Discover the science behind sport performance and the health benefits of physical activity and exercise.

Do you dream of working with elite athletes to help improve their performance or want a better understanding of how science can be applied to sport to improve your coaching or teaching ability? Do you want to develop your understanding of exercise as a medicine for people with health problems or want to promote the benefits of physical activity and exercise? This broad ranging course is uniquely designed to help you realise these dreams.

Drawing on 40 years of experience, we pride ourselves on offering many ‘hands on’ experiences in the laboratory or the sport coaching environment. This and our research-led curriculum, covering core Sport Science topics of physiology, psychology and biomechanics, will give you the knowledge and skills required for a career in the expanding exercise and sport market. With the addition of our sport and exercise specific employability programs and placements you have the opportunity to make yourself stand out from the crowd with a degree from one of the ‘original’ schools of sport science in the UK.

Research Skills – This covers three main topics; quantitative research design, the analysis of group differences and regression analyses using quantitative methods and qualitative research methods and analysis.

Students read series of scientific papers to develop their critical understanding of research design, including formulating a question, generating a hypothesis, study designs, sampling methods, ensuring validity and reliability, and good dissemination practices. Both original investigations and review studies will be included. The second topic involves using a wide variety of quantitative methods to analyse group differences and regression analyses. The qualitative part of the module will address the different philosophical positions underpinning quantitative and qualitative research; data collection methods, including interviews, focus groups and observational methods; and qualitative data analysis, including thematic content analysis, grounded theory and discourse analysis.

Research Project – This is an independent piece of research, and acts as the culmination of the academic challenges faced by the student. The module comprises 60 credits (ie equivalent to three double modules) and will formally equate to some 600 hours of student time.

Students work closely with their supervisor to develop a research project. Academic supervisors are leaders in their field of study and provide excellent research training and guidance throughout this process. Once an appropriate research question is agreed, students will implement a research design and method suited to the area of enquiry.  

Multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, which might involve the student’s ongoing sport/exercise experience, will be encouraged. Each topic will normally involve data collection, analysis and interpretation and allow students to demonstrate their powers of imagination, initiative, independence and time management. Students are expected to show a thorough knowledge of the relevant sources of information and the ability to use them with discrimination; to provide full references; to exercise sound and independent judgment; to structure work logically and to express themselves with clarity and precision.  

Students will typically have two to four hours of lectures per week for each module as well as laboratory time, seminars and tutorials. This direct contact time is tied with student-centred learning such as reading, writing essays and reports, gathering information and data, working on group projects and preparing verbal and poster presentations. These form the basis of your assessment, along with examinations, case studies and critiques of research.

25% of students’ time is spent in lectures, seminars and lab practicals. We keep our lectures, seminars and lab class sizes small:

• Lectures: 30-150
• Seminars: approx. 12-15
• Laboratory practicals: approx. 25

This means that our students have closer contact with lecturers and tutors, and all our students have access to regular one-to-one meetings with staff.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Sport Science Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

All postgraduate taught applicants (Home/EU /International, full-time and part-time) are eligible to APPLY to become a Graduate Assistant (GA).  

Graduate Assistants are paid to work with academic staff in a range of teaching, learning and assessment activities to support undergraduate student learning for up to 60 hours each academic year.  

Our research-led curriculum covers the core Sport, Health and Exercise Science topics of physiology, psychology, exercise, health and medicine, biomechanics and effective coaching. Our expertise and high calibre teaching will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need for a career in the expanding sport, health, exercise and adventure markets.