Sport & Exercise Sciences with Integrated Foundation Year
Sport and exercise sciences is a genuinely interdisciplinary field, applying the methods and knowledge of physiology, psychology, biomechanics and biochemistry to the understanding of human physical performance and health. It asks how the body responds to exercise at the cellular, physiological and systemic levels; how psychological factors influence motivation, adherence and performance; how movement is generated and controlled; and how exercise across the lifespan shapes health outcomes. The discipline spans elite sport performance support, exercise for health and rehabilitation, physical activity promotion and the scientific underpinnings of coaching and physical education.
At the University of Sunderland this programme includes an integrated foundation year, providing a structured and supportive pathway into degree-level study for students returning to education, those who didn't quite meet standard entry requirements, or those who want additional preparation before engaging with degree content. The main degree follows from the foundation year, running full time over four years in total. The programme also includes a year abroad, which gives you the opportunity to study sport and exercise sciences in a different national and academic context, broadening your perspective and developing the independence and adaptability that enrich both your personal and professional development.
You will develop knowledge across the core disciplines of sport and exercise science, combining laboratory and practical learning with the theoretical foundations needed to understand, interpret and apply scientific research in sport and health settings.
Graduates from sport and exercise sciences programmes move into careers in sports performance support, strength and conditioning, exercise referral, public health promotion, sports development, coaching science, the fitness industry and sports administration. Many also pursue postgraduate study in physiotherapy, sport and exercise medicine, performance psychology, strength and conditioning or related applied fields. The degree also provides a foundation for research careers in sports science.