BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Sport
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
The University of East London is making swift strides towards its aim of becoming London’s No 1 university for sport, and our much-admired Sport and Exercise Science degree is leading the way.
Study our challenging course and you’ll be examining the role that biomechanics, physiology, psychology and nutrition play in human performance. You’ll also look at how these disciplines interact, so you receive the complete education a multi-disciplinary sports scientist needs.
You’ll have the chance to study optional subjects that give our course its special flavour – such as our module in disability sport.
It’s a course that has attracted some of Britain’s leading sportsmen and women of the day such as European 200m champion Adam Gemili, Commonwealth 200m bronze medallist Bianca Williams and double European and Commonwealth medal-winning swimmer Aimee Willmott. It also develops the sports scientists and teachers who’ll help deliver the champions of tomorrow.
If you want to know how good our course is, don’t just take our word for it. Listen to Adam.
“As an athlete you need to understand how your body works - the biomechanics," he says. "That knowledge has really helped me when I’m in the blocks to get the biggest first step that I can.”
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out more96%
The course has an overall satisfaction rate of 96.4% in the latest National Student Survey (NSS, 2020)
Famous Facilities
You’ll have access to truly outstanding sports facilities. TeamUSA were so impressed with our £21 million SportsDock facility that they made it their training base for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.
Placements
We have a great track record in helping our students secure valuable work placements thanks to our close links with sports organisations. Our connections including football clubs such as West Ham United and Millwall.
Samuel Amponsah
Sport and Exercise Science, BSc (Hons)
I chose UEL because they offered the course I wanted to study and saw the progress they were making in sports. Also, previous students told me how good the lecturers were at delivering the course. Being at UEL opened up some great opportunities for me, including working with the US Olympic team and placements at Leyton Orient Football Club and Mile End Hospital.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,382.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parent’s Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages (www.uel.ac.uk/isa) for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree
112
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
We’ve worked hard to make this course as flexible as possible and you’ll discover we’ve found a pretty good balance between learning theory and actually seeing what that looks like in practice.
The beauty of sharing a first year with your colleagues from our Sports Coaching and Sport, Physical Education and Development courses is that you can swap to one of those courses at the end of year one if you wish.
In year two, you’ll complete a mixture of compulsory and optional modules. The options include Disability, Sport & PE, Principles & Practice in Teaching & Coaching and Inclusion in Youth Sport & PE.
For your final-year project, there’s more scope to specialise, allowing you to focus on areas of particular interest to you.
For instance, one of our students studied the coaching philosophy of Saracens Rugby Union Club. Another went to Leyton Orient to research how football goalkeepers distribute the ball after collecting it in their area. This fascinating study led to him becoming a match analyst at the club after graduating.
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
By the end of the degree you’ll gain the same qualification as those obtaining direct entry to the course but you’ll take one year longer to complete your studies.
Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology
Sports Development & Coaching
Physical Health & Wellbeing in Sport
Psychological Influences on
Health & Wellbeing in Sport & Physical Activity
Academic & Communication Skills in Sports
Career and Professional Development in Sports (Mental Wealth)
Work Placement
Anatomy & Physiology for Sport
Coaching Principles
Development of Sport
Human Performance
Psychological Aspects of Sport
Principles & Practice in Teaching & Coaching
Sport Training Courses
Research Methods & Design (Mental Wealth)
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Biomechanics of Human Movement
Athlete Management
Performance Analysis
Applied Sport Psychology
Applied Teaching Practice
Exercise Physiology Techniques
Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
Work Placement (Practice)
Chronic Health Conditions
Strength and Conditioning
Nutrition for Sporting Health
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
How you'll be assessed
We'll assess you with a mixture of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project. Most of the assessment in your first year is by coursework and we’ll give you as much feedback as possible.
The balance of coursework and exams in year two will depend on your optional choices. In your third year, half of your assessment will be based on research coursework and a work placement.
How you'll learn
We definitely like to do things differently at UEL, so there’s no danger of it being all lectures and no practical application. Indeed, we want you to throw yourself into sport. So you’ll get involved in workshops and do your own sports coaching and lab sessions.
You’ll learn in top-quality facilities at both our Docklands and Stratford campuses. We have fully equipped and advanced labs, including our own biomechanics suite to study people’s gait as well as specialist software used for nutritional analysis.
At our £21million SportsDock complex, we have a superb fitness centre and strength and conditioning room.
It’s important to us that our course is aligned with the principles of the British Association of Sports and Exercise Science (BASES), the UK’s professional body for sports and exercise science in the UK. The course is also accredited by SkillsActive, so you’ll be able to complete your Level 2 and Level 3 Gym and Personal Training Awards while you’re here.
Your friendly and supportive tutors, led by Dr Richard Buscombe, are all active in research and in community-based projects. You can get involved in worthwhile schemes like the one, funded by the NHS, in which we deliver exercise sessions for people with clinical conditions and young people who’ve suffered from alcohol and drugs abuse.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Your future career
A host of exciting career avenues in the sporting and teaching worlds will open up to you once you graduate, but the great thing about our course is that you may find they open up to you even while you’re studying for your degree.
That’s because our work placements and the relationships we have built with sports organisations and schools are so strong.
They’re optional and flexible placements, which means you can choose your best time to undertake them. We have strong links with football clubs such as Leyton Orient, West Ham and Millwall and various sports academies and schools.
We’ve had students working at activeNewham, the sports arm of our local council, London Sport and the Olympic Park, which is right on our doorstep in Stratford. In some cases, these placements lead to full-time jobs. For instance, Oktay Huseyin was placed at a tennis academy in Essex and is now the head of strength and conditioning there.
Some of you will go on to further study, like one of Dr Buscombe’s students who did an extraordinary third-year project on spirituality and fandom in Lithuanian basketball. She’s now studying the same subject for her PhD in Melbourne.
Our graduates have gone on to work for employers as varied as the National Basketball Association (NBA), Leyton Orient FC and the London Borough of Newham.
We’ve produced coaches, fitness club managers, personal trainers, private and community coaches and teachers. We even managed to find one of our students, Marshall Tutu, some tennis opportunities between his studies. Now he’s playing as a full-time professional.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
