BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health and Exercise Science
Three years full-time
UCAS code • C601
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 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.
View profiles of students on this course.
At a glance
Learn the science behind physical activity and healthy lifestyles and train for a career in areas such as personal training and physical rehabilitation. You benefit from a focus on professional development with a six week industry placement, internship opportunities and seminars from potential employers.
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.
• Get the latest industry perspectives from employers like Nuffield Health and Fit UK.
What is physical activity, health and exercise science?
A theory-based, research-led discipline that seeks applied solutions to health problems by being physically active. Being physically active is exerting force using skeletal muscle that results in energy expenditure above resting levels and includes activities such as exercise.
This course
Develop your knowledge and understanding of how scientific methods are used to examine physical activity and help people live healthier lives. You benefit from a sports science teaching provision that is ranked within the top ten nationally by the Times (2013 University rankings).
On this course, you gain the technical and professional skills needed to gain a job in areas such as personal training and physical rehabilitation. Your studies focus on exercise physiology, psychology and nutrition, exploring how important physical activity and exercise are for a healthy lifestyle.
You are taught by a team of lecturers who can offer you both industry and academic perspectives. Our lecturers working in research have been widely published on topics such as the effects of exercise on hunger and weight loss, and physical activity prescription in type 2 diabetes. You also gain the perspectives of potential employers such as Nuffield Health and Fit UK who visit to speak to students.
You explore key theories and concepts, such as functional anatomy and biomechanics. You also develop specialist laboratory skills in newly refurbished specialist facilities. These include a biomedical lab, a psychology booth for consultation and an exercise fitness suite. You then learn to link these scientific concepts and skills to working with sport and exercise clients through lectures, seminars and laboratory sessions.
You also apply what you learn on a six-week work placement in a sport, exercise, health or leisure-related environment. This takes place in year two and is a great opportunity to gain professional skills and add experience to your CV. You can gain further practical experience through our Centre for Sport and Exercise Science (CSES) internship programme, working with external clients or for SHU Wellness offering physical activity and health consultations to other students.
This 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
We develop your analytical skills and personal qualities so you can produce programmes for individuals and groups in various settings, including • the workplace, such as wellness schemes • the community, such as physical activity referral schemes and cardiac rehabilitation • corporate, such as sport and health clubs.
Sheffield will be home to a £10 million institute forming part of the country's first ever National Sports and Exercise Medicine Centre of Excellence. The institute, developed by ourselves in partnership with University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, will focus on promoting physical activity and improving the health and productivity of the people of Sheffield.
Find out more about BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health and Exercise Science
Related courses
- BSc (Honours) Physical Education and School Sport (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Development with Coaching (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport 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.
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 • practical consultations
Students taking part in a physiology session
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.
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.
Alex Vamplew
BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health & Exercise Science
The Exercise Internship Scheme I volunteered for at Sheffield Hallam gave me great work experience, and has proven to be a key element in me finding employment soon after completion of my undergraduate degree.
It gave me the opportunity to use the practical skills I had learned and been assessed on during my time studying at Sheffield Hallam. The scheme required me to do the following
• two day intensive training programme
• hold one to one consultations about physical activity with students
• take various health measures in an appropriate and correct manner
• build my confidence and communication skills at a one to one level
• use “Fitech” computer software (widely used in the health and leisure industry)
I am now currently working as a Fitness Instructor and shift leader at De Vere Belton Woods hotel (part of the prestigious ‘De Vere Group’). This requires me to take health checks, provide gym programmes, lead various fitness classes and ensure life guards complete the tasks I set them when they are off pool side.
Without the experience of the Exercise Internship Scheme, my level two fitness instructor qualification would not have been enough to gain employment. This is due to a large portion of my shift being used to take health checks, which are very similar to the consultations I took during the Exercise Internship Scheme and also require me to use the same 'Fitech' computer software to record health measures.
This set me apart from all the other applicants who had not experienced one to one consultations, or received the same level of high quality training I had, this meant I required very little on the job training. Furthermore, by showing evidence of volunteering, my willingness to ‘go the extra mile’ was highlighted to the employer.
The Exercise Internship Scheme has allowed me to find employment that I enjoy and find interesting, relatively quickly after leaving University. I highly recommend this scheme to anyone looking to enhance their employability.
Emily Newton
BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health and Exercise Science
'I really enjoyed my experience at Sheffield Hallam it has a really friendly atmosphere. Collegiate Crescent campus is in a perfect location for me, I like being so close to Ecclesall road.
'Learning about motivational interviewing and also completing many different types of health assessment such as body fat and BP really helped my role as a personal trainer. I also enjoyed the fitness assessment labs and nutritional units. I am now working as a tutor, for this role the units covering exercise referral schemes have been incredibly useful.
'I didn't actually do a placement whist at Sheffield Hallam but I worked in fitness as a gym instructor on a part-time basis I also managed a referral scheme whilst at uni.
'I currently work for FIT UK as a training consultant, I assess gym and personal training qualifications. I also teach a wide range of people which include, fitness staff already working in the industry, university students and professional athletes.
'I came back to university to do a masters degree, I had already developed my skills working in the fitness industry for several years. For me, developing my knowledge and understanding was much more important. I also wanted to get up-to-date on the most current research.
'In the future I want to continue to teach personal training courses to a broader range of people. I also want to develop new CPD courses aimed to help exercise professionals deliver the best service possible.
'My advice to prospective students is make the most of university life, do everything. But also gain as much experience as you can either volunteer or work, do what ever you can to get involved in the industry you want to work in.'
Profiles
Alex Vamplew
BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health & Exercise Science
Emily Newton
BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health and Exercise Science
