Expand your knowledge of physical performance by gaining a deep understanding of strength and conditioning processes that’ll make you stand out in an industry with an ever-increasing profile. Abertay is Scotland's TOP Modern University for teaching satisfaction in Sports Science (The Guardian University Guide 2022).

Programme Overview

This is Scotland’s only undergraduate degree to be formally recognised by the USA's National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) – the industry’s largest governing body worldwide.

Please note: This is one of the specialist routes within the sports portfolio at Abertay. You’ll make your choice of specialist route at the end of stage two of the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise programme.

Strength and Conditioning (S&C) is an integral component for sport organisations across a wide range of amateur and professional sports, although the role of the S&C practitioner extends beyond the traditional provision of strength training – it’s not simply confined to sport organisations.

Learn the sciences behind training and performance

The deep understanding of the sciences behind training and performance required to be a successful S&C specialist are equally applicable to work with young people, the elderly and those either suffering from, or at risk of, developing a number of disease states.

You’ll work in our Human Performance Laboratory, with running, rowing, fitness testing and weights machines. You’ll also have opportunities to meet the numerous professional sportsmen and sportswomen who draw on the expertise of our lecturing staff within this facility.

This course scored an impressive 100% for Overall Student Satisfaction and 97% for Teaching Quality in the 2022 National Student Survey (NSS)

How the Course Works

Learning and Assessment

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars/tutorials and independent study. The practical lab classes offer the chance to learn relevant scientific techniques first hand, and provide an opportunity to engage in research by designing experiments and collecting and analysing data.

The assessment strategy is aimed at developing a variety of skills that are valued by employers. The majority of assessment is by innovative coursework-related submissions, such as lab reports, essays, oral and poster presentations, portfolios, reflective logs, practical tests.

Exams form only a small percentage (approximately 15%) of the overall assessment.

Accreditation

National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

This degree programme is recognised by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), which identifies university courses designed to prepare students for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) qualifications.

International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association

This degree programme is also accredited by the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), an acknowledgement that the programme supports the advancement of education in Strength and Conditioning and has established a profile of skills that employers value in university graduates. This is the only degree programme in Scotland to hold the approval of both of these external and independent organisations