BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology Bachelor's degree at Staffordshire
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire. Sport and Exercise Psychology explores how psychological principles shape athletic performance, exercise behaviour and wellbeing.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Staffordshire. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Psychology graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sport & Exercise Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 70% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Becoming A Sport And Exercise PsychologistCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Becoming a sport and exercise psychologist introduces psychology as both a scientific discipline and a professional career. You will explore ethical, professional, and research standards that underpin psychological practice, alongside routes to training and accreditation. Through guided reflection, you will evaluate your developing professional identity, employability skills, and future career pathways. This module provides a strong foundation for progression within psychology and related sport
- Cognition In Sport And ExerciseCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Cognition in Sport and Exercise explores how people think, focus, decide, and perform in sport and exercise settings. You will examine key cognitive processes such as attention, perception, memory, and decision-making, and how these influence performance and behaviour. This foundation supports progression to higher-level psychology modules and strengthens key academic and employability skills.
- Individual Differences In Sport And ExerciseCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Individual Differences in Sport and Exercise explores why athletes and exercisers think, feel, and behave differently in performance contexts. You will examine key psychological constructs such as personality, motivation, intelligence, and core beliefs, and how these influence wellbeing and performance. Through applied case studies, you will learn to evaluate individual differences and consider how psychological support can be tailored to the needs of athletes and coaches. This module develops c
- Psychology Of Sport And ExerciseCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Discover what drives performance, participation, and wellbeing in sport and exercise. This module introduces you to the key psychological theories that shape how athletes, coaches, and exercisers think, feel, and perform, from motivation and confidence to stress, anxiety, leadership, and team dynamics. Youll explore how behaviour change and mindset can influence sporting success and healthy lifestyles, while gaining hands-on experience in research design. By the end of the module, youll have pla
Year 2 4 modules
- Brain, Body And Behaviour In Sport And ExerciseCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Brain, Body and Behaviour in Sport and Exercise examines how biological systems shape human behaviour, emotion, and performance. You will explore the structure and function of the brain, nervous system, and endocrine processes, and how these influence cognition, stress, motivation, and learning. The module develops your ability to apply biopsychological theory and research to real-world sport and exercise contexts. As a Level 5 module, it builds critical thinking and applied skills that support
- Contemporary Issues In Sport And Exercise PsychologyCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Contemporary Issues in Sport and Exercise Psychology prepares you to design and justify psychological research in sport and exercise contexts. You will critically engage with contemporary debates and emerging research to identify meaningful gaps in knowledge and develop researchable questions. The module develops core research skills, including literature review, methodological planning, ethical decision-making, and proposal writing. By the end of the module, you will have produced an ethically
- Lifespan Development In Sport And ExerciseCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Lifespan Development in Sport and Exercise explores how physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development shape participation, motivation, and wellbeing across the lifespan. You will examine key developmental theories from childhood through to older adulthood and consider how developmental changes influence experiences in sport and exercise contexts. A distinctive feature of the module is its focus on qualitative research methods, enabling you to explore lived developmental experiences. Thi
- Teamwork And Leadership In SportCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Discover what really makes teams tick. This dynamic module dives into the psychology of groups and leadership in sport and exercise, exploring why some teams thrive while others fall apart. Youll get hands-on with real coaching scenarios, using video and transcript analysis to uncover the subtle interactions that shape motivation, cohesion and performance. From social identity to transformational leadership, youll learn how the most effective coaches inspire and influence their groups and how ev
Year 3 4 modules
- Applied Sport And Exercise PsychologyCompulsory30 credits
Module details
How to maximise your chances to perform at your optimum!In this module, you will consider issues pertinent to the competitive world of performance psychology. You will explore how individuals respond to and function across various competitive situations, such as sport, business, military, and exercise. Key issues regarding the application of psychology will include ethics, adherence issues, methods of evaluation, and measuring effectiveness. During the module, you will also explore and practice
- Independent Investigational ProjectCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Ready to take the lead on your own research project?In this module, youll design and carry out an independent research study in an area of sports therapy and rehabilitation that interests you. Youll plan, conduct, and report your findings, from reviewing literature and designing the trial methods to collecting and analysing data. Youll also reflect on your learning and present your findings in a viva, showcasing your research skills, professional judgement, and readiness for your next steps, whe
- Psychology Of PressureCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Psychology of Pressure examines how stress and emotion influence the acquisition and performance of skills in high-pressure sport and performance environments. You will explore historical and contemporary theories of stress, emotion, and performance, alongside evidence explaining why skills can break down under pressure. A key focus is on understanding how coping and emotion-regulation strategies can be applied to enhance performance and resilience. Through reflective and applied learning, this
- Understanding Mental Health In Sport And ExerciseCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Understanding Mental Health in Sport and Exercise explores the complex relationship between sport, physical activity, performance, and mental health. You will critically examine psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence wellbeing and mental ill health in sport and exercise contexts. Through applied case study analysis, you will apply theory and research to ethically interpret mental health experiences and support needs. This module develops advanced critical and applied skills r
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
You'll study the psychological and physiological foundations of sport performance and exercise. A course like this normally starts with anatomy, exercise physiology and introductory sport psychology, covering how the body adapts to training and factors that drive motivation and confidence. Year 2 typically moves into biomechanics, training physiology and research methods, combining theory with practical testing and programme design. In your final year, you'll pursue specialist options such as strength and conditioning, sport psychology, nutrition, rehabilitation, coaching or PE teaching routes, usually alongside an applied placement with teams, clients or schools and an independent research dissertation. The progression blends science, practical application and professional experience.
Who it's for
This degree suits you if you're fascinated by why athletes perform under pressure, how exercise improves mental health, or what motivates long-term behaviour change. You'll thrive if you combine curiosity about psychology with genuine interest in sport and movement, and if you're comfortable moving between abstract theory and practical application. The course demands critical thinking, attention to research design and the ability to reflect on real scenarios. You'll engage with academic writing, data analysis and teamwork alongside practical skill-building. Whether you aim for a career in applied sports psychology, coaching science, clinical work or research, this gives you the grounding to pursue it.
Careers & job market
Across Sport and Exercise Science courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after leaving. Of those working, 62% are in highly skilled roles or continued study. Graduate outcomes data shows starting salaries (at 15 months post-graduation) typically ranging from £22,000 to £30,000 nationally; after three years, £19,125 to £27,000; and after five years, £23,375 to £33,000. Career paths include sports psychology practitioner, strength-and-conditioning coach, occupational health advisor, researcher or further postgraduate study leading to clinical psychology or health-related specialism.
University & format
This is a full-time, three-year Bachelor's degree (BSc with Honours) taught in English at the University of Staffordshire. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; this degree is nationally recognised. The university holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 80% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
| an Access course | 5% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
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.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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 C810). 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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Staffordshire →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
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.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £21,000 – £25,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £18,500 | £13,500 – £22,500 | 185 |
| 5 years after | £23,000 | £18,500 – £27,500 | 190 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sport & Exercise Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 915 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 40; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
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.
Sport CoachAspire PeopleSport Science LeadBiolyz FlexCoBTEC Tech Awards Sept 22 - Sport - ExaminerPearsonEquine Vet: Independent Clinic for Leisure & Sport HorsesBritish Veterinary LGBT+Learning Mentor (PE/Sport)Prospero TeachingCasual Youth Worker: Sport, Community Growth & BelongingActive Herefordshire & WorcestershireIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.5 out of 10: NSS 79.7% · in work or study 75% · continued 70%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Staffordshire
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 Staffordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Staffordshire; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Staffordshire’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 Staffordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Staffordshire
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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