BSc (Honours) Sport and Exercise Science
Three years full-time
UCAS code • C600
This course is subject to reapproval
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Sport and active lifestyles
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View a 360 degree tour of our biomechanics laboratory.
View a 360 degree of our physiology research laboratory.
The English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) is our official sport campus, providing students with access to some of the finest sporting facilities in the country. View a 360 degree tour of the EISS.
View profiles of students on this course.
View profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
Sheffield Hallam has been involved in London 2012 in many different ways. Find out more about our partnership with LOCOG.
Find out about our sport and active lifestyles research centres.
Read about the specialist facilities we have available for you to use.
Team Sheffield Hallam is the home of competitive and performance sport at Sheffield Hallam University. Find out more.
Watch a video about sport in Sheffield.
At a glance
Gain a broad understanding of the science of sport and exercise and prepare for careers in performance training and the health and fitness industry. You study in some of the finest sport science facilities in the UK. You further enhance your skills and experience with a six week industry placement and can build on this through our internship scheme.
Key points
• Study at one of the top ten universities for sports science in the UK.
• Gain experience with a six-week work placement and internship opportunities.
• Take advantage of industry qualification discounts offered by partner training companies.
• Benefit from close links with our leading specialist research centre (4th in UK).
What is sport and exercise science?
Sport and exercise science is the application of scientific knowledge, principles and methods in improving, maintaining and optimising performance and/or quality of life.
This course
Gain a broad based knowledge and understanding of how scientific methods can be used to study sport and exercise. Learn how to apply this understanding to improve athletic performance and enhance public wellbeing through the effective communication of the benefits of physical activity and exercise.
You benefit from sports science teaching provision that is ranked within the top ten nationally by the Times (2013 University rankings).
During the course, you explore a range of sport science theories and concepts. You also develop laboratory skills in physiology, psychology and biomechanics. You examine how these scientific disciplines can be used to improve the performance of athletes and coaches, and explore how important physical activity and exercise are for a healthy lifestyle.
Your studies involve taking part in seminars, workshops, practical tasks and laboratory sessions in the top-class facilities at our Collegiate Campus, one of the finest suites of sport and exercise science laboratories in the UK.
We also use the world-class facilities at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield for some of our practical activities. The EISS is our official sport campus and is also the training base for Jessica Ennis and many other Team GB athletes.
We have close links with our internationally renowned Centre for Sport and Exercise Science Research (CSES). This means you can experience advanced level research by taking part in studies in our laboratories.
In the second year, you go on a work placement for six weeks in a sport, exercise, health or leisure-related environment. Examples of placement roles include working as • a fitness instructor in gyms • coaching in schools • strength and conditioning coaching • coaching at the Barcelona Tennis Academy • assistant biomechanist at the UK Athletics Performance Centre • assistant strength and conditioning coach at the Richmond Australian Rules Football Club • working in exercise referral schemes.
You can gain further practical experience through our sport performance internship programme and develop real world skills in external client environments. Clients of the internship include Barnsley FC Academy and the Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club. Alternatively you can work for SHU Wellness offering physical activity and health consultations to other students.
The course gives you the foundation to gain British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accreditation in preparation for further study and supervised experience.
Key areas of study
Key areas include • exercise physiology • sport psychology • sport and exercise nutrition • functional anatomy • sport and exercise biomechanics • research methods • leadership and coaching.
We are ranked 4th in the UK for sports research according to the most recent RAE report. Our Centre for Sport and Exercise Science boasts one of the largest physical activity and sport-related portfolios of research expertise in the UK. The Centre's research on physical activity, wellbeing and performance enhancement allows us to keep course content up to date.
Find out more about BSc (Honours) Sport and Exercise Science
Related courses
- BSc (Honours) Physical Education and School Sport (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Development with Coaching (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health and Exercise Science (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Coaching (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Business Management (Full-time)
- BA (Honours) Sport, Culture and Society (Full-time)
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £11,880 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,880 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• coursework • examinations
Key Information Set 
Biomechanics laboratory
Our biomechanics lab is one of our labs boasting the latest equipment and facilities for evaluating performance in sport and exercise.
Physiology research laboratory
Physiology research lab designed for use by our undergraduate students.
The English Institute of Sport Sheffield
The English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) is our official sport campus, providing students with access to some of the finest sporting facilities in the country to support and enhance your learning experience. You have the opportunity to learn in an environment where leading names from the world of sport are also based, including a number of Team GB's Olympic medal winners such as Jess Ennis and the GB Boxing squads.
The practical elements of our sport courses are taught at the EISS and the facility is also home to our student athletes and sport teams across a range of sports.
Rebecca Turner
Bsc (Honours) Sport and Exercise Science
'I came to Sheffield Hallam to broaden my knowledge of sport. Seeing how good the sport science course is Sheffield seemed like the best option since its right next door to where I train, and also where I have become so successful.
'I'm really enjoying my time at University so far. I find it very interesting and I'm enjoying the lifestyle more.
'Ponds Forge and EISS are fantastic facilities for various types of athletes from swimmers like myself to athletes such as Jessica Ennis and the GB Boxing team.
'To compete for Team GB in the 2012 Olympics was a big honour and I was very proud to be a part of such a special event. To walk out to my race and hear everyone shouting and cheering my name was wow!
Profiles
Rebecca Turner
Bsc (Honours) Sport and Exercise Science
Staff profiles
Visit the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
Sheffield Hallam students at London 2012
Sheffield Hallam has been involved in London 2012 in many different ways.
Our sport students study the only press operations modules in the world developed exclusively with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers. As a result of the partnership, over 200 of our sport students have undertook work placements at Olympic Test Events, as part of the Torch Relay team or at the Games themselves.
Describing the initiative, LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton said; 'This is the most significant partnership we have with any educational institution in the country by a long way'. It's fantastic for us because we get terrific people, who are highly motivated and well trained. And what better way for students to be entering the workforce and to be looking for a future career than to have had this kind of experience integrated into your education.
Matt Dixon, a sport development student who worked with the LOCOG press operations team, said: 'I really enjoyed working with LOCOG's press operations team. It was a completely new experience for me to work with such a high-profile organisation. I learned lots of skills from the team here, and it was incredible to be a part of London 2012 through my university course.'
Josh, trackside at the Olympics
Fellow student Shereen Hutton, who worked as a flash quote reporter at the Olympic stadium throughout the Games, said, 'I had such an amazing time, I loved every minute of it! The whole experience seemed to fly by and it felt surreal to me. I was speaking to sporting heroes like Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt on a daily basis, and I managed to get quotes from them even though I was quite star struck from being in their presence!'
Josh Saydraouten, who also worked trackside at the main stadium, added, ''Being a Games Maker at the London 2012 Olympic Games was a fantastic experience, and will be great for my CV. My personal highlight was when Sanya Richards Ross [winner of the women’s 400m and 4x400m relay gold for the USA] spoke to me in the broadcast zone'.
Sport and active lifestyles research
In addition to our sport courses, the university's Academy of Sport and Physical Activity is home to three internationally renowned sports research centres, producing world-class research in sport performance, economics and engineering. Our sports research is ranked fourth in the UK.
The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science boasts one of the largest physical activity and sport-related portfolios of research expertise in the UK. It focuses on physical activity, wellbeing and performance enhancement.
The centre worked closely with GB Volleyball and GB Table Tennis as they prepared for London 2012.
The Sport Industry Research Centre applies economic techniques to generate new knowledge and insight about the sport and leisure industries.
Recent projects have included measuring the impact of the 2012 Olympics on the UK's sporting economy as well as other major sporting events.
The Centre for Sports Engineering Research focuses on developing fundamental understanding of the complex sporting environment and the creation of new innovative technologies.
The Centre enjoys an international reputation and works with a wide range of government agencies, ruling bodies of sport, and commercial companies. Activities include applied research, R&D consultancy services, project management, public engagement and delivering our MSc Sports Engineering course.
The centre is one of only four University Innovation Partners to UK Sport, and provided technical support to a number of Olympic teams in the run-up to London 2012, including GB Boxing, GB Diving and British Cycling.
Sport facilities
Collegiate Hall
Collegiate Hall houses some of the finest sport science laboratories in the UK, featuring the latest equipment and technology for evaluating performance in sport and exercise. This includes
• environment chamber
• physiology laboratories
• biomechanics laboratory
• strength and conditioning laboratory
• physical activity laboratory
• computer rooms and video analysis technology
• isokinetic dynamometry
• psychology suite
English Institute of Sport Sheffield
The English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) is our official sport campus, providing students with access to some of the finest sporting facilities in the country to support and enhance your learning experience. You have the opportunity to learn in an environment where leading names from the world of sport are also based, including a number of Team GB's Olympic medal winners such as Jess Ennis and the GB Boxing squads.
The practical elements of our sport courses are taught at the EISS and the facility is also home to our student athletes and sport teams across a range of sports.
General sports and fitness facilities
The university's Collegiate campus is also home to a wide range of sport and fitness facilities, including a strength and conditioning suite, regularly used by professional athletes.
Sheffield Hallam Active offers a comprehensive sport, health and fitness service to all students - including on campus gyms, sports halls, and an extensive weekly programme of fitness classes and sport sessions.
Sheffield as a city also offers fantastic sport facilities. Sheffield was the UK's first national city of sport and regularly hosts major sporting events at venues such as Ponds Forge, Don Valley Stadium and Sheffield Arena.
Team Sheffield Hallam
Team Sheffield Hallam is the home of competitive and performance sport at Sheffield Hallam University.
Team Sheffield Hallam offers you the chance to play in university sport leagues and tournaments, as well our annual Varsity competition.
And if you're a student competing at a high level in your sport, we'll give you all the support you need through our Performance Athlete Support Programme - including scholarships of up to £6,000 per year.
The programme is designed to support talented student athletes, allowing you to balance your university life and achieve your sporting potential.
If it's non-competitive sport, health and fitness you are interested in, Sheffield Hallam Active offers an extensive range of sport and fitness activities on campus at great prices.
City of Sport 2012 (1:36)
Sport
Watch a video about sport in Sheffield.
