Sport and Exercise Science (With Professional Practice Year)

Our sports science courses rank 6th in the UK in their subject field for career prospects (The Guardian University Guide, 2026).

If you are fascinated by the science behind sport and exercise performance, this course gives you the opportunity to learn from and be part of a world-leading research team, using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in a high-performance environment. The course combines scientific knowledge and sports performance with lab work, and offers specialist units in biomechanics, exercise physiology and social psychology, to name a few.

Professional Practice Year
Take your course over four years and include a Professional Practice Year after your second year of studies. It is an opportunity to apply your learning in the workplace while enhancing your knowledge and skills through fee-free paid practice. It also builds your CV and industry contacts with many students progressing to employment within their practice-year organisation or institution.

Course accreditation/industry endorsement
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), allowing you to work towards CIMSPA professional standards in gym instruction, personal training and working with people with long-term conditions.

Facilities and specialist equipment
Six CASES-accredited laboratories
Environmental chamber
Biochemical analysis laboratory
Mechanical treadmill
Expired gas analysis
Hydrostatic weighing tank
Biomechanics labs with 3D camera system
Echocardiogram machine
Purpose-built strength and conditioning facility with Olympic weight room
State-of-the-art gym with free membership for students
Fully supervised, on-site sports therapy and rehabilitation centre with a sports injury clinic, open to staff, students and external athletes/clients

Partnerships and collaborations
We are official partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region such as Bedford Tigers RLFC, MK Dons, Cricket East and Be Active, giving you opportunities to build your employability through work placements. We are also an Educational Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Your student experience
Learn in a high-performance environment with a leading research team offering research opportunities and skills development rare to the UK.
Gain valuable work experience at our Community Exercise Clinic and Human Performance Centre, which offers testing to sports people, teams and the general public for fitness, flexibility and body composition assessments.
Be part of a team working on prestigious projects for elite sports teams, governing bodies and government initiatives.
Enhance your learning and build your experience through field trips to destinations such as St George’s Park, Burton-upon-Trent, the home of England Football; Northampton Saints physio centre; and a ‘cadaver lab day’ at King’s College, London.
Hear from guest speakers who attend our ISPAR seminar series. Previous speakers have included Tom Bromley (MK Dons); Jack Wells (PGA); Akash Modhwadia (Strength and conditioning coach at MK Dons); Marsha Brierley (Behaviour Change Practitioner at Buckinghamshire Public Health).
Benefit from the support of your own personal academic tutor who will guide and support you throughout your student journey.
Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well.