Health and Exercise Science with Professional Placement

How we can get people more active and making healthy choices? Prepare yourself for a range of careers, promoting health at an individual or population level.

This course combines science, social science and public health. Through learning about how the human body works, you will understand the impact that physical activity, diet and other lifestyle choices have on health and wellbeing.

This degree has three core themes running throughout the course:

Exercise Science provides a fundamental, interdisciplinary understanding of human function Behavioural Medicine explores how we can use the principles of exercise science to promote health, or treat and prevent disease Public Health investigates the determinants of population health, focusing particularly on the role of physical activity and lifestyle in the health of a population Through these core themes, you will apply your knowledge to health and exercise settings. This will help you to understand their relevance in current practice.

Some of the topics you will cover include:

epidemiology exercise prescription health technologies nutrition social health inequalities sports medicine research methods In Year 1, you’ll build on your knowledge of human physiology, biomechanics and psychology, and develop your understanding of the role of physical activity on public health. You’ll develop skills in research design and statistics.

In Year 2, you'll gain more in-depth understanding of exercise, health and nutrition at different stages of life, for various clinical groups, and at the individual, community and population level. You’ll explore how we communicate these health messages to different audiences.

In your final year, you’ll carry out a year-long research project and study advanced units in areas such as nutrition, health technologies, sociology and exercise prescription.

This course will prepare you for a range of careers including public health, rehabilitation, physician’s assistant, community sports, health promotion, health policy and exercise science.

Use specialist facilities You'll have access to facilities that support your learning, including laboratories with specialist equipment and the latest technology, including:

Applied Biomechanics Laboratory Applied Physiology Laboratory Biochemistry Laboratory Metabolic Research Laboratory A dedicated movement analysis suite Develop your professional skills We work to provide you with the skills and support to prepare you for employment and further study, such as:

communication and interview skills CV and cover letter writing networking career planning

Informed teaching to advance your learning You’ll learn from experts in sports performance and sports science. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching to enhance your learning experience.

Staff across our Department for Health have specialisms in areas such as:

sport and exercise science nutrition and metabolism sport management, marketing and media coaching and sport performance sport policy and international development health and physical activity research methods Prepare for your future Many of our sport, exercise and health graduates have gone on to work in sport science, public health, exercise medicine and rehabilitation, sports management and sports coaching.

They've worked for organisations such as:

BUPA Cambridge Medical Robotics Coaches Voice Hawk-Eye Innovations MoveGB Department of Health & Social Care professional rugby union and football clubs Find out what our graduates go on to do

Specialist facilities for your learning and training Our £35 million Sports Training Village contains some of the UK’s best sport and exercise facilities, accommodating more than 50 sports. We regularly host major international competitions and provide a dedicated sports training space.

You’ll have access to our biomechanics and physiology labs, containing:

gas analysers blood lactate monitors performance analysis systems force platforms jump mats