Sport and Exercise Science Lancaster University

Do you dream of working with elite athletes or sports teams to enable them to reach peak performance?

Perhaps you see your purpose in supporting people to live active, healthy lives following illness or injury.

Whatever your aspirations, our Sports and Exercise Science BSc will offer you the tools and knowledge to support people to achieve their potential through physical activity.

A course you can make your own

This is a degree that you can tailor to suit your passions and interests and you will graduate equipped with a professional profile ready to embark on a successful career or further study.

Taught by Lancaster Medical School

Our Sports and Exercise Science BSc is one of only a few courses of its kind to be delivered within a medical school. This means that you will:

• Benefit from our connections with clinicians, health practitioners and sports professionals.

• Be taught by research and industry experts within Lancaster Medical School.

• Use clinical processes and equipment such as blood tests and analysis, electrocardiogram (ECG) readers, glucose and lactate analysis machines, cortex gas analysers (which assess a person’s lung, heart and metabolism at rest and under stress) and 3D motion capture to measure how joints move.

Hand's on experience from the start of your studies

With outstanding facilities located across our £25m sports centre and modern Health Innovation Campus, you will capture and analyse physiological and biomechanical data. You will also explore psychological interventions to maximise performance and improve health.

Human Performance Laboratory

You’ll spend a lot of time here, getting hands-on experience with a range of research-grade equipment.

Our blood analysis station will allow you to determine red blood cell count, the uptake of glucose following a dietary intervention, or the amount of lactate in response to exercise.

Our professional-standard treadmill with gas analyser facilitates assessments of physiological responses to exercise across a range of sporting and clinical populations.

We also have an Isokinetic Dynamometer, which offers the most sophisticated assessments of joint strength, the same equipment used by international sports teams.

Human Biomechanics Laboratory

You will have access to our new human biomechanics laboratory in biomechanics modules.

The equipment in this laboratory is the gold-standard for measuring biomechanical function, similar to that used to create Computer Generated Images (CGI) in movies.

We are one of very few universities that have 3D markerless technology, which uses AI to track how our joints and limbs move. We also have 3D motion capture where markers on the body track movement.

In addition, the laboratory includes two force platforms and electromyography which measure how much force we exert on our bodies and how active our muscles are.

Health Innovation Campus

As part of Lancaster Medical School, Sports and Exercise Science is based at Lancaster’s modern Health Innovation Campus. This purpose-built facility is home to an ecosystem of multidisciplinary experts working on some of society’s most significant health challenges. It’s where you will use our biomechanics laboratory and provides plenty of space for collaborative working or quiet study.

Sport at Lancaster

Our 100-station fitness suite is split across two levels and features high-specification fitness equipment, from high-quality cardio machines to our competition-standard strength and conditioning room. With a 25m indoor pool, 8.5m climbing wall and a wide range of courts and pitches, you’ll find the facilities you need to excel in your sport.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

ABB. This should include one science subject from: Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Statistics.

Access to HE Diploma

Considered on a case-by-case basis. Our typical entry requirement would be 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 15 Level 3 credits at Merit, but you would need to meet the subject requirements.

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM in Applied Science, Sport and Exercise Science, or Sporting Excellence and Performance

BTEC in combination with A levels

Our typical entry requirement would be A level grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BB plus BTEC at D, but you would also need to meet the subject requirements. This may be through a science A level, a BTEC Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science, or a BTEC Extended Certificate (or larger BTEC qualification) in Applied Science, Applied Human Biology or Applied Psychology.

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects including 6 in one HL science subject from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sports, Exercise and Health Science

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

T level in Science considered on a case-by-case basis, with Distinction overall, and with an A in the core component

GCSE requirements

Mathematics grade 5/B, English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.