Level 3 BTEC Sports and Exercise Science


  • Start Date: 01/09/2026
  • Course is for: School Leaver
  • Course Length: 1 Year
  • Funding Support Funding Support:
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The Sport and Exercise Science sector is at the forefront of understanding the relationship between physical activity, health, and performance, making it an exciting and growing field with a wide range of progression opportunities.

This course is designed to be studied alongside two other A Levels or Level 3 qualifications, providing learners with a strong scientific pathway while maintaining a balanced study programme. It is delivered as the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport and Exercise Science, which is equivalent to one A Level

The course is ideal for learners who have an interest in sport, physical activity, and science, and who may be considering progression into higher education or careers within the sport, health, or fitness sectors.

Potential progression and career pathways include:

  • Sports Scientist
  • Sports Psychologist
  • Sports Analyst
  • PE Teacher
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Sports Therapist
  • Sports Nutritionist
  • Paramedic
  • Careers within the NHS, including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Cardiophysiology

Alongside subject-specific knowledge, the course develops transferable skills such as communication, analysis, research, and professional practice, which are highly valued by universities and employers.

Over two years, equivalent to one A Level, you will study four core unitsthat introduce the key principles of sport and exercise science through a balance of theory and practical application.

You will study the following units as part of the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Sport and Exercise Science

Externally assessed units (examinations):

  • Functional Anatomy
  • Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

Internally assessed units:

  • Coaching for Performance and Fitness
  • Specialised Fitness Training

Learning takes place in a dynamic and vocational environment, using realistic sporting and fitness-based scenarios to help you understand how scientific principles are applied in real-world settings.

Practical elements of the course include:

  • Coaching and leadership activities
  • Fitness testing and training programme design
  • Performance analysis and evaluation

You will also have the opportunity to engage with the College’s specialist sport academies, offering access to professional-level training, competition opportunities, and individual performance development.

Assessment

Assessment methods are varied, incorporating project work, essays, report writing, practical delivery, and presentations to ensure a well-rounded evaluation of your skills and knowledge.

Assessment also includes two externally assessed examinations

  • Functional Anatomy
  • Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

These are complemented by internally assessed units, allowing you to demonstrate both your academic understanding and practical application of sport and exercise science in vocational contexts.

In order to study A-levels with us, all students need to obtain a strong GCSE grade profile, averaging 6 x Grade 6s.

Individual subjects will also have their own specific requirements.

However, if you do not meet this profile, please still come to one of our enrolment events to discuss all of your options with a member of our A-level team.

Our dedicated Academy for Sport boasts over 25 experienced sport delivery staff, including teachers, coaches, and learning facilitators.

Each member specialises in areas such as:

  • Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Sports Massage
  • Coaching
  • Psychology
  • Biomechanics
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness Testing

Their industry expertise ensures a dynamic and engaging learning experience.

Whatever support you need, we’re here for you and will make sure you get the most out of your time at college.

We have expert teams in place to look after every single one of our students.

Our specialist teams can help with:

  • Learning difficulties
  • Physical and sensory disabilities
  • Dyslexia, dyspraxia, neurodiversity or other specific learning difficulties
  • Mental health and well being
  • Exam access arrangements
  • Money, finance and bursary advice
  • Careers advice, job and university applications

See here for more information, pop into one of our enrolment events, call us on 0191 490 4627.

Completing our course opens doors to further education, with the potential to earn between 48 and 168 UCAS points, depending on your grades.

The skills gained during your studies align with the demands of both higher education and employers, making you an attractive candidate for a range of careers.

Our alumni have successfully secured places in renowned institutions, including:

  • Sport and Exercise Science BSc Honours at Newcastle University
  • Sport and Exercise Sciences BSc (Hons) at Durham University
  • Sport Coaching BSc (Hons) at Northumbria University Newcastle
  • Sports and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) at York St John University
  • Physiotherapy BSc (Hons) at the University of Birmingham
  • BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University
  • Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care BSc (Hons) at Sunderland University
  • Nursing (Child) BSc (Hons) at Sheffield Hallam University

Notable alumni include:

  • Matthew Cuthbert – a Physical Performance Coach at the Football Association
  • Matthew Jenkinson – a Sports Technical Specialist at York St John University
  • Molly Collinson – a successful business owner specialising in Performance Coaching, Nutrition, and Plant-Based Nutrition.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A QUALIFICATION IN LEVEL 3 BTEC SPORTS AND EXERCISE SCIENCE?

  • Sports and Leisure Assistants
  • Fitness and Wellbeing Instructors
  • Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials
  • Leisure and Sports Managers and Proprietors

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.

Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Median Salary
£11,475

Average Qualifications
Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C

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Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Median Salary
£19,441

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

Find Out More

Knowledge

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Median Salary
£11,354

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

Find Out More

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labour relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Median Salary
£25,662

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

Find Out More

Pathways

Sport, Leisure and Recreation
People in these occupations manage and participate in sporting events, provide physical training and coaching, and coordinate leisure and recreation activities.

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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School Leaver Course Guide 2026/2027

View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.

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