Students on this course learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and laboratories, informal but scheduled one-to-one support, and self-directed learning, such as academic reading, research and preparation tasks. All of these are supported by a virtual learning environment, Learn Ultra.

Seminars, workshops and practical classes are taught in much smaller groups than lectures, small enough to allow one-to-one interaction with tutors. These sessions allow you to develop knowledge and skills through investigating real-life sport, exercise and physical activity issues and through undertaking practical tasks, such as podcast recording and working with different client groups. Our emphasis on small-group and practical teaching reflects a conscious choice to enhance the quality of the learning experience rather than the quantity of formal sessions.

Small-group teaching and one-to-one attention from a personal academic advisor (provided for all students when they enter the course) are part of the learning experience throughout the degree, but by the final year classroom time gives way, to some extent, to independent research, including a capstone research dissertation. The dissertation is supported by one-to-one supervision and makes up a third of final year credits.

In this way the degree systematically supports you in transforming from a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to becoming a generator of knowledge, ready for professional or postgraduate life. All formal teaching arrangements are supported by individual tutorials with teaching staff and induction sessions that begin in the week before the start of the course and continue at key times throughout each year of the degree.

A level offer – AAB.You do not need to have studied a PE or Sports Studies A level to apply.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – DDD.

IB Diploma score – 36 with 665 in higher level subjects.

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome students with other post-16 qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements.

• We welcome applications from mature students and from candidates with non-standard qualifications. Every application will be considered on its own merits. Lack of formal qualifications need not be an obstacle to entry.

• For those with non-traditional qualifications who may need further preparation to enter an undergraduate degree Durham University offers a Foundation Programme, which provides a route onto our BA (Hons) Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity degree.

• If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take an International Foundation Year pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

Full Time Fees

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Of those students who graduated in 2019:

• 77% are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:

• 70% are in high skilled employment
• With an average salary of £25,000.

(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk)

At Durham, you can combine studying on outstanding sport and exercise degrees with unbeatable opportunities for participation and excellence in sport.

Studying in the sport and exercise sciences will allow you to examine a broad range of topics across the spectrum from grassroots to performance sport, and also across the varied connections between sport and issues such as obesity, inequality and social justice.

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

• World Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2022
• Top 10 in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022
• 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2022
• 2nd in The Complete UniversityGuide 2023.

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Sport and Exercise Sciences pages.

Research Excellence Framework

100% of our submission was world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 21).

Facilities

Our teaching and research facilities include the Human Performance Laboratory and the Truscott Imaging Suite, which were built as part of the University's £30m investment in the new Sports and Wellbeing Park at Maiden Castle. These facilities support our undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes and provide opportunities for collaborative research within and external to the University.

More information on our facilities and equipment.

Find out more:

Learning is made up of lectures, small-group seminars, practical workshops and laboratory work. These sessions allow you to develop knowledge and skills through investigating real-life sport, exercise and physical activity issues and through undertaking practical tasks, such as podcast recording and working with different client groups.

Our emphasis on small-group and practical teaching, supported by one-on-one guidance and self-directed learning, is embedded into the learning experience, so you gain more from your studies.

As you move into your final year, the focus on self-directed learning and independent research increases, particularly around the dissertation.

Assessment

Your degree will mostly be assessed through a range of coursework assignments, which may include analysing real-life sports development programmes and creating infographics and podcasts.

Methods of assessment vary between modules and have been designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of course material, test critical thinking skills, enhance written and oral communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world issues.

The final-year dissertation project enables you to undertake in-depth exploration of a specific topic that you are passionate about, the dissertation makes up one-third of your final-year marks.

A level offer – AAB.You do not need to have studied a PE or Sports Studies A level to apply.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – DDD.

IB Diploma score – 36 with 665 in higher level subjects.

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome students with other post-16 qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements.

• We welcome applications from mature students and from candidates with non-standard qualifications. Every application will be considered on its own merits. Lack of formal qualifications need not be an obstacle to entry.

• For those with non-traditional qualifications who may need further preparation to enter an undergraduate degree Durham University offers a Foundation Programme, which provides a route onto our BA (Hons) Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity degree.

• If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take an International Foundation Year pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

The tuition fees for 2024/25 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

We have an excellent graduate employment record. The quality of our degree courses is reinforced by employers who have identified Durham as a World Top 100 source of the most competent, innovative, effective graduates.

Our students progress into a wide range of careers in the field of sport and health and beyond. They have taken up roles in elite sport, sport management and sport development, including management roles in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Others lead development projects for local councils and major charities, and have taken up roles with sporting organisations like Sport England, English Cricket Board and Williams F1. We also have graduates working in media roles with organisations such as Sky Sports, BBC Sport and British Eurosport, as well as in health promotion and clinical settings.

Some graduates have progressed to roles outside of the sporting world, and work in banking and finance, business, management, public relations, human resources and the armed forces.

Sport degrees also act as a springboard to postgraduate study, and a number of our graduates have continued to PGCE or Master’s level study, leading to careers in fields including teaching and physiotherapy.

Of those students who graduated in 2019:

• 77% are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:

• 70% are in high skilled employment
• With an average salary of £25,000.

(Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk)

Durham University's Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is a welcoming and vibrant community. We are passionate about the benefits of sport and physical activity for all, from recreational participation through to competitive performance.

Both the BA and BSc qualifications examine the connections between exercise and issues such as inequality, lifestyle and discrimination. These lines of study, which closely align with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are woven through everything we do from undergraduate through to research level.

Our staff are known around the world for the work they pioneer, using findings from their research to inform the undergraduate curriculum and keep it relevant to the real world. This approach gives you a valuable insight into developments in the sector and the confidence to put your developing knowledge to use in analysing, engaging with and enhancing real-world practices across the sport and exercise industries.

Our courses also offer the flexibility to tailor your study to your interests and career goals. This includes offering a wide range of option modules and the chance to spend a year working in industry or studying abroad. You will also benefit from our commitment to small group learning which enables a more personalised approach and individualised support from staff.

For more information see our department pages.

Rankings

• World Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2022
• 8th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
• 7th in The Guardian University Guide 2023
• 2nd in The Complete University Guide 2023

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Sport and Exercise Sciences pages.

Research Excellence Framework

100% of our submission was world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 21).

Facilities

The academic study of sport and exercise is closely linked to sport and exercise in practice. Facilities within the Department include the Human Performance Laboratory which houses a range of exercise and monitoring facilities that analyse our responses to exercise and nutrition.

These facilities, which support researchers, undergraduate students and athletes alike, were built as part of the University's £35m investment in the Sports and Wellbeing Park at Maiden Castle. Alongside these facilities are an indoor cricket hall, a 12-court multi use sports hall, a fitness centre, a high-performance weights room and a range of outdoor sports pitches.

More information on our facilities and equipment.

Find out more: