Sport and Exercise Science

Sport and exercise science is the application of scientific principles to understanding human physical performance and the role of exercise in health. It draws on physiology, biomechanics, psychology, nutrition and sports medicine to examine how the body responds and adapts to physical activity, how athletic performance can be optimised and how exercise can be used to prevent and manage disease. It is a field that has grown significantly in academic and professional standing as the evidence for exercise as medicine has accumulated, and graduates are valued across sport, health and clinical settings.

At the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience before you graduate. You will study exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports psychology, nutrition, motor control, sports performance analysis, health and fitness assessment and research methods. You will develop laboratory and field-based skills alongside your theoretical knowledge, and the placement year places you in a real professional setting, whether in elite sport, a health organisation or a research environment, where you can apply and develop your expertise in practice.

Graduates from sport and exercise science move into a wide range of careers. Strength and conditioning coaching, performance analysis, sports rehabilitation, exercise physiology in clinical settings, physical activity promotion, health and fitness management, and sports science support for professional teams and national governing bodies are all common destinations. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study or further professional qualifications in physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, sports psychology or public health.

The field is growing, and the combination of academic rigour and professional experience built into this degree positions graduates well in a competitive market.