BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

Want to turn your love of sport and fitness into a lifelong career? Sport and Exercise Science graduates are in demand, whether you want to encourage and support people to take up sports and exercise, work in a clinical environment – or help propel them to the top of their game.

At ARU, we're proud to be ranked fourth in the country for sports science courses in the Guardian League Table 2023.

Study sports science with world-leading experts in our specialist labs in Cambridge, on a degree course endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Here, you’ll learn to apply the four key disciplines of sport and exercise science: physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition.

Our Sport and Exercise Science degree course is also endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), so you'll graduate ready to work in the UK’s burgeoning sport and fitness industry or to continue your learning journey to postgraduate study. Find out more about our approved and accredited courses.

There are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on experience, with internships and an optional placement year.

There are wide-ranging employment opportunities for sport scientists, from introducing people to sport and exercise, to helping take them to the top. You could work as an athlete-support scientist (with teams and national sports associations), an exercise consultant, a performance analyst, or a clinical psychologist, among other roles in applied health and physical activity and the health and fitness industry.

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector, and the sector's only chartered professional body, meaning employers will view you as "job ready" for roles in sport and physical activity.

We’ll encourage you to improve your employment prospects by making connections with industry. We have links with a range of sporting organisations, including:

• Living Sport (Cambridge and Peterborough Sports Development)
• British Paralympic Association
• British Cycling
• British Judo Association
• Cambridge United FC
• European Space Agency
• British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
• Physiological Society
• European College of Sports Medicine
• American College of Sports Medicine
• England and Wales Cricket Board

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study a postgraduate degree such as our MSc Sport and Exercise Science or MSc Sport Coaching. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.