BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity
About this course
BA (Hons) in Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity, a sport and exercise science degree examining how sport, exercise and physical activity relate to society, health and wellbeing. Core topics include statistics, research methods and critical and analytical thinking. A supervised Independent Research Project is completed in the final year, and an optional placement module places students within a sport or exercise community. The first year introduces the discipline through compulsory modules on the sociology of sport, sport and exercise psychology, physical activity, diet and health, and the sport and exercise industries. Optional modules in the first year have included Introduction to Anatomy and Exercise Physiology, Decolonising Power and Knowledge, and a language module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Study. The second year develops research practice alongside further sociology, with compulsory modules Research Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Advanced Sociology of Sport and Sports Development. Optional choices at this stage have included Sport, Health and the Environment, Nutrition for Sport and Health, and Advanced Sport and Exercise Psychology. The third year is anchored by Applied Sociology of Sport and the compulsory Independent Research Project, in which students complete a supervised dissertation. Third-year optional modules have included Active Communities Placement, Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, Futures in Sport, Exercise and Health, and Physical Activity, Sport and Inequalities.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB IB: 35 with 665 in higher level subjects.
See the highest paying Biology & Sport Science degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 44%: 75 offers from 170 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 93%
- Assessment and feedback: 96%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 95%
- Learning resources: 97%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 50%
- Sports and fitness occupations: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Customer service occupations: 10%
- Protective service occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 100%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 90%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 80%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 95 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 33%
- North West: 11%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 12%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 17%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Academic Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Introduction to Sociology of Sport
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Introduction to Physical Activity, Diet and Health
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Industries
- Example optional modules
- Research Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Advanced Sociology of Sport
- Sports Development
- Example optional modules
- Independent Research Project
- Applied Sociology of Sport
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £32,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £41,500. The £32,000 median after five years is £4,500 more than the UK median for Sport and exercise sciences.
What do graduates of BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAB at A level. The average entrant had 155 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University?
44% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 75 offers from 170 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity at Durham University?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.