Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year

Why study Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?

• The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is ranked first in the North West and top 20 in the world for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2026)

• 97% of students surveyed on this course said teaching staff were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2025)

• Taught in a 25 million state-of-the-art building with world-class laboratories and equipment

• Excellent employment prospects in elite performance or promotion of healthy lifestyles

• Option to undertake work placement of up to 12 months

• Options to study abroad for part of the degree with support from schemes such as the Go Global Fund and Erasmus+

• International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme

About your course
The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree is delivered by world-leading experts in state-of-the-art facilities in our award-winning Tom Reilly Building.

Sports scientists work either in the sports industries with athletes, coaches and governing bodies to help improve elite performance or in communities promoting healthy lifestyles.

Through the multi-disciplinary study of the behavioural, physical and life sciences, this degree prepares you for a highly rewarding career in sports or exercise contexts. This includes scientific support, rehabilitation, exercise training and health promotion.

The foundations and principles underpinning sport and exercise science are covered in the first two years. This provides the multi-disciplinary grounding recommended by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES). In the final year there is discipline specialisation and an independent research project led by the student.

Thanks to strong links with industry partners, we have a clear understanding of the needs and expectations of employers and are able to design the course with your future employability in mind.

Formal work-related learning opportunities are provided in the final year, during which you will apply the skills and theory you have learnt through an applied placement module. Many of our graduates continue onto postgraduate study to allow them to compete for the top sport and exercise science jobs in the country.

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU is one of the best places in the country to study sport and exercise science. It pioneered the first degree of its kind in 1975 and is now formally recognised as a centre for world-leading research in the field.

The course is endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme.

LJMU is a member of ASET, the UK’s leading authority on work-based and placement learning (WBPL). This membership reflects our commitment to providing students with high-quality WBPL experiences that are well-supported and aligned with best practice guidelines.

About the Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Please visit the Liverpool John Moores University website for detailed module information.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include: written assignments (essays, lab reports, literature reviews), exams (MCQ, seen and unseen), practical work, portfolios, presentations (group and individual), and reflective practice/diaries. You will also be expected to complete a dissertation in your final year.

Your tutors will provide feedback on assessments within three weeks, allowing you to quickly identify your successes and the areas where you may need to put in more work. This is provided via our virtual learning environment, face-to-face and/or as written comments for coursework and one-to-one for exams. You are also welcome to arrange further meetings with staff to discuss your feedback.

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

• British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences