- You will have regular access to state-of-the-art sports and science laboratories.
- Provides a firm foundation for a career in the sports industry.
- Taught by highly experienced and published researchers – all experts in their field.
- We have partnerships with a number of leading sports organisations, including Crystal Palace FC, the Lawn Tennis Association, Fulham FC, Hercules Wimbledon Athletics Club, schools and coaching agencies.
- We are ranked 1st in London for Sport and Exercise Sciences (Complete University Guide 2021).
Summary
Study the science behind sport and exercise at Roehampton where you will learn how to optimise athletic performance, prevent injuries, improve well-being, and help athletes with recovery.
The BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences extended degree programme includes a foundation year, which will provide you with a sound introduction to key elements needed for studying Biological Sciences at degree level. Our extended degree programme will provide you with a thorough and supportive academic preparation for study. The Foundation year is carefully designed to build your confidence in your abilities, develop essential academic and study skills, and provide you with subject specific knowledge as a basis for success in your following three years.
The Sport and Exercise Extended degree is comprised of three areas – the biology and biochemistry of the body (physiology), the physical demands on the body (biomechanics), and the response of the mind (psychology). This course will help you gain in-depth knowledge of how these three sciences underpin sport and exercise and get you ready for a career in the sports industry.
You will learn about the latest sport theory and practice and gain hands-on experience working in lab settings with specialised modern equipment. This degree will give you a strong scientific knowledge basis to be able to address key contemporary issues in the sector such as how to optimise team performance, how to improve the recovery, and mobility of amputees, and how to cope with extreme environmental conditions. Our enthusiastic tutors provide lively interactive ways to learn, ensuring you will have the best possible experience.
You will develop a range of key skills, including the ability to analyse and understand scientific data and information. You’ll be able to apply what you have learned to a successful career in the sports industry or beyond.
Recent modules have included ‘Applied Sport and Exercise Science’ which explores performance analysis techniques for both team and individual sports, ‘Psychology of Peak Performance’ where you will discover the psychological theories and skills that apply to the promotion of peak performance including the newest psychological developments, or ‘Biomechanics: Performance & Injury’ which will help you put your theory work into practice using data from scientific measurements to improve athlete performance.
Content
During the foundation year, you will complete core modules in English and Mathematics, as well as an extended project which will develop your skills in carrying out research, using scholarly sources, drawing comparisons between your own research and that of others and documenting your findings. You will study two modules in Life Sciences which will give you the opportunity to explore methods of scientific thinking and reasoning in an enquiry-based way. You will also be introduced to key concepts in human physiology that are common cornerstones of the different degree programmes.
In your first year, you'll be introduced to the three key academic disciplines that make up sport sciences – physiology, psychology and biomechanics – and you will develop a range of skills for studying sport and exercise. Modules might include: Introduction to Physiology and Fitness Assessment, Biomechanical Analysis of Movement, or Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology. There is also a Disciplinary Investigation module where you will demonstrate the ability to utilise the academic and subject-specific toolkit acquired through previous modules to manage your own learning, and in partnership with your tutors, negotiate, plan and carry out an investigation into the chosen topic.
In your second year, you'll expand your knowledge of the subject area and spend many hours in the laboratory practically applying your knowledge and skills. Recent examples of modules available include Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology, Psychology of Peak Performance, and Applied Biomechanics.
In your final year, you'll have a choice of modules to enable you to tailor your programme to your own specific interests. In addition, there will be an opportunity to carry out an independent research dissertation in an area that interests you. Modules might include: Advanced Topics in Psychology, Biomechanics: Performance and Injury, or Training Programmes.
Modules
Here are some examples of the various modules we currently offer:
Foundation Year
Communication for Academic Purposes 1
Communication for Academic Purposes 2
Operational Mathematics
Scientific Thinking and Techniques
An Introduction to Human Physiology
Disciplinary Investigation
Year 1
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Fundamentals of Exercise Physiology
Survival Skills
Biomechanical Analysis of Movement
Good Science
Principles of Human Nutrition
Year 2
Compulsory Modules
Physiology of Exercise
Applied Sport and Exercise Science
Applied Biomechanics
Psychology of Peak Performance
Research Methods for Sport and Exercise Sciences
Optional Modules
Students must choose one of the following modules:
Sports and Exercise Nutrition
Work Place Learning
Public Health and Health Promotion
Year 3
Required Modules
Dissertation by Research
OR
Dissertation by Practice
Optional Modules
Work Place Learning
Environmental Physiology
Exercise and Health
Report
Advanced Topics in Psychology
Biomechanics: Performance and Injury
Limitations to Performance and Training
Advances in Nutrition and Health
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
Career options
You will be able to work in a wide range of roles within the sports industry or related fields including sports therapist, coach, personal trainer, teacher, lecturer or within sport development and administration. Graduates can also continue onto postgraduate study.
Life at Roehampton
At Roehampton, we can offer all new students the opportunity to live in accommodation on our beautiful parkland campus, including affordable and high-end options.
We offer scholarships, provide hardship funding and help you find advice on managing your finances while you study.
We provide plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, through volunteering, playing sport or music, or joining one of our many active student societies.
