Why choose the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
This course scored 100% student satisfaction for 11 of the 27 questions in the NSS 2025, including for teaching staff explaining things; fair marking of assessments; and teaching knowledge and skills for the future.
Our sports science courses rank in the UK top 10 in their subject field for teaching quality in both The Guardian and The Times 2026 university leagues.
They rank in the UK top 5 in their subject field for learning resources and learning opportunities (NSS, 2025).
About the course
This wide-ranging course gives you the flexibility to choose a sociological or health pathway, allowing you to specialise in your final year of study. 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 experience working with and teaching children through on-campus visits from schools or community work. There are also opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills through placements with our official partners Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations.
Course accreditation / industry endorsement
We increase the employability of our graduates by being a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Six CASES-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
We are official partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region such as Bedford Tigers RLFC, MK Dons, Cricket East and Be Active, giving you opportunities to build your employability through work placements.
Students gain valuable work-based experiences within coaching, project management, and community sport through their involvement with the Bedford Blues Foundation.
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 Michelle Flemons
Michelle has been involved with various collaborative projects including an international social justice in physical education teacher education, excellence in teaching and learning in Higher Education, cooperative learning through gymnastics-based activities and developing sustainable physical literacy-informed practitioners. Michelle’s up-and-coming projects are focused upon trauma-informed teaching in physical education, and the development of coach education in gymnastics.
Course Leader - Dr Michelle Flemons
Michelle has been involved with various collaborative projects including an international social justice in physical education teacher education, excellence in teaching and learning in Higher Education, cooperative learning through gymnastics-based activities and developing sustainable physical literacy-informed practitioners. Michelle’s up-and-coming projects are focused upon trauma-informed teaching in physical education, and the development of coach education in gymnastics.
Course Leader - Dr Michelle Flemons
Michelle has been involved with various collaborative projects including an international social justice in physical education teacher education, excellence in teaching and learning in Higher Education, cooperative learning through gymnastics-based activities and developing sustainable physical literacy-informed practitioners. Michelle’s up-and-coming projects are focused upon trauma-informed teaching in physical education, and the development of coach education in gymnastics.
What will you study?
You benefit from work placements throughout your three-year degree. To prepare for your final-year dissertation, you also take two research units: Introduction to research methods (Year 1) and Research methods for sport, exercise & physical activity (Year 2).
Your subject-specific units are:
Year 1
Introduction to sport and exercise psychology – Discover how psychology can boost sports performance. Working in sport – An overview of the sector, its challenges and career options. Anatomy and biomechanics – Study the basics of the human body and the way it moves. Human physiology – Understand how the body works and adapts to exercise. Sport, physical activity and social inclusion - Explore how social and cultural factors shape how people experience sport and exercise today. Foundations in physical education and sports coaching pedagogy - Different ways to teach and coach, and how learning, content and context work together.
Year 2
Social psychology of sport – Why people act the way they do in sport settings. Developing physical education and sport pedagogy - Learner-centred approaches to planning and teaching net and striking/fielding games. Contemporary issues and social practices in sport and physical activity - How social issues and everyday life shape how people view, play and get involved in sport. Pedagogies to promote physical literacy, health and wellbeing through movement - PE teaching methods that can impact health and wellbeing. Physical activity and health interventions – Ways to promote active, healthy lifestyles. Dissertation preparation – Sharpen your research skills and prepare your proposal.
Year 3
Applied sport and exercise psychology – Learn psychological strategies to boost performance. Inclusive physical education and sport pedagogy - Use inclusive practices to plan, run and reflect on sport or PE activities. Professional development and employability - Build the skills to land a graduate-level job in your chosen field. Sport, physical activity and disability - Examine the barriers affecting how people with disabilities get involved in sport. Narratives of bodies and health - How individuals and society view physical activity, sport and exercise. Critical sport pedagogy – Contemporary issues in physical education and youth sport, and ways to challenge them. Dissertation – Conduct original research in your chosen area.
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 in the education sector, teaching a range of subjects and key stages, including primary education, physical education, health and social care, and science. Additionally, they have pursued leadership and management roles within schools, supporting the academic and pastoral success of their students. Others have focused on community coaching roles or have established their own businesses to encourage physical activity and sport among all populations.
Some students have followed careers in the health and fitness sector; roles within the NHS; and graduate-level schemes such as the police degree-holder entry route. While this degree is underpinned by cutting edge research within the field of education, sport and health, the approaches to learning are conducive to ensuring students are developed holistically to excel in the workplace beyond their studies. The University of Bedfordshire's partners play a pivotal role in ensuring students gain hands-on experiences in a variety of contexts.
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 Behaviour Change and Health, and our MBA in Sport Leadership and Management.
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 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
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 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.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 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
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 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.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 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
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 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.
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