BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sport and Exercise - with foundation year
Course Overview
Sport and exercise psychology is gaining greater prominence in sport and exercise science and the broader field of psychology. Taught at our town-centre campus in Greater Manchester, our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sport and Exercise with foundation year course supports you in gaining a broader understanding of the key concepts and theories, as well as the barriers and ethical challenges of applied sport and exercise psychology. By combining modules in core areas of psychology with specialist modules in sport and exercise psychology, we offer you a strong grounding of fundamental knowledge on which to build your deeper understanding of the science of psychology within sport and exercise.The foundation year is the first level of this degree. Designed to prepare you for honours degree-level study, it offers an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of psychology, social sciences, and research methods, alongside the development of study skills.
Our friendly and experienced team of sport and exercise psychologists will guide you as you develop knowledge of the theories, methods, and debates central to the discipline. We'll support you as you explore psychology, gain specific knowledge of the fundamentals of sport and exercise psychology, and consider current issues within the field. We'll also focus on developing your knowledge and skills in using psychological research methods and your appreciation of the ethical issues involved.
Interpersonal and transferable skills are vital, so we'll challenge you to develop sought-after communication, problem-solving, numerical, analytical, self-management, and IT skills. Overall, our dedicated team will focus on helping you gain the skills employers value and a detailed understanding of sport and exercise psychology.
Highlights
- The University of Bolton offers one of the oldest and most established psychology courses in the UK, so you can rest assured we have the expertise and experience to support your academic and professional development.
- We focus strongly on employability skills, the practical application of your studies and academic success. Workshops will involve analysing life events and role-playing scenarios using case study material. You can also benefit from final year applied sessions in working with an athlete or exerciser.
- Throughout your degree, you'll also have support from your personal tutor, part of our team of helpful and approachable psychology staff who possess a diverse range of research interests.
- We've invested in creating a learning environment that offers innovative methods of teaching and assessment using top-class facilities, such as our observation laboratory with video cameras, microphones, and video editing equipment.
- This programme focuses on helping you develop in-demand knowledge and skills that are fundamental to supporting individuals and groups in sport and exercise psychology environments.
Key Features
- Our highly qualified and dedicated sport and exercise psychology team offer a wealth of experience working in professional sport and exercise settings, bringing their applied knowledge of the field into their teaching. Our sport and exercise psychology specialist lecturers are HCPC-registered practitioners committed to high standards of proficiency and ongoing professional development.
- We'll explain the principles and methods of psychological research, including the collection, analysis, reporting and interpretation of data. During your final year, you'll have the opportunity to carry out an individual research study.
- Teaching is dynamic and varied, using lectures, small group work, discussion groups, case studies, demonstrations and laboratory workshops. You'll be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning with opportunities for you to participate and gain practical experience.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- 48 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sport and Exercise with foundation year course offers an ideal combination of subjects if you're looking for a career in psychology and are interested in helping athletes and exercisers with their performance or wellbeing. The completion of this programme is an ideal step if you are looking to progress to our MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology degree.
Upon completing the course, you'll be able to demonstrate graduate skills such as problem-solving, critical evaluation and independence of thought, deductive reasoning, interpersonal awareness and excellent teamwork and communication skills.
What can I do with this qualification?
As a graduate, you'll possess the scientific knowledge and understanding embedded in the psychological elements of this degree. Skills such as problem-solving and data analysis should be helpful for careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT and research.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification to step into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possible careers include:
- Teaching and education
- Market research
- Social work
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner
- Mental health support worker
- Sports coaching
- Physiotherapy
- Sport and exercise science
- Performance lifestyle advisor
- Wellbeing officer
- Higher education teaching and research
Professional Recognition
We have submitted an application for accreditation to the British Psychological Society.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
| Year of study | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Year | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | |
| 2024-25 | £9,250 | £9,250 | £9,250 | £9,250 | - | £37,000 |
| 2025-26 | - | |||||
International Fees
| Year of study | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Year | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | |
| 2024-25 | £15,950 | £15,950 | £15,950 | £15,950 | - | £63,800 |
| 2025-26 | - | |||||
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
If you wish to apply to multiple institutions or courses for September, then apply through UCAS
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £27. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22.50 is applicable.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44
Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com
International Applicants
The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.
This course is not currently accepting international online applications.
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Partner Organisation Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
The overall teaching and learning strategy for our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sport and Exercise with foundation year course is student-centred. We use a blended approach, meaning you'll have face-to-face sessions, sometimes one-to-one, and take part in online learning. You can expect a mix of seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical classes, laboratory workshops, videos, self-directed study, IT and library sessions, and guided study. The University's e-learning portal Moodle will support your online learning and provide a convenient way for you to communicate with fellow students who are studying the same modules. We'll also encourage you to use the internet for research.
Guest lectures and presentations by various visiting speakers from relevant employment areas will allow you to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
Our assessment strategy is designed to help you organise and develop your learning and evaluate your achievements. You can expect time-constrained exams and coursework, such as essays, practical reports, statistical assignments, seminar and poster presentations, and portfolios. These contribute to your final marks and allow you to demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for the course. Your assessed work is submitted online via Moodle, with feedback also given through this portal.
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
