BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with a Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at the University of Kent

You'll begin an exciting journey into scientific principles, starting from the structure of simple atoms and molecules to the incredible complexity of the human genome. You'll investigate the building blocks of matter and examine how atoms form complex molecules, which ultimately give rise to living organisms.

You will ignite your curiosity while gathering critical practical experience, skills and confidence in conducting scientific experiments. You will test hypotheses with a series of engaging laboratory classes. You will analyse your own experimental data, develop your numeracy and data handling skills and use appropriate software to draw meaningful conclusions.

You'll continue your journey into the foundations of scientific theory and method. You will learn the essential proteins and enzymes that exist in everyday life, the metabolic processes that allow us to create energy, and some of the chemistry that underpins these processes such as equilibria, acids and bases.

You'll outline the essential steps associated with undertaking scientific research, and consider issues related to the experimental process and statistics. You'll undertake experiments that develop proficiency in collecting, analysing, and interpreting large data sets. You'll also develop your ability to communicate with authority as a scientist.

You will be introduced to fundamental principles and concepts, and examine these in real-life sport and exercise contexts and scenarios. You will learn to identify human anatomy and physiology, and understand how this relates to sport, exercise, rehabilitation and massage. You'll learn how to assess amateur and elite sporting performance via performance testing and scientific analysis.

You'll explore the intricate functions of human tissues and organs, gaining insight into their roles in sustaining life. You'll examine the essential principles of genetic inheritance and the factors driving genetic variation. By understanding the processes that keep our organs working well, you'll begin to understand how diseases emerge.

You'll begin a journey into the fundamentals of organic and inorganic chemistry, and learn to apply spectroscopic methods in analytical chemistry. You'll examine the different groups of the periodic table and immerse yourself in the captivating world of organic chemistry and the different molecular classes, functional groups, and key reaction mechanisms.

You'll deepen your understanding of the core principles of anatomy and physiology, including the structure and function of different physiological systems, and how the body maintains homeostasis and adapts to exercise. You'll also develop your understanding of exercise metabolism and consider how the nutritional composition of the diet can influence sport and exercise performance.

You'll discover the basic mechanical principles of human movement and their applications to sports performance and exercise. Through a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical lab classes, you'll apply theoretical biomechanical concepts to sporting scenarios.

You'll consider key psychological theories and how they relate to sport and exercise contexts. You'll develop a personal and professional understanding of how cognitive and social factors impact group and individual behaviour.

This module will cover the fundamentals of training principles, consider how to tailor these to meet individual needs, and look at barriers and enablers that affect participation. You'll examine national and international sporting initiatives and you'll have the chance to design creative approaches which address unmet needs in sport and physical activity access.

Using examples of contemporary scientific research across the fields of sports performance, therapy and rehabilitation, and health, you'll compare different methods of scientific testing. You'll learn to dissect information, determine what is credible evidence and gain an understanding of the implications and impact of research findings in an applied context.

Building on your knowledge of human physiology, you'll explore the body's responses to both acute and chronic exercise, learning concepts relating to both aerobic and anaerobic performance, and the impact of fatigue on physiological processes. You'll discover the key physiological factors that determine and limit exercise performance in humans.