Sport and Exercise Sciences BSc (Hons)

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Available with:

  • Foundation Year

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Course Summary

Sport and Exercise Sciences prides itself on its approachable staff and varied teaching strategies, which external examiners and current students praise highly. In using a student-centred approach, we produce graduates with subject expertise and career potential. The practical and applied nature of the course is a major feature. 

In recent years, the sports, recreation and leisure industries have shown continuous growth. International success and the growing health agenda have ensured that investment and interest in sport and exercise in the UK continues to increase substantially. 

Therefore, the course is designed with two core principles in mind. Firstly, the development of knowledge, applied skills and analytical techniques in the conventional subdisciplines of sport and exercise sciences. Secondly, the orientation of studies around vocational opportunities and practices, including:

  • PE
  • Sports management
  • Coaching
  • Health promotion
  • Leisure
  • Recreation
  • as well as sport science support and sport and exercise sciences generally. 

We have a wide range of facilities including:

  • Performance Analysis
  • Muscle Function laboratories
  • Sports Biomechanics laboratories
  • Gyms
  • A swimming pool
  • A floodlit 3G MUGA pitch
  • Sprint track
  • Tennis courts and more. 

We additionally offer curriculum support materials for post-16 A Level PE and BTEC Sports students. Visit Sports Week Subject Activities.

Why You’ll Love It

Student satisfaction

Our students value their experience and appreciate how much variety, support and opportunities are available to them during their degree.

Hands-on learning

Small lectures, seminars, lab-based and coaching practicals, and work/sport science support placements enable students to get their “hands dirty” and acquire academic expertise and applied skills.

A group of students taking part in a practical exercise.

Staff go the extra mile

External examiners’ reports repeatedly refer to the way tutors go the “extra mile” to support students, with unparalleled access to staff and detailed feedback on all aspects of students’ work.

A group of students around a laptop
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BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Sciences

What Our Students Think

What You'll Study

The Physical and Natural Sciences Foundation Year route is an ideal place to begin your journey in academic sciences.

The Foundation Year is designed to give you a strong knowledge and skills base aligned with your chosen four-year degree. Following a solid grounding in scientific principles or behavioural sciences in your first block of teaching, you will study bespoke modules aligned with your discipline. This could involve studying the human body in health and disease and how to encourage healthy and sustainable behaviours, or the biology of terrestrial and marine animals and the impacts of their interactions with humans, or you might focus on the physical sciences and how they can help change the world for the better. Whatever you aspire to, we can offer you a supportive and incremental introduction to your science degree.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences course contains core modules at Level 4 and both core and optional modules at Levels 5 and 6. The course is very practical, and students will be able to both know and demonstrate how their knowledge of sport in a multi-disciplinary course can help them in their graduate careers.

At Level 4, students are introduced to the multi-disciplinary and practical nature of the course, covering key physical and social sciences components of sport and exercise.

MODULES

  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Sciences (40 credits) - This module has been designed to introduce you to theoretical knowledge, whilst focusing on opportunities for to you to engage in the practical application of that knowledge.
  • Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Sciences (40 credits) - This module is to develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental areas underpinning sport and exercise sciences and become competent in the application of theory to practice.
  • Introduction to Sports Performance (20 credits) -  This module provides an opportunity for you to develop fundamental scientific understanding of the factors influencing sports performance within the different disciplines of sport and exercise sciences.
  • Introduction to Exercise and Health (20 credits) - This module focuses on introducing you to a range of definitions, concepts and issues related to exercise and health. Drawing in particular on social sciences perspectives, it aims to enable you to explore the relationships among exercise, health and society more broadly.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Level 5 builds upon this foundation with more detailed learning that encourages students to develop their understanding and the application of knowledge in both an applied and research context in sport, exercise and health. Students can focus more specifically on physical or social scientific applications of study during this year.

MODULES

  • Become a Researcher in Physical Sciences (40 credits) – Option module - This module develops your awareness and understanding of research within physical science disciplines of Sport and Exercise. It will introduce you to different types of research strategies, designs and methods pertaining to Sport and Exercise Sciences, as well as familiarise you with data and statistical analyses used in research.
  • Become a Researcher in Social Sciences (40 credits) – Option module - This module focuses on developing your awareness and understanding of research within the social sciences disciplines of sport and exercise. It involves exploring key issues related to research design, methods and analysis.
  • Evaluating Sports Performance (20 credits) - This module provides an opportunity for you to further your understanding of multidisciplinary scientific principles that limit, control and determine sporting performance. The module will provide you with the applied, practical and analytical skills necessary to evaluate and critically assess human performance.
  • Evaluating Exercise and Health (20 credits) - This module focuses on the relationship between exercise and health. You will become familiar with and implement physiological and psychosocial measures of health that will provide you with the applied, practical and analytical skills to evaluate the relationship between exercise and health.
  • The Applied Practitioner (40 credits) - This module will develop your understanding of the applied scientist in sport and exercise sciences. After developing core competencies, you will undertake a placement where you conduct an applied sport and exercise research project in one or more disciplines (physiology, nutrition, performance analysis, biomechanics, psychology, sociology).

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

At Level 6, students will enhance and extend their skills. They will integrate the knowledge and experience they will have acquired throughout their studies with a focus on employability characteristics. In the final year of this degree, they will fulfil the requirements for their chosen careers in sport, exercise and health settings and beyond.  

Work placement opportunities are built into the course at Levels 5 and 6 to enable students to apply a ‘real-world’ understanding of their knowledge and skills.  

MODULES

  • High Performance Sport (20 credits) - This module will provide you with the knowledge, understanding and skills to work with high performance athletes. Contemporary multi-disciplinary issues relating to training, performance and recovery in a variety of high performance settings will be covered. You will also be provided with the opportunity to use relevant practical skills necessary to support the high performance athlete.
  • Participation, Exercise and Health (20 credits) - This module focuses on exercise participation, adherence and health. Models and theories of exercise behaviour change will be critically evaluated in terms of their application and effectiveness. The psychosocial implications of exercise participation and over-involvement in exercise behaviours will be considered within the context of exercise prescription/interventions. 
  • Applied Sports Performance (20 credits) – Option module - This module will further your knowledge and understanding of the determinants of performance in sport. After developing core competencies relating to performance needs analysis and planning in sport, you will undertake a placement where you will get the opportunity to apply your learning to provide sports science support with a relevant group or individual. 
  • Applied Exercise & Health (20 credits) - Option module -  This module develops your knowledge and understanding of epidemiology and population-based health and disease. You will critically interpret population-based physical activity, exercise and health data from different population groups. You will consider practical implications for improving health and the module will include a placement experience where you will get the opportunity to apply your learning. 
  • Sports Medicine and Nutrition (20 credits) - Option module - This module will equip you with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to support athletes from a sports medicine and nutrition perspective. You will explore contemporary issues related to injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and nutritional strategies to optimise performance and recovery. Practical skills will be developed to assess, monitor, and provide interventions that enhance athletic health and performance in diverse sporting environments.
  • Issues in Health and Exercise (20 credits) - Option module - This module focuses on developing your awareness and understanding of social sciences perspectives on health and exercise. It will enable you to apply psychological and sociological theory/concepts to the study of a range of issues related to health and exercise, including motivation, barriers, facilitators, inequalities, policy and media.
  • Major Project in Sport and Exercise Sciences (40 credits). This module enables you to develop the ability to undertake a research project in a sub-discipline area of SES of your choosing, to apply your knowledge of sport and exercise sciences in a research capacity and develop scientific, analytical and communicative skills.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How You’ll Learn

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Curriculum developed to match workforce priorities

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This course is designed around in-person study

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You will be assessed in a variety of ways

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There may be some online learning activities

The course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately 10 and 15 hours per week depending upon Level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is delivered in person where students can expect to take part in practical sessions (including practical laboratory sessions), seminars, lectures, workshops and peer-led seminars. 

Students should expect to spend an average of 25-30 hours per week on independent study which might include independent research, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment. 

Teaching will be delivered by experienced, well-published academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers. 

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of tasks they might encounter in the workplace, whether in professional sport settings, exercise and health promotion settings or beyond. These will include assessments in the form of practical lab assessments, lab reports, written work (both long and short form e.g. reports, reflections), portfolios and presentations. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate-level employment. 

Students will incur travel costs to and from work placements at Level 5 and 6. Work placement modules are mandatory, and students are required to participate in order to successfully complete the course. 

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

112 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – BCC-BBC

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM

International Baccalaureate

28 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4

Scottish Highers - BBBB

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

T Level

Merit

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: DMM

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

72 points

GCE A level

72 points overall, including grade D in A level

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP

International Baccalaureate

24 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4

Scottish Highers: CCDD

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall

T Level

T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: MMP

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. 

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Who You’ll Learn From

Dr Carmel Edwards

Senior Lecturer
Dr Carmel Edwards

Professor Daniel Bloyce

Head of Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing
Professor Daniel Bloyce

Professor Jamie Highton

Professor Jamie Highton

Dr Edd Thomson

Senior Lecturer
Dr Edd Thomson

Dr Nollaig McEvilly

Senior Lecturer
Dr Nollaig McEvilly

Dr Nicola McWhannell

Senior Lecturer
Dr Nicola McWhannell

Suzy Twist

Lecturer
Suzy Twist

Paul Humphries

Senior Lecturer
Paul Humphries

Jason Clare

Senior Lecturer
Jason Clare

Professor Paul Worsfold

Professor Paul Worsfold

Dr Grace Smith

Senior Lecturer
Blank profile picture.

Gareth Williams

Senior Lecturer
Gareth Williams

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Exton Park is close to the city centre of Chester, a city like no other and an amazing place to live as a student. While it is undoubtedly beautiful and packed with history, Chester is also a bustling 21st-century city balancing big-name shopping, eating and living with a thriving independent scene.

Modern learning resources and library

We have dedicated resources and IT services across campus, as well as our Seaborne Library; home to an extensive selection of books, e-books and e-journals, as well as bookable multimedia rooms, video conferencing space, 24-hour access computer labs, and The Hub; a comfortable two-floor study zone, suitable for independent and group study.

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Exton Park is home to a number of our central support services, including Disability and Inclusion, Careers and Employability, and Student Support.

Fitness facilities

Exton Park boasts an impressive choice of indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities, which are used for both competitive and recreational sports. Our facilities include a swimming pool, gym, squash, and tennis courts, running track and two floodlit pitches.

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Built in 1847 by former students, the University Chapel offers regular services and a venue to services. The University of Chester also has multi-faith spaces across the campus for prayer or quiet reflection.

Accommodation

Most of our student accommodation is located either on or near Exton Park.

Catering

We have several catering outlets available onsite, offering a wide selection of hot and cold food to students and visitors. Term-time Meal Schemes are also available for those students interested in non-residential catering schemes.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

We have a very good track record in terms of our graduates gaining suitable employment in the sport and exercise employment sector. The applied focus of the degree is most useful when it comes to gaining employment. Previous graduates work in professional sports clubs and organisations as sport science support staff, others have gone into health promotion, sport management, and teaching amongst other areas. Many of our graduates have also gone on to do further study upon completion of their undergraduate course. 

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

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