Faculty of Education, English & Sport
School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
Welcome to the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity at the University of Bedfordshire.
I am delighted that you will be studying with us in September. Our campus has a rich heritage in physical training that dates back to 1903, something we are very proud of. Today, Bedford is a modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant academic and student community.
We have developed strong relationships with sporting organisations across the county and beyond that benefit all our students. I believe our placement opportunities with these partners are a key factor in our high graduate employment rates.
We know how important it is to give you the best possible start to academic life. That’s why we have created this booklet which provides you with important information to prepare for your course and your first few weeks and months at University.
I look forward to meeting you during Welcome Week.
Dr Martyn Morris Head of School
Course Coordinator
David Pears david.pears@beds.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer
Dr Jeffrey Aldous jeffrey.aldous@beds.ac.uk
Head of School
Martyn Morris martyn.morris@beds.ac.uk
Student Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport
BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk help@bedssu.co.uk
Hello, my name is David Pears and I am the course coordinator. I am looking forward to meeting you for your induction during Welcome Week, which will focus on introducing you to your course, the academic team and your fellow students.
You will have a personal tutor who is there to support you throughout your course. They run weekly office hours so you can always book an appointment if you need to chat to them. Remember that we are all here to support you every step of the way as you begin your academic journey. If you have any questions, do get in touch.
David Pears Course CoordinatorIt is very important to start your course well. Welcome Week is an essential part of navigating student life and your studies, and it’s a brilliant way of getting to know staff and students. It includes a cross-School activity, key information, course activities and, of course, a lot of fun!
The following is a typical Welcome Week schedule (the exact schedule will be available to you prior to starting).
am Meet the course team and review course content
Day 1
pm Lab and Learning Resources Centre induction
am Welcome from the Head of School, Dr Martyn Morris Campus and lab tour
Day 2
pm First meeting with your personal academic tutor
Day 3
Freshers’ Fayre – come along and join a sports club, open a bank account, meet your new best friends and get some free goodies and food
Day 4
Practical sport with all new sport students
Here is an example of what the programme in your first year might look like:
Principles of Nutrition
Developing the Coaching Environment and Practice
Anatomy and Biomechanics
Human Physiology
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise Science
Introduction to Research Methods
Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning
How to find your Timetable
Information about your learning with BREO
Get support with your learning and assignments
Study Hub
Visit the Library
Begin@Beds Start your student journey
Thrive@Beds My Beds Life
Succeed@Beds Careers and Employability Service
You will have the opportunity to gain significant professional experience during your studies. We have extensive networks across the sport and physical activity sector including Luton Town Football Club, Bedford Blues RFC/Blues Foundation, Ampthill Town RFC and Bedfordshire School Partnerships to name a few.
How one of our students helped prepare Luton Town FC for premiership promotion final Meet Jake Scott!
Jake is in the final year of his PhD with the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity and works part time as a sports science assistant at Luton Town FC.
He has been working at Luton Town FC since September 2022. His day-to-day responsibilities include supplementing the sport science team with nutritional and hydration strategies for the players, generating individual physical performance plans, and monitoring external and internal training and match load throughout the Hatters’ successful 2022/23 campaign. In May, his expertise was required for Luton’s Championship play-off final against Coventry City, which saw temperatures soaring higher than average for the time of year. This meant Luton’s sports science team needed to ensure the players were prepared for the environment they were going to face, by implementing cooling techniques and strategies. Here’s what Jake had to say about his experience:
To be able to apply my practices and evidence-based research to elite athletes while travelling up and down the country has made me grow and develop tremendously as a practitioner and person this season. It has been great seeing the hard work pay off, which is a credit to the players and the staff who exude humility, desire and hunger to better themselves every day. It feels amazing to be amongst the country’s elite and we thoroughly deserve to be in the Premier League next season.
The University has a long-standing partnership with Luton Town FC and is the club’s official Academy sponsor. Our strong partnership with them means there are opportunities for our students to get involved in work experience with the club.
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:
• Have an immediate relevance to practice
• Draw on expertise by experience
• Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach
A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks, including those that allow you to undertake workplace relevant assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and increases your confidence.
These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:
Essays and reports
Leaflets and posters
Case studies
Portfolios
Presentations
In-class tests
Practical assessments
Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.
Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!
• BSc (Hons) Sport Science and Coaching
• Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus
• Handmade in Sheffield: Ferraby Knives Why are we asking you to watch a video about knife making in Sheffield? All will be revealed in the first few weeks of the course!
Please have a read of this article. We will also talk about this in the first few weeks of the course.
Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.
• Bedford campus
• Eating and drinking on-campus
You can expect to be involved with a range of units that are delivered in a variety of ways. In semester one of this year, our students took part in the following:
• Anatomy and biomechanics lectures and lab sessions
• Academic writing workshops
• Sports coaching lectures and seminars as well as practical coaching sessions
• Human physiology lectures and workshops
• Regular meetings with their personal academic tutor (PAT)
In 2023-24 the Foundations in Sport Coaching Pedagogy unit includes gaining 30 hours’ work experience during semester two.
The sample timetable below does not necessarily reflect the exact times or days of your course. Your timetable will be available online prior to arriving on campus. Find out how to access your timetable at beds.ac.uk/timetable
Sample timetable for semester one:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
9am
10am Introduction to Research Methods (lecture)
Human Physiology (Practical)
11am Sport and Exercise Psychology (lecture) Introduction to Research Methods (workshop)
12pm
1pm Developing the Coaching Environment and Practice (lecture)
2pm
3pm
Developing the Coaching Environment and Practice (practical)
Introduction to Research Methods (workshop)
4pm Human Physiology (lecture) 5pm
Sports teams’ fixtures or study day
Anatomy and Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise Science (lecture)
Anatomy and Biomechanics for Sport and Exercise Science (practical)
What happens if I miss class due to illness or have difficulties with childcare or travel?
We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit coordinator.
Who can help me with my assessments?
The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit coordinator or tutor. If you need more time to complete an assignment due to specific circumstances, illness or additional learning needs, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with extensions for assessments. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk
What support do you provide for learning differences such as dyslexia?
There is plenty of help available. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. There is also help available for practice based learning, so please make us aware in advance.
Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?
Yes! The Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk
Do I need to wear specific clothing for practical sessions?
You will need suitable clothing for class practical sessions and if you go on an external placement. Buying university branded kit is not compulsory but you can view our sports range on the Akuma Shop website. You’ll need to use the password ‘Beds-2020’ to view items.
We are ranked 3 rd in the UK for graduate prospects in the 2024 Complete University Guide. Our courses focus on building your employability: 97% of our graduates are in work or study six months after finishing.
Always remember, our team is here for you!
We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.
We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.
The teaching team have been working in the sport and physical activity sector for many years and have a lot of knowledge to share.
Our facilities include six BASES-accredited sport and exercise science laboratories; our Human Performance Centre; a nutrition research kitchen; two molecular and cellular physiology labs; and a sports therapy and rehabilitation centre with a sports injury clinic. Our Human Performance Centre helps train professional athletes including triathlete Lucy Charles Barclay and Team GB.
We give our students the flexibility to adapt and grow as they learn by offering similar subjects across some courses in the first year. This means you can switch courses within the School at the end of your first year if your interests have changed as you’ve progressed through your studies.
Our courses are accredited or endorsed by the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT); the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES); the Association for Nutrition; and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
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