Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year

This module introduces you to key psychological theories that underpin sport performance, exercise behaviour, and overall wellbeing, while developing your understanding of how psychological factors influence participation, adherence, and performance. It provides opportunities for you to apply theoretical knowledge to real world sport and exercise contexts and supports the development of effective communication skills through the analysis and presentation of applied case studies.

Human movement is fundamental to performance, wellbeing and lifelong participation in sport. Gaining a clear understanding of how the body moves and the factors that influence that movement forms a crucial foundation for further study. This module introduces the essential concepts of anatomy, biomechanics and neuromuscular control, helping you build a strong scientific basis for analysing human movement. You will explore how movement is created, coordinated and adapted in a variety of everyday and sporting situations. You will develop early practical confidence by learning how to observe movement patterns, recognise movement variability, and identify key factors that contribute to efficient or inefficient motion.

In this module, you will explore how your body systems work together during exercise and how nutrition influences these responses. You will learn the structure and function of key physiological systems and how they maintain homeostasis at rest and during physical activity. Through practical sessions, you will develop skills in physiological testing and data interpretation. You will apply your knowledge to understand how exercise and nutrition interact to affect health and performance, building a strong foundation for further study in sport and exercise science.

In this module, you will explore how physical activity influences health within society. You will examine the social and cultural factors that affect participation in sport and exercise, alongside key public health guidelines. You will also develop an understanding of inequalities, barriers, and facilitators to physical activity. By applying your knowledge to real world scenarios, you will gain insight into how to promote healthier, more active communities.

In this module you will be introduced to the key principles that underpin effective training programme design for both health and athletic performance. Drawing upon anatomical and physiological knowledge developed in other modules of study, you will explore different training methods that are used to target different components of fitness, whilst developing the practical skills needed to coach exercises safely and design and monitor appropriate training programmes for a range of populations.

In this module, you will develop the skills needed to design, deliver, and evaluate effective coaching sessions in sport and exercise settings. You’ll explore how coaching styles, communication, feedback, and cueing influence how people learn and develop skills. You will also learn how to plan structured and safe sessions for individuals and groups, drawing on principles from skill acquisition and motor learning. Through practical coaching experience and reflection, you will build confidence in your delivery, improve your decision making, and develop your own coaching style. This module prepares you for real world coaching roles where effective practice and reflection are essential.

With the use of data in sport and exercise science roles becoming increasingly common, in this module, you will learn how to work with real sport and health data and turn it into clear, useful insights. You will develop the skills to clean, manage, analyse, and visualise large datasets using different data analysis tools. You will also explore how data is used in real world sport, exercise, and health settings to support decision making by coaches, practitioners, and managers. You will also be introduced to artificial intelligence and how it can support data analysis and communication. This module will develop your confidence in translating complex data into meaningful, actionable information.

This module introduces you to the research methods used in sport and exercise science. You will learn how to design, conduct, and evaluate both quantitative and qualitative research, preparing you to undertake a successful independent project in your final year.

In this module you will examine the practical application of biomechanical theory to sport and exercise performance. You will explore how forces and motion interact to influence movement technique and efficiency and learn how to analyse and interpret biomechanical data using technology. Learning will take place through a balance of theoretical lectures and applied laboratory work, culminating in a professional style presentation of biomechanical analysis findings.

In this module, you will explore how sport and exercise science disciplines work together in real world practice. You will learn how to assess and profile clients using sports therapy, psychological, nutritional, and strength and conditioning approaches, then bring these perspectives together to make informed decisions. You will also develop your understanding of how to work as an independent practitioner, including how to design and pitch your own sport and exercise science business. Through practical workshops, case studies, and interdisciplinary discussions, you will build the skills needed to work confidently and professionally after graduation.

This module prepares you for a career in sport and exercise science by developing key professional skills including communication, employability, and reflective practice. You will explore industry expectations, build your professional profile, and learn how to effectively present your skills to employers. The module also introduces you to continuing professional development (CPD), encouraging you to take a proactive approach to lifelong learning and adapt to the evolving demands of the sport and exercise science industry through ongoing professional development and self directed learning.

This module provides you with the advanced knowledge and practical skills required to design and deliver inclusive, evidence based exercise programmes across a range of populations. You will develop the ability to critically evaluate exercise prescription strategies and adapt them to meet the diverse needs of individuals, including those with varying health conditions, abilities, and backgrounds. There is a strong focus on inclusivity, ensuring you can confidently modify and tailor interventions to promote participation, safety, and positive health outcomes for all individuals. Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical application, you will explore key principles of exercise prescription, behaviour change, and client centred practice.

This Sport and Exercise Science project module provides you with an opportunity to undertake an independent investigation in sport and exercise science. You can choose from a range of project types, including empirical research, service improvement, placement based initiatives, audits, or secondary reviews. Supported by expert supervision, you will develop skills in project planning and management, ethical practice, data analysis, and professional communication. The module culminates in a written report and viva, enabling you to showcase your expertise and enhance employability or readiness for postgraduate study.

This module explores how nutrition influences exercise performance, recovery and training adaptations. You will examine how the body uses nutrients during exercise and how nutrition strategies can support different types of training and competition. The module will develop your ability to analyse dietary intake and apply sport and exercise nutrition principles to real world athlete scenarios. By the end of the module you will be able to critically evaluate sport and exercise nutrition research and develop evidence based nutrition strategies to support athlete health and performance.

In this module, you will explore how injuries occur in sport and how to prevent and rehabilitate them effectively. You will learn to design safe and effective training programmes that reduce injury risk while enhancing athletic performance, implement screening and monitoring strategies, and support individuals through evidence based rehabilitation pathways. Through applied practice you will develop the skills to implement and justify evidence based prevention and rehabilitation strategies.