student athletes representing sport at international level
Check eligibility →BSc (Hons) Physical Activity & Health Bachelor's degree at Edinburgh Napier University
BSc (Hons) Physical Activity & Health at ENU. You'll combine core theory, research methods, and applied practical work, with the freedom to pursue specialist options and shape your learning through an independent project.
About this course
Gain the knowledge and skills to analyze physical activity & health in diverse populations. Our course offers a solid foundation for health & exercise industry. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Physical Activity & Health is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at ENU, based in Sighthill Campus, Calder Road, Edinburgh. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sport & Exercise Science, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Anatomy & Physiology in Sport & Exercise ScienceCompulsory
- Foundations of Sport and Exercise ScienceCompulsory
- Exercise TrainingCompulsory
- Application of Science to Sport and ExerciseCompulsory
- Sport, Exercise and WellbeingCompulsory
- Skill AcquisitionCompulsory
Year 2 6 modules
- Current Issues in Sporting PerformanceCompulsory
- Introduction to BiomechanicsCompulsory
- Sport & Health NutritionCompulsory
- Exercise PhysiologyCompulsory
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise PsychologyCompulsory
- Volunteering & EmployabilityCompulsory
Year 3 6 modules
- Intermediate Exercise PhysiologyCompulsory
- Growth Maturation & ExerciseCompulsory
- Scientific Communication Review and StatisticsCompulsory
- Exercise BehaviourCompulsory
- Intermediate BiomechanicsCompulsory
- Work Based LearningCompulsory
Year 4 4 modules
- Physical Activity & Behavioural Change ProjectCompulsory
- Physical Activity & Exercise Prescription in Health and DiseaseCompulsory
- Physical Activity and Health Work PlacementCompulsory
- Scientific Research ProjectCompulsory
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course equips you to evaluate physical activity and health across different populations, providing essential grounding for roles in health and exercise. A typical Sport & Exercise Science programme builds from foundations in anatomy, exercise physiology and sport psychology, moving through practical coaching skills in Year 1. Year 2 introduces biomechanics, training physiology and research methods, enabling you to assess technique and design programmes. In Year 3, you'll usually pursue specialist options such as strength & conditioning, sport psychology, nutrition, rehabilitation, coaching or PE teaching routes, alongside applied placement work and an independent dissertation project.
Who it's for
You're drawn to the intersection of movement, health and wellbeing, and want to develop expertise that matters in practice. You think analytically about how physical activity affects different groups, and you're comfortable with both research and hands-on application. Part-time study appeals to you, whether you're juggling work, other commitments or a learning pace that suits you better. You're motivated by the prospect of working in health and exercise settings where evidence shapes what you do.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) is studied part-time at Edinburgh Napier University, a public university based at Sighthill Campus on Calder Road, Edinburgh. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and degrees are nationally recognised. Instruction is delivered in English.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code C6C8). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at ENU →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sport & Exercise Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sport & exercise science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sport & Exercise Science nationally
National figures for Sport & Exercise Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Sport & Exercise Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sport & Exercise Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Sports clubs & NGBs
- Leisure providers
- Schools
- The NHS
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sport & Exercise Science graduates.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Edinburgh Napier University
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Sport & Exercise Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to ENU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £21,120 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check ENU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with ENU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at ENU
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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