Sport & Exercise Science

Sport and Exercise Science explores how the human body performs under different levels of pressure. It also covers the broader issues at play, from wider participation in sports and exercise, to ethics, sports psychology and nutrition.

This degree provides a solid core of modern and relevant learning, preparing you for a fulfilling career in fitness and leisure industries, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and more.

Why Sport and Exercise Science at Swansea?

• 15th in the UK Sports Science (Complete University Guide 2025)

• Top 51-100 in the World (QS World University Rankings 2025)

• 11th in the UK for Student Voice (NSS 2024)*

*Based on the average positivity score across questions 22 to 25 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.

Your Sport and Exercise Science Experience
Throughout your time at Swansea, you will make extensive use of our dedicated Biomechanics Laboratory, which is home to a state-of-the-art motion analysis system. You will also work closely in the Exercise Physiology Laboratory. This contains a range of exercise ergometers, lung function assessment, blood analysis and muscle function testing equipment.

As you progress, your developing interests and abilities will combine with hands-on experience of advanced equipment, establishing skills which are vital to securing employment.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Research Methods & Ethics; Introduction to Sports Biomechanics; Human Anatomy; Sports Performance Science; Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology; and Metabolism for Physical Activity, Sport and Health

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Developing Research Methods for Sports Science; Employability, Innovation & Engagement; Exercise Physiology; Sport Performance Science 2; Exercise Science: Interventions and Applications; Biomechanical Technology, Measurement & Analysis; Contemporary themes in sport psychology; Critical Issues in Sport Integrity and Athlete Welfare; Philosophy of Sports Ethics; The Ethics of Doping: Health, Sport and Society; Kinanthropometry; and Human Nutrition.

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: a Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Dissertation; Sport, Diet and Disease; Paediatric Exercise Science; Sport Integrity, Ethics and Policy; Sports Biomechanics; Health Related Exercise; Applied Sport Psychology; and Sport and Exercise Physiology.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

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

• BASES, British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences