BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year

About your course

The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree is delivered by world-leading experts in state-of-the-art facilities in our award-winning Tom Reilly Building.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

About BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

Sports scientists work either in the sports industries with athletes, coaches and governing bodies to help improve elite performance or in communities promoting healthy lifestyles.

Through the multi-disciplinary study of the behavioural, physical and life sciences, this degree prepares you for a highly rewarding career in sports or exercise contexts - including scientific support, rehabilitation, exercise training and health promotion.

The foundations and principles underpinning sport and exercise science are covered in the first two years. This provides the multi-disciplinary grounding recommended by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). In the final year there is discipline specialisation and an independent research project led by the student.

Thanks to strong links with industry partners, we have a clear understanding of the needs and expectations of employers and are able to design the course with your future employability in mind.

Formal work-related learning opportunities are provided in the final year where students will apply the skills and theory they have learnt through in an applied placement module. Many of our graduates continue onto postgraduate study to allow them to compete for the top sport and exercise science jobs in the country.

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at LJMU is one of the best places in the country to study sport and exercise science. It pioneered the first degree of its kind in 1975 and is now formally recognised as a centre for world-leading research in the field.

Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:

• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

• Minimum number of A Levels required: 1
• Is general studies acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• Average A Level offer: CCD
• Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20

• National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
• National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Diploma subjects / grades required: DD if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMM if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications

• Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Further information: Overall Pass Required

• International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Additional information: 24 IB Diploma Points

• Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Grades / subjects required: 88 UCAS points from a minimum of 5 subjects

• Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications

• Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Acceptable when combined with other qualifications

​​Please contact the University if you have any questions regarding the relevance of your qualifications.

Employability

The diversity of careers that our graduates pursue is testament to the variety of skills they develop during their course. Some choose to pursue teaching careers, supplementing their degree with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

Others continue their studies at masters level, remaining at LJMU to study sport and clinical biomechanics, sport psychology, sport and exercise physiology, sport nutrition, strength and conditioning or study for other masters degrees e.g. physiotherapy. Some also progress to doctoral level research and take up lecturing positions in universities and colleges.

Whatever your career choice, the transferable skills you will gain on the course are sought after by a wide range of employers, many of whom tell us they value our graduates because they "think differently and have excellent people skills".

Find out more about career opportunities in sport and exercise sciences.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.

One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.

A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.