Sport and Exercise Science

Sport and exercise science is the rigorous scientific study of human physical performance, exercise and health. It applies the methods and frameworks of physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition to understand how the body responds to physical activity, how performance can be developed and sustained, and how exercise contributes to health and wellbeing across populations. The discipline is relevant both to the elite athlete seeking every marginal gain and to the public health professional trying to get more people active and healthy.

At Nottingham Trent University, this three-year full-time programme takes a broad view of what sport and exercise science encompasses. You will study exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport and exercise psychology, motor learning and skill acquisition, the nutritional science relevant to performance and health, research methods and the analysis of physical performance data. The programme recognises that sport and exercise go beyond physical fitness, encompassing mental wellbeing, teamwork, resilience and the broader contribution that physical activity makes to a healthier society.

Practical laboratory and applied work are central to the learning experience, developing your ability to conduct physiological and biomechanical assessments, design and interpret research, and apply scientific understanding to performance and health contexts. NTU's sport facilities and connections with local sport organisations support this applied dimension.

Graduates go on to careers in strength and conditioning, sport performance analysis, exercise physiology, health and wellbeing promotion, coaching, fitness instruction, sport development, rehabilitation and sport science research. Some go on to postgraduate study in sport and exercise science, sports medicine, physiotherapy, physical education or public health. The combination of scientific rigour and applied focus makes graduates attractive to employers across sport, health and physical activity settings.