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Sport and Exercise for Health is a new degree programme offered by the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. This BSc (Hons) degree is designed for students who wish to combine their passion for sport and exercise with the desire for health-related study. In this science-based programme, you develop a range of laboratory and clinical skills that give you an outstanding platform for a career in the sport, exercise and health professions.
Overview
As part of your degree, you study a variety of disciplines, including sport and exercise psychology and nutrition. You also have the opportunity to promote your own event, and look at the issues involved in encouraging the public to become more physically active. In your final year, you conduct your own research project, choosing from specialist options that may include strength and conditioning, physical activity interventions and contemporary issues in nutrition.
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is superbly equipped. You also benefit from being taught by staff members who are both excellent teachers and leading researchers in their field. The School provides an enthusiastic and supportive environment for motivated and ambitious students. In addition to our exercise science laboratories and sports therapy clinics on campus, the School has its own dedicated specialist facilities at Medway Park. These new facilities include an environmental chamber, one of the first treadmills in any UK university specially designed to reduce impact when exercising, 3D video imaging and analysis, force pedal and gait analysis, and an ultrasound imaging scanner.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2014 86% of sports students at Kent were satisfied with the quality of their course. Sport at Kent was ranked 10th overall in The Times Good University Guide 2015 and 11th in The Guardian University Guide 2015.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
The programme involves lectures, small group seminars and private study. In addition, you are expected to design, lead and take part in practical sports sessions. You have several lectures or practical sessions, and a series of seminars each week. You are also required to spend additional time developing your skills and knowledge in real-life situations.
The first half of Stage 1 is largely assessed by coursework and observed assessments. In the second half of Stage 1, some modules have written examinations in addition to coursework and practical assessments. During Stages 2 and 3, the form of assessment varies from 100% coursework to a combination of examination and coursework.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a multi-disciplinary education
- prepare students for the challenges of an expanding and rapidly-changing sports health industry while providing them with a wide choice of careers paths
- provide the skills needed to promote the health and performance of an individual or group using a multidisciplinary approach
- provide a critical knowledge and understanding of the sport and exercise sciences
- present a valuable educational experience with the opportunity to integrate theory and practice.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- anatomical and physiological principles
- the human response to exercise
- the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative research
- the nutrition required to perform at an optimum level
- the nature of a psychological approach in relation to sport and exercise
- exercise prescription for a range of population groups
- social processes which influence individual and group behaviour and participation/performance in sport.
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in the following:
- the skills needed for academic study including critical evaluation
- how to plan, design, execute and communicate a piece of independent work demonstrating a critical engagement with the relevant data
- how to apply knowledge to solve familiar and unfamiliar problems in order to develop reasoned arguments and challenge assumptions
- self-appraisal and reflection on practice
- the ability to recognise and respond to moral, legal, ethical and safety issues that relate to your studies.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following areas:
- relating the concepts of anatomy, physiology and metabolism to the body’s response to exercise
- practical skills in physiological assessment and interpretation of data from fitness testing
- the ability to appraise and evaluate the effects of sport and exercise interventions
- the ability to analyse, interpret and show critical judgement in the evaluation of the sport sciences.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- communication, presentation, numeracy and IT
- interactive skills and group-work
- problem solving
- self-appraisal and reflection on practice
- how to plan and manage your own learning.
Careers
A graduate in Sport and Exercise for Health has a range of career opportunities. The degree can lead to employment with the NHS and local government authorities, teaching, physical activity and health promotion, employment within public or private leisure centres, health and fitness clubs; and self-employment, for example as a coach or trainer, or posts in community leisure centres or in sports development with national or regional sports governing bodies. Additionally, you can choose further study to pursue a career in teaching (PGCE), or research (MPhil/PhD and Professional Doctorate) or our other taught MSc programmes.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB including B in an appropriate subject (eg Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Sport, Physical Education, Mathematics, Applied Science) |
| GCSE | C in Mathematics |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | 18 units at Distinction, Distinction, Merit plus GCSE Mathematics grade C |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL including Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics/ Sport, Exercise and Health Science 5 at HL or 6 at SL and Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.