Passionate about sports science? Aspiring athlete? Further your learning with a sports degree from Brunel
At Brunel, you'll be able to pursue your sport study in a specialist area that interests you. Apply and develop your knowledge of the sciences to understand how the human body works in our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences BSc or learn about the influence of social issues on sport participation in our physical education, coaching and social issues pathway. If you’re interested in the business world of sport, you may wish to opt for our joint honours sport and business studies degree and for those with an interest in the link between the mind and body, our unique Psychology (Sport, Health and Exercise) BSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society.
Quality and rankings
Study sports science at Brunel, and you can be confident that you’re studying one of the top courses in the UK. We’re ranked 2nd in London in the subject area of Sports Science (Complete University Guide 2023) and in the top ten in the UK for sport related subjects (QS World University Rankings 2022). Our success is also reflected in our graduates, who attract an average salary of £25,600 within three years of graduating – 7.6% above the national average – ranking Brunel 1st in London and 10th in the UK for the average salary they attract (LEO 2023).
Sports scholarship package
You can accomplish your sporting and academic ambitions at Brunel through our Sports Scholarships Programme that gives you funding support, mentoring, athlete-friendly accommodation on campus – next to our free sports facilities, sport psychology support, spa access, and much more.
We also have a specfic scholarship for our rugby scholars. This rugby scholarship programme has been developed in conjunction with Ealing Trailfinders to offer you the opportunity to earn a degree that will set you up for your academic future, as well as allowing you to pursue a professional rugby career with a full-time rugby programme.
Brilliant sporting facilities
Brunel offers some of the finest learning and sporting facilities in the UK. Our Indoor Athletics Centre (IAC) is a UK Athletics Regional Performance Centre, featuring facilities like a 132m six-lane sprints and hurdles straight, long jump / triple jump pits, and more. Additionally, our Sports Park boasts an IAAF-certified 400-metre athletics track, tennis and netball courts, and pitches for various sports, including football, rugby, and hockey, suitable for year-round use. On campus, we also have a members-only fitness suite, squash courts, and synthetic surfaces for a variety of sports.
Many of your course’s practical sessions take place in our physiology and biomechanics laboratories. Our physiology lab features a range of ergometers, gas analysis systems, and blood analysers, along with an environmental chamber offering temperature control from 0°C to 50°C. In addition, our biomechanics laboratory is equipped with 3D motion capture, pressure platforms, force platforms, and an instrumented treadmill with force platforms.
Study abroad
If you’re on our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences BSc programme, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your communication, cultural, and employability skills with a year abroad at the prestigious San Francisco State University. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will add real value to your CV, showcasing your ability to tackle challenges beyond your comfort zone to prospective employers.
Placement opportunities that stand out from the crowd
You’ve got options when it comes to deciding how carry out your placement – if you choose to do one. All our courses offer the traditional one-year placement between years two and three, however, if you’re studying one of our three sports courses, you could choose to carry out two placements during your summer holidays within a three-year degree. And if you’re on our psychology with sports degree, you can split your year in industry between two different settings, with two six-month placements. A degree with two placements? Now that’s going to stand out to potential employers.
Previous placement students have worked in a range of high-profile organisations including Chelsea FC, West Ham FC, IBM, the English Institute of Sport, London Sport Trust and Ealing Trail Finders Rugby Academy.
Personalised career support
You’ll benefit from a complete programme of personalised career support from the beginning. We focus on getting you job-ready through activities including career development modules focused on improving your CV, interview skills or transferable skills which are applicable to any industry, inspirational talks from alumni, careers events and research jobs with academics.
With a sports science degree from Brunel, you’ll be ready to pursue careers in sport, physiotherapy, teaching, management, or research. You could find potential opportunities in the NHS, national sporting associations, professional sports clubs, higher education, and coaching. Additionally, you may explore roles in elite sport, such as psychologists, biomechanists, or performance analysts, or consider clinical positions like physiologist or physiotherapist if your interests lean toward the clinical aspects of sport sciences.
Team Brunel
Thanks to Team Brunel, which oversees 50+ sports clubs and activities, at Brunel, you can pursue your passion for any sport - regardless of your level or experience. Whether you prefer team sports like rugby, netball, or football; individual sports such as judo, kayaking, or athletics; or exploring new activities like American football, rock climbing, or calisthenics, there’s something for everyone. Through Team Brunel you have the chance to develop more than your sporting skills. You can gain leadership, training and coaching skills and even manage or set up a sports club, providing a great environment for you to hone your sporting leadership skills.
Why Brunel for your sports science degree?
How to apply
Brunel on-demand
Subject taster and reading list