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Our BSc Sports and Exercise Psychology course will provide you with an immersive and exciting experience of studying the human mind and the application to sport and exercise science. You will study a variety of topics including:
Social psychology and individual differences
Experiencing emotion
Promoting health, exercise, and active lifestyles
Psychological skills and strategies for improving sports performance
Our course sits within our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES), with studies split equally between SRES and the Department of Psychology. This provides a unique opportunity to join communities focused on both psychology and sport and exercise science, allowing us to bring together our research, share knowledge and enhance opportunities for you. You will be based in our state-of-the-art Sport Arena, benefiting from a range of facilities and dedicated laboratories for research.
Professional accreditation
Accredited against the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Why we're great.
92% of graduates from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences and 90% of graduates from the Department of Psychology are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023).
We're 27th in the UK for Sports Science in the Guardian University Guide 2024 and 23rd in the UK for research power in sport and exercise sciences (Times Higher Education research power measure, REF 2021).
We're Top 30 for both sports science and psychology in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Study abroad
Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.
Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.
If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.
Placement year
Alternatively, you can spend your third year on a placement year with an external organisation. This is usually focussed around your course, and enables you to learn about a particular sector, company or job role, apply your academic knowledge in a practical working environment, and receive inspiration for future career pathways.
If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.
Our expert staff
Our course benefits from the expertise of staff in both the Department of Psychology and the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES).
Our course is delivered by SRES academics with impressive research profiles, extensive applied consultancy experience, and Chartered Psychologist accreditations. Our staff members are also actively involved in collaborations with prestigious organisations within and beyond sport. The staff members you will learn from on the course include:
Dr Ruth Lowry is a Chartered Psychologist with extensive experience in evaluating health-related outcomes. Ruth recently led the evaluation of two European funded projects that dealt with health inequalities and in four countries and Sexual Health in over Forty Fives. Ruth is also involved in projects seeking to understand how rock drumming can benefit specialist groups and exploring the benefits of physical activity for people living with dementia. Ruth's research focuses on how physical activity can be used to promote health and wellbeing within a number of specialist populations.
Dr Paul Freeman is a Chartered Psychologist with expertise in evaluating exercise initiatives to promote physical activity. Paul has also designed and delivered a range of workshops on Behaviour Change Models and Psychological Skills Training. In his career, Paul has collaborated with the International Olympic Committee, Active Essex and Essex County Council. His research interests focus on cognitive and social factors underpinning performance under pressure and physical activity behaviour.
Dr Andrew Brinkley is a Chartered Psychologist with a proven track record of implementing sport-related exercise interventions for improving employee health, enhancing social and educational outcomes in young people, and utilising walking netball programmes to address loneliness, poor mental health and quality of life. Andrew's research explores how exercise interventions can be developed, implemented and evaluated. He is currently involved in exciting projects with Active Suffolk.
Dr Luke Olsson has expertise in perfectionism and burnout, and has recently collaborated with several local and regional sport organisations to educate coaches, parents and athletes on how to create positive environments and improve mental wellbeing. Luke's research examines the causes and consequences of being perfectionistic and evaluates the key factors that make an athlete vulnerable to experiencing burnout.
Dr Carly Wood has expertise in therapeutic horticulture and has collaborated with organisations such as Trust Links, Green Light Trust, The Wilderness Foundation, Essex County Council and Thrive. Carly's research is focused on the links between physical activity, environment and health; specifically, the role of nature-based interventions in the prevention of poor mental health and mental illness.
Dr Ian Maynard is a Chartered Psychologist with 20 years of experience in sport psychology consultancy. In his career, Ian has acted as a sport psychology consultant at two Olympic Games, eight World Championships and three Commonwealth Games. He has worked with elite athletes in a variety of sports, including golf, boxing, swimming, lacrosse, bowls, sailing, diving and cycling. His research interests focus on a range of topics, such as pressure training, decision making, talent development and confidence, amongst others.
Dr Jo Barton has extensive experience in promoting physical activity, exercise and wellbeing in various populations. In her career, Jo has successfully worked with several charities, schools and sports clubs to implement interventions. Jo's research focuses on the benefits of green exercise physiological and psychological outcomes.
Dr Mike Rogerson has experience in conducting evaluations of wellbeing and exercise programmes for prestigious organisations, including The FA, ukactive, Coca-Cola, Essex County Council, Dementia Adventure, Next Chapter, and BioFit. Mike's research interests include Green Exercise, Video Assistant Referee decision making, Virtual Reality Sport and Exercise, and wellbeing in elite sports athletes.
Our psychology academic staff include award-winning teachers and prize-winning researchers who are international experts in their own research areas. They carry out research into areas of psychology that fall under three key themes:
These three themes help tie your knowledge together as they directly feed into our modules.
Specialist facilities
As a BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology student, you will also have access to our specialist sport, research and teaching facilities.
You will benefit from access to facilities in both the Department of Psychology and School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES). In SRES you will have access to specialist facilities including the Sport Arena, physiotherapy labs, six specialist sport and physiology labs, two dedicated sports therapy training labs, and an on-campus sports therapy clinic. You will also have access to state-of-the-art equipment such as a sports performance camera system including fixed and mobile cameras for indoor and outdoor use with live streaming and multi-camera capture capabilities, video analysis and coding software, and global positioning equipment capable of tracking player movement, collisions, and intensity. You can also gain valuable experience working with elite athletes in our Human Performance Unit.
In the Department of Psychology, you will have access to modern facilities, including a virtual reality and an observation suite, specialist areas to study visual and auditory perception, developmental psychology, and social psychology; and the Centre for Brain Science allows staff to investigate brain activity, and to measure eye movements and other physiological responses.
Human Performance Unit
The Human Performance Unit (HPU) has been used by professional athletes and sports persons from a range of disciplines, including Team GB athletes participating in the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and players from our local Colchester United Football Club.
The HPU supports student teaching and research across all degree types. Our undergraduates in sports therapy, sports performance and coaching, and sports and exercise science use the HPU for some of their modules, with both beginners and professional sports persons recruited to take part. This gives students experience in managing the practical physiological tests, as well helping them develop soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
Additionally, the HPU supports a range of placement activities. Our Masters students can take a 12-week placement, while undergraduates have the option to use the HPU during the optional Placement Year. Along with continuing the work with individual athletes, students who have a placement year as part of their course also assist with sports science workshops held at the HPU for local schools. These workshops are tailored to the National Curriculum for PE, and give our students experience of working with teachers and young people.
Your future
The sport, fitness, health and leisure sectors are booming and provide a variety of careers for sports and exercise psychology graduates.
Our course will enable you to pursue postgraduate study and many exciting career paths, such as:
Sport Psychologist
Exercise Psychologist
Health and Wellness Coach
Rehabilitation Specialist
Counsellor
Our courses also develop your skills in numeracy, information technology, communication, and time management, which are important to all employers.
We also work with our University's careers services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.
Sport scholarships
Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has been created for talented athletes playing at regional, national or international level, and offers a range of benefits. We want students competing in our focus sports (basketball, volleyball, tennis and football), as well as other team sports and individual athletes, to contribute to our performance sport programme. Our scholarships can include fee discounts of up to 100%, offered to athletes who demonstrate sporting excellence. Athletes who are awarded the scholarship may also receive a host of other benefits, including free kit, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance coaching, the option to live in our Athlete Village (accommodation fees may vary) and a support package valued up to £1,500. These benefits are designed to help athletes focus on their training, and development, and to enable them to reach their full potential alongside their studies.
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
GCSE: Mathematics C/4.
A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels and a minimum grade C in a science subject or Mathematics. PE and Psychology are acceptable as science A-levels.
BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent including C in one science subject or Mathematics. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554. Either must include 5 in a Higher level science subject or Mathematics. Our GCSE Maths requirement can be met with either: 4 in Standard level Maths; 3 in Higher level Maths; or 4 in IB Middle Years Maths.
IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.
A-level Science or equivalent: If you have or are studying other level 3/A-level equivalent subjects in areas related to science or maths we may be able to consider you if you do not meet the requirements outlined above.
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. For October 2024 entry, if you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer. Factors we consider:
Applicants from underrepresented groups
Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus
For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
English language shelf-life
Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Pending English language qualifications
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk
.
Requirements for second and final year entry
Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Structure
Course structure
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Teaching
Take part in practical work throughout your degree
Learn through a combination of lectures, laboratory sessions and coursework
Gain experience collating and interpreting data, and reporting findings clearly and concisely
Undergraduate students in the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences typically attend a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar for each module every week.
Assessment
Degrees are awarded on the results of your written examinations together with continual assessments of your practical work and coursework
Contribute towards real-world research projects in your final year of study
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,250 per year
International fee
£20,500 per year
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer.
You have the chance to:
tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.
The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are 'L' and 'S' respectively.
You can find further information on how to apply, including information on transferring from another university, applying if you are not currently at a school or college, and applying for readmission on our How to apply and entry requirements page.
Offer Holder Days
If you receive an undergraduate offer to study with us in October 2024 and live in the UK, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Offer Holder Days. Our Colchester Campus Offer Holder Days run from February to May 2024 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus events run in April and May. These events provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. To support your attendance, we are offering a travel bursary, allowing you to claim up to £150 as reimbursement for travel expenses. For further information about Offer Holder Days, including terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for our travel bursary, please visit our webpage.
If you are an overseas offer-holder, you will be invited to attend one of our virtual events. However, you are more than welcome to join us at one of our in-person Offer Holder Days if you are able to - we will let you know in your invite email how you can do this.
Interview
Undergraduate students who apply for our health-related courses are required to pass a compulsory interview before an offer can be made. If you are shortlisted for interview based on your application, you will be invited to interview with us via Microsoft Teams. We use the interview as an opportunity to get to know you, to find out about your ambitions, and assess how prepared you are for the course. It's important for us to be sure that you know what you're signing up for, so we'd expect you've done some research about the course and the associated careers it may lead to. We have some more information about how to demonstrate you have what it takes at the bottom of our undergraduate page
If you're successful at interview, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Applicant Days after your offer is made. Our Colchester Campus Applicant Days run from February to May 2023 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus Applicant Days run from March to June 2023 on various weekdays and Saturdays. Applicant Days provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. For further information, please head to our Applicant Days webpage.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and
Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
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