Overview
Highlights of sport and exercise science at Nottingham
- Study in new laboratories in the David Ross Sports Village, as well as cutting-edge sports medicine facilities and a dissection suite
- Join a university which is a founding partner in the IOC accredited National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine
- Experience multidisciplinary teaching from internationally recognised academics, who specialise in associated sport, medical, health and engineering fields
- Benefit from more personal teaching and engage with teaching staff closely through small class sizes
- Expand your studies through optional modules, build a Professional Development Portfolio and complete a final-year research project in a topic of your choice
Ideal for those with an interest in sport and the biomedical sciences, this course will provide you with thorough scientific knowledge into why and how the body functions during and after sport and exercise.
Sport at Nottingham
The University of Nottingham has a strong tradition of sporting success across a wide number of sports. The University has finished in the BUCS top 10 for the last 15 years. For the 2016/17 season, we finished 4th.
We were awarded Sports University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.
A range of sports scholarships are available for talented athletes.
Location and facilities
Depending on the module being studied, you may be based in the Faculty of Engineering on University Park Campus or the Medical School, which is embedded in the Queen’s Medical Centre. There is a footbridge linking the Medical School to University Park, providing easy access to facilities on both bases.
In the Medical School, we have an anatomy suite and functional sports medicine facilities so there is everything you will need to study a range of subjects. In addition, we have built new exercise physiology, psychology and human movement laboratories in the David Ross Sports Village on University Park Campus.
Entry requirements
A levels: AAB including at least two from biology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology and physics; biology preferred. A pass is required in science practical tests, if assessed separately. A level in PE or Sports Science is acceptable as a third subject.
Please note we do not accept A level General Studies.
GCSEs: Five GCSEs at grade 7-4 (A-C), including English language and maths. Understand how we show GCSE grades
University of Nottingham foundation programme: Passing of the Science Foundation Programme (CFG0) following the Biological Sciences pathway with a mean of 60% in Foundation Biological Sciences (C10FY3) and Chemistry (C10FCL) modules.
IB: 34-36; 5/6 in biology and another science subject at Higher Level
BTECs: We will also consider AB at A level, with two from biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and psychology; biology preferred. Plus D* in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma or National Extended Certificate in PE, Sport & Exercise Science or any other Science subject (equivalent to 1 A level).
Course content
Teaching methods and assessment
You will learn through a variety of methods depending on the module.
These may include:
- lectures
- seminars
- laboratory classes
- field-based practical classes
- small-groups
- workshops
- tutorials
- placements
Assessment varies on the module being studied, but is typically a combination of:
- exams
- essays
- dissertations
- laboratory reports
- presentations
Personal Development Portfolio
All students will be required to complete a Personal Development Portfolio during their studies. This mandatory portfolio includes undertaking work placements within the University and UK, completing national coaching qualifications and a first aid course to obtain the relevant certificates. The experience you gain will be extremely value for your future career.
Placements
All students will be required to complete a Personal Development Portfolio during their studies. This mandatory portfolio will include undertaking work placements within the University and UK, completing national coaching qualifications and a first aid course to obtain the relevant certificates.
Year one
Introductory modules will cover the foundations of the science behind sport and exercise - exploring how the human body functions from the cellular level to the whole organism. You will also take a module to prepare you for the future study of biomechanics.
Topics including physiology, psychology and anatomy are studied while developing skills such as scientific writing, experimental design and data handling.
Teaching will be a mixture of classroom-based sessions and laboratory practicals. As part of the Professional Development Portfolio, you’ll complete a first aid qualification.
You will study Mechanics for Sport and Exercise Science, along with:
Human Physiology
In this module, you will be introduced to the physiology of major systems such as cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal, including some aspects of drug action. This module will allow you to understand your biochemical and genetics knowledge in the context of the intact organism. This module includes lectures and laboratory classes.
Genes, Molecules and Cells
This module combines lectures and laboratory classes and introduces you to the structure and function of significant molecules in cells, and the important metabolic processes which occur inside them. You will study, amongst other topics, protein and enzyme structure and function, the biosynthesis of cell components, and the role of cell membranes in barrier and transport processes. You'll examine how information in DNA is used to determine the structure of gene products. Topics include DNA structure, transcription and translation and mutation and recombinant DNA technology.
Core Skills in Sport and Exercise Science
This module will provide the opportunity to study the fundamental principles in:
- Exercise Physiology - including basic cardio-respiratory and muscle responses to exercise, nutritional requirements of exercise, and the basic anatomy of the heart and lungs)
- Psychology – including fundamentals of individual and population group processes in sport and exercise
- Functional Anatomy - focussing on the integration of the anatomy of bones, joints, muscle, ligaments and tendons with the biomechanics of human movement.
This module also focusses on developing core skills required by sport and exercise scientists in scientific writing, experimental design, data handling and analysis, and scientific presentations.
The above is a sample of the typical modules that we offer at the date of publication but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. This prospectus may be updated over the duration of the course, as modules may change due to developments in the curriculum or in the research interests of staff.
Year two
Study into the three main branches of sport and exercise science (physiology, biomechanics and psychology) is continued but in more depth. Human anatomy is also looked at more closely, with modules covering the musculoskeletal system and the physiology of the cardiovascular and respiratory system.
You’ll gain an understanding of how the body responds to exercise and the impact of nutrition on exercise performance.
Work for the Professional Development Portfolio will progress, with the potential for you to undertake a coaching qualification and/or placements.
Functional Anatomy of the Musculoskeletal System and Applied Sports Medicine
This module will focus on specific muscles and muscle groups in the upper and lower limbs and relate this to function. The related osteology and important structures such as ligaments and tendons will be studied. There will also be the opportunity to study imaging modalities such as ultrasound. This knowledge will be integrated with fundamental aspects of prevention and treatment of sport- and exercise-related musculoskeletal injury and relevant medical conditions.
Sports and Exercise Biomechanics
Motion of the body is extremely complex in sporting activities. This module develops skills in measuring the motion and performance of the body using cutting-edge motion analysis equipment. Examples will be used to illustrate the applications of these techniques in assessing and understanding motion, characterising style and technique and monitoring injury.
Applied Sports Psychology
This module will cover psychological approaches to maximising training adaptations and enhancing performance in humans. It will also focus on psychological and behavioural risk factors and treatment interventions for optimal rehabilitation from injuries.
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology
This module will explain how the heart and lungs operate within an integrated system to sustain blood pressure, and maintain essential blood supply to peripheral organs. The reaction of peripheral organs to this constantly changing blood supply, and the effects on cardiovascular function will be outlined. These concepts will then enable students to understand the effects of acute exercise on this system, and the effects of training. This knowledge will be integrated with the fundamental aspects of the anatomy of the human cardiovascular and respiratory system.
Muscle Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism in Exercise
This module is designed to enable you to develop a strong understanding of how the human body responds acutely to exercise and adapts to chronic physical training, with particular emphasis on skeletal muscle. It will also focus on the interaction between nutrition and energy metabolism and the impact of nutrition on exercise performance. This knowledge will be integrated with the fundamental aspects of the anatomy of the human gastrointestinal system.
Environmental Physiology
This module expands on 2nd year modules in muscle and cardiorespiratory physiology to understand how the human body reacts, and potentially adapts to, environmental stress. A series of examples including extreme cold, heat, altitude, water immersion, and microgravity will be explored.
The above is a sample of the typical modules that we offer at the date of publication but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. This prospectus may be updated over the duration of the course, as modules may change due to developments in the curriculum or in the research interests of staff.
Year three
In the final year, you will continue to specialise through core modules in the major disciplines of sport and exercise science.
You will also undertake a final-year research project, under the supervision of a research-active academic. This is an opportunity to consolidate your learning and showcase your skills. You’ll be expected to plan and carry out your own experiment as well as interpret the results in the context of previous published work. The final outcome will be a written dissertation.
Advanced optional modules will also be available for you to choose from. This is a great opportunity to study a topic you already have a prior interest in or to try something new.
Research Methods and Statistics
This module will equip students with a variety of research methods relevant to their upcoming research project. The importance of correct study design will be emphasised, as well as the ethical considerations when conducting human experiments. Data and statistical analysis techniques appropriate to sport and exercise research will be explained, as well as their importance when deciding on study design.
Applied Exercise and Health Psychology
This module will focus on psychological and behavioural approaches to promoting physical activity at individual and population group level.
Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism in Health and Disease
This module will enable students to develop a strong understanding of metabolism in the promotion and maintenance of human health, including aspects of muscle, heart, liver and adipose tissue metabolism. It will also cover the role of diet in the development, prevention and treatment of disease.
Clinical Biomechanics
This module expands on your understanding of skeletal tissue mechanics and physiology to identify the mechanisms of common sports injuries explaining injury thresholds and how these are determined. The concept of injury criteria will be introduced and used to illustrate how sports equipment and rule changes can be optimised to minimise the risk of injury.
Project and Dissertation
This is a year-long level three module. You will undertake detailed research on a chosen topic in anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, or psychology with close supervision from an academic member of staff. Each project will involve collection of experimental data, their analysis and interpretation in the context of previous published work, and the completion of a written dissertation.
Optional advanced modules
Four from the list below are required:
Biology of Ageing
The success of modern medicine has resulted in significant increases in the average human lifespan. This module will focus on the mechanistic basis of human ageing and progression to chronic age-related disease and will consider the role and potential for exercise and pharmacological interventions in offsetting age related decline.
Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport
This module will cover contemporary issues related to use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, and the monitoring and ethical issues that surround this practice.
Cardiovascular Control in Health and Disease
This module will explain how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are affected by common diseases, such as atherosclerosis, COPD and heart failure, and how exercise is central to the quality of life of these patients. The module will examine the mechanisms underlying prevention of such diseases via increased physical activity, as well as the effect of exercise in managing disease.
Psychological and Behavioural Barriers to Exercise
This module focuses on understanding barriers to and facilitators of participation in physical activity, and developing effective interventions to address those factors.
Rehabilitation from Sports Injuries
In this module, you will study about current strategies used to prevent, evaluate and treat acute and chronic sport-related injuries, and return to normal function.
Physical Activity and Health
This module considers the emerging associations between sedentariness and physical inactivity and the development of chronic, non-communicable diseases. It will also consider the impact of increased physical activity on human health.
Head Trauma in Sports and Rehabilitation from Brain Injury
In this module you will be introduced to different types of head injuries associated with sports participation and their clinical management. You will also learn about current rehabilitation strategies following head trauma (including stroke).
The above is a sample of the typical modules that we offer at the date of publication but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. This prospectus may be updated over the duration of the course, as modules may change due to developments in the curriculum or in the research interests of staff.
Extracurricular activities
Professional Development Portfolio (mandatory for all students)
All students will be required to complete a Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) during their three year study in Nottingham. This mandatory portfolio will include successful completion of a first aid course in year one, undertaking short-term work placements within the University and UK, and obtaining national sport coaching qualifications of their choice.
The above is a sample of the typical modules that we offer at the date of publication but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. This prospectus may be updated over the duration of the course, as modules may change due to developments in the curriculum or in the research interests of staff.
Careers
As a graduate, you’ll have a broad range of skills valued by employers in a variety of sectors. In addition to knowledge of sport and exercise science, you’ll have transferable skills in communication, presentation and problem solving.
Typically, graduates will find employment in:
- professional sports bodies and organisations
- sports and leisure centres
- sports and health industry
- pharmaceutical industry
- education sector
- public health sector
- UK institutes of sport
- food and drink industry
- exercise testing laboratories
Average starting salary and career progression
In 2017, 92% of undergraduates from the School of Life Sciences who were available for employment had secured work or further study within six months of graduation. The average starting salary was £21,037.*
** Known destinations of full-time home undergraduates who were available for work, 2016/17. Salaries are calculated based on the median of those in full-time paid employment within the UK.
Careers support and advice
Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.
Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.
Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.
The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2019, High Fliers Research).
Fees and funding
Additional costs
As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies. Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.
Scholarships and bursaries
The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.
Sport scholarship scheme
Our range of sports scholarships are aimed at providing an unrivalled level of support to the brightest and best talents in the sporting world.
As well as a reputation for academic excellence, we have a history of sporting success and are passionate about supporting promising athletes during their time at Nottingham. Please check the sport website for further details, including eligibility criteria.
Home students*
Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £2,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.
* A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.
International/EU students
Our International Baccalaureate Diploma Excellence Scholarship is available for select students paying overseas fees who achieve 38 points or above in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. We also offer a range of High Achiever Prizes for students from selected countries, schools and colleges to help with the cost of tuition fees. Find out more about scholarships, fees and finance for international students.
Related courses
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.