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Studying a Sports Science degree can be an immensely rewarding experience whether you are athletic, or just love the world sport and the people who surround it.
You’ll build a firm understanding of the human body from the anatomical and physical side, to the psychological aspects of performance and training, with opportunities to study nutrition, stress and motivation, and aspects of specific sports or events.
In this article we look at ten of the best universities for the study of Sports Science in the UK, including their programmes, their fees and their current rankings for the subject area.
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Why Study Sports Science at Universities in the UK?
Why Study Sports Science at Universities in the UK?
With so many options for international students to study Sports Science around the world, deciding where to pursue your education can be a daunting task.
However, studying in the United Kingdom offers unique opportunities that will pave the way for a successful career as a professional in this highly competitive field.
From comprehensive courses with leading experts teaching cutting-edge tech and techniques, to access to professional resources within some of the most renowned universities and organisations across the country, studying Sports Science in the UK has many benefits.
1.University of Glasgow
According to the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, the University of Glasgow is the leading university in the UK for the study of Sports Science.
Image source: University of Glasgow
- It offers state-of-the-art facilities to study the performance and health aspects of sport and exercise science, from the whole body to the molecular level. These include advanced exercise laboratories, metabolic investigation suites and a molecular biochemistry lab.
- The University also has close links with a number of regional/national sporting bodies and professional sporting clubs.
- Degree programmes include Physiology & Sports Science [BSc/MSci] and Physiology, Sports Science & Nutrition [BSc/MSci].
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
Glasgow,Scotland
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Glasgow for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- Scotland: £1,820
- International: £30,240
2. University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is ranked number 4 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, and is 21st in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023.
Image source: University of Exeter
- The University has dedicated laboratories for sport and exercise physiology, sports biomechanics and health and performance psychology.
- 89% of full time Sport and Health Sciences students are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21)
- The University’s BSc Exercise and Sport Sciences degree is designed to provide students with a balanced understanding of both sport and exercise sciences across a range of sub-disciplines, including physiology, biomechanics, and psychology.
- With links to major universities in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, the USA, Canada and Spain, students have a Study Abroad option which allows them to study at an overseas university in their third year.
Location
Exeter, Devon (South West England)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Exeter for 2024-25 are:
- UK students: £9,250 per year
- International students: £29,700 per year
3. Loughborough University
Loughborough University has long been synonymous with excellence in Sports Science. It is currently ranked number 3 for the subject by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, but was ranked 1st in the world for sports-related subjects for five years running (QS World Rankings by Subject 2021).
Image source: Loughborough University
- Degree programmes include: Sport and Exercise Science BSc, Sport Management BSc, Sport Science, Coaching & Physical Education BSc and Sport and Exercise Psychology BSc. All offer the opportunity for a placement year or international study year.
- Loughborough has unparalleled links with organisations across the sports industry, including Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, the English Institute of Sport, and Adidas.
- The University campus offers one of the largest concentrations of world-class training facilities in the UK, and is home to national and regional centres for many sports.
- Students have access to bespoke training and testing equipment, the latest physiological, molecular, and environmental technologies, two climate chambers, and a range of dedicated laboratories.
- Graduates have gone on to pursue rewarding careers with a wide range of employers, including BSkyB, Aviva, Chelsea FC, Adidas, Youth Sport Trust, British Rowing, Deloitte, UK Sport, UK Anti-Doping, Brain Injury Trust, PwC, GlaxoSmithKline and England Hockey.
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
Loughborough, Leicestershire (East Midlands)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Loughborough University for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: £28,600
4. Durham University
Durham University is ranked number 10 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 and 5th for Sports Science in the 2024 Complete University Guide league table.
Image source: Durham University
- In 2023, Durham was ranked Sports University of the Year by the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, which is testament to the sports facilities and communities found there.
- Employers globally identified the Sport and Exercise Sciences as a World Top 25 source of the most employable graduates in the Sport Sciences (QS World Ranking Employer Survey, 2020).
- Degree programmes include a BA in Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity and BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences.
- Students can choose modules from natural and social science courses as part of a flexible and cutting-edge undergraduate programme.
Location
Durham, North East England
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Durham University for 2023 are:
- UK: £9,250 per year
- International/EU students: £26,500 per year
5.University of Bath
The University of Bath is ranked number 2 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
Image source: University of Bath
- The Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) degree is designed to develop students’ knowledge of biomechanics, physiology and psychology, helping them understand how humans function in sport, physical activity and health environments.
- This degree has three core strands: Biomechanics (how humans create and control movement including athletes’ technique), Physiology (the structure, function, regulation and performance of bodily systems) and Psychology (the role of thoughts, feelings and behaviours in sport and exercise settings).
- Specialist equipment includes a Applied Biomechanics Suite, Applied Physiology Laboratory, Biochemistry Laboratory and Metabolic Research Laboratory.
- The University’s £35 million Sports Training Village contains some of the UK’s best sport and exercise facilities, accommodating more than 50 sports.
- Graduates have gone on to work in sport science, public health, exercise medicine and rehabilitation, sports management and sports coaching, and for organisations such as: BUPA, Cambridge Medical Robotics, Department of Health & Social Care and professional rugby union and football clubs.
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
Bath, South West England
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Bath for 2024-25 are:
- UK students: £9,250 per year
- International students: £28,800 per year
6. University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked number 8 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. It was ranked 6th in the world for sports-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
Image source: University of Birmingham
- Degree programmes include a BSc Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences and BSc Sport, PE and Coaching Science.
- Facilities at the University of Birmingham are excellent, and include a. £55m sports centre, and a custom-built Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences facility.
- Flexible course options mean that students can choose from around 14 exciting and varied modules, tailoring their studies to suit their personal interests and career aspirations.
- During the Commonwealth Games in 2022, the University hosted hockey and squash on campus, and was the primary campus village for athletes.
Location
Birmingham, West Midlands of England
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for 2024-25 for the University of Birmingham are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: £22,500 (BSc Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences), £21,000 (BSc Sport, PE and Coaching Science)
7. University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is ranked number 7 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. It is currently ranked 1st for related subject area Anatomy and Physiology.
Image source: University of Aberdeen
- The University offers a four-year Sports and Exercise Science, BSc.
- Many scientific disciplines contribute to the sports and exercise sciences, including physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, anatomy and biomechanics. The programme at Aberdeen is based on a strong curriculum in physiology, biochemistry and nutrition.
- The degree covers the scientific basis that underpins athletic performance, and the role of scientific support in preparing the athlete for competition.
- Students on the programme are taught at the internationally renowned, multi-million pound Aberdeen Sports Village as well as the Foresterhill campus, one of the largest health campuses in Europe.
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Aberdeen for 2023-24 are:
- UK: £9,250
- EU/International: £24,800
- Scotland: £1,820
8.Lancaster University
Lancaster University is ranked number 6 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. It is also ranked 1st for Teaching quality and student experience in the guide.
Image source: Lancaster University
- Lancaster University’s BSc Sports and Exercise Science is one of the first in the UK to be delivered by a medical school, which is recognised for its subject expertise, supportive community and satisfied students.
- Students can choose between a standard three-year option and a four-year study abroad option with their third-year at one of the university’s overseas partner institutions.
- Lancaster’s Human Performance Laboratory gives students access to specialised sports facilities featuring cutting-edge technology used by today’s elite athletes.
- They learn anatomy using Lancaster Medical School’s life-size anatomical models and benefit from access to Lancaster University’s £4m life science teaching laboratories.
Location
Lancaster, Lancashire (North West England)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Lancaster University for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International £28,675
9.University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is ranked number 13 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
Image source: University of Surrey
- Students on the Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) benefit from a hands-on curriculum, recognised by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) for providing all the skills and knowledge needed to enter the profession.
- Sport and exercise science at Surrey is ranked top ten in the UK for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2023.
- Professional Training placements enable students to gain industry experience, with employers including sports clubs, performance laboratories and nutrition companies.
Image source: Sandeep Chitreddy on Unsplash
Location
Guildford, Surrey (South East England)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Surrey for 2024 are:
- UK: £9,250
- Overseas: £26,000
10. University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is ranked number 12 in the UK for Sports Science by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
It is also designated Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence by the Scottish Government in recognition of its contribution to Scottish sport and for training Scottish athletes to successfully compete at international sporting events such as the Olympic Games.
Image source: University of Stirling
- Stirling is ranked 1st in Scotland for sports research, with 80% of its research in Sport and Exercise Sciences classed as world leading or internationally excellent (REF2021).
- The BSc Sport and Exercise Science degree covers elements such as exercise physiology, psychology, biomechanics, nutrition, genetics, medicine, health and physical activity.
- Other related degrees include BA (Hons) Sport Business Management, BA (Hons) Sport Development and Coaching and BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology.
- The university's campus features a 50m swimming pool, ten tennis courts and seven sports pitches all on site. It has strong partnerships with many national governing bodies of sport and other sporting organisations, some of which are based on campus.
Location
Scotland
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Stirling for 2024-25 are:
- Scotland: £1,820
- UK: £9,250
- International students (including EU): £21,300
Other top universities for Sports Science in the UK
There are many outstanding universities for Sports Science and related disciplines in the UK, the ten detailed above being just a small selection. Other widely respected institutes that can be considered among the best universities for Sports Science, and which have welcomed Kings students across a range of disciplines, include:
- University of Nottingham
- University of Edinburgh
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Strathclyde
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Oxford Brookes University
- Coventry University
Find out more about Kings alumni success
How Kings Can Help You Study Sports Science at a Top UK University
At Kings, we offer a host of qualifications and programmes to prepare students for progression to study a Sports Science course at university.
From traditional A-levels to specialist degree pathway programmes, designed specifically for international students, we can cater for all needs and requirements. Irrespective of the course followed, all students at Kings benefit from:
- Expert teaching from subject specialists
- Specialist facilities and excellent resources
- Personalised support and learning
Through the range of enrichment opportunities at our colleges, sports-focused students are able to do join a range of sports-related clubs and activities either at the school or in the local area. For example, students at our Bournemouth school have access to over ten different sporting options.
Find out more about our programmes here
Next steps
We hope that this article has helped you understand more about the best universities for Sports Science and related subjects in the UK.
If you would like receive more detailed information about the Kings and our programmes, please get in touch with us at enquiries@kingseducation.com.
