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Sport and Exercise Science - NTU in Mansfield FdSc

Start date

  • Level(s) of Study: Foundation degree / Undergraduate
  • Typical Offer: 64 UCAS tariff points
  • UCAS Code(s): C601
  • Start Date(s): September 2024
  • Duration: Two years full-time
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time
  • Campus: NTU at Mansfield
Information for 2024

Introduction:

Taught at NTU in Mansfield, we are providing access to alternative routes in higher education. We've built qualifications with the local job market in mind. Each of our higher education courses is relevant, hands-on and work focused.

This course will require you to apply your learning to address current challenges of both enhancing sporting performance and physical activity in local contexts. The course is designed to support you, through gaining relevant experience, to develop your academic understanding, your discipline-specific practical skills and your transferable professional skills, and to allow you to showcase these to employers or providers of further study opportunities.

On completion of the foundation degree you will be eligible to apply to study our BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science (Top-up).

If you have any questions about our Sport and Exercise Science course, you can now chat to our experienced lecturers and course leaders through Unibuddy.

  • Top 10 University for Sport in the British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Championship 2021 - 2022.
  • Top 20 in the UK for teaching quality in Sport Science (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)

What you’ll study

Over both years of the course, you will analyse current data, and plan and deliver interventions to enhance both sporting performance physical activity in identified groups.

Professional and Academic Skills 1 (20 credit points)

Throughout this year long module, you’ll be introduced to the University and the course. Your learning tasks will build your academic and professional skills for future employment. You’ll gain work experience through voluntary and professional roles throughout the year.

Physical Activity for Health (20 cp)

Engaging in physical exercise is well-documented for its benefits, countering hypokinetic diseases linked to inactivity that incur significant costs in healthcare and business. You’ll focus on understanding these diseases to improve health through physical activity. Following this you’ll assess the health and fitness of a specific population such as children and female athletes and prescribe appropriate physical activity interventions.

Performance Analysis (Individual Sports) (20 cp)

Using case studies, you’ll explore and analyse performance and then plan strategies to enhance individual performance. You can analyse your own sporting performance, other students on the course or professional athlete. You’ll then learn how to use appropriate analysis technology and present your results in an appropriate format.

Sociology of Sport (20 cp)

Apply sociological theory to contemporary topics in sport to examine the impact of society’s categorisation of people based on factors such as wealth, income education etc. You’ll then study the impact this has on an individuals’ involvement in sport.

Fitness Testing and Training (20 cp)

Study a range of fitness tests used to establish current fitness and the effectiveness of training. With this knowledge you’ll design fitness testing programmes that meet your clients performance needs. You will learn how to best communicate your findings to your client.

Sport and Exercise Psychology 1 (20 cp)

Explore concepts in sport psychology and how these can be applied to support development of both sporting performance and the adoption of physical activity. You’ll be introduced to key sport and exercise psychological concepts, to enhance and support the holistic health and wellbeing of individuals.

Professional and Academic Skills 2 (20 cp)

You’ll continue developing your academic skills to help you succeed on the course, primarily through a mini research project. This is where you’ll present your findings as part of a research symposium. The second half of this module will focus on your professional skills by taking relevant work experience, completing professional development courses and developing your professional online presence.

Training and Physical Activity Interventions for Sport and Health (20 cp)

In this module, you’ll explore the physical expenditure of different exercise, in relation to current exercise and nutritional guidelines. You’ll also consider how concepts related to behaviour change can be applied to enhance physical activity.

Sport and Exercise Psychology 2 (20 cp)

Identify how psychological approaches can be integrated into a programme of training, to benefit a particular sport or exercise client group. In this module you will explore how psychology can be applied to develop performance and health.

Nutrition for Sport and Health (20 cp)

How can nutrition can support both health and sporting performance? You’ll explore this question by identifying an issue in nutrition for sport and health, before reviewing current data and theory. Then you will focus on the structure and function of nutrients, the effects of under- and over-consumption and the methods for assessing nutritional intake.

Current Issues in Sport and Exercise (20 cp)

Explore current issues in sport and exercise, and how the sport and exercise policy agenda is shaped by international, national and local government, sport and exercise governing bodies, voluntary, charitable and community organisations, and the media. You’ll explore case studies of how sport is being used promote social inclusion, reduce social isolation and support educational engagement.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Samantha Rynne

The thing that has stood out to me has been the amount of support that is given by the lecturers and tutors to the learners.

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Staff Profiles

Stuart Jolly - Principal Lecturer

School of Science & Technology

Dr Stuart Jolly, Principal Lecturer in the Dept of Sport Science at NTU. Extensive experience of course development, quality assurance and course leadership.

How you’re assessed

Further information

To support your learning on the course, your modules will take an active learning approach, where you will be an active participant in considering sport and exercise problems, and challenges in sport and exercise domains. You will learn about underpinning academic research that you will relate to these real-world challenges.

Through practical sessions on the course, you will develop skills of research, observation, recording, and analysis in sport and exercise, and how to create outputs and present and communicate these in formats that are appropriate for different audiences.  The face to face sessions provide a framework for your learning, a key part of which is carrying out additional reading, research and learning around the course, which is termed as independent learning.

  • Year 1 - coursework (100%)
  • Year 2 - coursework (50%) and practical (50%)

Careers and employability

Your future career

Upon completion of the course, you can top up to degree level, with the BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science course.

Graduates from this course are well-placed to take up a variety of careers within the sports industry and students can go straight into work after their foundation degree.

With an FdSc in Sport and Exercise Science you can start your career path towards roles such as Fitness Instructor, Sport coaches, instructors and officials, Sports Scientist or Sports Physiotherapist.

Excellent placement opportunities

The course includes an optional sandwich year placement between Year One and Year Two, or during Year Two. You can develop your skills and experience in a working environment which is highly valued by future employers. We offer Participation, Physiology, Nutrition, Performance Analysis and Psychology work experience opportunities with sports clubs such as Mansfield Town Football Academy.

Why undertake a placement?

  • You will gain vital experience in a vocational position.
  • It will boost your CV and build useful contacts for your future career.
  • There are some exciting and challenging opportunities available

Careers Team

At NTU in Mansfield, our award-winning Employability team is here to inspire and enhance your career planning, whichever path you choose. Whether you wish to go on to further study or to look for job opportunities, we can guide you to be a successful candidate.

Campus and facilities

We are continually investing in our facilities and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere. Teaching will take place at the University Hub's £6.5 million University Centre, which opened in 2016 and which is equipped with the latest facilities and state-of-the-art technology. Facilities include:

  • On-site Café
  • Teaching and Learning Centre
  • Library
  • Social spaces
  • Student support services
  • Dedicated study zones including PC suites

As a Sport and Exercise Science student at NTU in Mansfield, you'll learn how to use sport and exercise science equipment and apply cutting-edge technologies in our high-tech Physiology Lab throughout your foundation degree.

Entry requirements

  • 64 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent including a Physical Education, Maths or a Science* subject (excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies)
  • GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.

Other requirements:

You may also need to complete:

  • an enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service check; and
  • a Prohibition Order check; and
  • a satisfactory placement suitability check.

* Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sport Studies or Psychology

Other qualifications and experience

We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to three different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

This course is not suitable for student who require a Student Visa.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We have undergraduate Sport Science courses which are suitable for Student Visa applicants.  Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our brand-new library, industry-standard workshops and study spaces, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.

Library books

You’ll need to cover the cost of your own books, standard drawing and writing equipment and consumables. However, our NTU in Mansfield library is home to a wide range of books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! Our library team work closely with our academics to ensure that our library collection closely matches the topics you’ll be studying, to provide relevant resources for you to use, free of charge.

Printing and materials costs

Students should also budget approximately £100 per year to cover any printing that they may require to support their studies.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

This course is not suitable for student who require a Student Visa.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We have undergraduate Sport Science courses which are suitable for Student Visa applicants.  Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.

How to apply

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please call us on +44 (0)115 848 4200 or complete our enquiry form.