Sport & Exercise Science / Sport & Exercise Science (Physical Activity & Health)

• Scottish Highers*: 
  
  • Standard Entry Requirements: BCC (69 UCAS Tariff points) including a Science (Biology preferred) or PE**
  • Minimum Entry Requirements: CCC (63 UCAS Tariff points) including a Science (Biology preferred) or PE**
• A levels: DDD (72 UCAS Tariff points) including a science subject (Biology preferred) or PE
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H3 H4 H4 H4 including a science subject (Biology preferred) or PE
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points, (3 subjects at H4) including a science (Biology preferred)
• SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Fitness, Health & Exercise or Applied Sports Science or Applied Sports & Exercise Science or Physical Activity & Health or Sports Therapy with Grade B in the Graded Unit - to be held until Higher results considered
• SQA HND / BTEC Level 5 HND: Sport Coaching & Development
• Scottish Wider Access Programme: Access to STEM (BBB) or Access to Life Sciences (BBB) or Access to Humanities (BBB) or Access to to Health & Biological Science (BBB)

SUITABLE SCIENCE SUBJECTS

Suitable science subjects include: Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Modern Studies (Sports coaching will accept Politics as a Science).

* for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see our Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage

**PL would prefer applicants to have both a science and PE, but not essential.

Please note: entry into second year is open to students normally domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and international students normally domiciled outside the EEA.

• A levels: BBB (120 UCAS Tariff points) including 1 science subject (Biology preferred) and PE
  
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 30 points (136 UCAS Tariff points) with 3 subjects at H4, including English, PE and 1 science subject 
  
• SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Fitness, Health & Exercise or Applied Sports Science or Applied Sports & Exercise Science or Physical Activity & Health with A in Graded Unit
• SQA HND / BTEC Level 5 HND:

  Sports Therapy or Fitness, Health & Exercise or Applied Sports Science or Applied Sports & Exercise Science or Physical Activity & Health with BB in Graded Units overall.

SUITABLE SCIENCE SUBJECTS

Suitable science subjects include: Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology.

• SQA HND / BTEC Level 5 HND: Applied Sports Science or Fitness, Health & Exercise or Applied Sport & Exercise Science or Physical Activity and Health (with A in graded units) (For an HND with a double graded unit, applicants must have AA. For an HND with a single graded unit, applicants must have A)

Successful applicants who gain a place on this course will need to register on the PVG Scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. An application form will be sent from the University once you have accepted your offer. The fee for joining the scheme is £59.

Visit the Disclosure Scotland website for more information on the PVG scheme.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW

All academic degrees/awards at UWS are taught in English. For applicants whose first language is not English*, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. All English language qualifications must have been gained within two years of the start of your UWS course.

* applicants who are exempt from english language requirements include:

• native speakers of English
• Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
• non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
• students whose previous degree-level study has been taught and assessed in English in what UK Visas and Imigration (UKVI) define as a majority English speaking country

In general terms, if you are applying to study a course at, or above, Year 1 (SCQF Level 7) bachelor’s degree level, then the UKVI’s minimum level of English proficiency is Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR) at B2 (Upper Intermediate).

UWS & INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST SYSTEM (IELTS)

At UWS, we define our general English language requirements using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) as follows:

Undergraduate (bachelor's - BA, BAcc, BEng, BSc etc.) degrees and postgraduate (master's - MA, MBA, MSc etc.) taught degrees

• the CEFR equivalent requirement is normally an overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent), with a score of no lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

Postgraduate research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA etc.)

• the CEFR equivalent requirement is an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent), with a score of no lower than 6.0 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission†.

† Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more information). 

IELTS SCORE EXCEPTIONS (RESEARCH DEGREES, BIOMEDICAL & PARAMEDIC SCIENCE DEGREES, NURSING & MIDWIFERY DEGREES WITH NMC REGISTRATION, SOCIAL WORK DEGREES, CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ETC.)

RESEARCH DEGREES

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 6.5
• no sub-test score of less than 6.0

HEALTH & MIDWIFERY AWARDS

For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, MSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc Midwifery and MSc Midwifery), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and
• score of at least 6.5 in writing

PARAMEDIC SCIENCE DEGREE

Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test score of less than 6.5

BIOMEDICAL DEGREES

For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, which may lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test less than 6.5

SOCIAL WORK DEGREES

Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council and applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test score of less than 7.0

CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 5.0
• no sub-test less than 4.5

OTHER IELTS EQUIVALENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS

In additional to IELTS, we also accept a number of alternative English language for application and admission to our courses for both home/EU and international students at bachelor's degree study at Year 3 (SCQF Level 9), and above. From Cambridge to TOFEL iBT qualifications the number of these qualifications is extensive.

Find out about non-IELTS English Language Tests

ENGLISH LANGUAGE HIGH SCHOOL QUALIFACTIONS ACCEPTED FOR NON-EU APPLICANTS

UWS has also reviewed a range of High / Secondary School qualifications studied by non-EU applicants that can be used as a basis of entry to a UWS. These range from Botswana GCSEs to USA High School Graduation Diplomas, the number of these qualifications is extensive.

Find out more about international English Language high-hchool qualifications

PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES AT UWS

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

• 10-week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
• 5-week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
• English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with an overall score of 4.0, plus a score of 4.0 in all sub-tests (10-month course), or an overall score of 4.5, plus no score below 4.0 in all sub-tests (7-month course).

Find out more about our English language Courses.

In Year 1 you will develop a basic understanding of Sport Development, Sport Coaching and Sport and Exercise Science. Subjects include: Introduction to Sport Coaching, Academic Skills for Sport and Exercise and Introduction to Sport Science.

LEARNING AND TEACHING:

• Scheduled learning: 22%
• Independent study: 78%

ASSESSMENT:

• Practical: 22%
• Coursework: 78%

In Year 2 you will develop your understanding of specific areas of sport and exercise science. Subjects include: Principles of Sport and Exercise Physiology, Skill Acquisition and Sport and Exercise Nutrition.

LEARNING AND TEACHING:

• Scheduled learning: 24%
• Independent study:76%

ASSESSMENT:

• Written: 15%
• Practical: 65%
• Coursework: 20%

In Year 3 you will study The Psychology of Sport, Sport Research and Evaluation, Being a Sport Professional, Physiological Adaptations to Exercise and Sport Conditioning and Biomechanics. Optional modules include Measurements in Sport and Exercise or Physical Activity in Health.

LEARNING AND TEACHING:

• Scheduled learning: 77%
• Independent study: 23%

ASSESSMENT:

• Written: 27%
• Practical: 23%
• Coursework: 50%

• BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science core module is Sport Exercise Dissertation. Optional modules include (but are not limited to) The Female Athlete, Exercise in Extreme Environments, International Field Trip and Applied Sport Psychology.
• BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science (Physical Activity & Health) core modules include Sport Exercise Dissertation, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Exercise Referral in Special Populations, Interventions in Sport and Physical Activity and Mental Health, Sport and Physical Activity. Optional modules include Adaptive and Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity or Applied Sport Psychology.

LEARNING AND TEACHING:

• Scheduled learning: 85%
• Independent study: 15%

ASSESSMENT:

• Written: 17%
• Practical: 25%
• Coursework: 58%

This degree will be taught through a combination of learning methods including tutor-led lectures, tutorials and seminars, practical workshops and exercises in a simulated work environment, small group teaching and group project work. Independent, online and peer-to-peer learning is an important element of this course.

Our Sport and Exercise Science degree uses a variety of assessment methods. The below list provides a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:

• group and individual work
• multiple-choice exams
• reflective practice reports
• essays
• case study deconstruction
• practical examination
• research production
• journal reviews

UWS Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors

Programme Specification and Module Descriptors for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are available to download (PDFs). These provide you with core information concerning your chosen subject. 

View our Programme Specifications & Module Descriptors