Sport and Exercise Science with Strength and Conditioning BSc (Hons)

Buckinghamshire New University

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Our focus is on improving your employability, helping you gain simulated working experience and providing you with an in-depth understanding of the key skills required in the workplace in whatever discipline that may be.

Employers today want to see your skills and experience straight out of university. We understand this better than anyone, that's why we offer you a chance to gain both skills and experience in using them. We give you the chance to apply your learning wherever possible in simulated real-world environments, using industry standard facilities in our Human Performance Lab.

This course has been endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK. Graduating with an endorsed degree provides you with a competitive advantage that is recognised nationally and internationally. Using our partnerships with professional bodies, sports teams, athletes and local schools and colleges we have based your course on what’s needed out in the field today.

The quality of our links to industry speak for themselves. We’re currently linked with Watford FC, Wycombe Wanderers, Reading Ladies WSL and academy teams, Amateur Swimming Association, British Rowing, GB para-athletes and many community sports clubs, athletes and schools. Our lecturers are actively engaged in professional practice and have many years of experience in teaching and in industry. We've really been there at the highest level.

What facilities can I use?

Most of our work with you and our professional partners takes place in the Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre. This is where the body can be fully tested and evaluated, using specialist equipment used by sport and exercise scientists everyday.

It contains a working clinic and human performance laboratory, and the learning you will complete here helps prepare you for your future career using evidence based insights and research. Additionally, the University has a commercially run sports hall and fitness centre giving you the opportunity to learn within a sports centre environment, with a student gym too.

What will I study?

Developed in line with the Chartered Institute of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and aligned to Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach (GSCC) professional standards, this course will help develop your knowledge in Strength and Conditioning. Combining scientific principles with practical S&C training methods, you will study a variety of topics including exercise physiology, biomechanics, psychology, data analysis, performance analysis, sports injury, rehabilitation and more.

Over the three years you’ll spend on this course, you’ll develop a critical understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin strength and conditioning practice. You’ll learn a wide range of strength and conditioning training approaches including movement skills, weightlifting, resistance, plyometric, speed, agility, aerobic and anaerobic training methods.

We’ll show you how to analyse and evaluate performance needs, design and deliver training programmes with the goals of improving health and wellbeing, optimising performance and minimising the likelihood of injury.

Career Prospects

The blend of theoretical, practical and work-based learning you’ll experience in this course will set you up for a career within the fields of high-performance strength & conditioning. You can also choose to study for a postgraduate course like MSc Sports Therapy or MSc Sports Performance. You’ll also have the chance to go on to BASES membership which is a key membership and is now becoming required for many jobs in the industry.

Previous graduates have gone on to work in a range of roles such as personal trainers, fitness instructors, sports science, graduate sport programmes, and specialists in well regarded organisations. Many choose to go on to private practice.