Curious about studying Sport and Exercise Science with Strength and Conditioning - BSc (Hons)at Bucks New 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)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Our focus is on improving your employability, helping you gain simulated working experience and providing you with an in-depth understanding of the key skills required in the workplace in whatever discipline that may be.Employers today want to see your skills and experience straight out of university. We understand this better than anyone, that's why we offer you a chance to gain both skills and experience in using them. We give you the chance to apply your learning wherever possible in simulated real-world environments, using industry standard facilities in our Human Performance Lab.This course has been endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK. Graduating with an endorsed degree provides you with a competitive advantage that is recognised nationally and internationally. Using our partnerships with professional bodies, sports teams, athletes and local schools and colleges we have based your course on what’s needed out in the field today.The quality of our links to industry speak for themselves. We’re currently linked with Watford FC, Wycombe Wanderers, Reading Ladies WSL and academy teams, Amateur Swimming Association, British Rowing, GB para-athletes and many community sports clubs, athletes and schools. Our lecturers are actively engaged in professional practice and have many years of experience in teaching and in industry. We've really been there at the highest level.
What facilities can I use?Most of our work with you and our professional partners takes place in the Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre. This is where the body can be fully tested and evaluated, using specialist equipment used by sport and exercise scientists everyday.It contains a working clinic and human performance laboratory, and the learning you will complete here helps prepare you for your future career using evidence based insights and research. Additionally, the University has a commercially run sports hall and fitness centre giving you the opportunity to learn within a sports centre environment, with a student gym too.
What will I study?Developed in line with the Chartered Institute of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and aligned to Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach (GSCC) professional standards, this course will help develop your knowledge in Strength and Conditioning. Combining scientific principles with practical S&C training methods, you will study a variety of topics including exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology, data analysis, performance analysis, sports injury, rehabilitation and more.Over the three years you’ll spend on this course, you’ll develop a critical understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin strength and conditioning practice. You’ll learn a wide range of strength and conditioning training approaches including movement skills, weightlifting, resistance, plyometric, speed, agility, aerobic and anaerobic training methods.We’ll show you how to analyse and evaluate performance needs, design and deliver training programmes with the goals of improving health and wellbeing, optimising performance and minimising the likelihood of injury.
Career ProspectsThe blend of theoretical, practical and work-based learning you’ll experience in this course will set you up for a career within the fields of high-performance strength & conditioning. You can also choose to study for a postgraduate course like MSc Sports Therapy or MSc Sports Performance. You’ll also have the chance to go on to BASES membership which is a key membership and is now becoming required for many jobs in the industry. Previous graduates have gone on to work in a range of roles such as personal trainers, fitness instructors, sports science, graduate sport programmes, and specialists in well regarded organisations. Many choose to go on to private practice.
Strength and Conditioning (S&C) is an applied sport science discipline which combines both the art of coaching with the latest sports science research. Gain an insight into the fundamentals of S&C and cover the key concepts, theories and techniques which underpin effective S&C practice.
The human body relies on the interaction of multiple physiological systems, at rest and during exercise. This module will provide an overview of the anatomy and physiology of these systems, and how they interact to preserve homeostasis. The focus will then shift to exercise, and how the studied systems work as an integrated physiological system.
This module will provide a review of the musculoskeletal architecture of the human body. Identifying the roles and functions of the main bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. You’ll consider anatomical functions of movements in the cardinal planes and axis and consider this with regards to the analysis of movement and basic sporting techniques.
This module will introduce you to the concepts of psychology within the context of sport and exercise, considering how psychological constructs such as personality and motivation can impact upon sport and exercise performance, participation, and adherence. You’ll then further explore the impact of cognition and emotion on behaviour.
Designed to introduce you to the principles and practices of academic practice and academic research in the sports domain. You’ll study key areas of empirical research to provide a conceptual understanding of reporting styles, basic methodologies, professional and regulatory codes of practice & analytical techniques applied within sports research.
This module will provide you with a solid grounding in how force and motion can interact to influence overall sporting performance. Consider the mechanical factors which impact both linear and angular movement within a sport and exercise scope.
This module will cover the basics of structured exercise training and physiological testing/monitoring for a range of sports. You’ll study how the body is affected by exposure to extreme environments (including heat, cold, altitude, space etc) and training/performing within them. The differences between different populations will also be discussed.
On this module you’ll bridge the gap between key Strength and Conditioning (S&C) concepts and theories and applied training modalities. This module will develop your competence in the safe and effective coaching of the weightlifting lifts and plyometric, agility, and speed training methods.
You’ll analyse the key concepts and dominant models of practice within applied sport and performance psychology as well as explore the philosophical, theoretical, and methodological approaches informing the discipline. Gain the requisite knowledge required for effective service delivery within applied sport and performance psychology, when working with teams and young performers.
This module will provide you with a grounding in how motion can interact to influence overall performance. Consider the mechanical factors which impact both linear and angular movement within sport, reviewing the methods for calculating distance/displacement and subsequent kinematic parameters, before assessing the role of forces in the production of movement.
This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to perform applied research of quality and rigour to make a valuable contribution to the sport industry. You’ll study both the conceptual issues and practical considerations through the entire process of research.
The aim of this module will be to enable you to critically evaluate sports performance requirements and develop the abilities needed to plan, deliver and monitor evidence-based training programmes designed to optimise specific physiological and performance outcomes at predetermined time points.
You will have the opportunity to think about bringing evidence-based change or innovation in your practice area. Using a step-by-step approach, you will critically think about why your identified topic is of strategic importance, how to implement this into practice utilising change theory/strategies as appropriate, and how the proposed change will be evaluated.
This module is designed to enhance your professional and practical skills within the core/sub disciplines of sport and exercise science. You’re required to gain 30hours of fieldwork providing sport and exercise science support, 15hours should be generated from assisting staff/post graduate learners providing physiology, psychology or biomechanics support in the human performance centre.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
