Are you passionate about sport and fascinated by the science behind it? Are you driven to make a difference through sport and exercise? From boosting the performance of elite athletes to improving the quality of day-to-day life for the elderly, studying the Sport and Exercise Science BSc at Kent gives you the knowledge and experience needed to apply these skills in a fast-paced field. Our Year in Industry option gives you the chance to develop hands-on experience working in a professional environment and gain a competitive edge for future employment after you graduate.
Our lecturers have vast research and applied experience in sports and exercise training, physiology, nutrition, biomechanics and psychology. Working with experts ensures you gain a good mix of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice, in our first-class facilities and in the local community. We offer module options and placement opportunities which allow you to specialise and work towards your career goals and increase your employability.
You study the science behind sports performance and physical activity. Topics include anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, sport nutrition and research methods.
Introductory modules cover the nutrition, physiology and psychology aspects of sport and exercise, plus anatomy and biomechanics and the foundations of research methods. You then move on to study more advanced modules covering these topics as well as exercise testing and prescription for special populations and techniques for research analysis required for your dissertation.
In your final year, as well as carrying out an independent research study in sport and exercise science, you take a number of optional modules. These include topics such as sport and exercise psychology, the physiology of training, nutrition and clinical exercise prescription.
Additional work experience can be completed through placements in the sport, health and leisure industry, or sport science support with athletes. There are other opportunities for experience working with us on community engagement projects (e.g. outreach work in schools).
If you are already competing at county level or equivalent, you can apply for a sports scholarship from the University. One of our best-known graduates is Olympic gold medallist Susannah Townsend. During her time at Kent she had a sports scholarship and played for Canterbury Hockey Club (where she continues to play midfield).
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.
BCC including grade B in an appropriate subject (eg Biology, Chemistry, Sport, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Statistics, Mathematics, Applied Science)
Mathematics grade C
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.
Distinction, Merit, Merit in a Sport or Science related subject.
30 points overall or 15 at HL including Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics, Sports, Exercise and Health Science 5 at HL or 6 at SL and Mathematics 4 at HL or SL.
Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 60% overall average including 60% in Fundamentals of Human Biology and 60% in Life Sciences plus 50% in LZ013 Maths and Statistics.
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Please contact the School for more information at study-sports@kent.ac.uk.
If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
Duration: 4 years full-time
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
This module provides students with an introduction to the basic principles of Sport and Exercise Nutrition. Students will explore the macronutrients and micronutrients and Fluid guidelines. A strong physiological understanding underpins much of the module content
Macronutrients: carbohydrate, protein and fat Micronutrients: Vitamins and minerals, Fluid regulation, Thermoregulation and fluid guidelines, Competition nutrition.
This is an introductory module where students will study the structure and function of the different physiological systems in the human body. The principles of the maintenance of homeostasis and the physiological adaptation of the body systems to exercise will also be covered.
This module provides students with an introduction to sport and exercise psychology. This includes the learning and performance process, as well as approaches and responses to various sport and exercise situations. Indicative content includes:
• Sport and Exercise Psychology in Action
• Motor Learning and Performance
• Feedback
• Attention and Concentration
• Personality and Individual Differences
• Motivation
• Self-Confidence and Self-Efficacy
• Arousal, Stress and Anxiety
• Group and Team Dynamics
The module aims to provide students with a detailed working knowledge of the anatomy of the human musculoskeletal system and relevant supporting structures; and 2) a basic understanding of mechanical principles and their applications to sports performance and human movement in general. We will work by specifying a question about an aspect of sports performance, and then examining the mechanical principles that allow us to answer this question.
The module aims to provide students with knowledge of the foundations in research methods in sport sciences. Students will explore different data collection methods in sport sciences and how that information is presented and communicated appropriately. Research and academic study skills will be developed throughout the module.
One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.
One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.
The topic areas covered in this module build upon the knowledge gained in SPOR3480 Introduction to Fitness Testing & SPOR5700 Fitness Training Methods, which covers the fundamental aspects of exercise testing and prescription. Special populations are those groups of individuals that may need some adaptation or modification to an exercise prescription or programme, to take into consideration a limitation, whether that be physiological, biological or psychosocial. The emphasis is on promoting health, fitness and safety in exercise, as well as some consideration being given to performance environments.
A synopsis of indicative topics included in this module are:
Exercise, physical activity and health
Fitness assessment issues related to special population groups
Children and physical activity
Females and exercise issues
Exercise considerations for a sedentary population
Exercise and the older adult
Special exercise considerations and adaptations for special populations
Risks and benefits of exercise for special populations
Psychosocial issues & strategies for exercise/physical activity adherence
This module considers the nutritional needs of different types of sports people. Students will learn to apply sound nutritional guidance. Nutritional guidance is based on an understanding of the underpinning concepts and principles associated with sports performance and how applied nutrition can maintain and enhance performance.
The module explores the physiological response to exercise for a healthy adult. There is a focus on cardio-pulmonary & metabolic responses, which will be scrutinised in terms of differing exercises intensities and duration. The module will examine the key physiological factors that determine and thus limit exercise performance in humans, and will expose students to different methods of collecting, handling and processing exercise data.
The module aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of human responses and adaptations to sport and exercise. Using a psychological approach, students acquire knowledge and understanding of sport and exercise performance and exercise adherence to promote health. Lectures and seminars provide forums for discussion and understanding of cognitions, affect and behaviour and the complex interactions between these. A key module aim is to provide an understanding of the application of theory to real 'applied' situations within sport and exercise settings.
Topics include:
Individual differences and personality
Attributions and perceived control
Exercise behaviour
Motivation
Emotions in sport
Attention and focus
Group dynamics
Leadership
Communication
Goal setting
Psychophysiology in sport and exercise
This module is concerned with angular mechanics and the biomechanics of complex movements. Laboratory experimentation will provide the opportunity for students to develop practical skills in the use of a range of analysis equipment such as a force plate and computer-based motion analysis. A range of sport and exercise situations will be used to illustrate the mechanical principles considered. These could include kinematic analysis of walking; the kinetics of weight lifting; the computation of resultant joint moments and gait analysis.
Indicative content includes:
Definition and computation of angular kinematic quantities.
Newton's Laws in their angular formulation.
Methodology: motion analysis, force plates, anthropometry.
Interpretation of resultant joint moment profiles in gait analysis.
Basic material properties such as stress and strain and the relationship between these measures and injury.
This module introduces students to the analysis techniques required for their dissertation module, as well as how to develop a research idea into a formal study proposal.
The year in industry gives you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience. It is your responsibility to find a placement, but we will help and support you through this process and while you are there.
Please note that acceptance onto the course is not a guarantee of a placement. The responsibility of finding a placement is on the student, with help and support from the department. If you cannot find a placement, you will be required to change your registration for the equivalent BSc (Hons) programme without the year in industry option.
Students spend a year (minimum 900 hours) doing paid work in an organisation outside the University, usually in an industrial or commercial environment, applying and enhancing the skills and techniques they have developed and studied in the earlier stages of their degree programme. Employer evaluation, personal and professional reviews and on-line blogs are assessed under SPOR5910 Industrial Placement Experience, which is a co-requisite of this module. The assessment of this module draws on the experience gained in SPOR5910 Industrial Placement Experience and is assessed through a portfolio submission.
The placement work they do is entirely under the direction of their industrial supervisor, but support is provided by the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. This support includes ensuring that the work they are being expected to do is such that they can meet the learning outcomes of this module.
Participation in the placement year, and hence in this module, is dependent on students obtaining an appropriate placement, for which support and guidance is provided through the School in the year leading up to the placement. It is also dependent on students progressing satisfactorily from Stage 2 of their studies.
Students who do not obtain a placement or who fail module SPOR5910 Industrial Placement Experience will be required to transfer to the appropriate programme without a Year in Industry and any marks obtained on this module will not contribute to their final degree classification.
Students spend a year (minimum 900 hours) doing paid work in an organisation outside the University, usually in an industrial or commercial environment, applying and enhancing the skills and techniques they have developed and studied in the earlier stages of their degree programme.
The work they do is entirely under the direction of their industrial supervisor, but support is provided by the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. This support includes ensuring that the work they are being expected to do is such that they can meet the learning outcomes of the module.
Participation in this module is dependent on students obtaining an appropriate placement, for which support and guidance is provided through the School in the year leading up to the placement. It is also dependent on students progressing from Stage 2 of their studies.
Students who do not obtain a placement will be required to transfer to the appropriate programme without a Year in Industry.
Students who do not obtain a placement will be required to transfer to the appropriate programme without a Year in Industry.
Exercise prescription for the asymptomatic older adult
Physical activity and cardiovascular diseases
Physical activity and metabolic diseases
Physical activity and neurological impairment
Physical activity and orthopedic diseases
Physical activity and pulmonary diseases
Exercise in clinical rehabilitation settings
Exercise psychology
The module takes the form of an individual research study. There are taught lectures covering the management of a research project. The research projects are then conducted with the supervision of a tutor who will advise the student on issues such as methodology, analysis and presentation. It is the student's responsibility to organise, conduct, analyse and present the research as required. The research project may comprise an experimental laboratory based dissertation, or a systematic review of the literature.
One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.
The topic areas covered in this module build upon the knowledge gained in SPOR3480 Introduction to Fitness Testing & SPOR5700 Fitness Training Methods, which covers the fundamental aspects of exercise testing and prescription. Special populations are those groups of individuals that may need some adaptation or modification to an exercise prescription or programme, to take into consideration a limitation, whether that be physiological, biological or psychosocial. The emphasis is on promoting health, fitness and safety in exercise, as well as some consideration being given to performance environments.
A synopsis of indicative topics included in this module are:
Exercise, physical activity and health
Fitness assessment issues related to special population groups
Children and physical activity
Females and exercise issues
Exercise considerations for a sedentary population
Exercise and the older adult
Special exercise considerations and adaptations for special populations
Risks and benefits of exercise for special populations
Psychosocial issues & strategies for exercise/physical activity adherence
The module aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the role of applied practice within sport and exercise psychology. A key module aim is to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the applied sport and exercise psychology service delivery process. Students will explore how sport psychology practitioners initially approach intervention work; consider ethical and professional practice dilemmas; appraise and evaluate approaches to evidence-based evidence; design an intervention; and reflect on their practice. Students will be required to conduct a case study with a sport or exercise participant.
A synopsis of the indicative topics included in this module are:
Introduction to the module
Frameworks and approaches in sport psychology (including philosophy and models of practice)
Professional practice (ethical standards, considerations, and evidence-based practice)
Initial needs assessment (Intake, interview, and performance profiling)
Choosing and planning an intervention
Psychological skills and strategies
Reflective practice - Athletic injuries and psychology - Clinical psychology (eating disorders, burnout, and exercise addiction)
Working with special populations (youth athletes, older adults, and living with disability/chronic illness)
This module aims to increase the student's knowledge and understanding of the physiology governing sports performance. Contemporary training methods will be discussed. It also further develops the skills necessary to analyse and critically assess performance. Practical sessions will be conducted to reinforce theoretical knowledge.
The following indicative topics covered in this module are:
- Submaximal and maximal determinants of exercise performance
- Strength and power in athletic performance
- Processes of fatigue and implications for training
- Contemporary issues in training
- Monitoring training and recovery
In this module students will study and investigate the latest research in sports nutrition. This will provide the opportunity to critically analyse research evidence and practical nutritional strategies in sports nutrition. Students will study nutritional ergogenic aids and nutritional strategies suggested to improve performance. Students will conduct practical sessions in order to test some of the theories and strategies studied.
Individuals from a variety of populations take part in sport and exercise. This module takes an in-depth look at 'athletic populations' and factors that impact on performance. Students will critically analyse and discuss what types of exercise are optimal for different athletes and consider the risks and benefits associated with sport and exercise activities. Students will focus on some key issues related to sports performance, e.g. managing athlete with respiratory issues? What strategies could be used to minimise musculoskeletal injury in child athletes? Should pregnant females play sport?
The module utilises the expertise of staff within SSES, guest speakers and student contributions. Students will be encouraged to think about how they might work with athletes on an individual basis.
The module provides a structured opportunity to combine appropriate developmental work experience with academic study. The placement will provide the opportunity for students to develop appropriate vocational and applied academic knowledge. In order for the student to take this module they must secure a placement. The placement should be appropriate to the student's degree, experience and potential career aspirations. All placements will be subject to the module convenor's authorisation.
The 2022/23 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Home undergraduates are £1,385.
Fees for Home undergraduates are £1,385.
Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
All students who are part of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences will receive a complementary Hoodie once they have started the course.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarshipsKent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
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.
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
Teaching involves practical laboratory and sports-based sessions, lectures, small group seminars and private study. You will have a number of lectures and practical sessions and a series of seminars each week – depending on the optional modules you select. You may also be required to spend time developing your practical skills and experience in placement or event situations.
Methods of assessment vary depending on the module but predominantly involve coursework, observed assessment, practical tests and, where appropriate, clinical assessments. Some modules are assessed via written exams.
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
The programme aims to:
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
You gain the intellectual skills to:
You gain subject-specific skills in the following areas:
You gain transferable skills in:
Sports Science at Kent scored 88% overall in The Complete University Guide 2023.
You graduate with an excellent grounding in scientific knowledge and extensive laboratory experience. In addition, you also develop the key transferable skills sought by employers, such as:
This means that our graduates are well equipped for careers across a range of fields and have gone on to work in sports science support for elite athletes, professional sports teams, teaching and in the NHS for physical activity, exercise referral or health promotion.
You can read their stories, and find out about the range of support and extra opportunities available to further your career potential.
This course page is for the 2022/23 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.
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E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk
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