Psychology and Sport and Exercise Science
BSc Joint Honours
- UCAS code: C8C6
- Full time
- 3 years
- Next start date: September 2022
This accredited degree allows you to explore both psychology and sports and exercise science. You'll apply your learning to help athletes perform, and promote physical activity and exercise with the wider public.
Fees (per year)
- Home: £9250
- International: £24600
Entry requirements
- A Level: AAA-AAB
- IB: 35 points
UCAS Institution name and code:
- NEWC / N21
Course overview
This three-year, joint honours degree focuses on building your knowledge across both psychology and sport and exercise science.
You'll study key disciplines in psychology and sport and exercise science, such as physiology, bioenergetics, nutrition, and social and developmental psychology.
You'll have access to our brand new building, with state-of-the-art facilities, including:
- a forensic interviewing suite
- a nutrition and food preference unit
- a media and behaviour lab
- medical consultation rooms
- psychological testing cubicles
You'll also cover advanced topics which are linked to the research of our expert staff, exploring applied sport and exercise psychology and clinical psychology.
Your course during COVID-19
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitments outlined are subject to guidelines that may be in place from time to time.
View our COVID-19 Study page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information
Quality and ranking
- 6th in the UK - The Complete University Guide 2022 (Food Science category)
- 10th in the UK - The Complete University Guide 2022 (Psychology category)
- 20th in the UK - Sunday Times Good Univerity Guide 2022 (Psychology category)
- Top 150 for Psychology – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Top 200 for Psychology – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
Professional accreditation
This degree is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
This gives you the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (providing you achieve the minimum standard of a lower second-class Honours). Having Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership means you can join the BPS and will be eligible to go on to further training and, if successful, to practise as a professional psychologist. For information on the benefits of studying an accredited course, visit the BPS website.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
You will be introduced to the basic concepts in psychology through core topics including cognitive psychology, sensation and perception, instinct, learning and motivation.
You also study key disciplines of sport and exercise science including sport and exercise psychology, bioenergetics, and physiology. You will develop your communication and study skills by working in small group tutorials on a guided research investigation in psychology.
Modules
You continue to develop your knowledge in core areas of sport and exercise science, including applied sport and exercise psychology, applied sport and exercise nutrition, and exercise physiology.
You also study core psychology topics in more depth, including visual perception, social psychology and cognition.
Modules
You study advanced sport and exercise science topics including: clinical sport and exercise psychology; sport and exercise medicine; and factors affecting elite performance.
You choose from a range of psychology modules, which currently include areas such as: abnormal psychology and psychiatry; clinical psychology; personality and eating disorders; and forensic psychology.
You will also undertake an empirical project, giving you the opportunity to specialise in an area of psychology that interests you.
Modules
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
Teaching methods include:
- lectures
- laboratory practical classes
- computer sessions
You'll be taught the skills essential to carrying out research such as conducting experiments, analysing and interpreting data, and writing up research reports.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
-
Assessments
-
Assignments – written or fieldwork
-
Coursework
-
Dissertation or research project
-
Essays
-
Examinations – practical or online
-
Practical sessions
-
Reports
Skills and experience
Practical skills
The majority of your Psychology and Sport and Exercise Science modules will involve practical lab work, working with state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities in our brand new building.
In Psychology, you'll learn how to formulate theories, conduct experiments, use statistical techniques, and write up research reports.
In your Sport and Exercise Science modules, you'll work in the laboratory and in the field to develop key practical skills.
Business skills
Your psychology modules focus on psychological literacy, applying psychology in a real-world setting. Modules in Sport and Exercise Science look to equip you with professional skills and ethical guidance, preparing you for a career in sport.
Research skills
In stages 1 and 2, you'll complete Research Methods and Skills modules, in which you'll develop as an independent researcher.
In your third year, you'll put these skills into practice, completing a comprehensive research project in an area of your choice.
You'll also have the opportunity to gain additional research outside your course, including the School's certified research apprenticeship scheme.
Chat to a student
If you would like to study Psychology you should definitely consider Newcastle! The course ensures you have a good grounding in all areas of Psychology as well as allowing you to focus in more specialised areas in third year.
Opportunities
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. Placements are subject to availability.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
As a joint honours Psychology and Sport and Exercise Science student, you'll be based between the School of Psychology and the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, at our city-centre campus.
As well as having great access to University facilities like its libraries, student's union and sports centre, both schools are less than 10 minutes' walk from Newcastle city centre.
You'll also have access to our excellent practical facilities in the School of Psychology, such as:
- a forensic interviewing suite
- a nutrition and food preference unit
- a media and behaviour lab
- medical consultation rooms
- psychological testing cubicles
While in Sport and Exercise Science, you'll be able to access brand new sport and exercise science research and teaching facilities. They include:
- an environmental chamber to enable the simulation of altitude, temperature and humidity
- gait track
- biomechanics laboratory
- physiology laboratory
- high-performance suite
- nutrition kitchen
- blood preparation and analysis lab
The facilities also support performance and recreational sport. They include an eight-court sports hall, four squash courts, strength and conditioning gym, spin studio and gym.
Situated next to Newcastle’s RVI hospital, we’re one of the largest integrated teaching/hospital complexes in the country.
Support
You'll have an academic adviser in both subject areas as well as student buddies to help you settle into life at Newcastle University.
You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.
Your future
As a joint honours graduate, you'll develop a range of skills that are sought by employers. By studying two disciplines, you're well prepared for the multidisciplinary challenges of everyday work, such as:
- time management
- organisation
- self-motivation
Graduates with a strong background in sport and exercise science are also ideally suited to fulfil emerging roles that overlap the fields of medicine, exercise and health promotion.
Opportunities for diverse career paths
Recent graduates have secured employment in areas such as clinical psychology, forensic psychology, and educational psychology, in companies such as NHS, Home Office, HMRC, Prison Service, and local, national, and international charities.
Many of our graduates embark on further study, including master's degrees and PHDs in areas such as forensics, sports and exercise, medicine, clinical psychology, and teacher training.
As a psychology graduate, you'll also be incredibly versatile, with plenty of transferable skills, including analytical thinking, research skills, strategy development, problem solving, and content writing skills. Many graduates go on to careers in teaching, marketing, and financial services.
Make a difference
Sorry, you need JavaScript to view this video
Careers support
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2022 entry.
A Level
AAA-AAB
International Baccalaureate
35 points
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Contextual offers
Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Entrance courses (INTO)
International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.
Find out more about International Pathway Courses
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for 2022 entry (per year)
Home Fee Students
£9250
International Fee Students
£24600
The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Read more about fees and funding
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.
Year abroad and additional costs
For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Find out more about:
Scholarships
Find out more about:
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year at our on-campus and virtual open days.
You'll be able to:
• explore our beautiful campus
• find out about our vibrant city
• discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:
- the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
- the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
- the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Apply through UCASApply through an agent
International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.
Get in touch
By phone
Call us on +44 (0) 191 208 3333 and press option 1. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm.
Live chat
Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.
You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.
Online
Keep updated
We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.
Receive regular updates by email