The Sport and Exercise Science sector is at the forefront of understanding the connection between physical activity, health, and performance, making it a rapidly growing field with a wide range of progression and career opportunities.
This course is designed for learners who aspire to progress into the sport, health, and exercise industries, preparing you for a university-level pathway or supporting your passion for sport and exercise science through applied, vocational learning.
Potential career pathways include:
The programme equips you with specialist knowledge in sport and exercise science, alongside transferable skills, highly valued by higher education institutions and employers.
Over two years, equivalent to three A Levels, you will study a broad range of units that provide a strong foundation for your academic, sporting, and professional aspirations.
You will study units covering areas such as:
Learning takes place in a dynamic vocational environment, using realistic sporting and health-related scenarios to develop a holistic understanding of sport and exercise science.
You will also engage in practical elements such as:
You will have the opportunity to join one of the College’s specialist sport academies, offering up to 4.5 hours of professional training per week, access to competition, and personalised training and development programmes.
English Language GCSE at grade 5 plus four more GCSEs at grade 4 including maths and science.
Assessment on this course is varied and engaging, allowing you to demonstrate both academic understanding and practical ability.
Over the two years, you will complete four externally assessed units(examinations)
Internally assessed units include:
Assessment methods include project work, essays, report writing, practical delivery, virtual presentations, video and podcast creation, professional discussions and job interviews, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and employability.
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:
You will undertake a 30 hour work placement or work readiness activities as part of our employment edge promise.
You’ll study at our Academy for Sport, where our facilities are among the best in the country and include:
Successful completion of the course opens doors to higher education, with the potential to achieve between 48 and 168 UCAS points, depending on your final grades.
The academic, practical, and transferable skills developed on the course align closely with the demands of university study and employment, making you a strong candidate for a wide range of progression routes.
Previous learners have progressed to courses including:
Notable alumni include:
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:
See here for more information, pop into one of our enrolment events, call us on 0191 490 4627.
As the professional body for sport and exercise sciences, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) recognises the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science as a qualification that is fit for purpose. The qualification develops relevant scientific knowledge and practical skills to a standard that can reasonably be expected of an 18-year-old learner in full-time education. BASES is happy for its name and website to be made available on Department for Education and Pearson platforms to confirm its support for the qualification.
Reading Football Club state that they believe this qualification develops the required knowledge and specialist skills to enable students to progress to the next stage of their development.
“We employ a range of staff across our first team, academy, and community departments. Such roles include Sports Scientists, Assistant Sports Scientists, Analysts, Physiotherapists, and Performance Coaches.”
Sheffield Hallam University also welcome the inclusion of external assessment (examinations) within these qualifications. The introduction of a larger mandatory core, comprising over half of the qualification, provides students with a strong and consistent scientific foundation.
This ensures that all students study a broad and common body of knowledge, while the range of options available within the qualification allows learners to explore areas they may wish to specialise in at degree level.
This course is free to those aged under 19 years old.
Most people aged 19 years and over can qualify for free or reduced price course fees and there are grants and bursaries you can apply for to help cover the costs of coming to college, depending on your circumstances.
If you already have a full level 3 qualification and are aged 19 years over, you can apply for an Advanced Learning Loan or pay the fee upfront in full and qualify for a 10% discount.
You can get more information at our enrolment events, by calling 0191 490 0300 or email us at [email protected]
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.
To contact our dedicated Learning Support team email [email protected] or head to Live Chat
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 QualificationsLevel 3 NVQ; A Levels
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.
Median Salary£11,354
Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
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.
Median Salary£12,482
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.
Median Salary£25,662
JOIN OUR SPORTS ACADEMIES
Eight specialist sport academies, all offering first class training, coaching and playing opportunities for everyone, regardless of what you study.
Connect with our Academy socials:
Say Hello to Rugby
Wednesday 27 May 2026
Say Hello to Basketball
UPCOMING EVENTS.
Find out about all our upcoming events here. Simply sign up and come along.
View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.