Curious about studying Science of Sport Performance - BSc (Hons)at Leeds Beckett University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Headingley Campus
Part Time
Sep 2027
6 Year
What separates good from world-class? On this degree, you’ll explore the science that drives peak performance and learn how to apply it in real sporting environments. You’ll immerse yourself in the interdisciplinary science of sport performance. From biomechanics and physiology to nutrition and psychology, you’ll study how the body and mind perform under pressure – and how to push them further, safely and sustainably. Through a blend of theory, lab work, and real-world experience, you’ll develop the knowledge, analytical ability, and practitioner confidence to support athletes at every stage of their journey. You’ll graduate ready to make a measurable impact in high-performance sport – from emerging talent to elite competitors. As part of this science of sport performance degree, you’ll: * Develop expertise across biomechanics, nutrition, physiology, and sport psychology, understanding how these disciplines combine to optimise performance * Build advanced practical and research skills, using industry-standard performance-measuring technologies and laboratory equipment * Learn to assess, monitor, and enhance athletic development in both individual and team sports * Apply performance models across diverse sports and client groups * Gain valuable work experience through placements in professional sporting environments
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Refine your practitioner skills\ This is one of the few undergraduate sportss performance courses in the UK designed specifically to show you how different areas of science work together to enhance human performance. Working with real clients and athletes, you'll develop the self-awareness, communication skills, and professional judgement required to become an effective sport performance practitioner. You’ll learn to design interventions that maximise performance while protecting long-term health and wellbeing.
Study at the heart of sporting excellence\ Based in the Carnegie School of Sport, you’ll be part of a community that’s passionate about sport. You’ll learn from tutors with more than 20 years’ experience delivering sport education at the highest level. Your studies are supported by Leeds Beckett’s exceptional sporting infrastructure and strong industry partnerships. Across all three years of your course, you'll benefit from extensive work-based learning opportunities, including: * Supporting student athletes competing in BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) competitions * Real-world placements with professional organisations such as Yorkshire Carnegie, Leeds Rhinos, or Perform Group * Assessments shaped in collaboration with industry partners to ensure authentic, career-focused learning
Boost your professional profile\ Enhance your CV further by getting involved with our Beckett Sport schemes. You can gain additional qualifications while gaining experience in delivering fitness, physical activity, and coaching programmes to staff and students.
International recognition\ We're ranked in the top 100 institutions in the world for Sports-Related Subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Why study the BSc Science of Sport Performance degree at Leeds Beckett University?* We’re experts at what we do - 94% of students were positive about the way teaching staff explain things\* * Develop the skills and expertise to support the next generation of elite athletes, combining multiple specialisms to achieve maximum outcomes * Take advantage of our extensive connection with exciting and varied work placement opportunities * Study in our £45m state-of-the-art Carnegie School of Sport building * Access sport volunteering opportunities, which have previously included the Olympics, World Athletics Championships, and Commonwealth Games \*National Student Survey 2026
Discover the key concepts in biomechanics, anatomy and physiology that will serve as a solid base for further studies and practice within sports performance. You'll explore important mechanical and physiological principles as they apply to the human motion in sport, as well as functional anatomy. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
This module will cover four fundamental areas in sport and exercise physiology; cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal muscle and energy metabolism. It will teach you about the functionality of each of these topics. You'll build your understanding of how human performance can be tested and how exercise training theory is applied to improve exercise capacity. You'll also develop laboratory and practical skills in data collection and analysis. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Develop your understanding of key psychological theories and research in sport, exercise, and health settings. You'll explore how thoughts, emotions, and motivation influence participation and performance, and how physical activity affects mental health, wellbeing, and cognitive function. Through discussion of foundational and contemporary perspectives in sport and exercise psychology, you'll examine how individuals shape, and are shaped by, their sport and health behaviours. By the end of the module, you'll be able to explain the psychological factors that influence engagement in physical activity and their impact on mental wellbeing. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Explore the fundamentals of nutrition for health and performance. You'll gain an understanding of nutritional biochemistry and energy metabolism. On completion of this module, you'll understand the concept of energy and how the body utilises energy. By studying metabolism and the process of energy utilisation, you'll develop an appreciation of food as energy. You'll also begin to understand the importance of adequate nutrition in maintaining body functions during rest and activity. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Develop your knowledge, understanding and application of personal, professional, and research-related skills that will help you successfully complete your degree. You'll build a range of transferable skills, including written communication, basic research methods, critical thinking and self-reflection that will be useful in every module you study. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
The development of young athletes, specifically growth through and for sport, is an increasingly hot topic in the science of sports performance. Athlete identification, development and optimisation processes have significant implications for health, wellbeing and performance of young athletes; yet they remain the subject of significant confusion. This module delves into the various physical, motor control, skill acquisition, psychosocial and behavioural elements of young athlete development. You'll explore the relationships between talent identification, development and optimisation in youth sport environments, equipping you to construct strong, evidence-informed arguments. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Learn to explain and understand the physiological and metabolic responses to maximal, intermittent and prolonged exercise. You'll start to identify and analyse the adaptations of physiological functions during both aerobic and anaerobic sport performance. Upon completion, you'll demonstrate your understanding of theoretical perspectives of human physiology in relation to exercise, sport performance, recovery, and associated longer-term adaptations. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Explore the core training, testing and coaching practices utilised within the field of strength and conditioning. You'll develop training programmes that enhance physical performance. And you'll analyse the needs of different events and sporting movements, as well as the physical needs at differing levels of performance (e.g., amateur, semi-professional and elite). Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Study how key lifestyle factors influence athletes' health, performance and career development, and support the work of performance lifestyle practitioners. You'll learn about the importance of multi and inter-disciplinary support and the principles behind the design and delivery of education workshops relevant to performance athletes. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Enhance your understanding of biomechanical theory by applying its principles to sport performance. This module introduces the concepts of notational and tactical evaluation while further developing your skills in laboratory data collection and analysis. You'll explore the mechanical determinants of key activities, such as sprinting, in sports performance. By the end of the module, you'll be able to identify optimisation strategies for enhancing performance. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Continue to develop your emerging knowledge and skills, support the development of your professional profile, and create solid career foundations. This module will give you a range of opportunities to enhance your employability through the development of context-specific and transferable skills. You'll be supported as you audit, select, engage in, and complete work-based learning activities most relevant to your career prospects. We'll then encourage you to reflect on your continuing professional development. You'll identify how the knowledge, skills, expectations, and capabilities you've gained support your professional practice. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Build on your research and study skills acquired in year one. You'll become a consumer of research which will help prepare you for other second-year modules and your Final Year Project. By the end of the module, you'll be able to search for and apply relevant literature and theory, choose research designs to address research enquiries, analyse and interpret empirical data, and present research findings. You'll achieve this by participating in practical sessions that apply theory to practice. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Build on your research and study skills acquired in years one and two. You'll then apply these skills to support the completion of your Final Year Project. By the end of the module, you'll be able to search for and apply relevant literature and theory, choose research designs to address research enquiries, analyse and interpret empirical data (qualitative and quantitative), and present research findings relevant to sport performance contexts. You'll achieve this by participating in practical sessions that apply theory into practice. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Demonstrate critical evaluation of the crucial role environments play in influencing performance variables as you draw upon relevant theoretical models from sport science literature. You'll begin to understand the interactive relationships between core sport science disciplines across dynamic environments within training and competition settings. These disciplines will include physiology, biomechanics, nutrition and psychology. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
This module will challenge you to undertake an extended and largely independent piece of project work. You'll demonstrate your research and critical thinking skills, and your understanding of ethical methodological approaches to study. You'll choose a project type that reflects the key knowledge, skills and attributes you've developed across your course. Your overall aim in completing this module will be to generate new knowledge that has practical value. The experience you'll gain on this module and the output you'll generate will prepare you for a career in your chosen field. Optional modules may also be available for this course.
Placement Year
This course offers the opportunity to take a ‘placement’ year – a year of paid employment in industry which will build your skills and experience. This is usually taken between the second and third year of your degree and will extend the length of your course by an additional year. Students who choose the placement route find it helps with both their studies and getting a job after graduation. It can build your confidence, contacts, and of course your CV. Leeds Beckett advertise lots of placement opportunities and provide support in helping you find the right placement for you.
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