Students carrying out a fitness task.

Year of study

2025

Key details

Start date(s)
September 2025
Location
Main Campus (Horsforth)
School
Sport and Wellbeing
UCAS tariff points
48
Study Mode
Full-time (4 years)
Study abroad
Yes

Are you fascinated by the science underpinning athletic performance and exercise? Do you want to work with athletes and clients, helping them to reach their performance potential?

Studying Sport and Exercise Sciences gives you the opportunity to understand the science behind all aspects of athletic performance and exercise.

This four-year course includes an initial full-time Foundation Year and offers an alternative route into university and gaining a degree.

This route is for you if you do not have the necessary qualifications or don’t yet feel ready to begin degree-level study, or are returning to education and would like some support to get up to speed with learning in a university setting.

The Foundation Year in Sport and Exercise will allow you to develop your academic skills and confidence as well as introduce you to key concepts, debates and skills that will support and inform your subsequent years of undergraduate study.

Following successful completion of your Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto Year 1 of our Sport and Exercise Sciences BSc (Hons) degree.

The Student Contract

About this course

During your Foundation Year, you will undertake modules to enable you to enhance your academic skills and equip you with the tools you’ll need to study with confidence. You’ll carry out a personal project so you can study an area of interest related to your chosen future subject specialisation.

You’ll be introduced to multi-disciplinary perspectives on sport, exercise, physical performance and rehabilitation therapies including physiological, psychological, biomechanical, tactical, pedagogical and rehabilitation concepts. You'll investigate the role exercise plays in health from a multi-disciplinary perspective, exploring theories including health and wellbeing, behaviour change and working with clients.

Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto the first year of our Sport and Exercise Sciences BSc (Hons) degree.

You’ll study the core components of sport and exercise sciences, exploring a range of theories and concepts relating to physiology, biomechanics and psychology. You’ll develop key laboratory skills in a range of disciplines which will help you to improve the performance of athletes.

From your first year, you can choose to further develop your knowledge and specialise in sports nutrition and strength and conditioning.

Whatever path you choose, you’ll put theory into practice by completing professional work placements. We’ll also give you first-hand experience of working with athletes through Trinity Performance, our sport and exercise science enterprise service that offers coach education, consultancy and health assessments to professional athletes and clients.

By the time you graduate, you’ll not only be ready for a successful career in the sports industry, you’ll also have been able to develop highly transferable business and management skills that will prepare you for a wide range of graduate roles.

Accreditation

BASE Endorsed Programme Logo.

This course is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) - the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.

CIMSPA Endorsed Professional Standards Logo.

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, for the Gym Instructor professional standard. Students who successfully complete this course will have met the Gym Instructor professional standard and will be eligible for CIMSPA membership, while also gaining a degree endorsed by an organisation recognised in the professional sector.

Why study with us?

  • Build your self-confidence, academic skills and core subject knowledge in preparation for progression onto degree-level study.
  • Work with athletes during your degree, applying theory to real-world scenarios.
  • Access excellent facilities, including a Sports Science Laboratory, Movement Analysis Suite and Strength and Conditioning Suite.
  • Complete professional work placements and gain relevant experience in preparation for your career 
Student taking part in sport activity.

Course modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Foundation Year

During your Foundation Year, you'll study four core modules.

Academic Skills and Studying with Confidence - Core

We'll help you develop core academic skills such as using electronic resources, planning and note-taking, communication skills related to essay and report writing and delivering presentations.

You'll learn to manage your time, prioritise tasks and manage stress, and become more confident in engaging with collaborative learning, debates, discussions and critical reflection.

Project - Core

Study areas of interest related to your chosen future academic specialisation in this highly personalised module.

You'll have 25 hours of workshop tuition to explore how you will be assessed and the form your project could take, which could be a written report, a presentation, a film or a series of blog posts.

You'll also explore topics your project could focus on, and get peer assessment of your ideas.

In the first semester, you'll get support through personal tutoring and learning hub liaison.

You'll also explore careers and employability pathways in sport and health with the Graduate Recruitment Team and the School of Health, Sport and Life Sciences.

In the second semester, you'll produce your negotiated assessment, focussing on existing academic literature and other secondary sources.

You won't undertake primary empirical research.

Scientific Principles within Sport - Core

You'll study multi-disciplinary perspectives on sport, exercise, physical performance and rehabilitation therapies including physiological, psychological, biochemical, tactical, pedagogical and rehabilitation.

You'll be introduced to the basic key theories to illustrate these perspectives, followed by practical-based activities for hands-on understanding.

A range of methods will be deployed for evaluating sport, exercise and physical performance, including interpretation, presentation and reflection upon data.

Promoting Exercise, Physical Activity and Health - Core

Study multi-disciplinary perspectives of the role of exercise and physical activity with the context of health. You'll gain knowledge on the basic key theories such as health and wellbeing, behaviour change, health and safety, intervention design and working with clients through a range of activities.

You'll build your knowledge through a combination of interactive lectures and workshops as well as in practical settings which may include lab sessions, field-based activities and practical workshops.

Year 1

During your first year, you'll study five core modules and will be required to choose one option module.

Applying Principles of Sport and Exercise Sciences - Core

Use evidence from various sources to support working with a range of clients.

You'll look at evidence from interdisciplinary sources and work as part of interdisciplinary teams.

You'll develop your research and enquiry skills so you can use sources of information relevant to your degree programme.

You'll learn about professional bodies supporting your field of study.

You'll also look at lifestyle and health promotion and the risk reduction and management of common health conditions.

Professional Skills in Sport, Exercise and Health - Core

You'll find out what it's like to work in the applied sport, exercise and health sector.

You'll learn about the roles and responsibilities of clients and stakeholders, see the types of jobs and opportunities available, understand the challenges and benefits of working in an interdisciplinary team, and learn to work with empathy and compassion.

You can also take on a work placement or complete employer challenges as part of this module.

 

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology - Core

Get an introduction to anatomy and physiology.

We'll cover the musculoskeletal system, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, the nervous and endocrine systems, and energy metabolism and use.

You'll make links between theory and practical work.

We'll also introduce core aspects of research and enquiry, such as how to read and use research articles, conduct basic literature searches and use the Learning Centre services.

Fundamentals of Human Movement - Core

Learn about musculoskeletal structure and function, including muscle mechanics, planes and axes of movement and anatomical reference points.

We'll cover linear kinematics and kinetics, work, power and energy concepts, kinematics measurement techniques, and the qualitative analysis of movement.

You'll explore training principles to enhance performance variables, such as acceleration, velocity, impulse, power and force application.

 

Introduction to Sport Psychology - Core

Get an understanding of the individual client or performer through fundamental aspects of sport and exercise psychology.

You'll examine theories of confidence, motivation, and mental resilience.

You'll explore approaches to encourage behaviour change using practical techniques such as goal setting.

You'll also get an introduction to core aspects of research and enquiry, such as how to read and use research articles, how to conduct basic literature searches, how to critique theoretical explanations, and how to make appropriate use of the Learning Centre services including the library.

Introduction to Nutrition - Option

Get an introduction to key concepts in nutrition.

This includes macronutrients, micronutrients, the role of fluid in the diet and dietary recommendations for specific individuals. e

We'll discuss energy balance and understanding recommendations for individuals.

Fundamentals in Strength and Conditioning - Option

Learn to work safely and effectively with clients in strength and conditioning settings.

We'll cover health screening, inductions, needs assessments, communication and feedback.

You'll examine the nature and scope of the role of the Strength and Conditioning Trainer in relation to safe and ethical practice.

We'll also cover national physical activity guidelines, legislation, organisational procedures, and health and safety.

You'll explore programme design for exercise and sport performance, as well as warm-up methods, foundation movements and a variety of strength and conditioning techniques.

Peer coaching will be central to the experience and monitoring and evaluation of delivered sessions examined.

Year 2

During your second year, you'll study six core modules and will be required to choose one option module.

Physiology of Training - Core

Examine the physiological responses to different forms of exercise.

Find out how to measure and apply performance-based variables such as VO2 max, blood lactate thresholds, and running economy and health-related assessments such as HRmax.

You'll develop key practical skills such as VO2 max testing and capillary blood sampling, and learn how physiological variables associated with these tests can be used to monitor and enhance performance.

You'll also examine and appraise contemporary research methods that are relevant for the analysis of the data collected.

Sport and Exercise Psychology - Core

Develop your knowledge of sport and exercise psychology and how it can be used to enhance performance and wellbeing.

We'll focus on the roles of non-psychology titled practitioners.

You'll discover how core underpinning theories can inform strategies to benefit performance and wellbeing, taking into consideration moral and ethical considerations while being mindful of athletes' differences.

We'll cover motivation, confidence, self- and collective-efficacy, arousal and anxiety, the psychology of injury, working with stakeholders and significant others, group dynamics and team cohesion, and sporting career transitions.

Nutrition for Sport, Health and Exercise - Core

Learn about digestion, absorption and excretion, metabolism of macronutrients and energy release during exercise.

You'll explore nutrient requirements for exercising populations, the nature of body composition and the principles of energy balance.

You'll evaluate the role of macronutrients and micronutrients in exercise and the effect on dietary planning.

You'll take part in practical laboratory sessions to explore metabolic responses to exercise and develop nutrition-related skills such as the use of specialist software (Nutritics).

Applying Professional Skills in Sport, Exercise and Health - Core

You'll do a professional placement, which can be spread across the academic year or done in a block, depending on your preferred professional area and the demands of your degree programme.

We'll help you develop your professional skills with content relevant to your degree.

This could include developing reflective practice skills, enhancing communication skills, interdisciplinary working, career guidance placement searching and CV writing.

Biomechanical Analysis of Movement - Core

Learn about the application of angular kinematics and kinetics and the nature of the forces that air and water can exert on athletes and sports objects.

Discover how these forces and the characteristics of sports surfaces and equipment can influence performance.

You'll develop laboratory-based skills in force plate data collection and analysis, two-dimensional motion analysis, and learn how to analyse and interpret 2D data.

You'll also develop your ability to evaluate the appropriateness of different assessment tools and assess the limitations and validity of data collection.

Research Methods and Enquiry - Core

Learn how to build and interpret research evidence in sport, exercise and related areas.

You'll study the value of research processes, ethical requirements, synthesis of existing research evidence, project design, and the analysis and interpretation of data.

You'll also learn how to appraise existing research.

Nutrition for Sport Performance - Option

Explore how the content of the Nutrition for Sport, Health and Exercise module applies to a range of athletes.

Learn how to work with athletes to improve their food choices in line with recommendations from research.

You'll use your nutrition-related skills using specialist software (Nutritics) to demonstrate your understanding of applying theory to practice.

Strength and Conditioning in Action - Option

Explore sport-specific planning and preparation for athletes across different activities and sports.

Using a life course approach, you'll investigate the specific needs of sports using a multidisciplinary approach.

This will help you understand training programme design and evaluation.

We'll also cover coaching philosophies and practice.

You'll take part in practical activities to develop coaching skills and proficiency in techniques for strength and conditioning.

Year 3

During your final year, you'll study three core modules and will be required to choose one option module.

Independent Project - Core

Showcase your integrated learning with an independent project relevant to your course and interests.

You'll have tutorials to help you work out the format and focus of your project.

You'll have formative assessment points to act as stepping stones towards completion.

The module will culminate in an assessment event where you'll present work in a negotiated format.

Professional Learning Through Work - Core

You'll complete a work-based or alternative professional development project within your work setting.

This will involve negotiating a project that meets the needs of both your employer or placement provider and Leeds Trinity University.

You'll develop and negotiate learning outcomes and assessment modes that allow you to apply theoretical understanding and practical work-based development to a chosen context.

Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Science - Core

Apply a range of sport and exercise science skills and understanding to address the ‘whole person’ needs of a sports performer or exerciser.

You'll bring together knowledge of and reflections on sport and exercise science sub-disciplines to identify, address and reflect on the needs of individuals in case studies drawn from sport and exercise.

You'll need to apply more than one sub-discipline to articulate the needs of the individual, demonstrate how the application of a collection of disciplines in sport and exercise science helps better address these needs and offer critical comment on the challenges associated with such a way of working.

Case studies will cover scenarios such as injury prevention or rehabilitation, development of technique, establishment of competition strategy, and managing weight in sport or exercise settings.

Applied Physiology - Option

You'll examine the physiological responses to exercise and heat stress, exercise and altitude, dehydration and hydration strategies, ergogenic aids and doping.

You'll appraise physiological laboratory and field-based technology relevant to the topic areas of discussion.

You'll use and enhance your practical and research skills learnt through your course in an applied physiology manner.

Applied Performance Testing - Option

You'll study how to collect, interpret, and use performance testing data.

This includes advanced motion analysis to look at segment motion patterns and their interaction in terms of segmental sequencing, electromyography and its application in sport, force and pressure measurement in sport and movement, maximal strength tests, and aerobic and aerobic capacity tests.

You'll study the design of testing programmes and scientific rigour, including the analysis of data and its interpretation applied to specific sports.

You'll also study the professional boundaries of practice as an individual and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

You'll undertake applied work with various sports science disciplines including strength and conditioning and sports nutrition.

Sport Psychology in Context - Option

You'll critically analyse the different organisational contexts and factors that might influence a sport psychologist’s applied practice.

We'll draw on topics and themes adopted from organisational and cultural sport psychology.

This will provide a reflective perspective on the diverse and unique range of individuals and organisational contexts that typify applied sport psychology practice.

You'll give critical consideration to the ethical and theoretical frameworks and philosophies that underpin ‘effective’ applied practice.

Professional work placements

Experience matters. That's why we embed professional work placements within the majority of our standard undergraduate degrees.

How does it work?

Careers and Placements will work with you to find a placement or help you to arrange your own, whether that's in Leeds, another part of the UK or even abroad. You will be able to take part in a series of workshops, events and live ‘employer challenges’ to boost your confidence and prepare you for your placement.

During your placement, you could have an opportunity to gain degree-relevant work experience, build your knowledge of career sectors and secure valuable employer references and industry contacts. This experience will help you to shape your career decisions and find the right path for you.

Our students have completed placements at a range of professional sports clubs including Bolton Wanderers Football Club and Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Club, as well as in primary and secondary schools, Human Kinetics publishers and local authority health and wellbeing services.

To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:

Professional Work Placements

Got a question about the course?

Our Sport and Wellbeing team are on hand to answer your questions, whether you want to know about the modules you'll be studying, where you can complete your professional placement or the types of assessments you'll do, they are here to help.

Learning and teaching

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.

For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Programme delivery

Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.

Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:

  1. Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
  2. Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
  3. Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.

Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

  • high quality teaching
  • an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

Information about the large range of qualifications we accept, including A-Levels, BTECs and T Levels, can be found on our entry requirements page. If you need additional advice or are taking qualifications that are not covered in the information supplied, please contact our Admissions Office.

Entry requirements for this course:
QualificationGrade
UCAS tariff48
GCSE requirementsGCSE in English Language at grade C or 4 (or higher)

Applications are welcome from mature students with few formal qualifications.

Any previous relevant work experience and learning will be assessed and, where appropriate, we may offer an alternative way to assess suitability to study.

This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.

If you do not have a GCSE in Science but have studied Sport at Level 3 and that qualification has some Science content, we may be able to consider your application.

Fees and finance

UK Home fees £9,250 per year
Full-time

Funding

UK Home Students:

Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2023/2024.

Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.

Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.

Living costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, food, will also need to be taken into consideration.

Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.

Additional costs

We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees. These include:

  • Books - recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
  • Print costs - the University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.

How to apply

For full-time undergraduate courses, you apply through UCAS. That's the University and Colleges Admissions Service.

On your application form, you'll need to know our institution code - it's L24 - and the course code. If you click through to the UCAS website using the button below, it'll take you to the right place with all the information you need.

You'll need to write a personal statement - we've prepared a guide to help you.

Applications are now open for courses starting in September 2025. The UCAS application deadline for courses starting in September 2025 is 29 January 2025.

There's lots more information about the application process on the UCAS website, or you can get in touch with our admissions team who will be happy to help:

This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.

Graduate opportunities

Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.

Our commitment to developing your employability means you’ll have the skills, knowledge and confidence to work in a wide range of sports industry roles. Many of our graduates work in elite sport as applied scientists, but they have also been successful in teaching, coaching, business and marketing roles thanks to the transferable skills they’ve developed throughout the course.

After you graduate, Careers and Placements will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.

To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:

Careers


Moving Forward: Working in Sport and Wellbeing Conference

Our Moving Forward: Working in Sport and Wellbeing Conference gave students the opportunity to explore career paths available to them, make connections and hear from keynote speakers Geva Mentor CBE and Dan Busfield about their personal career journey.

Movement Analysis Suite

Our investment in the latest sports facilities, technology and services provides you with the best opportunities to learn key skills and gain hands-on experience in preparation for the workplace.

Our Movement Analysis Suite offers the latest in motion capture technology and includes a 16-camera Motion Analysis Corporation system with Cortex and Visual 3D software for post-processing analysis. It also has digital video cameras for 2D and 3D kinematic analysis, a Bertec portable force plate, and a Delsys 8 channel EMG system.

See our students using the equipment in the Movement Analysis Suite to record and monitor human movement during a golf swing.

Meet the team

Sport, Health and Physical Education Kirstie Grace
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Sport, Health and Physical Education Luke Barnes
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Sport, Health and Physical Education Vicky Hunter
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Sport, Health and Physical Education Danielle Davis
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Sport and Physical Education Adam Lunn
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