Psychological Science of Sport & Exercise BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

The University of Northampton

Program Overview

Program OverviewThis BSc (Hons) Psychological Science of Sport and Exercise at the University of Northampton explores how psychology influences sport performance, exercise behaviour, and overall wellbeing. It is designed for students who want to understand human behaviour in sport and fitness contexts, especially those interested in sport psychology, coaching, or health and exercise careers.

You will learn how motivation, emotion, cognition, and behaviour affect performance and participation in sport and exercise, preparing you for both applied roles and further study in psychology-related fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, you build the core foundations of psychology and sport science through modules such as Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology, Becoming a Psychologist, Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition, and Doing Sport & Exercise Psychology in the Digital Age. These modules help you understand how people think, learn, and perform in sport settings while also developing essential academic and research skills for university study.

Year 2

In your second year, you move into more advanced psychological topics, including cognitive and biological psychology, alongside applied areas such as mental health, wellbeing, and exercise behaviour. You also begin developing stronger research skills and start preparing for your independent dissertation, learning how to analyse psychological issues in real sport and exercise environments.

Year 3

In the final year, you complete a major independent dissertation project where you apply your knowledge to original research in sport and exercise psychology. You also study advanced modules focused on performance psychology, coaching applications, and behaviour change strategies, giving you practical insight into real-world sport, fitness, and health settings.

Focus Areas

Sport and exercise psychology, motivation and performance, mental health and wellbeing, behaviour change, coaching psychology, motor learning, research methods, applied sport psychology

Learning Outcomes

You will develop a strong understanding of psychological theories in sport and exercise, build research and data analysis skills, evaluate behaviour and performance factors, conduct independent research, and apply psychological principles to real-world sport and health environments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), meaning successful graduates gain eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist or pursuing specialist training in sport and exercise psychology.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition)

The University of Northampton supports strong employability through industry links, work experience opportunities, and its Employment Promise. Graduates progress into roles in sport psychology support, coaching, fitness and wellbeing, health promotion, NHS-related services, and postgraduate psychology training pathways.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Northampton, this course is built around learning by doing, so you regularly apply sport and exercise psychology in real, practical environments rather than only studying theory in classrooms. You will work in specialist sport science and psychology spaces at the Waterside Campus, using real equipment, observation settings, and digital tools to understand how psychological principles affect performance, motivation, and wellbeing in sport. Alongside this, you take part in applied projects, workshops, and research-focused activities that mirror real challenges faced in sport, coaching, and health settings.

This practical approach helps you develop confidence in using psychology in real-world situations, supported by academic staff and industry-informed teaching:

Use of sports performance laboratories for testing behaviour, motivation, and performance in controlled research environments
Hands-on experience with eye-tracking technology to understand decision-making and attention in sport situations
Learning in specialist sports facilities such as the Sports Dome and outdoor areas for applied observation and performance-based activities
Use of digital learning tools and blended platforms to explore modern sport psychology methods and interventions
Group-based projects focused on real sport and exercise issues such as motivation, mental wellbeing, and performance improvement
Opportunities to engage in applied coaching and performance scenarios, linking psychological theory to real participants and athletes
Optional work placement opportunities in sport, fitness, health, or exercise-related organisations to gain industry experience
Access to the university library and psychology research resources for academic study, evidence gathering, and dissertation preparation
Regular interaction with research-active academic staff who support applied learning and real-world psychological investigation

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Psychological Science of Sport and Exercise are well prepared to enter careers that focus on sport performance, exercise behaviour, health, and wellbeing. The course develops applied psychology skills that are highly relevant in real-world sporting and health environments, allowing students to work with individuals, teams, and organisations to improve motivation, performance, and overall wellbeing. Typical roles include sport psychology support assistant, performance coach, fitness coach, health and wellbeing practitioner, and exercise behaviour change specialist.

With strong university support and industry-connected learning:

The University of Northampton provides dedicated careers support, including CV writing help, interview preparation, employer networking events, and one-to-one guidance to help students move into graduate employment or further study
The Northampton Employment Promise offers structured support to help graduates progress into work or postgraduate education after completing their degree, subject to meeting the required conditions
Employability skills are built directly into the course, helping students develop communication, research, teamwork, and applied psychology skills needed in sport and health careers
Students benefit from industry-informed teaching that connects academic learning with real sport, exercise, and wellbeing settings
The degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society, which is an important requirement for progressing towards professional psychology training routes
Graduates commonly progress into roles within sport, fitness, health promotion, education support, and wellbeing services, reflecting the applied nature of the course

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, students can continue into postgraduate study in areas such as sport and exercise psychology, health psychology, coaching psychology, or related psychology disciplines. It also provides a pathway towards professional training required for becoming a Chartered Psychologist, as well as advanced study in performance, coaching, and applied psychology fields.