September 2024

Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons)

Honours Degree, Undergraduate, September 2024

Key Details

  • C601 Course Code
  • 3 Years
  • 112 Typical UCAS Tariff
CIMSPA logo

On a course with small class sizes that’s personalised to your interests, you’ll explore the theoretical and practical factors that influence sports performance, health and wellbeing. You’ll learn how scientific principles can improve health and elite performance – while seeing for yourself how the latest technological innovations can support these improvements. You’ll gain the real-world experience, inspiration and skills you need to progress in sports & exercise science, education and research.

You’ll learn and train in sophisticated facilities on one campus – from our sports hall and conditioning suites to our full-size outdoor 3G pitch – and our small class sizes mean you’ll have great access to them. The Human Performance Lab is where you’ll spend most of your time – fully-equipped with 3D analysis, integrated force plates, gas & bloods analysis, heart rate and GPS monitoring. It’s an elite setup allowing you to analyse sports performance from both a physiological and biomechanical perspective, specifically designed to support interdisciplinary learning.

  • With small class sizes we can personalise your course and you get easy access to sophisticated kit.
  • All our sports facilities are on one campus in close proximity
  • You’re taught by experienced experts who support elite athletes and conduct research
  • This course includes valuable work placements, field trips and opportunities for international trips
  • The programme has lots of practical and lab-based work for you to develop your own research and relate your studies to practical sports situations.
  • You’re supported to complete academic modules that are vocationally relevant, ensuring you’re in a strong position to progress in your chosen career.
  • The broad nature of modules in your first year means you can change to the second year of another Sports programme if you’d like to.

The teaching methods and course content are informed by relevant professional bodies including the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES), the Association of Physical Education (AfPE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the European College of Sports Science (ECSS).

During your first year of study you will start to develop a theoretical understanding of the sub-disciplines of sport and exercise science (physiology, biomechanics and psychology) and explore the key practical skills in these areas. You will also examine some wider issues related to sport and health and also learn and refine the research and key skills you will require to succeed on your course.

In the second year you will enhance your knowledge and skills of the sub-disciplines that will then lead into interdisciplinary study of distinct topics such as exercise nutrition, performance analysis and strength and conditioning. There will also be a continued focus on data collection, processing and analysis. You will also get an opportunity to experience industry through your work placement module.

In the final year of the course you will have the option to pick the sub-disciplines you want to specialise in and areas you want to learn more about that are contemporary and current. You will have options that cover both sports performance and health depending on what you have developed an interest in over the previous two years.  This will also be the year when you embark on your dissertation which is an independent piece of research. Typically on this course this involves collecting data on human participants in a variety of settings and producing new knowledge. You will get the opportunity to present this at a conference at Newman.

By the end of your course it is our aim to have produced an individual with a range of knowledge, skills and experiences that creates work ready students for the 21st century.

Assessment is by a combination of written examinations, presentations, assessed coursework and practical tests. The coursework may include a working portfolio, laboratory manuals, reports and essays.

As a Newman Sports & Exercise Science graduate, you will be well-equipped for a wide range of careers in sports science, coaching, education and related areas, including positions supporting elite athletes and teams. You could also be making a difference to real everyday lives by providing interventions for the sedentary, obese, elderly and ill. You will be well-prepared to continue your studies at postgraduate level to obtain higher degrees and acquire further specialist skills.

Newman University is proud to be the first West Midlands partner of CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) a professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. CIMSPA works with over 300 partners across the sport and physical activity sector, meaning students can be assured they are working with a university that is contributing, not only to teaching sport but, to developing the professional standards for the industry. We are currently working towards full accreditation of course, thus eventually our courses will be recognised by CIMSPA as equipping students with the skills that employers are looking for.

Hear Stefan Lawrence, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Health, talk in more detail about Newman University’s partnership with CIMSPA.

The Sport and Health team at Newman University pride themselves on their ongoing involvement in sport, health and physical education research. Staff are actively contributing in the following four areas of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) —Physical Activity and Health, Sport Performance, Mental Skills Training and Sport in Society. The team regularly publishes their research in industry journals, and present at international sport, health and physical education conferences. Our ‘Meet The Sport Team’ page details the specific areas of research that the team have been, or currently are involved in.

As a student at Newman, you will be taught by research-active staff, who are actively contributing to the latest developments across a wide-range of disciplines within the sport and health industry and the physical education sector. Staff bring the latest knowledge and expertise to the classroom, laboratory and sports field, enhancing your learning experience. At Newman you get the benefit of our staff’s cutting-edge knowledge combined with a focus on your needs, in a student-centred University where you are our priority. Our staff expertise, and their links with external agencies will maximise your University experience and hopefully provide you with opportunities as you consider your career paths for the future.

We encourage our students to proactively explore research during their studies. As a science-based discipline, you will be conducting research throughout a range of modules under the supervision of expert staff.

Newman University is located in Britain’s second city – Birmingham. With one of the youngest city populations in Europe, it is a vibrant and dynamic place to study.

Studying at Newman University, you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in, or commuting to peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.

Dining out

Birmingham has lots of wonderful places to dine out with a range of different cuisines. Places where you can dine out include; Brindley Place, Mailbox and Hagley Road (just 10 minutes’ from Newman).

Entertainment

Whether you like to go to; the theatre, gigs or clubs, or enjoy: sports, shopping visiting art galleries or exhibitions – Birmingham will not disappoint and you will be spoilt for choice!

Location

Getting around Birmingham is easy via train, bus or by car. Birmingham has excellent transport links to the rest of Britain, making it easy for those weekend getaways!

Why not explore the city for yourself by visiting one of our Open Days?

Want to find out more about Birmingham? Then take a look at some Birmingham City Secrets.

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Entry Requirements

You must achieve at least 112 UCAS points, including a minimum of CC at A Level or equivalent (e.g. MM at BTEC Diploma; MPP at BTEC Extended Diploma) towards the total tariff.

Access Students can achieve this with the following combination of Distinction, Merit and/or Pass grades at level 3 achieved from a completed Access course:
D30-M0-P15; D27-M6-P12; D24-M12-P9; D21-M18-P6; D18-M24-P3; D15-M30-P0

A Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Level or BTEC level 3) in a sport, PE or science related subject

The University accepts appropriate T Levels as part of its usual entry requirements.

International Students
The University is not licenced by the UK Government to sponsor migrant students under the Student route and is therefore unable to accept applications from international students at present.

Applying Direct Option

You can apply direct to Newman University for this course if you have not previously applied to Newman University through UCAS and you are not applying to any other universities.

Simply click on this Direct Application link to do this.

N.B. will need to enter ‘New User’ account details when first accessing this portal.

Course Fees

The full-time course fee for September 2023 is £9,250 per year.

The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).

 

Additional Costs

The programme team advises students to purchase a Newman University sports polo shirt.  This is so students can wear the shirt when representing the university externally (e.g., on placements) and have appropriate sportswear during laboratory and coaching practicals. The cost is £19.99 (based on 2019/20) with additional option pieces of branded clothing range from £19.99 – £29.99.  Payment of these optional clothing items are due in the first year of study or second year of study (placement).

Find out more about the other additional costs associated with our undergraduate degrees. 

Modules

Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes of Module Changes page.

Timetables: find out when information is available to students

 

  1. This module is focuses on exploring sport, exercise, physical activity and coaching. Introducing and developing the skills you need to be successful in Higher Education. The module will allow you the opportunity to reflect on your skills and development needs, as well as enhancing your knowledge and skills in this area. 

  2. This module will introduce key pedagogical theories and concepts related to Physical Education and sports coaching. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the role of Physical Education teachers and sports coaches. Throughout the module, there will be opportunities to apply theoretical constructs to practical situations.
  3. Develop your knowledge of human anatomy, function, systems, and their responses to physical activity both acute and chronic from a physiological and biomechanical perspective.
  4. This module offers students an opportunity to be introduced to contemporary and fundamental concepts within sport and exercise psychology. Students will consider the underpinnings of human psychology and how this influences participation and engagement in various physical activity contexts.
  5. Learn how sport and physical activity are governed and funded throughout the UK. With a focus on social justice, you will explore social and cultural factors that influence participation and progress in sport and fitness industries.
  1. Gain the skills to conduct your own research projects. You will consider how we develop knowledge within sport and physical activity settings, so that you can explore your own passions.
  2. You will gain practical experiences including the role of biomechanical kinetic and kinematic assessment in the analysis of sport and the application of hand and computerised notation systems to individual and team sports.
  3. This modules examines the underpinnings of exercise performance from a physiological and nutritional perspective. Learn how we measure and monitor human performance and how nutritional kno can influence performance and practice.
  4. Critically analyse why and how individuals participate in sport and exercise. You will discuss contemporary psychological theory that explain athletic performance and health behaviours.
  5. You will focus on how S&C can impact sporting performance, produce a needs analysis, develop evidenced based training sessions and critique different ways of monitoring training.  
  6. This year-long module allows you to engage with a real-world industry that reflects your career aspirations. Supported by tutors, you critically reflect on your passions and skills to be work-ready following your graduation.  
  1. Follow your passions while conducting an independent project. Throughout your final year, this module allows you to conduct an extended piece of work of your choosing.
  2. This module offers you the opportunity to build on your level 5 work placement through the more developed application of a negotiated work-based research project. You will agree with your placement tutor and workplace mentor a brief for a project which addresses a need within the organisation. Learners should complete a minimum of 100 hours in the workplace. It is in the spirit of this module that wherever possible, the focus will be on social or community / sustainable development.
  3. Understanding of the major applied techniques used in the biomechanical analysis of sporting activity, such as 3D motion capture, and how these maybe used to improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injury.
  4. You will explore and critically evaluate the latest developments in enhancing physiological performance and the underpinning science behind preparation for and recovery from exercise and performance.
  5. This module explores the application of psychological profiling and intervention techniques in a variety of sporting situations. It seeks to develop a critical and evidence based approach in the selection of specific strategies for individuals and groups. It further seeks to provide a basis for appraising and critically evaluating the impact of any intervention strategies employed with reference to their effectiveness, appropriateness, and ethical use.
  6. Explore a range of current issues that are influencing the science and policies surrounding sport and exercise. You can then choose which interests you and explore these in greater depth.