Start Date
- September 2025, Full Time
Summary
Get the knowledge, understanding and skills to help people improve their sports performance.
Britain’s sport’s industry is hitting top form. In the past five years it has become a £20 billion industry in the UK and experts believe it will continue to grow long after the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This qualification will give you a good understanding and knowledge of the sports and active leisure sector as well as developing the essential skills required for employment or progression to further qualifications and training. In the first year you will study towards the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, equivalent to 3 A Levels. The Extended Diploma deepens the specialist work-related focus from this Diploma and is broadly equivalent to three A Levels.
Sports and exercise scientists help athletes and sports people improve their performance and general health. They use scientific knowledge on how the human body works, moves and how people think about physical activity to help people get better at what they do.
Experience is highly valued by employers and it will improve your career prospects. The course brings classroom work into real work based practice by making use of the state of the art Solutions Gym and the Sports Science Lab for fitness testing, the only one based in a college environment. Possible trips will include the Norwich City Football club psychologist and nutritionist, the Bodyworlds exhibition and local sports and leisure centres. There may be the opportunity to complete professional qualifications throughout your programme.
You will have the opportunity to participate in team sports as part of the programme both on site at College and offsite venues.
Entry Requirements
Achieve 5 GCSE's at grade 4 or above, including English Language, maths and one Science subject.
Learning Outcomes
Unit of study may include:
Year 1:
Functional Anatomy (Exam)
Applied Sport and Exercise Science (Exam)
Applied Research Methods in Sport and Exercise Science
Coaching for Performance and Fitness
Specialised Fitness Training
Physical Activity for Individual and Group Based Exercise
Year 2:
Sport and Exercise Physiology (Exam)
Nutrition for Sport and Exercise Performance (Exam)
Technology in Sport and Exercise Science
Biomechanics
Socio-cultural Issues in Sport and Exercise
Field and Lab Based Fitness Testing
Sports Injury and Assessment
*Please note that units are reviewed every year and may change.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a variety of methods including some externally assessed core units and internally assessed mandatory and optional units. Assessment methods could include assignments, research projects, presentations, roles players, group discussions.
Progression
On successful completion of your Extended Diploma in Sport Science, options could include study a degree at a University or College. City College Norwich offers a BSc (Hons) Sport, Health and Exercise Science.
Please ensure that you check the UCAS points required at your University choices.
Career Progression
The Sport and Active Leisure industry supports over 450,000 jobs in the UK. Over the last five years it has become a £20 billion industry and experts predict it will continue to grow faster than other sectors in the economy.
This course will allow you to progress onto many careers which include sport and exercise scientist or psychology, a gym instructor or leisure centre assistant, personal trainer, sport development, sports nutrition and sports physiotherapist. Some of these careers will require further study at degree level. If you are looking for a career in non-sports physiotherapy this may be a suitable pathway but check with your university or college of choice.
For further information about specific job roles please check the National Careers Service website for;
- Sport and Exercise Scientist
- Leisure Centre Assistant
- Physiotherapist
Fees
If you are a UK or home fee status student and aged 16-18 on the 31st August before the start of your course, tuition fees are free. If you are aged 19 and over please contact the Advice Shop. Please check our Finance pages for information on loans, bursaries, fee information and student travel offers that are available. Alternatively please contact the Advice Shop.
