
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2023
You can also study this course:
Whether your goals are to increase performance of professional sports people, aid talented young players or fight societal issues such as obesity, a sport and exercise science degree from Buckinghamshire New University will help you gain the skills and experience you need to stand out in today’s workplace.
With this British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (BASES) endorsed degree, you can gain valuable experience using our state-of-the-art facilities and learn about biomechanics, physiology and psychology, graduating with an in-depth knowledge of sport and exercise science.
Pathways
Our Sport and Exercise Science programme gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum in year one. Rather than having to make your big career decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose the pathway which leads to your chosen career.
Make your application to BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science. You'll then choose one of the below pathways after your first year and your final degree award will be the pathway you have chosen.
These pathways are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

What will I study on this pathway?
Endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists (BASES) our BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree combines underlying scientific principles from the sport science disciplines of exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports psychology with the highly practical skills from the more contemporary sports science disciplines of strength and conditioning, nutrition and performance analysis, to help prepare you for a career within the field of sport and exercise science.
You will graduate with BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science.

What will I study on this pathway?
Developed in line with the Chartered Institute of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and aligned to Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach (GSCC) professional standards, this pathway will help develop your knowledge in Strength and Conditioning. Combining scientific principles with practical S&C training methods, you will study a variety of specialisms including exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology, data analysis, performance analysis, sports injury, rehabilitation and more.
You will graduate with BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning.
Why study this subject?
Sport and exercise science is the application of scientific principles, and research methodology in sport and exercise. You will study the following three core branches of sports science: biomechanics, physiology and sport psychology.
After graduation some of the areas you could work is with members of the public and NHS as an exercise scientist. You can also work in sports teams and with professional athletes and local clubs. When considering your career in sports and exercise science, think about what professional accreditations the industry is looking for, such as The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accreditation.
A popular entry point into sports and exercise science (according to the UK government national careers survey) is a university degree covering the core of biomechanics, physiology and psychology, with professional body accreditation.
Why study at BNU?
Our focus is on improving your employability, helping you gain relevant working experience in sport and exercise science and providing you with an in-depth understanding of the key skills required in the workplace.
Employers today want to see your skills and your work experience. We offer you a chance to get both the skills and the experience and show it off. We do this by giving you the chance to apply your skills wherever possible in simulated real-world environments, using industry standard facilities in the field and in our Human Performance Lab.
This course has been endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK. Graduating with an endorsed degree provides you with a competitive advantage that is recognised nationally and internationally.
Using our partnerships with professional bodies, sports teams, athletes and local schools and colleges we have based your course on what’s needed out in the field today.

The quality of our links to industry speak for themselves. We’re currently linked with Watford FC, Wycombe Wanderers, Reading Ladies WSL and academy teams, Amateur Swimming Association, British Rowing, GB para-athletes and many community level sports clubs, athletes and local schools.
We’ve made sure our lecturers are actively engaged in a professional practice setting and have many years of professional experience in teaching and industry. We are constantly strengthening relationships with high-performance sports organisations and clinical providers giving you even more opportunity to learn from the real industry leaders.
BNU has an inspired and friendly community of lecturers and support staff. We are here for the student, prioritising the student experience, feedback, self-improvement and the things which make university great.
In this course you’ll learn the foundations of sport and exercise science, as well as having the opportunity to practically apply your new knowledge and skills in professional environments, supporting professional athletes currently at the top of their game.
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.
What facilities can I use?
Most of our work with you and our professional partners takes place in the Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre. This is where the body can be fully tested and evaluated, using specialist equipment used by sport and exercise scientists in the world of work.
It contains a working clinic and human performance laboratory and the work you will complete here is a step up from your previous studies and helps prepare you for your future career.
Additionally, the University has a commercially run sports hall and fitness centre giving you the opportunity to learn within a sports centre environment.
The Gateway Gym is on our High Wycombe Campus, with competitive student rates. It contains all you need to gain experience, undertake training, enhance your learning, and develop your fitness levels.
Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.
Whilst studying with us you will also use our Apps anywhere web service, which provides access to many of the software applications you use for learning and studying. Apps Anywhere can be used from your own device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.
How will I be taught and assessed?
This course combines underlying scientific theories and practical skills from the sport and exercise science disciplines. We combine principles from classic disciplines like physiology, biomechanics and sports psychology with skills from contemporary ones like strength and conditioning, sports coaching, performance analysis and nutrition.
You’ll be taught by our incredible teaching team through lectures, practical sessions, seminars and workshops. Additionally, you will be using our Human Performance Lab to measure body response and look at adaptations to your training plans, test theories and further your understanding of sports science hands on.
Your work will be assessed through a variety of means such as:
- presentations
- portfolio assessments
- viva’s
- practical assessments
- time constrained assessments
- written work.
Our Sport and Exercise Science programme gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum in year one. Rather than having to make your big career decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose the pathway which leads to your chosen career.

Open Days
We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.

Application Guide
For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
This course has Opportunity modules.
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue www.bnu.ac.uk/oppmodules.
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue www.bnu.ac.uk/oppmodules.
What are the tuition fees
Home
Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£9,250 per year
International
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£15,000 per year
What are my career prospects?
Sport and Exercise Science Pathway
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
The blend of theoretical, practical and work-based learning you’ll experience in this course will set you up for a career within the fields of high-performance sport or clinical exercise.
Our course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:
- sport and exercise scientist
- strength and conditioning coach
- health assessment and screening
- performance analysis
- sports coach
- teacher training
- health and fitness club management
- fitness consultancy
- personal fitness training
- corporate health advice
- the armed forces
Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course like MSc Sports Therapy or MSc Sports Performance. You’ll also have the chance to go on to BASES membership which is a key membership and is now becoming required for many jobs in the industry.
Previous graduates have gone on to work in a wide range of roles such as personal trainers, fitness instructors, elite sports science, graduate sport programmes, and specialists in well regarded organisations.
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