4 years with placement
During your final year you'll learn to critically evaluate the principles of scientific support. You'll be exposed to studies relating to training design, physiological adaptations to exercise and how athletes can easily over-train. You'll explore what constitutes performance, examining the physiological and metabolic demands of sport, while addressing the principles of training application and design.
You'll learn to critically evaluate methods used in training and reflect on the array of physiological, metabolic and biochemical adaptions that arise through reviewing aerobic and anaerobic endurance, strength, power, flexibility and speed. Within each of these domains the application of training approaches will be explored in the context of intensity, frequency and duration, thus reflecting training loads.
You’ll also have a unique opportunity to choose between a final year research project or to work and complete a project in industry and deliver on an organisation’s strategic priority, as a result potentially creating a service/product that helps them fulfil their needs.
Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to help you measure your progress. These include presentations, practical skills tests, scientific reports, case study critiques, online assessments and a research project. We’ll also encourage you to reflect on your work, and participate in peer assessment.
Introduction
Whether you're interested in elite sport performance, supporting talented younger players, or wider issues to do with physical activity and health, prepare for a career in a fast-moving field by studying on our nationally endorsed Sport and Exercise Science degree in the heart of Cambridge.
Want to turn your love of sport and fitness into a lifelong career? Sport and Exercise Science graduates are in demand, whether you want to encourage and support people to take up sports and exercise, work in a clinical environment – or help propel them to the top of their game.
At ARU, we're proud to be ranked number 1 in the country for sports science courses in the Guardian League Table 2021.
Study sports science with world-leading experts in our specialist labs in Cambridge, on a degree course endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Here, you’ll learn to apply the four key disciplines of sport and exercise science: physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition.
Our Sport and Exercise Science degree course is also endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), so you'll graduate ready to work in the UK’s burgeoning sport and fitness industry or to continue your learning journey to postgraduate study. Find out more about our approved and accredited courses.
There are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on experience, with internships and an optional placement year.
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On our Sport and Exercise Science degree course at ARU, you’ll explore the scientific principles and techniques that underpin health, wellbeing and sporting performance.
Sports and exercise scientists can work at all levels, from the general population to elite performance – and our course prepares you for that.
You’ll study the nature of the human machine: how this operates when engaged in sport and exercise, and how to interpret and evaluate its responses.
Our students are based in the Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Sciences. Here, you’ll learn to work safely and ethically as a sport and exercise scientist in our laboratories. There’s the chance to hear from world-leading guest speakers too, through our Excellence in Sports seminar series; and to take part in training opportunities, such as working as a strength and condition coach or as part of the student led Physiology testing consultancy team.
As you’d expect from a university that’s passionate about sport, you’ll find an array of array of sports clubs and societies here.
And to top it all off, there’s financial support on offer for talented athletes.
Specialist equipment
At ARU you’ll be based in our Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Science. Its British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited specialist exercise testing and human movement facilities include:
- five dedicated laboratories (cardio-respiratory physiology, metabolic and anaerobic physiology, hydrostatic weighing, biomechanics and strength and conditioning, physiology teaching)
- electrocardiography (ECG)
- near infrared spectroscopy for monitoring of blood oxygenation
- body composition systems
- isokinetic dynamometer for the assessment of muscular strength
- heat chambers
- an array of ergometers: treadmills, cycles and rowers
- GPS monitoring technology
- breath-by-breath oxygen-analysis systems
- haematology suites
- accelerometers.
Multiple ways to learn
All our Sport and Exercise Science students can:
- train and work in the on-site Exercise Testing Consultancy team, gaining experience of testing athletes and members of the public
- learn from highly experienced lecturers, including practising sport therapists, coaches and conditioning specialists. Our team currently includes a Paralympian World Record holder, a Scottish Women’s Rugby player and a judo champion
- apply for internships with Cambridge United FC, Northampton Saints and Para Monte, among others
- hear from guest speakers at our Excellence in Sport seminars
- collaborate with international speakers and students as part of our optional summer school
- join an optional training programme to improve strength and conditioning coaching skills
- take an optional placement year and gain additional work experience.
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), meaning employers will view you as 'job ready' for roles in sport and physical activity.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Our degree course is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). You’ll be based in our Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Science, using BASES-accredited specialist facilities.
Careers
There are wide-ranging employment opportunities for sport scientists, from introducing people to sport and exercise, to helping take them to the top. You could work as an athlete-support scientist (with teams and national sports associations), an exercise consultant, a performance analyst, or a clinical psychologist, among other roles in applied health and physical activity and the health and fitness industry.
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector, and the sector's only chartered professional body, meaning employers will view you as "job ready" for roles in sport and physical activity.
We’ll encourage you to improve your employment prospects by making connections with industry. We have links with a range of sporting organisations, including:
- Living Sport (Cambridge and Peterborough Sports Development)
- British Paralympic Association
- British Cycling
- British Judo Association
- Cambridge United FC
- European Space Agency
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Physiological Society
- European College of Sports Medicine
- American College of Sports Medicine
- England and Wales Cricket Board
Whichever area of sports science interests you, you can be sure you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities that employers need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships and placements.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study a postgraduate degree such as our MSc Sport and Exercise Science or MSc Sport Coaching. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
Placement year
£1,250Placement year
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