Overview:
Are you interested in improving the sporting performance of others, understanding the health benefits of physical activity and studying overseas?
On this BSc (Hons) Sport, Health, and Exercise Sciences dual degree course, you'll study in Portsmouth and Australia and turn your interest into a fulfilling career you can take anywhere around the world.
Studying fields including sports psychology, sports biomechanics and exercise physiology, you'll:
- Learn how to apply best practice exercise techniques to help others reach their personal and professional health goals
- Use a combination of theory, research and practical lab techniques to understand and improve people's physical performance, while helping them minimise the risks of sport-related injuries
- Develop skills and knowledge to help everyone – from elite athletes who want to achieve new records in their sporting disciple to those who play sports for fun – get the most out of exercise
In year 3, you'll study in Australia at Edith Cowan University. You'll experience another culture, get access to further expertise and high-tech equipment, and gain an international perspective that will help set you apart when you embark on your career.
By the end of the course, you'll have extensive knowledge of the fields of professional sport, health and exercise science. You'll be ready to take on a variety of professional scientific or non-scientific roles in the private, corporate and government sectors of the sports industry. You could also study sport, health and exercise science further at postgraduate level.
What you'll experience:
- Be taught by expert staff with industry-relevant accreditations who are actively engaged in research projects that inform the future of sport and exercise science
- Spend 1 year studying at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Western Australia, taking modules on Exercise Delivery, Resistance Training, and Injury Prevention and Management
- Put what you learn into practice using links to local sports and healthcare providers
- Be able to get specialist qualifications that match your career aspirations in areas such as first aid, coaching and gym instruction
- Boost your transferable skills such as teamwork, decision making, communication and time management
- Have the opportunity to learn a language and earn credit towards your degree as part of the University's Institution-Wide Language Programme
- Graduate with a BSc International Exercise and Sports Science degree from ECU alongside your BSc (Hons) Sport, Health, and Exercise Sciences degree from the University of Portsmouth
Facilities and equipment you'll use includes:
- A biomechanics lab
- A physiology lab
- An immersion pool and swimming flume
- A portable EMG system to measure how muscles activate and fatigue during sport
- Infrared motion analysis to understand how the body should move for best practice training
- Climatic chambers for manipulating temperature, humidity and altitude (including one at sub-zero temperatures for polar preparation)
- Force plates to assess total force and rate of force development for athletes, which helps you prescribe the correct exercise programme for them
- GymAware and PUSH bands for carrying out Velocity Based Training (VBT)
Work Experince and Career Planning:
To give you the best chance of securing the ideal job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.
We'll work with you to identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies and allow you to use the skills you've learnt.
We'll also be available to help, advise and support you for up to 5 years as you advance in your career.
Module Details:
Year 1 (At Portsmouth):
Core modules:
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Physiology
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
There are no optional modules in this year.
Year 2 (At Portsmouth):
Core modules:
- Advanced Exercise Physiology
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- Work Based Learning
- Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise
Optional modules:
- Nutrition for Sport, Exercise and Health
- Principles of Skill Acquisition
- Exercise in Different Environments
- Strength and Conditioning for Sport, Exercise and Health
- Physical Activity and Exercise for Healthy Ageing
- Principles in Performance Analysis
Year 3 (At Edith Cowan) :
Core modules:
- Statistical Research Methods
- Exercise Rehabilitation
- Motor Learning and Control
- Lifespan Growth and Development
- Sports Injury Prevention and Management
- Conditioning for Team Sport Athletes
Optional modules:
- Performance Analysis and Player Monitoring
- Exercise Delivery
- Advanced Resistance Training
- Principles of Practices of Resistance Training
Year 4 (At Portsmouth):
- Applications of Exercise Physiology
- Professional Practice in Sport Psychology
- Advanced Strength and Conditioning
- Applied Skill Acquisition
- Biomechanics in Practice
- Advanced Sports Nutrition
- Biopsychosocial Approaches to Physical Activity and Health Promotion
- Environmental Physiology
- Project
Programme Assessment:
Teaching methods on this course include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Lab-based activities
The course also uses a range of blended and flipped learning techniques throughout information technology infrastructure at both the University of Portsmouth and Edith Cowan University.
Teaching staff at Portsmouth and ECU have a range of academic and professional experience which brings added value to the course. Examples of professional memberships include:
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Science
- British Psychological Society
- The Health and Care Professions Council
- Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
- UK Science Council
- The American College of Sports Medicine
- Exercise and Sports Science Australia
Teaching staff at both universities are also engaged in research. This means you'll learn about the latest theories and concepts from academics at the forefront of sports and exercise science research and innovation.
You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.
You'll be assessed through:
- Practical assessments
- Client reports
- Video submissions
- Blogs
- Infographics
- Essays
- Portfolios
- Presentations
- Exams
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Student Destinations:
Sport, health and exercise science focuses on the scientific principles behind exercise performance. It combines physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition management skills to examine the relationship between exercise and the human body, revolutionising the way sportspeople train and condition themselves.
A report by The Physiological Society found that over the course of their careers, sport and exercise science graduates earn on average £667,000 more than their non-graduate peers.
As part of this thriving industry, you'll have the skills to develop and rehabilitate athletes of all ages, or take a non-scientific career route such as teaching, sports journalism, sports marketing or advertising.
When you graduate, you could work in areas such as:
- Health and fitness training
- Teaching and education
- Strength and conditioning
- Sports therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Sport science support (UK Sport, EIS, professional clubs)
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Postgraduate study or research
Roles you could take on include:
- PE teacher
- Fitness instructor
- NVQ coordinator
- Sports development officer
- Sports and exercise scientist
- Sports therapist and physiotherapist
- Cardiac rehabilitation technician
