Sport and Exercise Science

Why choose Sport and Exercise Science at Derby?

• If you are interested in the science behind sport and exercise, this course will keep you ahead of the game with specialist facilities, sports masterclasses and the chance to gain additional professional qualifications
• Build vital employability skills on work placements with organisations like Derby County FC, Derbyshire Country Cricket Club and Burton Albion FC
• Accredited and endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme, this course will provide you with many additional benefits and opportunities, and ensures the highest teaching standards are met

We give you a strong foundation in the science behind sport and exercise. As your studies progress, you will be able to choose from specialised modules and broaden your understanding in areas of interest. Gaining specialist knowledge in a particular area will enhance your career prospects and set you apart as a multi-skilled graduate.

Graduate ready for world of work

There is a strong emphasis placed on ensuring you graduate feeling confident and ready to take your next steps, whether this be moving into your first career or undertaking further studies. We do this by integrating a range of opportunities to apply theory into practice.

We support and encourage all our students to undertake work experience. This can be in the format of an industrial placement year, internships or as part of our Research Methods module where you will undertake 40 hours of work experience. We have partnered with a range of sporting organisations to provide these opportunities and students in the past have gained experience with:

• Derbyshire County Cricket Club
• Derby County Football Club
• Leicester City Football Club
• Leicester Tigers Rugby Club
• Derbyshire Institute for Sport
• Derventio Excel Swimming Squad
• Derby Centre of Excellence for Ladies Football

Not only are you taught by our expert teaching team, but we run a series of guest lectures led by members of external sporting organisations to give you a wider perspective of the sporting world and allow you to network with potential employers. And to enhance your CV even further, you will have the chance to complete additional vocational qualifications like coaching and teaching qualifications, first aid and professional practice.

Learn in excellent facilities

Our specialist facilities in our Sports Centre give you the chance to explore different topics using a range of equipment including a High- Performance Resistance Training Facility, VICON 3D motion capture system, and breath-by-breath analysis system. So, whether you aspire to become a sport scientist, performance analyst, health adviser, sport therapist, sport psychologist, sport coach – or are interested in the business or education side of the industry – you can graduate with skills that are in high demand around the world.

Expert teaching team

Our sport and exercise science staff include accredited professionals who will provide you with high-quality teaching and support, for example, Dr Mark Faghy is an accredited Clinical Physiologists with the AHCS and RCCP. The team are actively involved in research, high-performance sport and applied sport science consultancy. They are also members of leading professional bodies such as CASES, NSCA, The Physiological Society and the UK Strength and Conditioning Association.

Dr Mark Faghy, is also part of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Exercise Is Medicine committee, and is currently leading on an international project exploring the effects of long Covid. This partnership will enable you to engage with other students and academics from affiliated institutions around the world and brings to life teaching, knowledge exchange and research opportunities that are promoted through the ACSM.

The team conducts important research through the Human Performance Unit. Research themes include performance profiling, injury rehabilitation, human balance control and neuromuscular fatigue – to name but a few subjects. You may get the chance to be involved with these projects and test a range of athletes.

You will also have the chance to undertake your own independent research into a theme of your choice, culminating in a major conference where you will showcase your findings.

Professional standards

This course has received the only available endorsement for undergraduate sport courses from the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES); the UK professional membership organisation for Sport Scientists.

Only the highest calibre of courses achieve the CASES endorsement award. This provides a designated route towards CASES accreditation if the relevant postgraduate study is also completed after graduation. This endorsement ensures you are taught industry relevant content suitable for practitioners, recognised by the accrediting body and this grants you access to a wealth of learning and networking opportunities through free membership to CASES.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We will support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It is a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

To keep you engaged throughout your studies we use a range of learning and teaching methods that allow you to develop a learning style that suits you whilst ensuring an increase in knowledge and understanding of the subject. As you progress during your studies, more emphasis will be placed on directed study time and independent learning so that you build confidence and autonomy.

Teaching methods include:

• Learning opportunities in specialised facilities (laboratories, sports and leisure facilities)
• Contact with the industry or professional bodies (field work, visits and visiting speakers)
• Learning opportunities through the use of specialised items of equipment, for example blood analysis and determination of oxygen uptake using online systems
• Access to relevant applied IT systems

How you will be assessed

We use a range of methods for assessments to ensure that there is a format that suits everyone. These include:

• essays
• laboratory manuals/reports
• multi-media presentations
• examinations
• short answer and multiple-choice tests
• research projects
• poster presentations
• 10,000-word double module independent study

Along with your subject-specific knowledge, you can graduate with a wide range of transferable skills – such as communication, problem-solving, research and presentation skills – which will stand you in good stead wherever your career takes you.

Our recent sport and exercise science graduates now enjoy roles as sports coaches, health advisors, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapy assistants, dieticians, British Universities & Colleges Sport Coordinators, cardiac physiologist assistants, and human performance lab technicians. A number of our graduates have gone on to study at postgraduate undertaking an MSc and/or PhD in subjects such as nutrition, strength and conditioning, and applied sports science.

You can also consider taking your qualifications to the next level. We offer the MSc Clinical Exercise Science and MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science – which includes a Performance Analysis pathway and a Sport and Exercise Psychology pathway – where you will develop advanced knowledge in your chosen subject.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

If you're an international student and want to improve your English language skills before you start your course, the Derby English Language Centre's pre-sessional English course can help you. 

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.