Curious about studying Sport and Exercise Scienceat Canterbury Christ Church 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)
Main Site
Full Time
Sep 2026
3 Year
**Unlock the science behind human performance with a Sport and Exercise Science degree from Canterbury Christ Church University. If you’re passionate about sport, health, and the science that drives elite performance and wellbeing, this course is your next step.**
Taught by expert staff in our cutting-edge labs and training facilities, you'll explore how the body and mind respond to physical activity. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the latest sport science technology and develop practical, professional skills that are highly valued in careers across sport, health, fitness, and exercise science.
**What you’ll learn**
- Explore a range of topics, from anatomy to sociology.
- Analyse human movement and performance as you learn the scientific techniques involved in biomechanics.
- Apply psychology to understand motivation, behaviour, and the impact of cognition and emotion.
- Develop research skills to investigate key topics in sports science, fitness, and health.
- Train in real-world environments to build the practical and communication skills needed for careers in sports coaching, personal training, and health promotion.
- Gain an appreciation of the social structures, cultural influences, group dynamics and interactional encounters that enhance and restrict participation and enjoyment in sport, exercise, and physical activity.
Whether you’re aiming to become a sport scientist, work in elite performance, or support public health through physical activity, this degree will equip you with the knowledge and experience to make a real difference.
You’ll graduate ready for the workplace or further study, with a strong foundation in the science of sport and exercise.
**Location**
This course is run at our Canterbury Campus in Kent. Canterbury is just 50 miles south-east of London and less than an hour by high-speed train from St Pancras. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site the campus offers state-of-the-art buildings, right in the centre of a vibrant and world-famous cathedral city. You’ll benefit from a campus with excellent learning and teaching resources, music venues, a superb sports centre, a well-stocked bookshop and plenty of coffee bars and places to eat. A short walk away is Augustine House our award-winning library and home to a vast range of learning resources and student support teams.
This module provides you with a comprehensive foundation in the principles and practices of sport and exercise science. Designed for those aspiring to pursue a career in the sports and exercise industry, the module explores the interdisciplinary nature of sport and exercise science, including an insider’s look at how the science of sport can be applied to both elite athletes and the general public to optimise health, fitness and performance. You'll gain an understanding of the scientific methods used to evaluate human performance and develop the skills necessary to conduct sport science research.
This module explores selected aspects of the human body seen as fundamental to applied and related work in the areas of sport and exercise science, sport coaching science and physical education. As such, the module will introduce you to basic quantitative evaluation, assessment and data analysis techniques that underpin good professional practice in these areas. As the module progresses you will develop an integrated knowledge and understanding of how the human body functions, responds and adapts to selected exercise stimuli with specific reference to established anatomical, physiological and biomechanical concepts.
During this module you will be introduced to the transdisciplinary nature of human movement and the underlying principles that create it. The module will focus on how humans develop, control, and maintain forces during sport and exercise. Key knowledge will be presented from a range of perspectives including skill-acquisition, nutrition, strength and conditioning, and training for physical activity.
In this module you'll be introduced to analysing sport and physical activity through psychological and sociological perspectives. Key theoretical and conceptual ideas will be explored as ways to help you understand sport and physical activity as social and psychological phenomenon. In doing so, you will gain critical insight into important dynamics that contribute to participation (e.g. personality; identity), performance (e.g. motivation) and inequality (e.g. sexism; racism; disablism) in sport and physical activity contexts.
These are bite size modules designed to help you settle in and obtain core skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and sustainability. You’ll engage with contemporary, thought-provoking topics and issues whilst maximising your chance of success right from the start of your studies. Your Journey to Success at CCCU is compulsory and you then choose two more of these modules (from a choice of 8) in your first year.
This module will provide you with the skills and theoretical knowledge needed for applied practice. You will explore key concepts associated with laboratory and field assessments, including the interpretation of data, and how we can design interventions to maximise outcomes for clients and patients. The module will focus on physiological and biomechanical principles, however the module content will be considered through the lens of the behavioural sciences by examining approaches to achieve objectives across a range of social and cultural settings.
Sport and exercise have the power to produce transformative experiences for those associated with these environments. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this module seeks to explore the positives and negatives of physical activity involvement on both micro (e.g. individual) and macro (e.g. societal) scales, so that relevant stakeholders (for example: athletes, exercisers, coaches/teachers/instructors, practitioners, governing bodies/organisations) might be better positioned to maximise the productive - and mitigate against the detrimental - outcomes of participation.
In your second year you will complete a Client Project or an Innovation Challenge. Each of these modules are worth 30 credits and will give you the opportunity to gain real-world experience as you practise client relations through a collaborative project.
These modules recognise the value of integrating knowledge, methods, and perspectives from other disciplines and use this approach to address a range of opportunities and challenges in contexts of varying complexity. You will study two of these modules.
These modules help broaden your educational experience and allow you to work and collaborate with students studying other subjects.
This module captures the stories, processes, challenges and impacts associated with contemporary issues in the sport and exercise sciences. Research-engaged teaching draws on the UofA themes of (1) clinical exercise science, (2) sport, performance and integrity, and (3) physical activity, policy, inclusion and education to invite students to 'join the table', as collaborators in problem-solving.
Whether you are supporting an athlete winning an Olympic Gold medal or assisting someone in becoming more physically active, technology is central in contemporary understandings of sport and physical activity. Gaining first-hand experience of using various technological innovations, throughout this module you will have the opportunity to explore the transformative role of technology and develop the skills to be critical of its application. In doing so, you will evaluate how technological advancements shape the way we exercise, coach, play, learn, analyse and experience sports as participants and fans.
In this module, you'll conduct and disseminate a comprehensive independent major project of topic or issue in sport, exercise and physical education. You'll be under supervision from a member of staff who has expertise on a topic and conduct an independent project, applying theoretical knowledge and methodological skills to develop an in-depth understanding of that topic in their subject area. You'll produce a sustained piece of work that critically analyses the project topic in a way appropriate to the subject topic and present this in a format suitable for a non-expert audience who can understand the impact of the work.
This module is designed to equip you with advanced, applied skills and strategies in strength and conditioning alongside wider discipline areas to enhance athletic performance. Building on prior knowledge in physiology, psychology, skill acquisition, sociology, and biomechanics, you will explore evidence-based approaches to optimising sports performance.
A key focus will be on the practical application of performance enhancement interventions, including their effectiveness, ethical considerations, and industry relevance. Through critical analysis, you will evaluate the implications of these interventions in real-world sporting environments.
By the end of the module, you'll have developed the expertise needed to apply advanced training methodologies and performance strategies, preparing them for careers in sport performance, strength and conditioning, or related fields.
In this module, you'll explore the powerful role of physical activity in addressing health challenges across the lifespan. You'll investigate how exercise influences physical health at various life stages - from childhood to older adulthood - whilst also examining the psychological and social factors that shape participation in physical activity. The module will cover the latest research on how physical activity impacts overall well-being, delving into physiological mechanisms, psychological benefits, and social influences. You'll critically analyse evidence-based interventions and explore strategies to integrate physical activity into daily life to improve health outcomes.
In this module, you'll explore practices used to develop sport and physical activity programmes within community settings. You'll have the chance to learn about both the principles and practical aspects of designing innovate and creative programmes aimed at encouraging activity among specific groups to help address barriers to participation. Throughout the module, you'll gain an understanding of the complexities and challenges involved in designing and implementing these initiatives. You'll be encouraged to consider all stages of programme development, including conception, design, funding, workforce, and evaluation, reflecting on the collaborative effort required to facilitate these experiences.
Sports generated data and its availability have expanded exponentially over the past three decades. Consequently, coaches now need to develop skills beyond those gained through badges and experience. This module will provide you with the opportunity to gain industry-relevant skills in the collection, processing, management, and analysis of data to provide actionable insights as a coach. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of high-quality data, advanced analytical tools, and their role in the development of data-driven strategies in sports coaching.
This module explores learning and leadership beyond the classroom, focusing on outdoor education and adventure. You'll examine how outdoor experiences shape individual and team performance, influencing resilience, personal growth, and group dynamics. Through experiential learning, you'll visit a variety of outdoor settings and engage in reflective activities. These experiences will help develop leadership skills, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of outdoor learning. The module encourages critical analysis of how outdoor environments enhance education and personal development.
This module is designed for students from various disciplines interested in careers in Physical Education (PE), sport, and physical activity. You'll develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply theoretical concepts in real-world settings. Emphasizing critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, the module encourages reflective and adaptable practice. Through active learning, you'll explore links between PE, sport and exercise science, and sport coaching. These experiences will help you create inclusive and dynamic learning environments, enhancing career opportunities in PE, sport, and physical activity-related fields.
4.2Established in 1962, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is renowned for its industry-responsive courses, trainin...
