’ll gain an understanding of research methods typically used in a sport and exercise and/or a therapy and rehabilitation setting. You’ll develop the ability to select, employ and interpret statistics in your research. This knowledge is central to being an effective sports scientist, sports therapist or rehabilitator.

  By the end of this module, you’ll understand the fundamentals of forming a feasible and appropriate study. You’ll also have the tools and techniques you’ll need to conduct independent research in the final year of your degree.

• Applied Sport & Exercise Biomechanics

  The way an athlete moves is fundamental to how they perform in their chosen sport. As a result, the analysis of biomechanics is a key part of a sport scientist's toolkit as it allows athletes to improve performance and remain injury-free.

  In this module, you’ll apply biomechanics to sporting performance. You’ll learn biomechanistic principles in practical settings using a range of specialised equipment, such as a force plate and computer-based motion analysis. This will help you understand and compute angular kinematics and kinetics. You’ll become proficient in understanding and using specialised biomechanical hardware and software to process and analyse a typical human movement task.

Optional modules may include the following

• Movement as Medicine

• Performance Analysis in Sport

• Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition

• Life Course Variability in Sport and Physical Activity

Please see our website for module information.

Year 3

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Dissertation

  You’ll design, conduct and complete an extended piece of independent research in the specialist area of sport, exercise and/or health. After identifying an appropriate research question, you’ll develop your knowledge by forming a search strategy, reviewing the literature and critically evaluating the current body of research. You’ll apply your understanding of research methods to design an experimental approach and collect data. You’ll then analyse, present and report using scientific communication methods.

  Our lecturers will support you to plan, manage and disseminate the project. However, you’ll lead the majority of the project, guided by a project supervisor. Your supervisor will advise you on methodology, analysis and presentation, and will create an environment which will cultivate independent work and thinking. During your dissertation, you’ll develop skills that will benefit you in various settings including postgraduate study, research or other career pathways. - and your dissertation itself is a fantastic example of your knowledge and skills to show employers.

Optional modules may include the following

• Advances in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

• Physiological limitations to performance

• Sport and Exercise Psychology in Practice

• Exercise for Clinical Populations

• Applied Performance Analysis

• Industry placement

• Advances in Athlete Support

Please see our website for module information.

Year In Industry (Optional)

Year in Industry

You have the option to add a year in industry to this course. We already know you have the confidence and commitment to thrive in the workplace and kick-start your career. This is your chance to prove it, to yourself and to employers. This can be added during your studies.

Any Questions? We have the answers:

• When should I start looking?

  Companies will recruit at different times of the year based on their size. It's good to be application ready by the summer of your first year.

• Where can I get help finding a placement?

  Book an appointment with a placement adviser via the careers service.

• Will I get paid?

  Most of our placements are paid.

• Do I have to pay tuition fees?

  Yes, you’ll pay a substantially reduced fee. Fees for the current year (subject to changes) can be found on our tuition fees website.

• Where can I get visa advice if I’m an international student?

  Kent Students' Union can help with any visa queries.

• Does the University keep in touch?

  You receive four-weekly check-in emails, a visit from the team every three months and you can reach out to us any time by email or phone.

• Do I work for a full year?

  The minimum requirement for an industrial placement is 44 weeks.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES)