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Why choose the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity


Our Sports Science courses rank 3rd in their subject field for graduate/career prospects (Complete University Guide, 2024).

Over 95% of our full-time UK graduates are in employment and/or further study, 15 months after graduating (Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes data for 2020/21, pub 2023).

You can apply your knowledge and skills through placements with our official partners Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations.

About the course

This wide-ranging course gives you the flexibility to choose a BA or BSc degree route, allowing you a unique chance to specialise after your first year. Led by an academic team at the cutting edge of teaching and research in this field, your learning combines theory of teaching and lab work with practical activities including an exciting outdoor and adventure education experience. You also experience working with and teaching children through on-campus visits from schools or community work.

Facilities and specialist equipment

  • Six BASES-accredited laboratories
  • Strength and conditioning facility
  • Free gym
  • Sports arena
  • Sport centre
  • Multi-use games areas
  • External sports pitches
  • Human Performance Centre
  • Up-to-the-minute sports analysis equipment – such as the Catapult GPS tracking and Nacsport camera system – allows you to measure and evaluate the performances of players and teams
  • Realistic mock-classrooms for PE teaching practice including specialist technology allowing you to watch and self-assess your lesson
  • A Forest School for training in outdoor learning and play.

Industry links

Luton Town FC Official Education Partner and Bedford Blues Official Higher Education Partner

We are official partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as collaborating with other sporting organisations in the region, giving you the opportunity to put your learning into practice through work placements.

CIMSPA logo

As a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), our courses are mapped against the Institute’s professional standards.

Your student experience

  • Benefit from the support of your own personal academic tutor who will guide and support you throughout your student journey.
  • Collaborate with our partners to deliver school and community-based projects. Your laboratory-based work develops your understanding of human performance as well as sport psychology and physical activity.
  • Enhance your learning and build your experience through field trips to destinations such as St George’s Park, Burton-upon-Trent, the home of England Football; Box End Water Park, Bedford; and an outdoor activities centre, to name a few.
  • Benefit from our industry links with the Blues Foundation; school partnerships across the region; Bedford International Athletics Stadium; Luton Town FC; the Football Association; Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee at British Gymnastics; and Kempston Outdoor Centre.
  • Develop your professional network though our links with Sport England, governing bodies, active partnerships and industry experts.
  • Recent industry visitors include Nick Cox, Academic Manager at Manchester United, and Kevin Pickard, International Swimming Coach.

with Professional Practice Year

This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.

There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.

*Only available to UK/EU students.

with Foundation Year

A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.

Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.

With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.

The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.

This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.

Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?

  • Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
  • Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
  • Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
  • Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees

The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.

During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.

 

Course Leader - Dr Lindsey Smith

I have been lecturing and researching in the area of physical activity and health since 2010 and enjoy adopting an innovative approach to teaching.

Following my PhD completion I worked for the UK's largest provider of childhood obesity programmes - MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition.... Do it!), developing community based healthy lifestyle initiatives in association with Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London.

Course Leader - Dr Lindsey Smith

I have been lecturing and researching in the area of physical activity and health since 2010 and enjoy adopting an innovative approach to teaching.

Following my PhD completion I worked for the UK's largest provider of childhood obesity programmes - MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition.... Do it!), developing community based healthy lifestyle initiatives in association with Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London.

Course Leader - Dr Lindsey Smith

I have been lecturing and researching in the area of physical activity and health since 2010 and enjoy adopting an innovative approach to teaching.

Following my PhD completion I worked for the UK's largest provider of childhood obesity programmes - MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition.... Do it!), developing community based healthy lifestyle initiatives in association with Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London.

What will you study?


Studying our Sport and Physical Education BSc (Hons) course aims to equip you with in-depth knowledge and skills around physical education, youth sport and health. Physiology is a key area of study in physical education, and this is where our Foundations of Physiology and Health unit aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of exercise psychology. You will examine scientific evidence related to young people, physical activity and health to identify exercise physiology concepts and principles in health recommendation policies. This is examined further in our Anatomy and Biomechanics unit, where you will learn the principles of human movement, biomechanics and the role of anatomy in sport and exercise science. This can then be related to our Critical Sport Pedagogy unit where you will identify social justice issues in physical education and youth sport. In practice, you will be introduced to the Foundations in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy to develop your knowledge of basic teaching skills and styles, and then apply this to your own sessions. You will then develop these approaches through net and fielding games and subsequently plan, deliver and evaluate your own sessions in our Developing Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy unit.

As concerns around the physical inactivity and health of young people persist, our Pedagogies for Physical Literacy and Health unit will equip you with the skills to promote physical education and youth sport in a school setting. You will then expand this approach to improve physical activity across the lifespan in our Physical Activity and Health Interventions unit. Here, you will examine the benefits of physical activity on health and disease causation including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and obesity. More importantly, you will also consider the role of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health in the prevention, management and treatment of disease. To diversify your approach to teaching, our optional unit in Inclusive Sport Pedagogy will introduce you to sociological concepts in equity and inclusion within physical education and sport for young people. Similarly, you will examine key theories and concepts in Sport, Physical Activity and Social Inclusion centered around gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity and disability.

In areas of the mind, you will be given an Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology and how it contributes to performance enhancement and athlete wellbeing. Through examining human behaviour, you will also look at the Social Psychology of Sport by analysing theories, principles and concepts to understand behaviour and its effects on performance and participation in sport and physical activity. Furthermore, you will analyse the Psychology of Physical Activity, how it affects participation and psychological wellbeing. Finally, you will have the opportunity to complete a Dissertation for Sport Science Courses where you will identify a key issue relevant to your study and examine it using the skills and knowledge gained from your academic study. To help you with this, our units in Dissertation Preparation, Research Methods for Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity, and an Introduction to Research Methods will support you in reading and understanding research, and to complete a proposal with ethical documentation.

To prepare you for your career, our Working in Sport and Physical Education unit will introduce you to multiple career pathways available within the sport & physical activity industry. Furthermore, you will be provided with skills for the job application and interview process in our Professional Development and Employability unit. Similarly, you will engage in project management to design a school or community-based intervention based on your knowledge of government policy, partnership and grant applications in our Professional Development (Sport Policy Enactment) unit. To add to this, you can also undertake a Professional Practice Year (Sport Science and Physical Activity) that will allow you to gain work experience while developing your professional skills.

How will you be assessed?


The course includes a variety of assessments that enable you to develop a range of academic and professional skills. You will undertake blog writing essays reports presentations and practical-based assignments and at Level 6 a research or documentary dissertation. The assignments will build directly on the teaching sessions and you will be supported by lecturers to complete the assignments.

Throughout the three years of the course support is provided in the form of formative assessments. In addition developmental assessment opportunities are offered in the form of peer assessment and individual/group tutorials. Moreover substantial guidance is provided on how to complete the assignments on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and in detailed assessment briefs.

Careers


Recent graduates have pursued careers as teachers in physical education or primary education (after completing the PGCE year). They have also pursued sport development and coaching roles within local councils; the health and fitness sector; roles within the NHS; and graduate-level schemes such as the police degree-holder entry route.

Emily Bolton, who graduated in 2020, was a late addition to Team England Commonwealth Games squad after being called-up due to a teammate’s injury.

The 2022 Games held in Birmingham saw Emily compete in the women's table tennis doubles and the women's table tennis team events. Sadly her time on the table alongside Charlotte Bardsley in the women’s doubles ended with a defeat in the last 16.

Speaking about her experience competing at the Games, Emily said: “The Commonwealth Games has been an amazing experience – seeing all the athletes and experiencing the atmosphere is something I’ll remember forever, topped off with it being a home games which has been really special, meaning my family and friends were able to come and watch which they never really get the opportunity to do.”

Students on this course have also gone on to study at postgraduate level with us. We offer PGCE Secondary Physical Education or Primary Education as well as MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology; MSc Physical Activity Nutrition and Behaviour Change; MA Sport and Physical Activity; or MA Physical Education and Sport.

Entry Requirements

48 UCAS tariff points including 32 from at least 1 A-level or equivalent

Entry Requirements

    112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent

Entry Requirements

    112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance

Merit Scholarship

We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

Bedfordshire Bursary

If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk

International

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 per year.

There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.

A full list of scholarships can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance

Merit Scholarship

We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

Bedfordshire Bursary

If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk

International

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 per year.

There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.

A full list of scholarships can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance

Merit Scholarship

We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

Bedfordshire Bursary

If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk

International

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 per year.

There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.

A full list of scholarships can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

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