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Sport and Exercise Science

Sport and Exercise Science is the application of scientific principles to the promotion, maintenance and enhancement of sport and exercise related behaviours. It is fast becoming one of the most popular subjects to study at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Most undergraduate sport and exercise science degrees tend to be based around three aspects of science – physiology, biomechanics and psychology. Therefore, a graduate would be expected to have a broad knowledge base covering all three aspects and interdisciplinary approaches.

In order to get on to a degree course in sport and exercise science you need to have appropriate qualifications. For many students this means the traditional route of GCSEs and A Levels at school or college. When choosing what to study at A Level you should think carefully about your future courses/career. You can take specific A Levels, for example in Sport and Physical Education or in Sport Studies. However, more general science subjects such as Biology may keep more options open for you. You should also think about what grades you are likely to achieve in your chosen subjects. A look at the UCAS website or university websites will show you what sort of subjects and grades are usually required.

With so many courses available it is important that you consider which would be the best for you. Your teachers should also be able to offer advice and help.

Look for institutions that are successful in placing graduates in sport and exercise related occupations. As with all important decisions, it is advisable to seek as much objective information as possible to support your choice.

It is important that you obtain detailed information about the actual content of the courses for which you are thinking of applying. Often courses with the same name have very different content, and equally courses with different names may in fact cover the same material.

Some universities offer discipline-specific programmes of study, for example in the psychology of sport and exercise. These courses tend to provide less breadth of study than traditional sport and exercise science courses. Such specialist courses may, however, appeal to those applicants with a very clear idea of their disciplinary interests and potential career progression. Generally however, a broad understanding of sport and exercise science is best achieved through multidisciplinary study at undergraduate level (i.e. a course that focuses on biomechanics, physiology and psychology). A specialism can then be developed through relevant postgraduate study.

Other Things to Think About

It may seem obvious, but it is worth stressing that if you are interested in the topic of your degree you are more likely to do well in it. Many students studying sport and exercise science do have a strong interest in at least some aspects of the area and this is a big advantage. Conversely, you will not do very well in your course if you are unhappy, so you need to pick an institution that you will enjoy attending. For some this means a city centre location, while others prefer an out of town campus. Find out about the social and sporting facilities available, particularly if you have a specific sport you are very keen to continue. You should also consider housing and other costs and how far you want to be from home.

To get lots more information on careers in sports science visit www.bases.org.uk
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