Sport and Exercise for Health is designed for students who wish to combine their passion for sport and exercise with an interest in health-related study. In this science-based programme, you develop a range of laboratory and clinical skills that give you an outstanding platform for a career in the sport, exercise and health professions.
At Kent, our lecturers have vast 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.
In your first year in Medway, you study a variety of disciplines and gain a solid grounding in key subjects. Our modules cover all aspects of sport and exercise science including nutrition, human anatomy and physiology, sport psychology, movement and biomechanics with a focus on health related study.
In your second and final years in Canterbury, you choose optional modules that reflect your interests. You also conduct your own research project in the final year, choosing from specialist options that may include, physical activity interventions, exercise rehabilitation for clinical populations or contemporary issues in nutrition.
As part of your degree, you have the opportunity to promote your own event, and look at the issues involved in encouraging the public to become more physically active. You also have the option to gain valuable professional experience by working on placement in the sports and leisure industry, or supporting exercise rehabilitation in a community project.
This degree is available as a four-year programme with a year in industry. For more information, please see Sport and Exercise for Health with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons).
In addition to our campus laboratories we also have facilities based in the £11 million Medway Park development, a regional centre of sporting excellence. They include the latest equipment, such as our:
There is a thriving sports scene for students. Sports clubs at the Medway campus include athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, kickboxing, rowing, taekwondo, rowing, hockey, football, rugby, equestrian, Thai boxing, table tennis, judo and volleyball, plus women’s netball and men’s futsal.
With our free shuttle bus, it’s also easy to join the sports clubs on the Canterbury campus. These include American football, archery, caving, cycling, cheerleading, floorball, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, snooker and pool, snowsports, and ultimate frisbee .
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has links to many sporting bodies. It has worked with companies such as Science in Sport and Team Sky, and with organisations such as:
If you are competing at the equivalent of county level or higher you can apply for a sports scholarship from the University. The amount to be offered will be determined by the University Sports Scholarship Committee and each case is considered on its own merit. For more information please go to the Sports Scholarships page.
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).
The facilities for the course are great. The sports labs are really well equipped – we do lots of practical work there, and there are clinics and gyms with amazing specialist equipment.
Olyvia Geohagen - Sport and Exercise for Health BSc
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Typical requirements are listed below. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
Please note that meeting this typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee an offer being made.Please also see our general entry requirements.
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
BCC including grade B in an appropriate subject (eg Biology, Chemistry, Sport, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Mathematics, Applied Science)
Mathematics grade C
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.
Distinction, Merit, Merit in a sport or science subject plus GCSE Mathematics grade C
34 points overall or 15 at HL including Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics, Sports, Exercise and Health Science 5 at HL or 6 at SL and Mathematics 4 at HL or SL.
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.
However, please note that international fee-paying students cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
For more advice about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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.
Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
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.
This module provides students with an introduction to the basic principles of Sport and Exercise Nutrition. Students will explore the macronutrients and micronutrients and Fluid guidelines. A strong physiological understanding underpins much of the module content
Macronutrients: carbohydrate, protein and fat Micronutrients: Vitamins and minerals, Fluid regulation, Thermoregulation and fluid guidelines, Competition nutrition.
This is an introductory module where students will study the structure and function of the different physiological systems in the human body. The principles of the maintenance of homeostasis and the physiological adaptation of the body systems to exercise will also be covered.
This module provides students with an introduction to sport and exercise psychology. This includes the learning and performance process, as well as approaches and responses to various sport and exercise situations. Indicative content includes:
• Sport and Exercise Psychology in Action
• Motor Learning and Performance
• Feedback
• Attention and Concentration
• Personality and Individual Differences
• Motivation
• Self-Confidence and Self-Efficacy
• Arousal, Stress and Anxiety
• Group and Team Dynamics
Students will cover the biomechanics of movement, movement patterns of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; bones and surface markings of the lower limb, upper limb and spine; joints of the lower limb, upper limb and spine; muscles (origin, insertion and actions) of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; soft tissue structures of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; and nerves of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk.
This module looks at the systematic processes involved in testing fitness. Consideration is given to the evaluation of fitness in both the field and in the laboratory. A range of fitness tests for a variety of parameters of fitness are covered. Students are taught to consider the reliability and validity of the tests as well as the specificity of the test to the population they are working with.
A synopsis of topics included in this module are:
- Health screening
- Fitness assessment & evaluation
- Principles of sport & exercise training
This module will cover topics including, but not limited to: Introduction to referencing and plagiarism, Introduction to academic writing style, Introduction to history of science, Introduction to critical thinking, Introduction to research methods, Introduction to statistical concept and research ethics.
The module starts by considering the multi-dimensional nature of health to broaden student's understanding of the many factors – individual or environmental - that could contribute to personal experience of health & what that means to different members of the population. Key aspects of sport and exercise promotion are considered, culminating in students completing a sport or exercise promotion event of their own. Whilst there is an emphasis on theoretical issues in the module, students are encouraged to apply these principles to the various aspects of sport and exercise promotion practice.
Introduction – What is health, sport and exercise?
Determinants of health, sport and exercise
Concepts and theories of health & health promotion
Health promoters & their roles
Sport development agencies and their roles
Guidelines for agencies involved in developmental work
Identifying population needs in relation to health & Sport needs
Motivation & behaviour change
The health and physical activity status of different population groups
Understanding and interpreting epidemiological research
Strategies for promoting sport and exercise participation amongst the population
Exercise guidelines for different population groups and the associated evidence, rationale, issues and implications
Sport and Exercise campaigns and the marketing of physical activity to different population groups, the influence of physical and social environments on engagement
Planning & evaluating a health, sport or exercise promotion activity
This module will provide students with a grounding in training theory and application, specifically looking at programme design and implementation in health and athletic performance. It includes: Principles of sport and exercise training; Training methodology; Programme design and organisation; Adaptations to training.
This module will cover the following topics:
Introduction to staff research areas in the CSS
The process of forming a research question and hypothesis
Writing an introduction
Writing a literature review
Writing a methodology
Writing a discussion
Justification of resources
Ethics in research
Writing clinics
Supervisor contact
Presentation of current dissertation projects
This module introduces students to the analysis techniques required for their dissertation module. The analysis techniques to be covered are as follows:
Independent and paired t-tests
Overview of Regression and Correlation
Qualitative analysis techniques
One way ANOVA
Factorial ANOVA
Repeated measures ANOVA
Non-parametric tests
This module shows students what trade-offs are involved in designing a programming language, and how those trade-offs ultimately influence programmer productivity. The module starts with a quick, example-based introduction to the basics of programming languages. It then continues with a series of problems involved in the design of several programming languages.
As an example, the students will be shown the design difference between imperative languages with state and functional programming languages with types and general recursion. These will form the basis to construct more involved programming languages and realistic, e.g. non-determinism, polymorphism, effects and exceptions.
Also, they will be taught how to translate the mathematical description of a programming language into its corresponding implementation.
Indicative examples are:
• Implementation of interpreters for C-like and Haskell-like languages.
• Problem solving. The problems will involve concepts such as parsing, evaluation, trees, graphs, memoization, randomization.
• Adding Language features: first order functions, polymorphism, effects, exceptions, types, algebraic data types.
This module will enable students to interpret the pathophysiology of a range of sports injuries by mechanism of injury, anatomical region and tissue type. The module develops the students' ability to relate the mechanism of injury to the pathology of sports injuries. Students will cover basic the management of injuries, this will include when to refer and the initial treatment.
This module will enable students to acquire an understanding of sports massage, in order to practically demonstrate a range of sports massage skills effectively and safely. The module also develops the students' ability to record and review their own sports massage sessions with clients.
Content will include all skills required in order to carry out a full body sports massage. Basic sports massage strokes such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and frictions will be included. These strokes will be applied on the back, shoulders, gluteals, legs, feet, arms, hands, chest, neck and abdomen.
Underpinning knowledge will include record keeping, professional ethics and code of practice, as well as health and safety regulations.
The topic areas covered in this module build upon the knowledge gained in SPOR3480 Introduction to Fitness Testing & SPOR5700 Fitness Training Methods, which covers the fundamental aspects of exercise testing and prescription. Special populations are those groups of individuals that may need some adaptation or modification to an exercise prescription or programme, to take into consideration a limitation, whether that be physiological, biological or psychosocial. The emphasis is on promoting health, fitness and safety in exercise, as well as some consideration being given to performance environments.
A synopsis of indicative topics included in this module are:
Exercise, physical activity and health
Fitness assessment issues related to special population groups
Children and physical activity
Females and exercise issues
Exercise considerations for a sedentary population
Exercise and the older adult
Special exercise considerations and adaptations for special populations
Risks and benefits of exercise for special populations
Psychosocial issues & strategies for exercise/physical activity adherence
Leadership in the context of sport and exercise is becoming increasingly recognised as providing the 'spark' that drives successful sport organisations. In this module, students will become more aware of styles of leadership and types of communication used in the sporting context. This module is important for establishing the necessary academic and specific sport management skills that students will need to complete a successful third year at University.
a) Leadership theory
b) Leadership styles
c) Philosophy of teaching and the facilitation of learning
d) Communication styles and techniques
e) Importance of feedback
f) Session delivery and observation
g) Motivation styles and techniques
h) Evaluating performance
This module considers the nutritional needs of different types of sports people. Students will learn to apply sound nutritional guidance. Nutritional guidance is based on an understanding of the underpinning concepts and principles associated with sports performance and how applied nutrition can maintain and enhance performance.
The module explores the physiological response to exercise for a healthy adult. There is a focus on cardio-pulmonary & metabolic responses, which will be scrutinised in terms of differing exercises intensities and duration. The module will examine the key physiological factors that determine and thus limit exercise performance in humans, and will expose students to different methods of collecting, handling and processing exercise data.
The module aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of human responses and adaptations to sport and exercise. Using a psychological approach, students acquire knowledge and understanding of sport and exercise performance and exercise adherence to promote health. Lectures and seminars provide forums for discussion and understanding of cognitions, affect and behaviour and the complex interactions between these. A key module aim is to provide an understanding of the application of theory to real 'applied' situations within sport and exercise settings.
Topics include:
Individual differences and personality
Attributions and perceived control
Exercise behaviour
Motivation
Emotions in sport
Attention and focus
Group dynamics
Leadership
Communication
Goal setting
Psychophysiology in sport and exercise
Exercise prescription for the asymptomatic older adult
Physical activity and cardiovascular diseases
Physical activity and metabolic diseases
Physical activity and neurological impairment
Physical activity and orthopedic diseases
Physical activity and pulmonary diseases
Exercise in clinical rehabilitation settings
Exercise psychology
The module takes the form of an individual research study. There are taught lectures covering the management of a research project. The research projects are then conducted with the supervision of a tutor who will advise the student on issues such as methodology, analysis and presentation. It is the student's responsibility to organise, conduct, analyse and present the research as required. The research project may comprise an experimental laboratory based dissertation, or a systematic review of the literature.
The module aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the role of applied practice within sport and exercise psychology. A key module aim is to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the applied sport and exercise psychology service delivery process. Students will explore how sport psychology practitioners initially approach intervention work; consider ethical and professional practice dilemmas; appraise and evaluate approaches to evidence-based evidence; design an intervention; and reflect on their practice. Students will be required to conduct a case study with a sport or exercise participant.
A synopsis of the indicative topics included in this module are:
Introduction to the module
Frameworks and approaches in sport psychology (including philosophy and models of practice)
Professional practice (ethical standards, considerations, and evidence-based practice)
Initial needs assessment (Intake, interview, and performance profiling)
Choosing and planning an intervention
Psychological skills and strategies
Reflective practice - Athletic injuries and psychology - Clinical psychology (eating disorders, burnout, and exercise addiction)
Working with special populations (youth athletes, older adults, and living with disability/chronic illness)
Soft Tissue Techniques will enable students to pursue inquiry into the treatment of selected soft tissue injuries, using a variety of soft tissue techniques. This module develops the students' ability to use critical analysis and clinical reasoning skills in the application of soft tissue techniques. Students will be required to analyse current issues in the use of soft tissue techniques within the field of Sport and Exercise Therapy.
Topics include:
Deep Tissue Massage
Soft Tissue Release
Reciprocal Inhibition
Trigger Points
Positional Release
Taping techniques
In this module students will study and investigate the latest research in sports nutrition. This will provide the opportunity to critically analyse research evidence and practical nutritional strategies in sports nutrition. Students will study nutritional ergogenic aids and nutritional strategies suggested to improve performance. Students will conduct practical sessions in order to test some of the theories and strategies studied.
Individuals from a variety of populations take part in sport and exercise. This module takes an in-depth look at 'athletic populations' and factors that impact on performance. Students will critically analyse and discuss what types of exercise are optimal for different athletes and consider the risks and benefits associated with sport and exercise activities. Students will focus on some key issues related to sports performance, e.g. managing athlete with respiratory issues? What strategies could be used to minimise musculoskeletal injury in child athletes? Should pregnant females play sport?
The module utilises the expertise of staff within SSES, guest speakers and student contributions. Students will be encouraged to think about how they might work with athletes on an individual basis.
The module provides a structured opportunity to combine appropriate developmental work experience with academic study. The placement will provide the opportunity for students to develop appropriate vocational and applied academic knowledge. In order for the student to take this module they must secure a placement. The placement should be appropriate to the student's degree, experience and potential career aspirations. All placements will be subject to the module convenor's authorisation.
The 2020/21 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Full-time tuition fees for Home and EU undergraduates are £9,250.
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.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
The programme involves lectures, small group seminars and private study. In addition, you are expected to design, lead and take part in practical sports sessions. You have several lectures or practical sessions and a series of seminars each week. You are also required to spend additional time developing your skills and knowledge in real-life situations.
The first half of Stage 1 is largely assessed by coursework and observed assessments. In the second half of Stage 1, some modules have written examinations in addition to coursework and practical assessments. During Stages 2 and 3, the form of assessment varies from 100% coursework to a combination of examination and coursework.
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
The programme aims to:
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
You gain intellectual skills in the following:
You gain subject-specific skills in the following areas:
You gain transferable skills in:
Sports Science at Kent scored 93% overall in The Complete University Guide 2021.
Over 95% of Sports Science graduates who responded to the most recent national survey of graduate destinations were in work or further study within six months (DLHE, 2017).
Our graduates have gone on to work in:
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:
To help you to appeal to employers across a range of careers, you develop transferable skills in:
You can also enhance your degree studies by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
You can also benefit from the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences excellent reputation and many links to professional bodies. This network is very useful to students who are looking to gain valuable experience to enhance their CV.
Graduates may be eligible to apply for Register of Exercise Professionals accreditation. They may also be eligible to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health and Fitness Specialist qualification.
This course page is for the 2020/21 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.
Enquire online for full-time study
Enquire online for part-time study
T: +44 (0)1227 768896
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk
Discover Uni is designed to support prospective students in deciding whether, where and what to study. The site replaces Unistats from September 2019.
Discover Uni is jointly owned by the Office for Students, the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Scottish Funding Council.
It includes:
Find out more about the Unistats dataset on the Higher Education Statistics Agency website.
