BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction

Whether you're interested in elite sport performance, supporting talented younger players, or wider issues to do with physical activity and health, prepare for a career in a fast-moving field by studying on our nationally endorsed Sport and Exercise Science degree in the heart of Cambridge.

Hear from our staff and students

Studying Sport and Exercise Science at ARU

Find out more about studying Sport and Exercise Science from ARU staff and students in Cambridge.

Want to turn your love of sport and fitness into a lifelong career? Sport and Exercise Science graduates are in demand, whether you want to encourage and support people to take up sports and exercise, work in a clinical environment – or help propel them to the top of their game.

At ARU, we're proud to be ranked fourth in the country for sports science courses in the Guardian League Table 2023.

Study sports science with world-leading experts in our specialist labs in Cambridge, on a degree course endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Here, you’ll learn to apply the four key disciplines of sport and exercise science: physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition.

Our Sport and Exercise Science degree course is also endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), so you'll graduate ready to work in the UK’s burgeoning sport and fitness industry or to continue your learning journey to postgraduate study. Find out more about our approved and accredited courses.

There are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on experience, with internships and an optional placement year.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Entry requirements

Loading...

Entry requirements are not currently available, please try again later.

Fees and paying for university

Facilities and accreditation

Specialist equipment

At ARU you’ll be based in our Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Science. Its British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited specialist exercise testing and human movement facilities include:

  • five dedicated laboratories (cardio-respiratory physiology, metabolic and anaerobic physiology, hydrostatic weighing, biomechanics and strength and conditioning, physiology teaching)
  • electrocardiography (ECG)
  • near infrared spectroscopy for monitoring of blood oxygenation
  • body composition systems
  • isokinetic dynamometer for the assessment of muscular strength
  • heat chambers
  • an array of ergometers: treadmills, cycles and rowers
  • GPS monitoring technology
  • breath-by-breath oxygen-analysis systems
  • haematology suites
  • accelerometers.

Multiple ways to learn

All our Sport and Exercise Science students can:

  • train and work in the on-site Exercise Testing Consultancy team, gaining experience of testing athletes and members of the public
  • learn from highly experienced lecturers, including practising sport therapists, coaches and conditioning specialists. Our team currently includes a Paralympian World Record holder, a Scottish Women’s Rugby player and a judo champion
  • apply for internships with Cambridge United FC, Northampton Saints and Para Monte, among others
  • hear from guest speakers at our Excellence in Sport seminars
  • collaborate with international speakers and students as part of our optional summer school
  • join an optional training programme to improve strength and conditioning coaching skills
  • take an optional placement year and gain additional work experience.

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), meaning employers will view you as 'job ready' for roles in sport and physical activity.

The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Our degree course is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). You’ll be based in our Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Science, using BASES-accredited specialist facilities.

Careers

There are wide-ranging employment opportunities for sport scientists, from introducing people to sport and exercise, to helping take them to the top. You could work as an athlete-support scientist (with teams and national sports associations), an exercise consultant, a performance analyst, or a clinical psychologist, among other roles in applied health and physical activity and the health and fitness industry.

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector, and the sector's only chartered professional body, meaning employers will view you as "job ready" for roles in sport and physical activity.

We’ll encourage you to improve your employment prospects by making connections with industry. We have links with a range of sporting organisations, including:

  • Living Sport (Cambridge and Peterborough Sports Development)
  • British Paralympic Association
  • British Cycling
  • British Judo Association
  • Cambridge United FC
  • European Space Agency
  • British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
  • Physiological Society
  • European College of Sports Medicine
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • England and Wales Cricket Board

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study a postgraduate degree such as our MSc Sport and Exercise Science or MSc Sport Coaching. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Apply now for BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Life in Cambridge

Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Explore Cambridge

Placement year available

You have the option to take a placement year as part of this course. It’s a great chance to get hands-on experience in the industry you want to work in.

Your guide to placements

Loading...