Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year

Sport and exercise science applies the methods and knowledge of physiology, psychology and biomechanics to the study of human physical performance and the role of exercise in health across the lifespan. It is a discipline that sits between pure science and applied professional practice, asking both how the body responds to physical demands and how that understanding can be used to improve performance, support health and prevent or manage injury. At the University of Surrey, this four-year full-time degree includes a foundation year and integrates digital and AI skills across the curriculum, reflecting the growing role of technology in sport performance, health monitoring and exercise prescription.

You will study exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport and exercise psychology, motor learning, nutrition, anatomy and the research methods needed to work with scientific evidence in the field. The foundation year provides the scientific grounding, including biology, physiology and mathematics, needed before the main degree content begins. Surrey's programme develops both theoretical understanding and the practical skills to assess, test and intervene with athletes, clinical populations and healthy individuals.

The integration of digital skills across the curriculum means you develop the data literacy and technology fluency that sport science roles increasingly require. A typical entry tariff of around 104 points is expected for this four-year route.

Graduates pursue careers as sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, exercise physiologists, sport development officers, health and fitness professionals and NHS exercise specialists. The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in physiotherapy, sport medicine, strength and conditioning or clinical exercise physiology. The growing evidence base for exercise as medicine ensures sustained demand for well-trained sport and exercise scientists in both performance and health contexts.