BSc Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences - 2025 entry

In your first year you will follow a compulsory programme of 120 credits which is carefully drawn from BSc Medical Sciences, and Exercise and Sport Sciences programmes. You will explore the science that underpins the advancement of modern medical practice, sport nutrition, physiology and psychology. There is an emphasis on basic cellular and molecular biology that enhances your understanding of the normal functioning of the human body, from enzymes through to whole biological systems. Without this core knowledge of how the body works, it would be impossible for us, as scientists, to devise the new diagnostic tests, drugs or treatments that will best benefit sport athletes and patients.

Alongside traditional lectures, tutorials and laboratory practicals, you will engage in structured group work where you are given the freedom to explore a scientific topic under the expert guidance of our tutors (in the Integrated Human Physiology and Fundamental Skills for Medical Scientists modules). Further tutor-guided learning occurs within our Life Sciences Resource Centre and exercise physiology and biomechanics laboratories, supported by state-of-the-art technology-enhanced learning resources (in the Integrated Human Physiology module). Your core laboratory skills will be developed through laboratory-based practicals that run alongside and support your other sessions. Some sessions also involve a doctor, scientist and patient to explore key clinical cases from three different perspectives.

You will begin to compile your Personal Development and Professionalism Portfolio, in which you chart your progress from a new student to a professional individual ready for the world of employment. You’ll do this by analysing your academic performance through reflection and the frequent feedback offered by the school to identify opportunities for personal, academic and professional development, in order to help you achieve your career goals.

Support for your academic progress and career planning is provided by your allocated Academic Tutor. Additionally, training and support is provided through various workshops and seminars organised by the Programme’s Academic Lead for Careers and Employability within the compulsory core module, Fundamental Skills for Medical Scientists (CSC1004, 15 credits) and the non-credit-bearing module, Academic and Professional Support (CSC1905). Some of these sessions are delivered by the dedicated Careers Consultant assigned to the college. At this level, you will begin to compile your Personal Development and Professionalism portfolio, a collection of evidenced work and feedback that documents your development into a highly employable, skilled graduate. Additional leadership and teamwork skill development may be acquired through central university’s Exeter Awards scheme.

You will also receive lectures and information during Stage 1 to preview different specialist optional modules available to inform your choice in Year 2 if you decide to study a topic in more depth.  Please note, that successful completion of the University’s training on Academic Honesty and Plagiarism, within the CSC1004 module, is compulsory in order for you to progress to Stage 2 of study. In order to pass, you must achieve at least 80% on the assessment, but you may attempt the assessment as many times as is necessary.

The second year focuses on the scientific basis of nutrition, sport physiology and related important diseases, beginning with some fundamental insights into the ways in which human biology goes awry in disease. This knowledge is then used to explore how cutting-edge scientific technologies can be exploited to advance disease diagnosis and treatment.

Within a variety of learning environments, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory practicals and structured group learning, you will have opportunities to investigate and debate how disease / injury develops and how healthcare can be improved. Key aspects of applied research are explored including clinical and medical research methods and its design and setting (including governance, ethics, funding, testable hypothesis development, data handling and communication) within healthcare environments. Your understanding of these areas develops through a variety of hands-on learning opportunities which enhance your practical research skills and knowledge of contemporary medical and sport science research issues.

When choosing modules for Stage 2, you will need to consider whether you will accrue prerequisites of final year modules, as some final year modules require prior learning.

Specialist designation of all modules, and final year research projects, dissertations etc will be confirmed by the department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences as the lead department and may be granted, withdrawn or amended by CBS accordingly.

You will progress on to stage 2 of the programme where you are required to take 60-75 credits with the code CSC and 45-60 credits with the code ESS, shown in Table 2.

Please note that no more than 120 credits may be studied at Stage 2and you are recommended to avoid taking more than 60 credits in each term.

In addition to the core/optional modules, you will participate in a number of activities and complete the Academic and Professional Support module (CSC2905, 0 credits) as a core requirement managed by the Academic Lead for Careers and Employability. You will continue to build your Personal Development and Professionalism portfolio and will receive dedicated careers support and advice from your Academic Tutor, the college Careers Consultant and the Academic Lead for Careers and Employability.

Professional Training Year placements

The Professional Training Year (PTY) provides you with an excellent opportunity to gain invaluable experience of working as part of a cutting edge research team. This gives you the chance to discover what it is like to work in a real research laboratory or a health intervention setting and will enhance your career prospects. You may even get the opportunity to attend a national or international science conference to present your research data, or may get your name on a research paper. Undertaking a PTY placement will enhance your professionalism, independence and confidence; increase your subject knowledge and research skills; improve your problem-solving, team-working, leadership, communication and project management skills; and prepare you for working in a professional work environment.

Our students have been awarded prestigious placements in major pharmaceutical companies, such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Placements with these companies are open to all UK undergraduates, and our students are closely supported by us throughout their application. In the past, students have completed research projects at the following institutions (for indicative purposes only):

• Research laboratories within the NHS

• Harvard Medical School (USA)

• Johns Hopkins University (USA)

• University of California (USA)

• Health Protection Agency

• Universities of London (King’s College, Imperial), Exeter, Plymouth and Southampton

If you are not successful in securing a PTY placement or if you would like to only study for three years, you will continue directly from the second year into the final year of the programme. The PTY module is assessed at stage 3 level, and will count toward 1/7th of your degree. Stage 2 and the final year will count toward 2/7th and 4/7th. Those not undertaking PTY will be granted 1/3rd and 2/3rd for their Stage 2 and final year assessments.

In your final year you have opportunities to study cutting-edge translational science and undertake research to help improve current human and medical knowledge and practice. In addition to the core modules, you can select from a wide range of optional specialist advanced modules from both Medical Sciences and Public Health and Sport Sciences, enabling you to tailor your degree to match your own specific interests and career ambitions.

You’ll look at authentic and complex medical case scenarios and, working as a team, you’ll apply evidence-based scientific theory and explore and critically evaluate emerging health technologies to help improve patient health, rehabilitate them to pre-injury conditions or influence their behaviours to prevent further injury or illness. During this stage, you will either undertake a clinical/medical research project, or a scholarly review closely supervised by an expert research professional as part of the module CSC3029 (Medical Sciences Research Project), ESS3302/ESS3304 (Exercise and Sport Sciences Dissertation), or ESS3303 (Independent Research Review). Research projects, therefore, are provided by both Medical Sciences and Public Health and Sport Sciences.

You’ll also complete your Personal Development and Professionalism Portfolio. Support will be provided by the Academic Lead for Careers and Employability to help you consider your career options and help consolidate your CV and interview technique. This and related activities are managed within the core Academic and Professional Support module (CSC3905, 0 credits).

Your choice of modules for Stage 3 will partly depend on your choice of final year research dissertation and whether you opt for Medical Sciences or Exercise and Sport Sciences projects. You should choose at least 30 credits from each department (CSC, ESS). Please note that no more than 120 credits may be studied at Stage 3 and you are recommended to avoid taking more than 60 credits in each term.  You are recommended to consider taking CSC3021 Rehabilitation Science.

Specialist designation of all modules, projects, dissertations etc. will be confirmed by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and may be granted, withdrawn or amended by the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Science or Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, accordingly.

See Table 3 for a list of compulsory and optional Stage 3 (final year) modules: Please note, enrolment on optional modules will be conditional on your having completed any required prerequisite modules at Stages One and Two.