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LOCATION
Docklands Campus
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
The University of East London is making swift strides towards its aim of becoming London's No 1 university for sport, and our much-admired Sport and Exercise Science degree is leading the way.
Study our challenging course and you'll be examining the role that biomechanics, physiology, psychology and nutrition play in human performance. You'll also look at how these disciplines interact, so you receive the complete education a multi-disciplinary sports scientist needs.
You'll have the chance to study optional subjects that give our course its special flavour – such as our module in disability sport.
It's a course that has attracted some of Britain's leading sportsmen and women of the day such as European 200m champion Adam Gemili, Commonwealth 200m bronze medallist Bianca Williams and double European and Commonwealth medal-winning swimmer Aimee Willmott. It also develops the sports scientists and teachers who'll help deliver the champions of tomorrow.
If you want to know how good our course is, don't just take our word for it. Listen to Adam.
"As an athlete you need to understand how your body works - the biomechanics," he says. "That knowledge has really helped me when I'm in the blocks to get the biggest first step that I can."
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
We've worked hard to make this course as flexible as possible and you'll discover we've found a pretty good balance between learning theory and actually seeing what that looks like in practice.
The beauty of sharing a first year with your colleagues from our Sports Coaching and Sport, Physical Education and Development courses is that you can swap to one of those courses at the end of year one if you wish.
In year two, you'll complete a mixture of compulsory and optional modules. The options include Disability, Sport & PE, Principles & Practice in Teaching & Coaching and Inclusion in Youth Sport & PE.
For your final-year project, there's more scope to specialise, allowing you to focus on areas of particular interest to you.
For instance, one of our students studied the coaching philosophy of Saracens Rugby Union Club. Another went to Leyton Orient to research how football goalkeepers distribute the ball after collecting it in their area. This fascinating study led to him becoming a match analyst at the club after graduating.
MODULES
- Core Modules
Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology CloseIntroduction to Anatomy & Physiology
Physical Health & Wellbeing in Sport ClosePhysical Health & Wellbeing in Sport
Psychological Influences on Health & Wellbeing in Sport & Physical Activity ClosePsychological Influences on Health & Wellbeing in Sport & Physical Activity
Academic & Communication Skills in Sports CloseAcademic & Communication Skills in Sports
Career and Professional Development in Sports (Mental Wealth) CloseCareer and Professional Development in Sports (Mental Wealth)
Sports Development & Coaching CloseSports Development & Coaching
Optional ModulesWork Placement CloseWork Placement
- Core Modules
Essential Skills for Sport (Mental Wealth) CloseEssential Skills for Sport (Mental Wealth)
You will be able to develop the academic, interpersonal and communication skills necessary for effective learning and employment in the sport, exercise and physical activity industries. In addition, you will be introduced to professional, ethical and reflective practice skills specific to their discipline. You will then be able to recognise the importance of research and academic skills for university and working life.
Anatomy & Physiology for Sport CloseAnatomy & Physiology for Sport
This module will introduce you to the body systems and the basis of human performance. The module will also examine the physiological levels of organisation in the human body and their function in facilitating physical activity.
Coaching Principles CloseCoaching Principles
This module will introduce you to the fundamental academic and principle components underpinning sports coaching. A further aim of the module is to consider broader issues (e.g., health and safety, risk management, equality, inclusion) affecting the coach while operating in his/her sporting environment. The module will provide you with the opportunity to develop theoretical understanding of coaching in both a classroom and practical setting. At the end of this module you will be able to deliver a well-managed coaching session as part of a group, inclusive of all fundamental coaching principles.
Development of Sport CloseDevelopment of Sport
In this module you will develop an understanding of how sport has changed and evolved over time to create sport as we experience it in the modern world. This will be achieved by introducing you to the key historical, social and cultural processes that have underpinned the development of modern sport and which affect its consumption today. As part of this you will study topics such as media and sport, commercialisation, the evolution of the Olympic Games, social differences and ethical issues, such as doping in sport.
Human Performance CloseHuman Performance
This module will introduce you to the basis of sports biomechanics and human performance. The module will also examine the use of technology to assess and analyse human movement in a sports and exercise environment.
Psychological Aspects of Sport ClosePsychological Aspects of Sport
This module will introduce you to psychological aspects of sport. This will involve focusing on a range of psychological theoretical frameworks and their application to the sport domains.
- Core Modules
Physiological and Nutritional Assessment for Sports Performance ClosePhysiological and Nutritional Assessment for Sports Performance
This module will build your knowledge and practical skills in the core topics of exercise physiology and sports nutrition, helping you understand how they underpin physiological assessments in the laboratory. As part of this module you will develop the ability to evaluate the results of physiological and nutritional assessments.
Research Methods & Design (Mental Wealth) CloseResearch Methods & Design (Mental Wealth)
This module will support you to develop skills that enable you to conceptualise, plan, analyse and interpret experiments that answer real world problems. The focus will be on research methods as applied to professional practice through the monitoring of change that occurs in outcomes specific to your chosen career path. The module will also continue to develop your level of critical thinking through interpretation and synthesis of secondary data.
Sport and Exercise Psychology CloseSport and Exercise Psychology
The Psychology of Sport and Exercise aims to give you a theoretical grounding in the contemporary issues associated with both the social psychology of sport and the psychology of exercise. A secondary aim of the module is to prepare you with a theoretical underpinning to study 'Applied Sport Psychology' at level 6. The course is split into 2 sections (social psychology of sport and exercise psychology) and is assessed at the end of each section. A feature of the exercise psychology component is examining the psychological benefits of exercise in natural environments.
Biomechanics of Human Movement CloseBiomechanics of Human Movement
This module will provide you with the skills and knowledge to analyse human performance from a biomechanical standpoint. Additionally, you will you will be able to apply biomechanical principles to improve technique. This will allow you to make appropriate assessments and recommend interventions to technique and performance during sporting actions. The module will use technology such as video analysis and force plates to understand the fundamental biomechanics of an action and to develop performance based on the analysis.
Optional ModulesPrinciples & Practice in Teaching & Coaching ClosePrinciples & Practice in Teaching & Coaching
This module aims to allow you to explore and gain a fuller understanding of both the similarities and fundamental differences between teaching and coaching in relation to children and young people. You will be encouraged to recognise and develop your understanding of what constitutes 'good practice' in relation to both professions as well as an appreciation of how this can be achieved and evaluated.
Disability, Sport and PE CloseDisability, Sport and PE
The main focus of this module will be to engage you in the process of being able to deliver inclusive and engaging practical sports sessions targeting people with different types and levels of impairment. As part of the module you will be involved in the delivery of an event for school-aged children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Along the way to this practical delivery, you will investigate and analyse the wider issues and processes involved in the development of an effective range of provision for disabled people within a sporting and/or physical education environment. The investigation will include an analysis of wider sociological issues relating to disabled people and how these have a major bearing on sporting/physical education provision.
Athlete Management CloseAthlete Management
To develop an understanding and knowledge of managing an athlete in performance sport. This module will expose you to the multifaceted area of an academy manager and athlete development professional. The module will cover areas of athlete management such as outlined below.
Performance Analysis ClosePerformance Analysis
The purpose of this module is to enable you to apply and adapt scientific, coaching and sporting knowledge for the use and application of performance analysis techniques to a range of activities. This module develops the theoretical underpinnings of effective performance analysis and enables you to develop their performance analysis skills in practice. You will study key aspects of the performance analysis process related to knowledge of tactics, strategies and systems of play within individual and team sports.
Sports Technologies: Evolution and Application CloseSports Technologies: Evolution and Application
This module will provide you with an understanding of how emerging technologies, for example GPS and data visualisation software are deployed by coaches, athletes and sports science teams to inform sports performance. You will learn how to capture, organise and provide evidence-based recommendations in a variety of sporting contexts.
- Core Modules
Applied Research Project in Sport CloseApplied Research Project in Sport
To encourage you to work independently and under supervision with an academic member of staff to produce a project that demonstrates your ability to research and/or explore an applied topic in sport and exercise science/therapy. You will communicate your findings to a range of audiences such as coaches, clinicians, physical educators and sport scientists.
Students will choose between our Applied Research Project in Sport 20-credit module plus our Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Sport 20-credit module or the Independent Research Project 40-credit module.
Independent Research Project CloseIndependent Research Project
To encourage you to work independently and under supervision with an academic member of staff to produce a project that demonstrates your ability to research and/or explore an applied topic in sport and exercise science/therapy. You will communicate your findings to a range of audiences such as coaches, clinicians, physical educators and sport scientists.
Students will choose between our Applied Research Project in Sport 20-credit module plus our Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Sport 20-credit module or the Independent Research Project 40-credit module.
Applied Sport Psychology CloseApplied Sport Psychology
Through studying this module, you will examine a series of areas important within the applied practice of sport psychology. Ethical issues and applied techniques feature within the module. You will spend a significant amount of time is spent examining philosophical approaches within sport psychology.
Exercise Physiology Techniques CloseExercise Physiology Techniques
This module will build your knowledge of the contemporary issues in exercise physiology, emphasising the physiological responses during various exercise situations and conditions. As part of this module you will experience a range of measures designed to examine physiological responses, thus developing the knowledge and skills necessary for a future career in the sports sciences.
Sport and Exercise Biomechanics CloseSport and Exercise Biomechanics
In this module you will examine motion, muscle activation, and forces during sporting actions and components of such actions. This knowledge can be applied to all sporting actions to give you an indication of how to modify technique and the effects of these changes.
The module will comprise of a significant amount of laboratory work and as such you will get the opportunity to further develop your practical skills, using a range of technologies to analyse sporting movement. You will also experience advanced analysis methodologies, including three-dimensional motion capture, direct force measurement and electromyography.
Optional ModulesWork Placement (Practice) CloseWork Placement (Practice)
This module aims to develop your experience and appreciation of the work environment related directly to your programme and future career aspirations. This will seek to develop effectively focused knowledge and skills in relation to subject-specific and contemporary issues in professional practice.
Chronic Health Conditions CloseChronic Health Conditions
This module will introduce you to the issues surrounding physical activity and exercise in individuals with challenging and complex health issues. You will learn to use evidence-based protocols to appraise, plan and deliver physical activity and fitness programmes relevant for chronic health conditions.
Strength and Conditioning CloseStrength and Conditioning
You will be introduced to fundamental of fitness testing, periodisation, training load and injury prevention which are the key components of strength and conditioning programme. Also, you will be exposed to core lifting exercises.
Nutrition for Sporting Health CloseNutrition for Sporting Health
You will overview sport nutrition and role of good nutrition in performance enhancement. The health issues related to diet will also be reviewed. You will explore the dietary requirements of individual participants throughout the lifecycle including special populations. Particular reference will be made to the application of sports nutrition and guidelines to athletes.
Developing the Healthy Child CloseDeveloping the Healthy Child
This module will allow you to explore holistically a wide range of issues related to the health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 3-18. From a policy perspective, you will be encouraged to evaluate the wide range of programmes and initiatives that exist in this area originating from government departments responsible for health and physical activity. Your knowledge and understanding of both strategic and practical contexts will be challenged in preparation potentially for work in this field.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
We definitely like to do things differently at UEL, so there's no danger of it being all lectures and no practical application. Indeed, we want you to throw yourself into sport. So you'll get involved in workshops and do your own sports coaching and lab sessions.
You'll learn in top-quality facilities at both our Docklands and Stratford campuses. We have fully equipped and advanced labs, including our own biomechanics suite to study people's gait as well as specialist software used for nutritional analysis.
At our £21million SportsDock complex, we have a superb fitness centre and strength and conditioning room.
It's important to us that our course is aligned with the principles of the British Association of Sports and Exercise Science (BASES), the UK's professional body for sports and exercise science in the UK. The course is also accredited by SkillsActive, so you'll be able to complete your Level 2 and Level 3 Gym and Personal Training Awards while you're here.
Your friendly and supportive tutors, led by Dr Richard Buscombe, are all active in research and in community-based projects. You can get involved in worthwhile schemes like the one, funded by the NHS, in which we deliver exercise sessions for people with clinical conditions and young people who've suffered from alcohol and drugs abuse.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
We'll assess you with a mixture of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project. Most of the assessment in your first year is by coursework and we'll give you as much feedback as possible.
The balance of coursework and exams in year two will depend on your optional choices. In your third year, half of your assessment will be based on research coursework and a work placement.
- Year 1 = Exam (35%), Laboratory or Practical Assessment (33%), Portfolio/Coursework (15%), Presentation (8.5%), Report (8.5%)
- Year 2 = Portfolio/Coursework (42%), Laboratory or Practical Assessment (18%), Presentation (17%), Report (15%), Exam (8%)
- Year 3 = Portfolio/Coursework (60%), Presentation (17%), Exam (15%), Report (8%)
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

Docklands Campus, Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.
Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.

I chose UEL because they offered the course I wanted to study and saw the progress they were making in sports. Also, previous students told me how good the lecturers were at delivering the course. Being at UEL opened up some great opportunities for me, including working with the US Olympic team and placements at Leyton Orient Football Club and Mile End Hospital."
Samuel Amponsah
Sport and Exercise Science, BSc (Hons)
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
A host of exciting career avenues in the sporting and teaching worlds will open up to you once you graduate, but the great thing about our course is that you may find they open up to you even while you're studying for your degree.
That's because our work placements and the relationships we have built with sports organisations and schools are so strong.
They're optional and flexible placements, which means you can choose your best time to undertake them. We have strong links with football clubs such as Leyton Orient, West Ham and Millwall and various sports academies and schools.
We've had students working at activeNewham, the sports arm of our local council, London Sport and the Olympic Park, which is right on our doorstep in Stratford. In some cases, these placements lead to full-time jobs. For instance, Oktay Huseyin was placed at a tennis academy in Essex and is now the head of strength and conditioning there.
Some of you will go on to further study, like one of Dr Buscombe's students who did an extraordinary third-year project on spirituality and fandom in Lithuanian basketball. She's now studying the same subject for her PhD in Melbourne.
Our graduates have gone on to work for employers as varied as the National Basketball Association (NBA), Leyton Orient FC and the London Borough of Newham.
We've produced coaches, fitness club managers, personal trainers, private and community coaches and teachers. We even managed to find one of our students, Marshall Tutu, some tennis opportunities between his studies. Now he's playing as a full-time professional.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.