Sport and Exercise Science

Sport and exercise science applies the principles of physiology, biomechanics, and psychology to understanding human performance and physical activity. It is a discipline that has direct relevance both to elite sport and to public health: the same scientific understanding of how the body responds to exercise that informs training programmes for athletes also underpins the case for physical activity as a tool for improving health and wellbeing across the population.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year full-time programme prepares you to work in both elite and wider settings, developing your ability to apply sport science knowledge in a range of professional contexts. You will study the physiology of exercise, the biomechanics of movement, sports psychology, nutrition, and motor control, gaining both the theoretical understanding and the laboratory skills to measure, interpret, and apply these concepts. You will become a knowledgeable advocate for the essential role sports science plays in society, understanding how physical activity can benefit people at every level of fitness and across the lifespan.

The course includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, making this one of the most well-rounded programmes available in the subject. These experiences give you professional context and international exposure, and they allow you to see how sport science is practised in different organisational and cultural settings. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Graduates go on to careers as sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, performance analysts, exercise physiologists, sport development officers, personal trainers, and health and exercise practitioners in clinical and community settings. Further study options include postgraduate programmes in sport science, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and physical education.