Sports Science in Relation to Medicine BSc
Year of entry 2026
- Start date
- Delivery type
- On campus
- Duration
- 1 Year (Full time)
- Contact
- fbsadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
Do you have a passion for sport and exercise? On this course you'll be provided with a full understanding of the scientific foundations of sport performance and health-related exercise. You'll have the option to study elements of biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control and sports psychology, in addition to working alongside final-year sport and exercise students.
Our medical students have enjoyed this course. They typically find it challenging, providing them with opportunities to gain experience in laboratory-based skills and research training. Previous students have even gone on to present their research at student medical conferences and regional sports medicine interest groups.
Additional highlights include:
- Undertake a research project, enabling you to bring your own perspective to an individual or group project, and work alongside staff at the forefront of their area of research.
- Access to support to help develop academic writing skills.
- A holistic view of the issues that relate to health and disease.
Course details and modules
By the end of this course, you should:
- understand the contribution of the disciplines of sports science to the understanding of performance enhancement in its various forms
- be able to demonstrate a broad appreciation of each of the major sports science disciplines (biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control/sports psychology)
- have an in-depth appreciation of at least one of the disciplines, and their relationship to exercise and/or sport.
You'll be introduced to state-of-the-art techniques currently in use in research laboratories and will have an understanding of theoretical and conceptual foundations in one or more of biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control and sports and exercise psychology.
You'll also develop the analytical, evaluation and design skills necessary for work in a research environment. Health and exercise is a key issue for both medical practitioners and for sports scientists and this course will provide an added dimension and focus for your medicine-related studies.
A major feature of the course is the research project, which will enable you to bring your own perspective to an individual or group project and to work alongside staff at the forefront of their area of research.
Research projects
Projects can be laboratory, field or literature-based. In all cases, state-of-the-art equipment is used to collect data. Alternatively, evaluation of the literature may be conducted via systematic reviews. Project titles cover the full breath of disciplines in sport and exercise sciences, and can even expand to the suite of subjects offered in the School of Biomedical Sciences. Examples of previous projects include:
- Personalised exercise prescription in chronic disease
- Diagnosis and management of exercise-related breathlessness
- Mechanisms of skeletal muscle dysfunction
- Mechanisms of exercise intolerance in health and disease
- Early detection techniques of Alzheimer’s disease using computation image analysis
- The effects of imagery and implementation intentions on physical activity
- How technology use impacts physical activity and motivation in adults
- Effect of shoes with embedded carbon fibre plates on running economy
- Attention and joint coupling in jumping tasks.
- Sudden cardiac death during active sports: would screening be cost effective?
- Can ventilator efficiency provide an effective measure of performance?
- The role of physical activity in psychological recovery from chronic disease and disability.
- The genetic basis of neurological disorders.
The research project itself can be written up in a variety of formats depending on the project, including as a journal article. If this is of high enough quality, there may be an opportunity for publication.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Compulsory modules
Research Skills and Professional Development (20 credits) - This module will support you to apply the skills, experience and knowledge you have gained earlier in your degree to your Capstone Research Project or MBiol project, through a series of Skill Units focusing on specific methodologies, techniques and transferable skills. This module will also provide the opportunity to develop and enhance skills and experiences to support the next stage of your career or education.
Capstone Research Project (40 credits) – You'll undertake a research, workplace, or social justice capstone experience, collaborating with others on a project or task to co-create a solution or output to a problem relevant to the Biomedical Sciences. The module consists of project-based experiential learning, allowing you to “learn by doing”. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your education, developing new experiences and competencies, which will be extremely beneficial to your future career.
Exercise Prescription and Health Psychology (20 credits) – You will learn how to interpret the results of health-related physical fitness testing and clinical exercise testing and use this information to produce exercise prescriptions for special populations (for example, cardiac patients, the elderly, children, pregnant women) and clinical conditions (eg dyslipdemia, obesity, hypertension, diabetes). You will critically analyse research in exercise and health psychology to develop your understanding of theoretical models underpinning behaviour change and how to use them alongside exercise prescription to promote physical and psychological health.
Advanced Exercise Physiology (10 credits) - You will discuss and critically analyse key contemporary issues in exercise physiology, evaluate relevant literature, and understand their significance in sport and exercise science.
The module includes four lectures and tutorials on topics such as muscle oxygen consumption control, muscle fibre type plasticity, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiovascular and pulmonary performance limitations, genetics of human performance, circadian rhythms in performance, the female athlete triad, exercise in pre-puberty, and exercise during pregnancy.
Contemporary Issues in Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) (10 credits) - In this module, you will focus on the health and well-being of individuals engaged in sports and physical activity. You will learn about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sports-related injuries, as well as the promotion of overall health and performance. The module will explore current issues and challenges in SEM, taught by clinical experts, and will provide a critical understanding of its interdisciplinary nature and role in performance, health, and disease.
Optional modules
Candidates will be required to study 1-2 modules (between 20 and 40 credits) from the following list of optional modules
Outdoor Adventure-Land, Water and Air Activities (10 credits) – This module offers a unique chance to learn about some of the aspects that need to be considered when engaging in a variety of higher risk adventure sports. Through a number of practical sessions, you'll make informed decisions regarding the inherent and controllable (rather than the perceived) risks of participation in these sports. You'll participate in a variety of activities and consider how risk management is applied in different contexts.
Applied Concepts in Physical Activity and Health (20 credits) – The module covers definitions of physical activity and recommendations for different populations by national (Chief Medical Office, UK) and Global health bodies (World Health Organisation). You'll learn about the impact of the environment (space and communities) on physical activity and consider concepts such as cultural tailoring of physical activity and the ableist notion of physical activity.
Advanced Sports Biomechanics: Performance, Injury and Rehabilitation - This module looks at the biomechanics underpinning the latest advances in sports performance and injury prevention and rehabilitation. We will look at a range of topics including the design of sporting equipment, protheses, rehabilitation assistive technologies and devices, and the latest analysis and modelling techniques. Students will partake in one lab using a full 3D motion capture system to look at the effects of shoe design on the kinematics and kinetics of running.
Motor Control and Neurorehabilitation - This module examines the neurophysiology of movement control in health and disease as well as current research in rehabilitation of movement. The key aspects of the study of movement include: neuromuscular, cortical, spinal, supraspinal and sensory control of movement, with a particular focus on balance, locomotion, reaching and grasping. The module will examine the rationale and clinical justification for current therapy, which aims to promote neuroplasticity and recovery of function.
Learning and teaching
On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Teaching will be through lectures, practical classes, seminars, tutorials and a research project. Assessment is similarly varied, including in-course assessment (formative and summative) and written examinations. The in-course assessment exercises include tests of practical skills, essay writing, data manipulation and problem solving. The research project will be assessed throughout the project and on the final written report. Degree classification will be based upon the marks obtained in each of the component modules, with the appropriate credit weighting applied.
Entry requirements
Other course specific tests:
Successful completion of the first two years of an MBChB programme at UK Universities. For international students, proof of English Language proficiency will be required. In line with undergraduate medicine, we require a minimum of English GCSE grade B or IELTS 7.5.
Fees
UK: £9,790
International: £32,750 (per year)
The amount of tuition fees you pay is based on whether you are classified as a home (UK) or international student. Find out how we assess your fee status.
Tuition fees for UK students
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2026/27 are £9,790.
Subsequent years
The UK government sets the maximum tuition fee caps that universities can charge UK students. This means your tuition fee in future academic years will reflect any changes set by the government.
The government has confirmed that the fee for 2027/28 will be £10,050.
From 2028/29 onwards, tuition fees are likely to increase annually, at least in line with inflation, and may rise further if the government increases the fee cap.
Tuition fees for international students
The international fee applies for each year of full-time study and will remain the same for the duration of your course.
Read more about tuition fees.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.
Scholarships are also available to help fund your degree. Find out more and check your eligibility below:
Applying
Read about applying for intercalation on the School of Medicine website.
Please note:
In addition to the application form you will be required to write a statement on why you wish to study the subject. This statement should be no more than one side of A4 and demonstrate interest and enthusiasm in understanding the influence physical activity and exercise may have on general health, disease prevention, and/or rehabilitation. In addition, the statement should provide evidence of curricular and extracurricular engagement with allied topics, and awareness of health care issues related to physical activity and exercise.
This course is taught by
Faculty of Biological Sciences
Contact us
Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
Email: fbsadmissions@leeds.ac.uk