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Sport and Exercise Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview Pushing boundaries. Breaking records. Competing in extreme environments. On this BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree, you’ll learn to apply scientific principles that help athletes perform at their best. But it's not just elite sportspeople who will benefit from your knowledge and skills. Become a passionate advocate for the essential role sports science plays in society as you uncover ways everyone can use physical activity to boost their health and wellbeing.

  • Put your learning into practice in our advanced sports science facilities including three climatic chambers, a swimming flume and motion capture systems
  • Be taught by expert staff who are actively engaged in research projects that inform the future of sport and exercise science
  • Enhance your CV as you gain valuable experience through our ties with local sports and healthcare providers
  • Gain first aid, national coaching and specialised gym instructor qualifications
  • Set yourself up for a career in professional sport, healthcare or education
Careers and opportunities In today's health-conscious world, the sports and health industries continue to expand. Sport and exercise scientists have a vital role in keeping sportspeople, athletes and the general population in peak physical health. What jobs can you do with a sport and exercise degree? Roles our graduates have gone onto include:
  • PE teacher
  • personal trainer
  • clinical physiologist
  • NVQ coordinator
  • sports development officer
  • sports and exercise scientist
  • sports therapist and physiotherapist
  • cardiac rehabilitation technician
Graduate destinations Organisations our graduates have gone on to work in, include:
  • Crystal Palace Football Club
  • Portsmouth Tennis Academy
  • Bupa
  • Nuffield Health
Placement year (optional) Either before or following your third year, you have the option to choose a work placement year to gain valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills. They'll provide you with a database of placement vacancies, support with your job search – including help with applications and interviews – and support throughout your placement year. Potential placement roles Previous students have taken on placement roles including:
  • sport for development project officer
  • performance analyst
  • assistant sports therapist
  • women's sport engagement officer
  • physical technician
  • academy coach
  • PE teacher
  • physiotherapist assistant
  • rugby development coach
  • nutritionist
Potential placement destinations Previous students have completed placements in the following organisations:
  • Reading FC
  • Pompey in the Community
  • Exeter City FC
  • Sussex County Cricket Club
  • Welsh Rugby Union (WRU)

Modules

Year 1 Core

  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Biomechanics (40 credits)
  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Physiology (40 credits)
  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology (40 credits)
Year 2 Core
  • Advanced Exercise Physiology (20 credits)
  • Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise (20 credits)
  • Preparing Research, Innovation Or Enterprise Projects (20 credits)
  • Psychology of Sport and Exercise (20 credits)
Optional
  • Exercise As Preventive Medicine (20 credits)
  • Exercise in Different Environments (20 credits)
  • Nutrition for Sport, Exercise and Health (20 credits)
  • Principles of Performance Analysis (20 credits)
  • Principles of Skill Acquisition (20 credits)
  • Strength and Conditioning for Sport, Exercise and Health (20 credits)
Placement year Optional
  • Sandwich Year Study Placement (120 credits)
  • Sandwich Year Work Placement (120 credits)
Year 3 Core
  • Project (40 credits)
Optional
  • Advanced Sports Nutrition (20 credits)
  • Advanced Strength and Conditioning (20 credits)
  • Applications of Exercise Physiology (20 credits)
  • Applications of Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 credits)
  • Applied Skill Acquisition (20 credits)
  • Biomechanics in Practice (20 credits)
  • Biopsychosocial Approaches to Physical Activity and Health Promotion (20 credits)
  • Environmental Physiology (20 credits)
  • Exercise Medicine and Rehabilitation (20 credits)
  • Practical Applications of Performance Analysis (20 credits)
  • Professional Development (20 credits)
Changes to course content We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through written exams, essays and lab reports, individual or group presentations, practical exercises. You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • BASES, British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
57%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
92%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2025/26): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,430 EU – £1,430 International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Sport and Exercise Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS