UDSPEXSC - BSc Sport and Exercise Science

During the first year, laboratory work initiates the development of essential technical skills aimed at meeting industry standards (created in collaboration with industry advisors and graduates) while fostering independent practice, problem-solving, and data interpretation in exercise and health testing. Group work and collaboration simulating the multidisciplinary team environment are introduced here. Fundamental topics are accompanied by biochemistry, nutrition and research methods as well as a focus on critical thinking, reflective practice and evidential research. Students will have access to high quality inclusive learning and teaching delivered by dedicated and research informed academics.

Level 5 study narrows the focus onto fundamental topics including biomechanics, physiology (including introduction to environmental scientific support services), sport psychology and research methods – this later leading students into development of a research project proposal at the end of level 5 study. The curriculum places an emphasis on independent working and self-reliance, promoting the skills of effective written and verbal scientific communication.

Level 6 study emphasizes advanced and applied aspects of fundamental topics with particular focus on testing for clinical and athletic populations and a concentration on both practical laboratory based and employment related skills. The individual dissertation research project in a subject area chosen by the student is the culmination of the academic learning process. Students will be encouraged to think critically and to operate independently with the developing focus on employment work experience with guest lectures from industry and simulated work experience.

The course (at time of writing) is working towards course accreditation by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES).

The principal aim in this pathway is to educate students, from a diverse variety of backgrounds to their full potential at graduate level. This potential engenders the preparedness to enter relevant industry sectors with the fundamental skills required by employers and the course team works with industry advisors to inform this process. Subject-specific knowledge, as well as a range of transferable skills are developed over the three years with emphasis on independent working, critical and evidence-based thinking, strong research skills and the ability to communicate effectively with different audiences.

Employment related skills which will be developed include:
• Collaborative and independent work
• Develop solutions to problems in a systematic and effective manner
• Communicate confidently and with clarity to scientists and non-scientists
• Deploy generic work-related skills of time-management, task prioritisation, professional conduct

Through reflective practice at all three levels of study, students will be encouraged to recognise, record and communicate their personal development and achievements in written and verbal formats. Throughout study the Course team and wider support services in the University will aim to foster skills and perceptual thinking outlined in the University’s Education for Social Justice framework, skills involving inclusivity, personal development, supportive and respectful interactions and environment and social responsibility. Students will benefit from the considerable support services available within the University which provide a network of pastoral, financial and employment services with open access to Course Leaders and Academic Mentors always with the intention to benefit both student satisfaction and academic success.

The course learning outcomes listed below have been developed in line with the Level 6 descriptors for bachelor's degree with honours as stated in the QAA’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

LO0. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition, and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

Knowledge and understanding:
LO1. Demonstrate thorough systematic knowledge of the various scientific topics studied.
LO2. Demonstrate the capacity to execute and critically evaluate research relevant to the Sport and Exercise Sciences.
LO3. Demonstrate an ability to organise, apply and communicate knowledge in a logical and systematic manner using critical and evidence-based principles.

Cognitive intellectual skills:
LO4. Be able to develop coherent arguments in support or criticism of scientific assertions and theories, incorporating literature-based evidence.
LO5. Show fluency with appropriate quantitative and numerical skills, involving relevant mathematical and statistical methods.

Transferable skills including those of employability and professional practice:
LO6. Effective communication of scientific information and data in a variety of formats, concisely, clearly and in a lively manner to scientists and non-scientists.
LO7. Demonstrate a range of other key transferable skills including active involvement in learning, exercise of initiative and judgement, use of appropriate resources and technology including IT, the ability to work both independently and with others, and the capacity for self-awareness and self-reflection.
LO8. Demonstrate the skills necessary to secure and retain employment, including communication, consideration for others, creativity, dedication, organisation, work ethic and self-discipline.
LO9. Understand ethical and other professional issues involved in practice as a Sport and Exercise scientist. Assume obligations and responsibilities to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) including consideration of:
o Ethics
o Welfare
o Informed consent
o Confidentiality
o Data protection
o Competence
o Professional and personal conduct.

Subject-specific practical skills:
LO10. Demonstrate an understanding of practical skills relating to Sport and Exercise Science, including competence in collecting data from a range of equipment and from psychological inventories, and in implementing appropriate interventions based upon data acquisition.

Sport and Exercise Science, as an award title, falls under the benchmark statement for ‘Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism’. Within this benchmark statement from 2019, the present course focuses on 6.16 to 6.21

● The strategy aims to provide assessments valid for future employment skills and which develop the individual. Feedback and self-reflection/improvement opportunities are therefore used.
● The diverse range of assessments will develop reflective practice, public speaking, and practical industry standard competency.
● The course makes use of an Academic Mentor dedicated to student support throughout the academic cycle over and above the lecturer support, this a substantial asset to the student’s learning experience.

The course uses a wide variety of assessment methods: short answer and multiple-choice, practical exams, coursework case studies, group and individual presentations and use of logbooks addressing skill development, both subject specific and personal. In the final year students must demonstrate communication skills to scientists and non-scientists. Reflective practice which is focused on employment related skills is addressed using a reflective logbook addressing related employability skills; this is intended to be of practical use even after graduation.

In all cases, feedback is provided to students in the form of individual written material, in verbal feedback within the classroom setting and in individual tutorials. Current students (at time of writing) are involved in a ‘stakeholder’ engagement process contributing to ongoing development of assessment authenticity. All assessed components adhere to the Universities feedback guidelines. Assessment validity is a focus on graduate attributes and is guided by an industry advisory panel and interaction with employers in the sector. Currently there is a re-orientation of assessments away from traditional formats towards reflective and communication skills in written and verbal form as well as practical testing of employment related scientific skills.

Assessments are all accompanied by detailed instructional documents offering clarity on requirements and outcomes, including marking criteria and sample past papers - all to ensure assessment comprehension. In class assessment discussions are specifically timetabled to allow students to engage with assessments and to receive full support with online forums where key discussion points and questions are re-produced.

The Level 6 research project provides the opportunity for an extended piece of scientific research in a topic of their choice, which aims to increase professional skills, expand awareness of the importance of research within the profession and gain knowledge into how researchers work and think. Development of critical thinking and analytical appraisal skills will be developed within this module and in the precursor modules in Levels 4 and 5. The academic mentor is a role which supplements the lecturing staff, providing tailored support for learning and assessment.

Students can complete observational placement and professional development opportunities in levels 4 and 5 and can be assisted in doing so, if desired. These could include completing Personal Training qualifications which are run at the University. The Applied Exercise Physiology module is also specifically designed around developing core graduate attributes for related industry and these are ultimately assessed in the final weeks of the programme as core competency tests.

To qualify for the award of BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, students must pass all specified modules.

Part-time students will be programme planned on an individual basis.
Part-time study involves the completion of a maximum of 90 credits per year to maintain their part-time study status. This means that students will complete the full 360 credit programme in between 4 and 6 years. There is, however, flexibility to move to full-time status if personal circumstances change. Pre-requisite modules for each level must be taken as priority to enable progression.
A sample of a 4-year part-time study programme would be:
Year One: Up to 90 credits of Level 4 modules
Year Two: Up to 30 credits of Level 4 modules + up to 60 credits of Level 5 modules
Year Three: 60 credits of Level 5 modules + 30 credits of Level 6 modules
Year Four: Up to 90 credits of Level 6 modules.

All core modules must be taken to achieve award.

Level 4: Students on the course will first learn the basic concepts, values, and application of reflective practice at Level 4 study. These are components of both the subject-specific modules and the professional studies module. Here reflective learning is a component of the material delivered and addressed in both assessment and assessment feedback processes.

Level 5: the subject-specific modules will again include reflection as a key component, but these principles apply to reflection on Sport and Exercise Science professional attributes in terms of putting knowledge into practice.

Level 6: Personal development and opportunities (encouragement) for reflection are part of the Level 6 Sports Science and Therapy Dissertation, where students have guided independent decision making on the research project which they undertake. The applied exercise physiology modules at this level will promote and encourage extensive personal development and reflection of professional practice, additionally using assessments based in part on recording experiences, learning and skills from a reflective perspective.

The CASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (CUES) criteria has been addressed and utilized in the preparation of this specification.

Employability skills are developed from the outset of study, and this continues throughout the programme curriculum at all levels. In Level 6 biomechanics, students will gain a conceptual and practical knowledge of symptomatic and non-symptomatic movement and in physiology industry standard competencies are taught, trained, and assessed in the lab environment addressing both clinical exercise and athlete / performer support to ensure authentic experiences. Both key topics provide access to advanced instruments and embed techniques to enable the student to extract kinetic and kinematic data, analyse and communicate performance data and interact with aligned professionals with to support performance. Both modules draw heavily from problem-based and case-based learning approaches, so that work-related learning is at the heart of both modules.

Employment opportunities for Sport and Exercise Science Graduates are diverse and undergoing significant development. Increasing numbers of graduates are entering employment and further training with the NHS as Clinical Scientists and Physician Associates. Also, private healthcare providers are also employing Sport and Exercise Science graduates in exercise physiology based roles associated with healthcare and exercise testing roles for which the course is uniquely positioned to provide the requisite skills.

Many graduates work with sports clubs/ teams either individually or as part of a multi - disciplinary science and medical teams. Private sector employment is offered by health and fitness organisations, including those operating in healthcare leisure and fitness centres. Larger private companies and hotels, frequently offer sports and leisure facilities 'in house' and Sport and Exercise Scientists oversee the facilities.

Related post graduate study is also a common undertaking as the degree allows entry to numerous areas of further study such as Physiotherapy, Sports Therapy, Nutrition and Sports Medicine, of which the former three are offered by London Metropolitan University.

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES), the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK. You can read about the benefits of choosing a CASES-endorsed degree course on the CASES website.

Graduates enter a range of fields in sport, exercise and health industries, with increasing opportunities to enter healthcare in areas such as NHS Clinical Sciences, Physician Associates and also BUPA Exercise Scientists. We welcome recent graduates back every year as guest speakers to inspire and discuss their roles in related industry with current students.

London Metropolitan University’s enterprise services is also integrated within the course so that students who have business and entrepreneurial ambitions can be supported. This is in addition to advice from the careers service.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum of 104 UCAS points from A levels including a C in Sports Science or a related subject. A levels in Biology/ Chemistry/ Physics are also preferred. Or 104 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification eg BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Progression Diploma or Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)

If you don't have traditional qualifications or can't meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing our Sport and Exercise Science (including foundation year) BSc (Hons) degree.

Entry from appropriate foundation and access courses will also be considered.

If you're an experienced candidate who doesn't meet the entry requirements listed above but have practical or industry experience, relevant vocational qualifications or competitive athletic status, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with the course leader Christopher Chamberlin.