Why study Sport and Exercise Sciences BSc at Birmingham?
We were the first university in the UK to offer a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences that extended beyond the boundaries of Physical Education. Our School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is one of the longest established in Europe for scientific research into exercise and sport.
Our school was recently rated first in the UK for our excellence in world class research (Research Assessment Exercise 2008) and this research influences the teaching that takes place at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. You are taught by academics who are experts in their fields, investigating the frontiers of their subjects.
Thanks to a £16.4 million investment, we have the largest custom built Sport and Exercise Sciences facility in the UK. This includes teaching and research laboratories for physiology, biochemistry, psychophysiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, motor skills, immunology, muscle mechanics and the neurophysiology of movement
We are ranked in the top 5 in the Complete University Guide for Sport and Exercise Sciences: see the subject table for 2012
2011 National Student Survey "An overall student satisfaction score of 88% puts us in the top two Russell group universities for our Sport Sciences course"
What our students have to say about our degree course
Ben Woods, 2nd year student "It’s honestly such a good course. The lecturers and students that you have the opportunity to work with are all great! You know you are working somewhere great when elite athletes and international sports people are using your facilities."
Vanessa Say, 2nd year student "If you are truly interested in science and looking for a degree which will enable you to explore and strengthen your understanding of the many different scientific areas this degree covers; from physiology and anatomy to biomechanics and statistical techniques involved in experimentation, then this is a brilliant course for you. Not to mention, that the University of Birmingham is an amazing University with a diverse range of students and that Birmingham itself is a fantastic city that must be experienced."
Selina Norris, 3rd year student "The staff is helpful, friendly and approachable. In addition to the building and amazing facilities, the vast amount of opportunities available to all students is remarkable. As an undergraduate I could not wish for more support from the school."
Susannah Barber, 3rd year student "The course content is interesting and stimulating"
Teaching and Learning
The degree programmes mixes traditional teaching methods – such as formal lectures – with small group seminars, computer based learning, and practical laboratory classes. There are plenty of opportunities to get to know the lecturers and postgraduates. Particular attention is paid to developing learning skills as well as knowledge. These skills include computing and statistical competence, report writing, oral presentations and participating in group work. We believe that attention to these skills is one reason why our graduates are so attractive to potential employers.
Speed BSc - an innovative approach to introducing new students to the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences and to learn useful skills that will serve them well during their degree - watch the video above.
In all three years there are laboratory practicals in physiology and psychology that involve students acting as both subjects and investigators. In the third year students also undertake an extended research project in an area of interest relating to exercise, sport or health
Employability
Our students have a bright future!
First destinations of University of Birmingham Sport and Exercise Sciences graduates six months after graduation
Destinations of Leavers of Higher Education report (DHLE) 2009
Our students go on to a diverse range of careers. These include:
About 20% of students choose to pursue further study (e.g., MSc in Sports Nutrition, MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, MSc in Human and Applied Physiology, PGCE secondary PE).
More than 95% of our graduates are employed in some way six months following graduation. This figure compares favourably to national figures published by the Guardian in which 93% of all Sport and Exercise Science graduates were employed after six months.
Career profiles of some of our alumni
Anna Bettridge – Senior II Physiotherapist, University of Leicester NHS Trust
Since graduating in 2003, Anna has pursued a career within Physiotherapy, and she is currently working for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust. She now specialises within musculoskeletal, which involves working on the trauma unit, elective orthopaedic wards and in an outpatients setting. This journey has involved completing an accelerated physiotherapy degree, and working within different areas of physiotherapy such as respiratory and stroke, prior to being able to specialise.
Outside of the NHS she works at a private clinic and has experience of the sporting world by working for the Amateur Swimming Association, which has involved profiling swimmers to prevent injuries.
Amy Bird - Club Development and School-Club Links
Birmingham Sport and Physical Activity Partnership (BSPAP)
A Sport and Exercise Science Graduate from the University of Birmingham 2003-2006, Amy remained in Birmingham after graduating and initially worked in Sales – firstly for a small family-run media company selling community websites, and then trying her hand in Recruitment for a global agency. This was all before realising that the impersonal corporate rat-race wasn’t quite what she was looking for, and so instead decided to utilise her degree by setting-out on a sporting career path.
Amy joined BSPAP in June 2009 and was responsible for running a Sport England funded city-wide project 'Sport Unlimited' before taking on a wider strategic remit to include Club Development for the County Sports Partnership.
Amy has a wide range of voluntary experience including instructing outdoor pursuits whilst on her gap year in Australia for 4 months, working for Cancer Research UK on the ‘Race for Life’ events and volunteering with young people during her time at University.
Gareth Sheppard – Paralympic Performance Manager for the British Cycling Team
Gareth Sheppard is the Paralympic Performance Manager for the British Cycling Team. The team won 17 Gold and 3 Silver medals at the Bejing Games in 2008, and are now building towards London. Gareth graduated Birmingham University in 1999 with a full blue and a 2.2 degree in sports science, and later completed his MBA. He represented Wales and Great Britain on both mountain bikes and road and road professionally for 3 years after graduating before starting his career in a variety of different sport and leisure roles to his current role with British Cycling.
In the video below, Andrew Murphy, BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences Graduate and General Manager of Sports Coaching Ltd, talks about his time studying at our School of Sport and Exercise Sciences and discusses how the skills he gained helped him build a successful career in sports coaching.