Sport Studies BSc (Hons) - UCAS Code LN32

See details of the UoS
Sports Bursary Scheme
by clicking here.

"I loved my time here and could not think how any other university could outdo Southampton in pretty much any area." - Final year student, Sport Studies

Check out our pages for Parents and Supportors for information on teaching, accomodation, finance, safety and an explanation of the application process.

Sport plays a significant role in contemporary society. This is demonstrated by the amount of government policy devoted to it, the size of the sports economy, sport’s links to health and well-being for a population that is living longer than in previous generations, sport’s role in education and youth work, and the size of the sports media. Sport is consequently worthy of academic study in its own right.

The BSc (Hons) Sport Studies programme at the University of Southampton addresses various aspects of sport. It explores sport as a social entity in relation to its historical, cultural, political and economic contexts. The foundation of human performance is explored through a study of physiology, psychology, motor development and biomechanics leading to an understanding of how the body and mind work in relation to physical activity, sport and health. The management and development of sport are explored through units concentrating on such issues as policy, strategy and finance. Coaching and teaching of sport are covered through units emphasising coaching theory and sports pedagogy. Research issues within sport are covered in units in all three years, becoming increasingly specialised as you start your final year individual project.,/p>

We have taken the questions that we are most frequently asked by prospective students and tried to answer them below. We hope you find everything you are looking for here, but if not then please do not hesitate to phone us or e-mail us with your queries.

Who will be teaching me?

Click on a name to follow the link to the staff pages where you can find out more about our specialisms and research interests.

Candice Williams

Gary Evans
Ian Hamilton
Richard Humphrey
Dr Julie Price
Dr Martin Polley
Hazel Brown
Dr John Schulz
Dr Iain Lindsey

Through this programme, we aim to:

• Develop your understanding of adaptations and human responses to sport, exercise, and physical activity;
• Develop your understanding of the role of sport in society, and its derivation and development;
• Provide opportunities for you to develop areas of vocational expertise in health and fitness, and in either management or coaching and teaching;
• Develop your skills in using appropriate academic, critical, reflective, investigative, and transferable skills which are essential to a range of employment sector.

What will I study?

In each year there are compulsory units that all students take, but in years 2 and 3 there are several option units which mean that you can specialise in an area/areas of your choice. Tutors will help you choose your options based on your aspirations, interests and abilities. We are introducing some exciting new optional units for you, including

• Sport and the Environment within which you can develop your understanding of the effect of sport, sports events and facilities on the natural environment.
• The Olympics which will allow you to explore the historical and contemporary profile of various issues currently seen as problematic within the Olympic Games, such as commercialism, nationalism, gender, gigantism, and drug use.

Units in Year 1

• Safe Practice in Sport
• Sport & Exercise Psychology
• Sport & Exercise Physiology
• Introduction to Movement Analysis (including motor development and biomechanics)
• Sport in Society
• The Economic, Political and Structural Environment for Sport
• Critical Thinking and Researching in Sport
• Introduction to Research Cultures
• Personal Development Planning

Compulsory Units in Year 2

• Principles of Fitness & Training
• Exercise & Health Psychology
• Research Methods
• Sport Development
• Personal Development Planning (continued from Year 1)

Option Units in Year 2

• Sports Coaching Concepts or Accounting and Finance in Sport
• Human Movement Analysis or Marketing of Sport Services

Compulsory Units in Year 3

• Physical Activity and Health
• Applied Sport Psychology
• Sport and the Law
• Dissertation (double unit)

Option Units in Year 3

• Limits of Human Performance or The Olympic Games
• Sport and the Environment or Sports Analysis
• Sport & PE: Essential Issues or Policy & Strategy in Sport

Final year project

Throughout level 3, you will conduct and write up a major research project – often referred to as a dissertation. This is an independent piece of work, although you will have a supervisor to guide you. The project allows you to research an area of interest in great detail, and gives you the chance to apply and reflect on the research skills you have developed in other units. Recent examples of research projects undertaken by our students includes analyses of motivation and adherence, health education, women’s football, sports businesses, and management and coaching styles. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme gives you a massive range of areas to choose from.

Throughout the programme, you will experience a variety of teaching and learning activities. These are designed to help your development as an effective and autonomous learner, and to give you a range of skills. Additionally, these activities are designed to appeal to the diverse learning styles that students bring to the programme. There is an emphasis on practical application and tutor support during the early stages of the programme, and on autonomous and research-based activities in the later stages. The different methods include lectures, seminars, laboratory and other practical sessions, visits, guest speakers, self-reflection, and many more.

Assessment methods

As well as different teaching methods, we use a variety of assessment methods. Again, this is designed to help your overall development as an autonomous learner, and to encourage you to become increasingly sophisticated in your approach to the programme. Given your likely interest in entering sport-related work places, while also acknowledging the possible need for further study before entering the work place, the assessment strategy aims to assess both academic and employability skills. Wherever feasible assessments will aim to reflect real workplace scenarios and/or activities.

The emphasis on academic skills will be assessed mainly through the use of written assignments such as essays, laboratory reports and examinations. The emphasis on employability skills will mainly be assessed through the use of presentations, group work, and the production of training programmes, portfolios and posters.

Can I take any other qualifications whilst studying with you?

While there are no extra qualifications built into the units, you will have the chance to take additional awards on a fee-paying basis recognised by external professional bodies. If you wish to take advantage of this you will be able to enhance your CV and your marketability. For example, we would recommend that you take national governing body coaching awards and a first aid certificate if you wish to enter careers in coaching or teaching. Our degree course provides much of the theoretical and practical knowledge that you would need for vocational awards. For example Principles of Fitness and Training provides an excellent foundation for the content of fitness instructor awards governed by the YMCA.

What sports facilities and resources do you offer?

The University of Southampton has been designated an elite institution for the development of sporting potential, at national and international level. As a student here you will have access to the Jubilee Sports Centre, a state-of-the-art £8.5 million complex situated at the heart of the Highfield campus next to the Student Union. The University’s playing fields at Wide Lane complement this. Students are encouraged to make full use of university facilities, and to participate in a wide range of individual and team sports. To this end we do not teach on Wednesdays so that our sport students can always fully participate in inter-University sport, both home and away. A key feature of our sports centre is the six-lane 25m swimming pool and not far away in Southampton is the Southampton Diving Academy. Facilities for diving here at the Quays are some of the best in the south of England. There are two each of 1m and 3m springboards and 1m, 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m platforms, all suitable for competition at International level. Bubble-making machines give divers extra cushioning when they execute new dives. In addition there are excellent studio facilities, including a dry board and trampoline. Locally facilities and clubs for all sorts of water sports can be found in addition to all the sports clubs that our Students’ Union support, both on the water and on dry land.

Talking state-of-the-art our brand new Human Performance Laboratory is a must-see facility if you decide to visit us. Supported by tutors and our lab technician, here students can work in very small groups in order to analyse human performance both physiologically, psychologically and biomechanically. All our Sport Studies students will be able to use this resource as it is not limited to researchers only.

Furthermore, our extensive on-campus University library provides superb learning facilities and resources including networked computers, books, videos, dvds, and paper/online journals. Power points are provided for you to plug in your own laptop computer and wire free access to the internet is available across campus. Computer facilities are freely accessible to all students.

What career might I enter with this degree?

The programme has several units which aim to introduce, develop, and extend your vocational skills. They will emphasise the application of theoretical knowledge and understanding to real sporting scenarios. Both management and teaching/coaching professions require you to have a strong understanding of health and fitness aspects of sport. These will be covered through compulsory units, which will also give you the opportunity to enter into a health and fitness vocation. Hence, you will be prepared to contribute professionally to the future direction of sport.

A wide variety of career options within the health, fitness and sport industries are available to successful Sport Studies graduates - management, marketing and promotion; coaching, teaching (following a PGCE) and instructing; sports development, administration and media. Potential employers include schools, governing bodies of sport, local authorities, government agencies, private, charitable, and commercial institutions, and local, regional, and national sport and exercise organisations. Graduate study is also a viable career route through a range of Masters programmes in sport, or a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education. With the Olympics on their way to us we can only see opportunities within sport expanding.

Attaining a degree demonstrates achievement of key skill at graduate level. This is acknowledged by employers, regardless of your degree’s subject matter. This means that many career opportunities outside the sports industry are available to you. For example, a number of our graduates go into such field as the armed services, the civil service, and the Police, while others join non-sports companies on graduate management schemes.

"The programme content and expertise of the sports staff provided me with the core academic skills to be successful in a working environment. In particular, the scientific modules relating to human anatomy and physiology and the sports development units have been invaluable for my present role." - Tom Huelin, Sport and Fitness Development Officer, BSC Sport Studies Graduate, 2005"

Is this the right course for me?

The programme conforms to the University’s Admissions Regulations and Practices. It will accept students with appropriate A-levels (or equivalent) and other recognised qualifications, such as BTEC, AVCE, and GNVQ. The University is committed to widening participation in higher education, and welcomes applications from people who have a wide range of qualifications, as well as past experience for mature applicants. The programme will also accept CATS points as evidence of study undertaken elsewhere for students who wish to transfer in above level 1. For example, students with an HND in sport may be able to gain direct entry to Year 2. The course accommodates a growing number of international students.

Additionally, it is desirable that you can show a strong interest in sport beyond your academic engagement with it. For example, we are looking for evidence of your participation as a player, volunteer, coach, manager, or administrator, and for suitable sporting coaching qualifications. We anticipate that you will add to your sport-related qualifications and experiences alongside your studies.

Visit days

If you would like to know details of our next round of 'Visit Days' please contact us by email at educate@soton.ac.uk or by telephoning us on 023 8059 7253.

Fees

In response to the Higher Education Act (2004) the University of Southampton will charge Home/EU full time undergraduate and foundation degree students £3000 pounds per academic year. In contrast to previous years students who enter from 2006 will no longer have to pay fees up front each year during their period of study. For information on scholarships, please click here.

The following entry requirements are normally applied.

Overall Tariff Points: BSc (Hons) Sport Studies: 300 points from 3 A’ level subjects (example offer: BBB). Tutors consider each application individually so offers may vary. We do not stipulate which A’ levels you should take but students presenting traditional subjects such as mathematics, English, chemistry, physics, biology, history, geography, foreign languages and business studies tend to be better grounded in the knowledge and key skills necessary for higher education studies in sport. Applicants from all A’ level backgrounds are welcome though.

Alternative Qualifications:

• AVCE: (Double Award) plus 1 ‘A’ level
• Scottish Highers: BBBBB
• IB: 32 points overall of which 15 at Higher
• BTEC Diploma : Distinction, Distinction, Merit
• Irish Leaving Certificate: BBBBBB
• Access: Successful completion of a kite-marked Access course
• Candidates over 21, not possessing any of the above qualifications will be considered on individual merit

Click here for details of our Undergraduate Scholarships.

Click here for Sports Studies BSc (Hons) Application Form. UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges and your first port of call if you are interested in attending a course in the UK. Details and information for international students are also found at that address.

*Details are correct for Oct 07 entry, but subject to change.

Apply online with the UCAS Application Form

Details on how to apply for the Undergraduate Degrees are available here...

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