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Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) BSc

Course code

CX40

CX41, CX42 with placement

Start date

September

Placement available

Mode of study

3 years full-time

3 years full-time with placement

4 years full-time with placement

Fees

2024/25

UK £9,250

International £21,260

Entry requirements

2024/25

AAB-BBB (A-level)

DDM (BTEC)

30 (IB)

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Overview

The Brunel Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) BSc is for students who are interested in working in physical education or youth sport, developing sport in communities, helping individuals fulfil their potential in sport and health, as well as those seeking to gain a strong understanding and application of sports coaching principles and practices.

You'll explore the sociological, political, pedagogical and psychological factors that influence participation in physical education and sport, and how these relate to sports performance, physical activity, health and wellbeing. You'll learn how to plan, deliver, manage and evaluate high-quality activities and events aimed at encouraging and enabling people to get involved in sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite level.

You’ll also explore social issues in physical education such as gender, race and religion and inclusive practice. In addition, you'll learn historical and philosophical aspects related to PE.

Your studies will be supported by some of the best teaching and sports facilities in the UK that include our:

  • state-of-the-art physiology, biomechanics and psychology laboratories
  • world-class indoor athletics centre
  • international-standard 400m six-lane athletics track with full field event facilities
  • large indoor netball hall
  • multi-use sports centre equipped with squash, basketball and netball courts, as well as a superb climbing wall.
  • members-only fitness suite featuring treadmills, cycles and rowing machines
  • a weight-training area with free and fixed weights
  • grass and third-generation (3G) all-weather pitches
  • outdoor tennis courts

You'll also have the opportunity to carry out a placement as part of your degree. This will give you the type of experience that will enable you to create a standout CV. Our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) BSc offers two placement options: you can choose to carry out two placements during the summer vacations within the three year degree, or a one year placement between years two and three, as part of a four year degree.

Brunel is the top-ranked university in London for Sports Science (Complete University Guide 2022)

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

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Course content

This course is designed to prepare you to work in physical education, coaching or sport development. You’ll gain a solid grounding in the sport and exercise sciences and learn to plan, teach and assess physical activities and programmes.

In your first year, you’ll study core modules that will give you a fundamental knowledge across all the broad disciplines within sports, health and exercise sciences. 

In year 2 you’ll start to specialise in the areas of education, social issues in sport and the policies and practices within physical education, sport development and coaching. However, the flexibility of this course means that if you change your mind about the areas you wish to study, you can switch over to our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences BSc programme in the second year if you wish. 

During your final year, you’ll be able to select specific modules to focus on, to further specialise your learning. You'll also carry out a major project in a topic of your choice.

This course can be studied 3 years full-time, 3 years full-time with placement or 4 years full-time with placement, starting in September.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

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Careers and your future

The academic and practical skills you'll gain from your Brunel degree will open doors to careers in teaching, coaching, sport development, community sport and health and fitness or to postgraduate study.

This could be your first step to becoming a PE teacher or a PE specialist. You could also find yourself beginning a career as a multi-sport community coach, graduate football coach or an academy coach.

Alternatively, graduates from this course are well equipped to become a performance analyst, or work for the local council or in social media to promote the importance of physical education for youngsters today.

There are also opportunities in the growing sector of sport development. With increased awareness of the positive effects of sport on lifelong health and well-being this area of sport science offers a gateway into a range of different careers. You may want to work as a sport development officer, a manager for a sport and leisure centre or a team and event manager.

Our staff have national and international reputations for their research, publications and applied work. Many are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which enables them to work with high-performance athletes from a wide variety of sports – and many of them do. This means that your education will be at the forefront of theory and practice, covering the most up-to-date industry knowledge, which will prepare you for a career in a variety of fields.

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UK entry requirements

2024/25 entry

  • GCE A Level AAB-BBB, including either Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Environmental Science, Maths, Physics, Human Biology, Psychology, Sport Science, Sport Studies, Sociology or PE.
  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDM in Applied Science, Sport or Sport and Exercise Sciences.
  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM in Applied Science, Sport or Sport and Exercise Sciences, with an A Level at grade B in any subject.
  • BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma Distinction in Applied Science, Applied Human Biology, Sport or Sport and Exercise Science with two A Levels at grades BC.
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma 30 points, including 5 at Higher Level in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Maths, Physics, Human Biology, Psychology, Sport Science, Sociology or PE. GCSE English equivalent SL 5 or HL 4 and Mathematics SL 4 or HL 4.
  • Obtain a minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma in  Bioscience, Health, Forensic Science, Nutrition, Psychology, Science or Sport with 45 credits.
  • T levels : Merit overall

Five GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 or above are also required, including English Language and Maths.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.

Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.

If you are unable to meet the direct entry criteria above, you are invited to apply for a foundation course in Life Sciences at Brunel Pathway College. When you successfully pass the foundation year, you can progress on to the Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) BSc.

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EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)
  • Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
  • BrunELT: 63% (min 55% in all areas)
  • TOEFL: 90 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)  

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 entry

UK

£9,250 full-time

£1,385 placement year

International

£21,260 full-time

£1,385 placement year

Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.

More information on any additional course-related costs.

See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.

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Teaching and Learning

How the course will be delivered

Required equipment

How you'll learn on your course

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Assessment and feedback

We assess modules through a combination of critical reviews, lab reports, case studies, presentations, and exams. You'll also complete an e-portfolio that will promote your personal and professional development and enhance your digital literacy. And, in your final year, you'll write a dissertation.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.

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