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Would you like to use scientific principles to boost the performance of elite athletes? Or improve the health of the injured and elderly? This degree allows you to become a qualified practitioner in the fast-growing field of sport and exercise science.
Overview
At Kent, our lecturers have top-level experience in sports training, treatment of injuries and rehabilitation, and sport psychology. You work with our experts to gain a good mix of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice. Our community of clients ranges from Olympians and Paralympians to members of the public, including the elderly and frail.
Our degree programme
You apply scientific principles to many aspects of sport, fitness and exercise. Topics include: anatomy, physiology, the principles of training, exercise prescription, sports nutrition and sports psychology.
Overall, this degree allows you to gain the skills you need to become a well-rounded practitioner in the field. In your final year, you can choose optional modules that allow you to specialise, perhaps with a particular career in mind.
Study resources
Our laboratories are based in the £11 million Medway Park development, a regional centre of sporting excellence. They include the latest equipment, such as our:
- environmental chamber, which can recreate the atmosphere in the Brazilian jungle or at the top of Everest
- anti-gravity treadmill, originally developed to help NASA astronauts to exercise in space
- cycling and rowing ergometers to measure anaerobic capacity
- isokinetic dynamometer to measure muscle and joint function
- brain and muscle stimulators
- 3D motion video analysis
- imaging and treatment ultrasound
- gait analysis and force pedals
- blood testing and gas analysis equipment
- rehabilitation gymnasium.
Extra activities
There is a thriving sports scene for students. Sports clubs at the Medway campus include athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, kickboxing, rowing, taekwondo, Thai boxing and volleyball, plus women’s netball and men’s futsal and rugby.
With our free shuttle bus, it’s also easy to join the sports clubs on the Canterbury campus. These include American football, archery, boxing, caving, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, cheerleading, fencing, floorball, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, karate, kendo, korfball, kung fu, lacrosse, mountaineering, sailing and windsurfing, skydiving, snooker and pool, snowsports, squash, swimming, surfing, tennis, trampolining, ultimate frisbee and women’s rugby.
Professional network
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has links to many sporting bodies. It works with companies such as Science in Sport and Team Sky, and with organisations such as:
- the NHS
- RFU (governing English rugby)
- English Institute of Sport
- British Cycling
- UK Sport
- World Anti-Doping Agency
- UEFA
- UK Sport
- Ministry of Defence.
Sports scholarships
If you are already competing at county level or equivalent, you can apply for a sports scholarship from the University. One of our best-known graduates is Olympic gold medallist Susannah Townsend. During her time at Kent she had a sports scholarship and played for Canterbury Hockey Club (where she continues to play midfield).
Independent rankings
Sports Science at Kent was ranked 13th in The Complete University Guide 2017.
For graduate prospects, Sports Science at Kent was ranked 8th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Sports Science students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching involves practical laboratory and sports-based sessions, lectures, small group seminars and private study. You will have a number of lectures and practical sessions and a series of seminars each week – depending on the optional modules you select. You may also be required to spend time developing your practical skills and experience in placement or event situations.
Methods of assessment vary depending on the module but predominantly involve coursework, observed assessment, practical tests and, where appropriate, clinical assessments. Some modules are assessed via written exams.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a multi-disciplinary education
- prepare students to meet the challenges of an expanding and rapidly changing sports industry, while providing them with a wide choice of careers paths.
- provide the skills to promote the health and performance of an individual or a group using a multidisciplinary approach
- enable a critical knowledge and understanding of the sport sciences
- make students aware of current research within sport and exercise science
- provide a curriculum supported by scholarship, research and intellectual debate.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- anatomical and physiological principles
- the human response to exercise
- the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative research
- the nutrition required to perform at an optimum level
- the ability to evaluate physical capacity and exercise training programmes
- the nature of skill and models relating to the acquisition and performance of motor skills
- exercise prescription for a range of population groups
- social processes which influence individual and group behaviour and participation/performance in sport.
Intellectual skills
You gain the intellectual skills to:
- engage in academic study including critical evaluation
- plan, execute and communicate a piece of independent work that requires a critical engagement with relevant data
- solve familiar and unfamiliar problems in order to develop reasoned arguments and challenge assumptions
- self-appraise and reflect on practice
- recognise and respond to moral, legal, ethical and safety issues that relate to your studies.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following areas:
- relating the concepts of anatomy, physiology and metabolism to the body’s response to exercise
- practical skills in the physiological interpretation of data from fitness testing
- the appraisal and evaluation of the effects of sport and exercise interventions
- the ability to analyse, interpret and show critical judgement in the evaluation of the sport sciences.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- communication, presentation, numeracy and IT
- interactive skills and group work
- problem solving
- self-appraisal and reflection on practice
- how to plan and manage your own learning.
Careers
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have gone on to work in:
- sports science support for elite athletes
- the NHS in physical activity, exercise referral or health promotion
- health and fitness clubs
- sports development as coaches
- national governing bodies
- community leisure centres
- professional sports teams
- sporting organisations (training athletes)
- teaching
- biomedical sciences.
Help finding a job
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has an excellent reputation and many links to professional bodies. This network is very useful to students when looking for employment.
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Career-enhancing skills
To help you to appeal to employers across a range of careers, you develop transferable skills in:
- computing and IT
- analysing data and problem solving
- writing and communicating well.
You can also enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Professional recognition
Graduates may be able to apply for accreditation from the Register of Exercise Professionals and also have the option to take an exam for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health Fitness Instructor qualification.
Independent rankings
For graduate prospects, Sports Science at Kent was ranked 8th in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
According to Which? University (2017), the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £18,000.
My typical day consists of physiological testing, coaching athletes and applying sports science in a commercial setting.
Ciaran O'Grady Sport and Exercise Science BSc
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB including grade B in an appropriate subject (eg Biology, Chemistry, Sport, Physical Education, Statistics, Mathematics, Applied Science) |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | 18 units at Distinction, Distinction, Merit in a sport or science subject plus GCSE Mathematics grade C |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL including Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics/Sport, Exercise and Health Science 5 at HL or 6 at SL and Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Additional costs
All Students who are part of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences will receive a complementary uniform which includes a T-shirt and Tracksuit once they have started the course. Although there are currently no mandatory extra costs specified for this course students do have the option to purchase extra uniform If they want to, as you might be required to wear your uniform for some practical sessions. Current cost of the uniforms are:
Nike T-Shirt - £17.49
Unisex Shorts – £10.20
Men’s Tracksuit bottoms -£21
Women’s Tracksuit Bottoms –£21
Unisex Quantumn Jacket - £40
Unisex Hurricane Jacket - £31
Unisex Hoodie - £14.40
Please be aware these prices are subject to change each year.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.
