Physical Activity & Health
Physical activity and health is a discipline concerned with how movement, exercise and physical activity influence human health and wellbeing across the lifespan, and with how individuals and communities can be supported to be more active. The evidence that physical activity is one of the most powerful determinants of health, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mental health conditions and many cancers, is now overwhelming. Yet large proportions of the population remain insufficiently active, and the public health, clinical and behavioural challenges of addressing this gap are considerable and multifaceted.
At Edinburgh Napier University this part-time programme is studied alongside a year abroad, making it accessible to people with other professional or personal commitments while also offering an international academic perspective on a field that is studied and practised in many different national contexts. You will study the physiology and biochemistry of exercise, the epidemiology of physical activity and chronic disease, behaviour change theory and its application to physical activity promotion, public health policy, and the design and evaluation of physical activity interventions. The part-time mode is particularly well suited to people already working in sport, health promotion, leisure, physiotherapy, nursing or community development who want to deepen their knowledge base and gain formal academic recognition.
Graduates go on to work in public health, health promotion, sport and exercise science, community physical activity programmes, clinical exercise referral, NHS wellbeing services, local government and national health organisations. Many move into roles in health policy, behaviour change consultancy, personal training and lifestyle medicine. Others pursue postgraduate study in exercise physiology, public health, health psychology or related fields.
As the evidence base for physical activity's health benefits continues to grow and public health bodies increasingly prioritise it as an intervention, expertise in this area is in consistent and increasing demand.