How you learn

The foundation year has been designed to prepare you for your undergraduate degree, develop your subject knowledge of sport and physical activity, and explore interesting, contemporary issues. You will also enhance your academic, professional, and personal skills, providing you with the foundation to progress successfully in your undergraduate degree and future career in sport and physical activity.

Throughout the course, you will acquire knowledge about how the body responds to and adapts to exercise. You’ll learn through teaching, working and doing – learning strategies to optimise sports performance and understanding techniques that promote positive behavioural changes for better overall health.

You’ll learn from accomplished staff who are actively engaged in research across all levels of sport. Because Sheffield is home to sports clubs in every major sport in the UK, you will benefit from our fantastic local ties with elite clubs and organisations. From football to ice hockey, basketball to rugby, Sheffield offers a diverse sporting landscape.

You learn through:

• Lectures, seminars and workshops 
• A virtual learning environment (VLE) 
• Work-based learning experiences
• Placements
• Field trips 
• Practical activities in both simulated and in-situ environments 
• Independent study 
• Research opportunities

Key themes

You’ll explore theoretical, philosophical and practical aspects of sport and exercise science, offering insights into graduate roles in sports, physical activity and other professional settings. You’ll study topics like physiology, biomechanics, psychology, nutrition, coaching and physical activity – as well as key skills in digital capability and critical thinking.

This degree is aligned to the jobs market and growth in the sector. Performance analysis, strength and conditioning are all areas with growing career opportunities, so you will gain in-depth knowledge in these areas.

With flexible course pathways and assessments, you’re able to customise your studies based on your future career aspirations.  Then in your final year, you can really focus on where your passions take you. Build your learning around your aspirations.

Course support

The course is designed to help you demonstrate your learning outcomes – with authentic assessment activities relating to real-world scenarios, your specific goals and your skills development. 

Throughout your studies, support will be available through various individuals who will enable you to reach your potential through academic, professional and personal development.

These support roles include: 

• Course and Module Leaders
• Your Academic Adviser 
• Your Student Support Adviser
• Your Employability Adviser 
• Central services like counselling, Library and IT

Course leaders and tutors

Gabriella Penitente

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

Staff profile for Gabriella Penitente, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics.

Applied learning

Work placements 

There’s a mandatory short placement at the end of your third year. Over a minimum of 120 hours, you will be learning while you work and preparing to progress into employment after you graduate.

Previous examples of placements have been taken at British Diving, Sheffield Eagles, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Basketball England.

You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements between your third and final years. This gives you further valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. 

Field trips 

On field trips you will be able to understand how your learning is applied first-hand to real-world situations, gaining valuable insight into working practice.

Networking opportunities 

Your employability is enhanced by the involvement of employers and industry partners – from the real-world projects you complete to the opportunities to build networks at careers fairs and workshops.

We invite specialist industry experts to deliver guest lectures and share context-specific examples of the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will need. And our ties to various sporting organisations and facilities both locally and nationally will give you superb opportunities to gain industry connections as you prepare for your career.

We have previously provided the opportunity to attend conferences e.g. the BASES student conference, where students can present their work and network with students, applied scientists and academics from around the world.

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in: 

• Applied sport and exercise science  
• Sports science support
• Strength and conditioning  
• Physical activity coordination
• Sports nutrition 
• Performance analysis  
• Health advisory positions
• Exercise referral  
• Sports development
• Personal training
• Research and further study 

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for: 

• The UK Sports Institute 
• Higher education and further education institutions  
• Governing bodies and federations of sport 
• Professional sports teams 
• The National Health Service 
• Primary and secondary education establishments

You’ll enhance your professional standing, as this degree aligns with the standards set by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) for Gym Instructors and working with individuals with long-term conditions.

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Collegiate campus

Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.

Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities 

Location

Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2BP

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Collegiate library

Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

Fees and funding

• Home students
• International students

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

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Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sport and Physical Activity (PDF, 144.2KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.