About Sport & Exercise Science in Cardiff Metropolitan University

Course Overview

​The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree is accredited by the industry’s professional body, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences [BASES] and focuses on the scientific basis of performance in sport and participation in physical activity and exercise. To fulfil BASES requirements Sport and Exercise Science students will follow a dedicated pathway throughout the three levels that focuses on gaining an understanding of the core sport and exercise disciplines of physiology, biomechanics and psychology as well as exploring the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects of Sport and Exercise Science with a high level of vocational relevance and experience.

Students can also develop their knowledge and skills in an additional option theme of study based on either strength and conditioning, sports nutrition or exercise referral and fitness instruction with the opportunity to achieve additional vocational qualifications.

Throughout the course you will gain practical experiences of laboratory-based activities as well as gaining opportunities to observe and be involved in applied practice. You will be afforded many opportunities to develop your practical contextual knowledge and skills in sport and exercise science, fitness testing, coaching, exercise prescription and performance settings.​

​Course Content​

The Sport and Exercise Science programme is built around two main pillars. Firstly, ensuring students are knowledgeable in the underpinning scientific disciplines of physiology, biomechanics and psychology and secondly, how knowledge and skills in these disciplines can be applied to the sport and exercise context. 

Each discipline is introduced in year 1 and this is built on in year 2 with compulsory modules that ensure a breadth of knowledge and understanding along with an appreciation of how the disciplines can combine to address sport and exercise-related problems. The final year of study enables you to focus on one or two of these disciplines ensuring that you develop advanced knowledge and application in a field that aligns to your future career aspirations.

Additionally, the Sport and Exercise Science programme explores the continuum from competitive sport through to exercise and physical activity. This will help you gain an appreciation of the different motivators for sport and exercise as well as the different training demands and responses and the different roles sport and exercise play within different populations. Years 1 and 2 introduce these different contexts from a disciplinary perspective with a final year option to focus on sport or exercise as a main theme.

In addition to the main disciplinary modules you will also undertake modules to facilitate your transition into studying at university level, develop your critical research and science skills, investigate other disciplines allied to sport and exercise science (e.g. sports nutrition, strength and conditioning and exercise referral) as well as having opportunities to gain recognised vocational and professional industry relevant qualifications.

You will able to undertake a major project in your chosen field of study alongside your chosen subject-specific content. The final year focuses upon developing you as an independent, driven learner that can take control of your learning and ensure that this aligns with your first step into graduate employment or further study. Mentoring is a significant part of the final year of study to allow individualised support in the development of your skills as an academic and practitioner within the fields aligned to sport and exercise science.

Employability & Careers

The Sport and Exercise Science programme seeks to develop your employability from three perspectives. Firstly, as a graduate with a high standard of graduate skills developed through the Cardiff Met EDGE philosophy which supports you to thrive in the modern world. Throughout your degree you will experience a range of opportunities to develop your ethical, digital, global and entrepreneurial competencies through problem-based learning, real-world industry case studies and practical work experiences on-, and where appropriate, off-campus. Throughout your time at Cardiff Met we will ensure that you get a range of opportunities to develop transferable graduate skills such as communication, team work and leadership. Secondly, to develop you as a scientist, you will be encouraged to think and write critically; frame and present a reasoned argument; collect, collate, analyse and interpret data; and design, implement and evaluate an evidence-based intervention or programme. Finally, you will develop the necessary subject-expertise to become an effective sport and exercise science practitioner in your chosen field.

During your first year of study you will get the opportunity to undertake technical qualifications in a range of industry relevant areas including sport coaching, exercise referral, fitness training, safeguarding and doping. These opportunities will ensure that you have the appropriate qualifications and experience to prepare you for many work opportunities after graduation. We will also support you to seek opportunities to work or study abroad. Students who have graduated from the Sport and Exercise Science programme have gone on to work in careers both within and beyond the sport and exercise Industries.

Recent graduates from sport and exercise science are now working with professional sports teams, academy sports teams as well as with national governing bodies of sport. Many students also pursue opportunities in private practice, clinical environments or in the military, emergency services and fitness industry settings. Other students have continued onto further Master’s level study in the field of sport and exercise science or related disciplines such as sports nutrition, sports performance analysis, physiotherapy or strength and conditioning. Others have then further progressed to doctoral level studies towards careers as researchers or academics.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, include one English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or ENG4U), minimum 60%

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS      :      6.0 overall* with no sub score lower than 5.5
• PTE         :      Overall - 52, Reading - 51, Speaking - 51,Listening - 51,Writing - 51

Cardiff Metropolitan University Highlights

Cardiff Metropolitan University Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses

Personal requirements including books charge a different fee according to the course.