BSc Exercise and Sport Sciences

ESS1006: Human Anatomy and Kinanthropometry

This module is designed to introduce you to the basics of Sport and Exercise Sciences, with a focus on anatomy and body composition. You’ll learn about key body systems - such as muscles, bones and the heart and lungs - and discover how they help us perform everyday activities and sports. We’ll also look at what makes up the human body (body composition), why it matters for health and fitness, how we measure it, and how it changes through the lifespan. As well as exploring these topics in theory, you’ll get hands-on experience in the lab, practising skills like measuring body composition and identifying anatomical structures. There are no special requirements to join this module and is suitable for students who have studied human biology or equivalent at school / college.

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ESS1007: Human Physiology

The function of the human body is dependent on the interaction between numerous physiological systems. This module will provide you with an overview of the role of key physiological systems in the human body including the cardiovascular, respiratory, blood, thermoregulatory, endocrine, neural, muscular and cellular systems, and how these interact as part of an integrated physiological system. You will gain an appreciation of how these systems preserve homeostasis and how these systems respond when the human body is stressed during exercise. You will also be provided with ample opportunity to put theory into practice by performing physiological measurements in the exercise physiology laboratory. The knowledge gained in this module will provide a good foundation of knowledge in human physiology and an introduction to aspects of exercise physiology that will be expanded in future modules. There are no pre or co-requisites for this module and it is suitable for non-specialist students who have studied some science at A-Level or equivalent.

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ESS1019: Foundations of Human Metabolism

This module introduces you to human metabolism by combining foundational knowledge with practical skills. You'll explore essential biological and chemical reactions, focusing on how macronutrients are metabolized and interact in different situations. The content lays the groundwork for understanding nutrition and exercise physiology. While the module doesn't have any prerequisites, it's helpful to have some background knowledge in biochemistry to fully grasp the concepts. Designed for students aiming to deepen their understanding, this module provides a stepping stone to more advanced topics in metabolism and related fields. It's perfect for building your confidence in the science behind human health.

This module seeks to provide you with the necessary foundational knowledge and basic practical skills to help you understand what happens to nutrients within the body. The module will cover the human metabolic basics related to health and sport. In addition, you will learn the basics of methods related to the assessment of food intake and begin to make critical judgements on research.

Graduate attributes:

You will become confident in the following skills:

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ESS1204: Foundations of Biomechanics

The study of force and motion form a large part of the sport and exercise curriculum and this module will provide you with a grounding in how to analyse these aspects from a biomechanical perspective. You will learn about different methods of assessing linear movements and forces in sports, developing your understanding of linear kinematics and linear kinetics. This module will then help you to understand how these principles can be applied to the analysis of human movement and performance in sports, and to understanding injury risk. There are no formal pre- or co-requisites for this module and it is suitable for non-specialist students who have studied some science at A-Level or equivalent. You will be required to complete mathematics-based worksheets prior to starting the module, for which support will be available if necessary.

This module provides a fundamental grounding in sport and exercise related biomechanics, introducing methods for assessment of linear movements and forces in sports. The module aims to develop your understanding of linear kinematics and linear kinetics and to introduce the application of these principles to the analysis of: human movement; sports performance and understanding injury risk.

Graduate attributes - as part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

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ESS1502: Sports Training Physiology

In this module you will explore the principles and application of training physiology in sport and exercise. You will examine how different training methods drive acute responses and longer-term adaptations, and how to apply this knowledge to plan and evaluate training for different sports and individuals. You will develop practical skills in physiological testing, data handling, and interpretation to support evidence-informed training decisions, often using realistic scenarios that reflect the constraints of applied sport settings, for example differences in resources, environment, culture, accessibility, and sustainability considerations. You will also be introduced to GPS in sport and the fundamentals of performance analysis, including how monitoring and analysis technologies can be used to support performance evaluation. The module combines theoretical concepts with practical application to prepare you for applied roles in sport science, coaching, and performance analysis.

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ESS1605: Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology

Psychology is an increasingly important aspect of sport and exercise science. This module will provide you with a foundation in the topics and theories surrounding this interesting area. You will cover topics such as personality, stress, and anxiety, examining their role within both sport performance and exercise participation. You will also cover more contentious and challenging issues such as how to help people become more active, and how exercise can help with mental health. This module will introduce you to psychological skills training and highlight interventions that are adopted by sport and exercise psychologists to improve performance and increase participation. At the end of this module we hope you will have an understanding of psychological science, that will underpin future psychology focused modules.

There are no pre- or co-requisites to this module, and it is suitable for non-specialist students who have studied some science at A-Level or equivalent.

Psychology is increasingly seen as an important aspect in sport and exercise, and as such it plays an integral part in exercise and sport sciences related programmes. This is an introductory level course that will introduce you to some of the core principles of psychology, as well as underlying theories, and popular research topics within the area of sport and exercise psychology.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

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ESS1701: Introduction to Statistics

During your degree you will have opportunities to interpret interesting data and even form your own research ideas and collect data. This module aims to prepare you for this challenge, introducing the basic concepts of statistical analyses and the SPSS software package. You will learn to interpret data, and develop an understanding of statistical terminology, various study designs (observational and experimental) assess and understand reliability and validity of data, test whether means differ between two groups or two timepoints, and test whether, and to what extent, two data variables are associated/related to each other.

There are no pre- or co-requisites for this module, and it is suitable for non-specialist students who have studied some science at A-Level or equivalent.

This module has a strong emphasis on quantitative data analysis and the module will lead into Stage 2 'Research Methods & Analytical Procedures' and progress your skills further for their use in the dissertation module at Stage 3. As there is a definitive strand of research throughout the degree programme it is important that you collect, use, and interpret data from published sources and/or your own data sets in a meaningful purpose.

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ESS2001: Exercise Physiology

This module builds on the knowledge gained of exercise physiology during Stage 1 to explore the body's responses to acute and chronic exercise. During this broad module you will learn theories pertaining to aerobic and anaerobic performance, cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to exercise, the regulation of exercise intensity. This module includes laboratory sessions to develop your practical skills and knowledge required to asses a selection of the above factors. During the course of this module, you will develop your ability to engage in critical commentary and raise your awareness of differing theoretical standpoints within this area.

This module seeks to develop the foundation knowledge of exercise physiology gained at Stage 1 to explore the body's physiological response to exercise. The module will deal with the assessment and interpretation of aerobic and anaerobic fitness and performance, blood lactate, lactate and ventilatory thresholds and cardiovascular control during exercise.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

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ESS2004: Biomechanics and Kinesiology

This module builds on Foundations of Biomechanics (Year 1) to advance your understanding of angular motion. You will explore how rotation, force, and momentum influence performance and injury risk across sport and exercise. Through lectures, hands-on labs, and digital analysis tasks, you will learn to collect, process, and interpret biomechanical data using classical and modern tools. By engaging with the full biomechanics workflow, from data capture to interpretation, you will develop transferable analytical skills and apply angular kinematics and kinetics to real-world examples that enhance performance, optimise movement, and reduce the risk of injury.

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ESS2303: Research Methods and Analytical Procedures

Taking a research project from conception to completion is challenging but rewarding. This module guides you through that process, with a focus on planning and designing studies that use quantitative methods. You will develop your ability to critically evaluate research, understand how and why specific methodological choices are made, and appreciate the assumptions, limitations and potential pitfalls associated with different statistical analyses.

As preparation for your third‑year dissertation, the module builds on concepts introduced in the first year and deepens your understanding of how quantitative research is designed, conducted and interpreted. You will learn how statistics are used within exercise and sport science, and you will be introduced to the analytical techniques commonly applied in research. By the end, you will have the tools needed to critically interpret research findings and to design and justify your own quantitative research project.

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ESS2808: Sport Psychology 2: Skill Acquisition

You will be introduced to a field of psychology that can be applied to a range of health and performance domains; namely motor skill acquisition. You will cover the key psychological theories and models relating to skill acquisition and develop an understanding of how theoretical knowledge is used to guide applied practice.

Skill acquisition is the study of our ability to acquire and develop movement skills. This module will provide you with a contemporary theoretical framework for understanding how performers progress from novice performers early in learning with low levels of skill, to expert performers who have mastered their skills. These principles of skill acquisition also underpin the acquisition of everyday life movement skills and are therefore also applicable to diverse areas such as rehabilitation and ergonomics. In this module you will consider how this theory and experimental work can be utilised in terms of applied sports skill acquisition and therapy.

In order to apply psychological knowledge to sport and health science you will need a sound understanding of psychological theories and the ability to critically evaluate relevant empirical evidence.

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BEM2037: Leadership: Challenges and Practice

BEM2037 Leadership Challenges and Practices addresses the more practical, active and vocational aspects of leadership. You will be encouraged to draw on your own experience of leadership in practice, and to engage in activities which enable you to develop your own leadership capacity. In this way, the course aims to enhance your employability, and to allow you to develop an action-oriented understanding of leadership as a response to personal and organizational challenges, which can be taken into your future work and organisation. The course therefore combines practical approaches to leading with a head-on approach to some of the tricky questions about leadership.

This module aims to address the more practical, active and vocational aspects of leadership, and starts from the assumption that almost every organised activity is initiated by leadership of some sort, and that most benefit from good leadership. Over the duration of this module, students will be encouraged to explore the following question:

What can we do to improve our leadership in order to address the challenges faced by organisations locally, nationally and globally?

Alongside engaging with contemporary theoretical perspectives on leadership, students will be encouraged to learn from their own and others' experience(s) of leadership in practice, and to engage in activities which enable them to develop their own leadership capacity.

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ESS2017: Measurement of Physical Activity, Exercise and Sport

Participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity are strongly associated with positive health benefits for both individuals and populations. The ability to accurately measure these behaviours is critical for establishing participation levels, screening for people who undertake insufficient levels of sport/exercise/physical activity, quantifying relationships with specific health outcomes and diseases, estimating overtraining and for determining the effectiveness of interventions.

In this module you will experiment with a range of wearable electronic devices that measure sport/exercise/ physical activity and some established self-report measures. In addition to developing practical experience with a range of measures you will also learn the relative strengths and weaknesses of each measure as well as how to choose an appropriate device for use in research and evaluation.

Teaching methods will include lectures, workshops and hands on experience using various measurement devices. To complete the module you will collect data using two different measures (one objective and one self-report) and then estimate the level of agreement between measures using appropriate statistical techniques.

The module has three main aims:

• Developing understanding in the differences between sport, exercise and physical activity and how they relate to health.
• Learning how to measure sport/exercise/physical activity and the pros and cons of different measurement instruments. You will experiment with both self-report and objective measures.
• Collecting physical activity data via two different measures and comparing the level of agreement.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

• The practical use of a variety of measures of sport, exercise and physical activity.
• Applying measurement technologies to 'real world' problems.
• People skills in communicating with peers and module teaching team.
• Critical appraisal of a variety of measures of sport, exercise and physical activity.
• Small group working in the collection of behavioural data.

Physical activity measurement research being undertaken by the teaching team will feed into all aspects of the programme and students will have the opportunity learn from researchers' experiences.

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ESS2222: Motor Control

This module will cover contemporary issues in motor control; a subject inextricably linked to all other facets of human biology. This module will cover topics associated with neurology, neurophysiology and movement patterns in a dynamic, theoretical and applied format. You will be taught by academics who research at the forefront of these fields.

The module is suitable for Exercise and Sports Science and Psychology students as interdisciplinary pathways.

The module aims to develop your understanding in the following three key areas using a research-enriched learning and teaching style:

• Provide an introduction to neurology, and an understanding of the neural basis of sensorimotor control.
• Develop a critical understanding of neuromuscular factors that influence the control of human movement.
• In line with relevant literature, critically understand the application of dynamical systems theory to the study human movement.

During laboratory sessions, you will apply your knowledge to areas of human motor control, gaining practical experience with software such as Brainvoyager and OpenSim and in the quantification of movement coordination.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

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ESS2508: Strength and Conditioning Physiology

This module seeks to provide you with the physiological knowledge and basic practical skills to make you an informed and competent practitioner of strength, conditioning and athletic training. You will cover the physiological responses to many aspects associated with strength, conditioning and athletic training and in addition cover the role of protein supplementation, the debate surrounding anabolic steroids, the science of SAQ training and overtraining. This module will also teach you the basics of functional assessment, planning and delivering of sports specific training and resistance training techniques in a safe and suitable way. ESS1006 Human Anatomy and Kinanthropometry or ESS1502 Sports Training Physiology are the pre-requisite modules for ESS2508.

The module content and the practical skills learnt are crucial for those looking towards a career in athletic training or coaching. In particular you will develop the following graduate attributes

• Perform athlete screening and design appropriate training interventions
• Coach / perform basic training techniques
• Applied knowledge - understand the science behind strength and conditioning exercise
• People skills - work with others in the gym and field settings
• Health & Safety - meet the professional standards to ensure the safety of the athlete

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ESS2509: Sports Nutrition and Metabolism

This module explores how nutrition is used to support exercise and sports performance, and whether popular nutritional strategies and supplements actually work. Many products are heavily marketed despite limited scientific evidence, and this module will teach you how to separate fact from hype. You will learn to critically evaluate dietary advice and sports nutrition products, focusing on key topics such as carbohydrate manipulation, protein supplementation, and ergogenic aids including caffeine, β-alanine, antioxidants, and polyphenols.

You will develop a strong working knowledge of standard sports nutrition approaches and gain the confidence to give basic evidence-based nutritional advice without relying directly on textbooks. You will also learn how these nutritional strategies work (or do not work), and how to explain their mechanisms of action clearly and simply to non-experts, such as athletes or members of the public.

The module has a strong practical focus. You will work in groups to design and carry out laboratory-based investigations, including randomised controlled trials, to test the claims made about nutritional ergogenic aids. Through seminars and applied tasks, you will use real-world scenarios to apply what you learn in lectures.

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ESS2512: Nutrition Science

This module develops your understanding of nutritional biochemistry and the factors that determine the nutritional status of individuals and populations. You will explore the components and functions of the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems as they relate to food intake, digestion, absorption and nutrient utilisation. The module examines the biological and dietary factors influencing nutrient bioavailability, as well as the signs, symptoms and causes of nutrient deficiencies.

You will investigate how nutrients and non-nutrient compounds are metabolised, how interactions between nutrients, genes and drugs affect nutritional status, and how emerging areas such as the gut microbiome contribute to health and metabolic processes. The module also considers how nutrition science evidence is generated, evaluated and translated into dietary guidelines, equipping you with the skills to distinguish credible nutrition information from unsupported or misleading claims.

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ESS2515: Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health

This module will develop your understanding of links between nutrition, physical activity, and health. You will examine the impact of nutritional strategies on both acute and chronic health issues (e.g., type II diabetes) and consider the role of nutritional strategies in managing such issues. This module will focus on developing your knowledge of evidence base information that is required to work as an applied practitioner within health and exercise settings.

This module aims at providing you with a deep understanding of the role nutrition plays in the pathophysiology of common chronic diseases e.g., diabetes, cancers, neuro-degenerative and cardiovascular diseases. You will also study how key metabolic processes/physiological states (e.g., overweight/obesity, raised glucose/blood pressure/cholesterol, inflammation or hormonal imbalance), can lead to chronic disease onset. Throughout this module you will have opportunities to explore and assess the latest evidence on diet, physical activity and exercise approaches for the prevention, treatment, or management of chronic disease.

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ESS2900: Employability and Career Development

The opportunity to develop your employability skills and potential in your degree is paramount as you may soon be entering the job market. In this module, you will be guided through possible career paths and learn to identify employers' needs in a changing job market. Guest speakers and relevant practical sessions will help you to prepare for future employment. Topics covered include designing your CV, cover letter, the application process, improve your presentation skills, and interview techniques. All of these skills are vital when applying for your first graduate job or postgraduate degree. As well as the practical sessions, you will do forty hours of self-organised work experience (or equivalent learning tasks in the event that work experience is not permitted), maximising your employability potential and giving you the chance to experience a particular career. Failure to complete a minimum of forty hours of work experience will result in a zero grade for that portion of the assessment.

The aim of this module is to prepare you to join the workforce by developing employability and career development skills.

As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

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HLS3000: Study Abroad (HLS)

The Study Abroad programme enables you to undertake a year-long study placement at a partner university outside of the UK, as part of your degree programme. This module serves as the administrative mechanism for recording the Study Abroad assessment results of students within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS). Students opting for the Study Abroad programme from participating undergraduate programmes will be registered on this module during their Study Abroad placement year.

To be eligible for the Study Abroad year, you must attain an average threshold mark as detailed in your programme specifications (normally 60%) across both Stages 1 and 2 to progress to this year. Assessment of the Study Abroad year. You will take all necessary assignments as required for the completion of the modules/classes at your host university. The Study Abroad year will count towards one seventh of your final degree score (the combined average ratio for years 2, 3 and 4 being weighted at 2:1:4).

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ESS3108: Professional Placement

Increasingly, graduate positions request that applicants have work experience applicable to the role. This year-long module will enable you to immerse yourself in a professional environment; you will learn to apply existing skills and subject-specific knowledge, improve personal and transferable skills, make new contacts, and enhance your employability. You will apply for a placement position with a relevant organisation (with the module convenor's support) and spend a minimum of nine months full-time in the workplace. Feedback and support will be provided by the module convenor and the placement host.

This module aims to better prepare you for the graduate job market by developing your overall employability and career prospects. You will research suitable organisations, consider the potential benefits of opportunities, and create a professional personal brand by crafting high-quality covering letters and CVs. Immersing yourself in a workplace will enable you to apply and develop skills and knowledge, understand your degree's full value, expand your professional network, and help guide your future career decisions. You will be encouraged to reflect on your experience, with the help of feedback from the module convenor and placement host, to enhance your learning and future career planning.

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ESS3003: Independent Research Review

The Independent Research Review (IRR) is a 30-credit module designed to give you the opportunity to explore a topic within sport, exercise, and health sciences that genuinely interests you. Whether you're curious about the effects of space travel on muscle wastage or the future of wearable technology in fitness and health, this module allows you to dive deep into a subject you're passionate about. Through this process, you will develop independent thinking and enhance your ability to locate, interpret, and present academic material. You’ll apply appropriate methods of investigation, building valuable skills in critical analysis and academic writing. 

The aim of independent research review module is to present a critically analytical narrative review on a specific research question of your choosing. The question you choose to investigate can be from any of the sub-disciplines in Exercise and Sport Science or may be interdisciplinary in nature. This independent study module will allow you to develop your literature-based research skills, your ability to critically analyse the evidence and present a well-argued and considered answer to the research question.

As part of this module, you are expected to develop the following skills graduate attributes:

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ESS3302: Dissertation

The final year of your course gives you the opportunity to pursue a topic that has a personal interest to you. Having developed your understanding of themes in previous modules, you will use the concepts, techniques, and skills you have learnt to pursue your topic systematically and in depth. The dissertation can allow you to focus in on a particular area you find fascinating, or it can be interdisciplinary in nature, encouraging you to gather the appropriate knowledge from different areas. A main factor of the dissertation is cultivating your independence of thought and your ability to find and interpret your material. There are no pre or co-requisites for this module, and it is suitable for students on interdisciplinary pathways that have studied relevant research methods modules and have a sufficient background in sport and health science.

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ESS3304: Dissertation (Physiology)

The final year of your course gives you the opportunity to pursue a topic that has a personal interest to you. Having developed your understanding of themes in previous physiology modules, you will use the concepts, techniques, and skills you have learnt to pursue your topic systematically and in depth. The dissertation can allow you to focus in on a particular area you find fascinating, or it can be interdisciplinary in nature, encouraging you to gather the appropriate knowledge from different areas. A main factor of the dissertation is cultivating your independence of thought and your ability to find and interpret your material. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this module, and it is suitable for students on interdisciplinary pathways that have studied relevant research methods modules and have a sufficient background in sport and health science.

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ESS3506: Sustainable Nutrition

Creating food systems that provide healthy food, for everyone today and for future generations, without exploiting animal, human, or planetary resources is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Food systems make significant contributions to climate change. Global food production accounts for approximately a third of total greenhouse gas emissions and drives changes to water and land use. Simultaneously, climate change, irregular rainfalls, and extreme weather events are impacting food production, livelihoods, and widening inequalities in food security around the world.

In this module you will be introduced to sustainable nutrition using a food systems perspective. This will involve considering relationships between different stages of the food supply chain (food production, retail, consumption) and how these interact with wider economic (GDP), social (human rights), health (health outcomes), and environmental (planetary boundary) demands.

The module will focus on inter-disciplinary and research-led teaching. Experts from across the University of Exeter, specialist guest lecturers, and local field visits, will facilitate discussion on the challenges and opportunities for sustainable nutrition at the local, national, or international level.

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ESS3508: Nutrition for High Performance

This module explores how nutrition drives high-quality training and elite performance, but with a strong focus on real-world practice. You won’t just learn what the literature says, you will learn how to translate research findings into evidence-based decisions for actual athletes with unique goals, lifestyles, training demands and performance pressures.

You’ll engage with cutting-edge studies across a range of sports, from explosive power to long-duration endurance and weight-category competition—and critically evaluate how well different nutritional strategies work in practice. The emphasis is on understanding not just what the research shows, but how to apply it to individual athletes without losing scientific integrity.

A major feature of the module is developing the skill of adapting best-practice guidelines to real people. You will assess athletes’ nutritional intakes, explore performance-enhancing strategies and ergogenic aids, and learn how to manipulate diets to meet evidence-based targets. By working through real case scenarios, you’ll gain the confidence to bridge the gap between theory and elite practice, an essential capability for anyone aiming to work in applied sports nutrition or in any applied field.

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ESS3509: Advanced Strength and Conditioning Physiology

ESS3509 Advanced Strength and Conditioning continues to develop the practical and theoretical skills needed to operate confidently in a Strength and Conditioning environment. The module blends applied teaching with workshops focused on real-world practice: analysing movement, interpreting athlete data, and turning evidence into purposeful training decisions.

You will build, justify, and evaluate evidence-informed Strength and Conditioning programmes, drawing on applied anatomy, neuromuscular physiology, and muscle–tendon function. You will also consider how technology and monitoring can support Strength and Conditioning practice, using data to evaluate outcomes and refine programme design. Throughout, you will practise communicating decisions clearly to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

This is a practical, career-relevant module with strong transfer to roles across sport, health, and performance settings where applied analysis, judgement, and communication matter.

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ESS3703: Paediatric Exercise Physiology

Children and adolescents are not simply 'mini-adults'. They are growing and maturing at their own rate, and consequently their physiological responses to exercise are profoundly different from adults. This module will explore the impact that growth and maturation has on physiological function and exercise performance, and equip you with the necessary skills to interpret data independent of body size and maturity status. The benefits (e.g. improved physical fitness) and risks (e.g. overtraining, injury) of participating in physical activity will also be explored. The module benefits from past and on-going research from the Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre (CHERC).

The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the unique physiological responses of children and adolescents to exercise and enable you to discuss this in relation to age, sex, growth, and biological maturity. The module will be underpinned from past and on-going research in the Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre (CHERC), meaning the learning experience will not only be research informed, but you will be challenged to act and think like researchers.

The module content and the practical skills learnt are crucial for those looking towards a career aligned with working with child and adolescent populations (e.g. PE teacher, sports coach). In particular you will develop the following specific skills / knowledge of how to:

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ESS3705: Sport, Physical Activity and Health

The focus of this module is on team work and problem solving. It is likely to be different from any other module you have taken in that rather than investigating the effects of interventions on individual people the module will be examining how we evaluate whether or not community/population level interventions alter population levels of physical activity and sport.

Across the country multiple interventions are being implemented to try and increase sport and physical activity levels of local populations. One of the great challenges of these interventions is evaluating their effectiveness. In other words how do we determine whether or not the intervention led to an increase in physical activity prevalence and how confident can we be that any changes we observe are due to the intervention and not just the passage of time or some other intervention (e.g. the weather, price of fuel, winning the world cup - okay perhaps not)? This is a complex challenge that requires new knowledge and skills in sampling methods, measurement techniques and evaluation designs - all topics covered in the module. Unlike lab based studies where there is a lot of control and certainty and the numbers of participants are very low, in community level studies there is little control, considerable uncertainty and the number of participants is likely to be in the thousands.
In this module you will spend most of your time in small teams working through the challenge of designing an evaluation strategy to assess the effectiveness of a genuine community level intervention. After week 1 you will be randomly allocated to a working group, in other words you will not be able to choose your group. This is precisely how work groups are established to manage the community level interventions. Over the course of the module, each week, you will learn some aspect of evaluating a community evaluation and then take that learning and apply it to the problem you have been set. This format will be repeated most weeks until at the end of the course your group will record a presentation of its evaluation strategy and upload it to the module website. A review panel will grade the presentation and the evaluation plan.
Group work is imperative to the success of the module and your final grade so this module requires full attendance. At the end of teaching, each group will receive a mark for their presentation (all group members will receive the same mark). In the final week of the course each individual in the group will be asked to participate in a 5-minute question and answer session about the evaluation design that their group presented. They will receive an individual mark for this which will be combined with the group mark to form the final mark for the presentation.
Low contribution of individual group members is to the detriment of the whole group as it means fewer people doing more of the work - therefore each person on the module has a personal responsibility to contribute fully to their group.
The module will cover key questions such as:

• How do we measure who is participating in sport and physical activity?
• Who plays what sports and is sport participation increasing in the population?
• Is there any evidence we can get people to do more sport or physical activity?
• If we design an intervention to increase sports participation how can we evaluate if it has worked?
• How do we work out how many people we need for a study and how do we sample them from the population?
• How do we measure if people have become more active as a result of n intervention?

Teaching methods will include lectures, small group work, practical exercises, data analysis and hands on experience using various measurement devices. Throughout the module you will use population sport and health data to address a number of the questions above.

The first part of this module will examine sports participation data to understand which groups in the population participate more or less in sports and what particular sports. Then different evaluation methods will be learnt. The focus will then shift to the different evaluation methods available for assessing the effectiveness of interventions. Following this the focus will be on how we select a sample of people (who we select and how many of them) for a study of population levels of sport and physical activity or an intervention. The final part of the module will focus on the measurement of sport and the pros and cons of different measurement instruments. You will experiment with both self-report and objective measures.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

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ESS3805: Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement

As well as building on knowledge gained in years one and two, this module will introduce the use of modelling techniques to estimate the loads experienced by structures of the human body. You will learn methods for combining kinetic and kinematic data to improve understanding of human movement. This module involves both theoretical and practical elements.
This module aims to further develop your ability to apply biomechanical principles to the analysis of human movement, using the concepts introduced in year one and year two. You will develop an understanding of the use of modelling methods combining kinetic and kinematic data to improve understanding of human movement, and to estimate the loads experienced by structures of the human body during different tasks.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module, you are expected to develop the following skills:

• Team work in the laboratory tasks.
• Strategic thinking and problem solving in designing data collection procedures for laboratory coursework assessments.
• Data management skills in collecting and recording data and analysing findings.
• Application of knowledge in interpreting findings of formative assessment.
• Building confidence as a communicator in discussing own experiments and literature in seminar settings.
• People skills in communicating with peers and module teaching team.
• Enquiring mind in pursuing further reading on topics covered in the module
• Ability to utilise NetForce software for collection of force plate data
• Ability to analyse data using MATLAB, a technical computing tool for data analysis and modelling in biomechanics.

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ESS3812: Clinical Exercise Prescription - Cardiac Rehabilitation

Understanding the role of exercise in cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Exercise can enhance cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of future cardiac events, and improve overall well-being. Learning how to design safe and realistic exercise prescriptions is essential to tailor programs to individual needs, considering factors such as medical history, current fitness levels, and potential risks. Effective exercise prescriptions support gradual progression, monitor for adverse effects, and encourage long-term adherence to physical activity. This knowledge empowers healthcare providers to create personalized, effective, and safe rehabilitation plans that promote recovery and prevent further cardiac complications.

This module will give you an understanding of the aetiology of coronary artery disease and its impact on the exercise response. You will also receive a foundation in the practicalities of exercise testing and delivering a safe and effective exercise prescription.

Important - please note that this module's assessment is a live, in-person, practical-based assessment, and you will need to be in Exeter to take this exam.

This module will equip you with the ability to exercise test and prescribe a safe, realistic and effective programme for an individual with a particular cardiac condition.

The following graduate attributes will be developed:

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SHS3000: Physiological Determinants of Exercise Performance

The principal objective of this module is to provide a detailed and critical review of the physiological factors that determine, and limit, human exercise performance. You will analyse the peripheral and central mechanisms of fatigue across the duration–intensity spectrum, and critically examine how pacing strategies, ergogenic aids and training interventions (including aerobic, resistance, high‑intensity interval training and blood‑flow‑restriction approaches) influence performance. You will also evaluate how ageing, disease, extreme environments and sleep can affect exercise capacity. Throughout, you will develop critical thinking skills to assess the strength of evidence supporting performance‑enhancing interventions, identify what is and is not known regarding priming methods, and learn how to formulate and address a relevant research question as part of your coursework. This assessment will involve data handling, analysis, interpretation and communication. Exercise Physiology (ESS2001) is a prerequisite.

The module also maintains an applied focus by examining how theory aligns with practice. A series of seminars will support the development of your critical thinking, data management and data analysis skills as you work through the scientific research process.

On completion you are expected to have gained:

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SHS3006: Sport Psychology 3: Needs Analysis

Conducting a needs analysis is the essential first step in applied practice, whether you are working with elite athletes, recreational sport participants, or general exercisers. To effectively support any behaviour change, it is crucial to first understand the underlying reasons and mechanisms driving current behaviours. Therefore, throughout this module, you will be introduced to the ‘beginnings’ of applied sport psychology practice, primarily focusing on the critical role of needs analysis.

This module will develop your understanding of the processes underpinning applied sport and exercise psychology, with a particular emphasis on conducting needs analyses. You will examine needs analysis from multiple perspectives, including context and client group, and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of different approaches. This module will explore barriers and facilitators to implementation of needs analysis techniques, as well as innovative strategies informed by emerging research and technological advancements. By the end of the module, you will also be equipped with a foundational understanding of the ethical standards, philosophical assumptions, and professional values that underpin applied sport psychology practice. This includes key concepts such as confidentiality, informed consent, and practitioner self-awareness, which are essential for ethical and effective service delivery.

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