Sport, Health & Exercise Science Foundation Year

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Are you looking to pursue a career in sport, health or fitness? Want to gain the academic skills to study an undergraduate degree in this field? Solent University’s foundation year in sport, health and exercise science will help build prepare you to make the transition to a full honours degree.

This course is also ideal for students who may not have traditional qualifications or who have been away from formal education for a while, by helping them to get back into academic study and equip them with the specialised knowledge to progress to an undergraduate degree.

Students study the fundamentals of sport, health and exercise through a variety of themes, including leadership, fitness foundations, the sport industry, sport and exercise science contemporary sports issues, and volunteering.

All of the University’s sports courses place a strong emphasis on employability, and students on the sport health and exercise science foundation year have the opportunity to build practical skills and gain valuable real-world experience working with our degree students by volunteering on local community projects.

Successful completion of the sport, health and exercise science foundation year will provide a pathway on to one of Solent University’s highly-regarded health and exercise or sport science degree programmes.

The foundation year provides a direct entry route on to Solent’s highly-regarded health and exercise or sport science degrees.

What does this course lead to?

Students studying on our sport health, exercise and fitness degrees learn the key skills to become a professional sports coach, personal trainer or exercise therapist. You will go on to study one of the following degrees:

BSc (Hons) Applied Human Nutrition
BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science
BSc (Hons) Fitness and Personal Training
BA (Hons) Health and Fitness Management
BSc (Hons) Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Therapy
BSc (Hons) Sport Performance Coaching

Who is this course for?

Those who wish to study sport and exercise to degree level, but who may not have the necessary qualifications, or who are looking for an alternative route to studying an undergraduate degree will benefit from this foundation year.

Upon successful completion of the foundation year, students can progress directly on to one of our health and exercise or sport science degrees.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year are:
UK and EU full-time fees: £9,250 per year
International full-time fees: £11,330 per year

For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.

Other costs

While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.

The 2019/20 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2018/19 costs were:

Compulsory costs
DBS disclosure: £55
Compulsory kit: £105

Bursaries and scholarships

Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.

Graduation costs

Graduation is the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of your studies. For graduates in 2018, there is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost.

48 UCAS tariff points from A-levels or equivalent

A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at PPP or BTEC Diploma at MP or equivalent.
We will consider mature students who have not recently undertaken a formal course of study at A-level, or equivalent, but can demonstrate relevant work or voluntary experience, that's indicative of their ability to complete the course successfully.
We will also consider overseas applicants in an equivalent situation to UK students as outlined above, and who have been taught in English or have IELTS 5.5, or equivalent.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.

English language requirements

Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:

IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each individual component
TOEFL IBT 71 with a minimum of 19 in in each individual component- TOEFL is only valid for EU students
or equivalent.

Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.

The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.

The team

The academic staff on this course all have relevant industry experience as well as being qualified practitioners in their respective disciplines. Tutors also teach on the degree courses that the foundation year links to.
The industry

The UK health and fitness industry is experiencing continued growth. Fitness membership in the UK has risen by 5.3% and now exceeds nine million for the first time ever, with 1 in every 7 people in the UK having a gym membership. The total market value of the fitness industry...

The industry

The UK health and fitness industry is experiencing continued growth. Fitness membership in the UK has risen by 5.3% and now exceeds nine million for the first time ever, with 1 in every 7 people in the UK having a gym membership. The total market value of the fitness industry is now estimated to be £4.4 billion. (2016 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report) Despite this, industry commentators have urged the sector not to become complacent and to continue to promote a healthy lifestyle to the nation.
Transferable skills

As well as gaining key sport and fitness-related knowledge, you’ll also gain a number of transferable skills, such as academic writing, teamwork, communication and numerical skills.
Student support and services

Student welfare - Solent University is committed to giving you the best possible educational experience during your time with us. As such we have a number of support services and policies set up covering funding, careers and employability, chaplaincy, counselling, international advice, student affairs, key academic skills, disability support and...

Student support and services

Student welfare - Solent University is committed to giving you the best possible educational experience during your time with us. As such we have a number of support services and policies set up covering funding, careers and employability, chaplaincy, counselling, international advice, student affairs, key academic skills, disability support and general student advice. Find out more about our approach to student welfare.

Accommodation - Solent University has a range of student accommodation available. All student residences are in the city centre and within easy walking distance to the city campuses. Accommodation costs vary depending on the size and type of room. Find out more about the cost of living in our student residences.

University facilities - You will have access to a modern, comfortable and efficient study environment, including the Mountbatten library and learning resource centres. Solent offers a wide variety of sports halls, gyms and sports equipment, plus superb IT, media, and cutting-edge specialist facilities. Find out more about our first-class facilities here.

Living in Southampton - Southampton is a modern, vibrant student city brimming with arts and culture, top high street brands, green spaces and a buzzing nightlife. Studying at Solent means that you’ll be at the very heart of it. Find out more about being a student in Southampton.

Solent Students’ Union - Run by students for students, Solent Students’ Union is on hand to offer independent advice and support while you’re at university. Visit the Students’ Union website for more information.

Got a question about this course?

Contact our Ask Solent team:

admissions@solent.ac.uk 023 8201 5066

How to apply

Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.

Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.

Your application should reach UCAS by 15 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.

How to apply

Core units

Leadership Through Sport & Exercise
Foundations of Fitness
Volunteering in Sport
Sport & Exercise Science in the Contemporary World
Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science
Sport and Exercise Science Skills Application

Programme specification document

Web-based learning

Solent's virtual learning environment provides quick online access to assignments, lecture notes, suggested reading and other course information.

The Student Hub

The Student Hub is a central space where you can access all of the information and support you need during your time at University.

Professional and experienced staff can help resolve any query, and if they cannot answer the question themselves they will find the person who can.

Career support

We provide a stimulating learning environment and access to state-of-the-art resources to help you make the most of your time with us. Flexible spaces, Wi-Fi facilities and learning zones all contribute to our lively and contemporary study environment at Solent.

Students have full access to the University’s sports facilities, including the multi-million-pound Test Park football centre. Students on our sport and fitness courses have full access to our fully-equipped physiology, psychology, biometrics, and health and exercise labs.

The course has strong links with industry, including local sports clubs and sport development organisations.

Test Park sports ground

Biomechanics laboratory

Physiology laboratory

/facilities/health-exercise-laboratory.aspx

Health and exercise laboratory

Students will gain a broad knowledge and hands-on practical experience to enable them to progress to one of our health and exercise or sport science degrees:

The course team has strong links with an extensive network of health and fitness employers and professional sports clubs, as well as our own in-house high performance athletes, sports teams and health promotion service.

At every opportunity, you’ll put your learning into practice. This includes the chance to get involved in a sports intervention project in the local community as part of the coach innovation programme. Students will also have the opportunity to get involved with volunteering project within the community through the volunteering unit.