“I was able to find those areas in which I excel and which I wanted to experience further.”
BSc (Hons)Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science
Apply on UCAS
Starting in: 2025
Register your interest- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
- 4 years with year in industry
- 5 years with foundation and industry years
UCAS code: HN02
Institution code: S30
UCAS points: 104-120Flexible entry options available
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study health, nutrition and exercise science with a placement year
Follow your passions for sport and helping people reach their wellness goals. Our fantastic facilities and focus on practical experience will foster a rewarding career in a growing sector.
- Top 0in the UK for teaching in sport and exercise science studies, out of 83 institutions (NSS 2024)
- 0%positive responses for assessment and feedback (NSS 2024)
- 0%positive responses for academic support (NSS 2024)
- Gain valuable first-hand work experience with a year-long full-time work placement between the second and third years of your degree.
- This course is fully endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
- 92% of sports science students say they are satisfied with the teaching on their course at Solent (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
- We have one of the UK’s leading sport and exercise science facilities: our physiology laboratory is officially accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
- Opportunities to gain extra qualifications include: gym instructing, personal training, sports massage therapy, healthcare, nutrition, and cancer rehabilitation.
- Students will receive an Association for Nutrition (AfN) Certificate in Intermediate Nutrition Essentials for Fitness and Leisure after successfully completing the Human Nutrition module in the first year.
- You will gain real-world learning opportunities with Solent Personal Training, Exercise Referral Scheme, Solent Nutrition and our High Performance Academy.
- Choose from two inspiring pathway options, the fitness and personal training pathway and health and exercise science pathway.
- Our fantastic and ultra-modern sports complex features two sports halls, two fitness studios, strength and conditioning and high-performance gyms, health and fitness, and personal training teaching gyms, and a sport and exercise therapy clinic.
- Students have access to the University’s professional sport and exercise science facilities, including fully equipped physiology, psychology, and biomechanics labs, health and exercise gyms.
Course overview
Taught by professionally qualified staff, you will develop a strong understanding of the industry, and get opportunities to pursue valuable work experience as part of a placement.
Whether your passion is in health and fitness, physiology and exercise science, nutrition or helping people overcome their health challenges, this course utilises Solent’s excellent reputation for its sport, health and fitness provision to prepare you for success. The growing jobs market offers a wide range of dynamic and rewarding career options and we’ve used our experience to offer two inspiring pathway options.
Fitness and personal training pathway:
The fitness and personal training pathway will provide you with a wealth of advanced skills which will ensure you have a top profile to attract and retain the best clients. We take personal training seriously and will support you in building your business and entrepreneurial skills, so you’re fully prepared for a successful career in a competitive market.
Health and exercise science pathway:
The health and exercise science pathway prepares you for a range of careers in the health and well-being sector. If your passion is in nutrition, clinical exercise science or public health and psychology we have it all here for you. Graduates from this pathway have gone on to have successful and rewarding careers as nutritionists, exercise rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists*, public health practitioners and NHS health and well-being advisors. *This course will qualify you for postgraduate study in physiotherapy.
Our staff have a special blend of academic excellence and industry experience which brings great creativity. We’ve a wealth of in-house health and wellbeing initiatives for you to get involved with including a personal training scheme, strength and conditioning academy, exercise rehabilitation clinic and nutrition counselling service, so you can gain all the real world learning you need or plan your research in a real-world context without even leaving campus. There are also plenty of external partnerships available if you do want to go out on placement.
The course is fully endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) for three CIMSPA competencies - Gym Instruction (after the first year), Personal Training, and Working with Referred Populations (after the second year) - allowing students access to the CIMSPA register. Students will also gain CIMPSA recognition for Cancer Rehabilitation (after the third year).
Solent is renowned for its focus on employability enhancement and links with professional associations. This course has extra professional qualifications available to enhance your skills and employability:
- Gym instructor
- Personal trainer
- Exercise referral practitioner
- Level 3 soft tissue therapy
- Level 4 soft tissue therapy
- Strength and conditioning
- AfN certificate
- Level 4 Advanced Personal Trainer
- Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
- Level 4 Cancer Rehabilitation
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Recognised by:
Course features
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Additional qualification
This course offers additional qualifications for you to obtain with your degree
Placement year
If you apply for this course with a placement year, you have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry between your second and third years
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for anyone with a passion for helping individuals achieve their health, nutrition or fitness goals. Perfect for school-leavers, mature students and international applicants. This course offers you the opportunity to make a real difference to the health and well-being of your nation in a growing and exciting jobs market.
If you're looking to gain a year's worth of industry experience as part of your studies, this course is for you. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.
What does this course lead to?
The skills you’ll develop on this course open up a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates have a wealth of career options to choose from.
The two pathways of this course mean you can be ready for employment in many roles in different healthcare sectors, or you will be perfectly placed to pursue higher-level study in a variety of disciplines.
Health and Exercise Science Pathway – career opportunities:
- Exercise rehabilitation specialist.
- Exercise referral co-ordinator.
- Nutrition advisor.
- Sports massage therapist.
- Health and well-being physiologist.
- Exercise physiologist (Nuffield, Spire, NHS).
- Exercise and well-being advisor (NHS, Nuffield, Spire etc).
- Physiotherapist assistant.
- Public health practitioner.
- Health and exercise development officer.
- Personal trainer/specialist PT in disease rehab.
- Leads to further qualifications for MSc / PhD researcher/lecturer.
Fitness and Personal Training Pathway – career opportunities:
- Personal trainer, (mobile, online, studio, gym-based).
- Gym manager.
- Strength and conditioning coach.
- Sports massage therapist.
- Fitness manager.
- Gym owner.
- Physiotherapist assistant.
- Exercise physiologist.
- Exercise referral specialist.
- Leads to further qualifications for MSc / PhD researcher/lecturer.
The course allows you access to postgraduate study in nutrition, where you can gain fully accredited status to the AfN, as well as many other postgraduate courses in physiotherapy, dietetics, and public health.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more storiesMeet the team
Staff bring a unique blend of academic excellence and research informed teaching with substantial industry experience to ensure you’re work ready, world ready and future ready.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Throughout your studies you'll have the opportunity to use a range of high-quality facilities including the sports complex which features teaching gyms and is where all fitness qualifications and the majority of your real-world learning experiences take place. You'll also use the physiology lab where you'll learn and experience first-hand the scientific equipment used to monitor and enhance human health and performance.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
International opportunities
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
What you'll study
Core modules
Exercise Instruction and Coaching
Providing you with the technical knowhow, practical expertise and the latest industry research, this module is the perfect start on your way to a career in health and fitness. It provides an essential basis for you to become a qualified fitness professional where you will develop your ability to plan and deliver safe and effective gym sessions.
Functional Anatomy and Physiology
The module introduces you to the anatomical and physiological principles of the human body and how they enable exercise to be undertaken. In addition, you will investigate scientific principles of human movement.
Population Health
In this module you will learn why the places where people are born, grow, live, work and age impact health and create significant and unfair differences in health outcomes. We will ask how can we ‘create’ health and would a fairer society improve the health of the population?
Human Nutrition
On this module you’ll learn about the link between nutrition and health and exercise, how to analyse a diet, and make healthy-eating recommendations. On successful completion of this module, you will receive an Association for Nutrition (AfN) Certificate in Intermediate Nutrition Essentials for Fitness and Leisure. (Please note, this is a certificate of completion of the module and does not qualify students for certified AfN status, nor does it enable students to join the register as an ANutr)
Health and Exercise Psychology
Have you ever wondered why, when faced with similar psychological challenges and stressors, some individuals seem to remain well and thrive, whilst others become sick and vulnerable to poor health, illness and disease? This exciting module will examine the stress-illness/health link and you will work towards answering the fundamental questions surrounding why we get sick, what makes us healthy and what we can do about it.
Applied Research Methods in Sport, Health and Exercise Science
You will learn how to investigate discipline specific problems or issues using both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. Leading into your final year Project, you will begin to form your research idea or work placement.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Live and simulated client briefs
- Video submissions
- Blogs
- Individual presentations
- Group presentations
- In-class tests
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
The role exercise and nutrition plays in healthy ageing and disease reduction has become a focus for national health policy in recent times. Government and NHS policy is shifting toward 'social prescribing', which research has shown to often be more effective at lifestyle-related disease control than drugs.
This has led to increased demand for practitioners skilled in clinical exercise rehabilitation, health nutrition and behaviour change psychology.
A recent survey conducted with employers of the health and fitness industry identified that current training is insufficient and lacks proper insight into medical conditions, nutrition and psychology. Training should also offer students access to real-life patients/clients. Our BSc (Hons) Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science responds to both the results of this survey and to the increasing need for suitably trained individuals in the health and well-being sector.
You could earn:
Personal trainer
Starting salary: £15,000 to £24,000
This is for those employed by a gym or similar - salaries could rise to £35,000. Freelance instructors could earn between £20 and £40 per hour.
Exercise physiologist
Salary range: £18,000 to £35,000
For exercise physiologists working in the sports sector. Clinical exercise physiologists working in the NHS would typically start at the lower end of the Band 5 (£27,055 to £32,934) and will need to gain a considerable amount of experience to progress up the pay scale.
Sports nutritionist
Starting salary (public sector): £22,000 to £28,000
Private sector starting salaries can range between £23,000 and £30,000.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk. Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“I was able to find those areas in which I excel and which I wanted to experience further.”
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Recognitions
Recognised by:
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
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Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 fees were:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £16,125 per year
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island placement year fee: £1,580
- International placement year fee: £2,095
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course 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 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 other costs were:
Compulsory costs
- Students must purchase a Solent sports kit. As a package, this will cost approximately £135.
- Students are required to undertake DBS criminal records checks as part of their enrolment. This is compulsory and is payable by the student at a cost of £60. The DBS check is organised by the University.
Optional costs
- Students may have the chance to undertake optional Active IQ qualifications alongside their studies.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
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.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
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. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student finance in under three minutes Student funding - the essentials
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
104-120 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D*, T-level Merit or equivalent, to comply with the minimum entry requirements of 104 UCAS points.
- One science subject, mathematics and English at GCSE, at grade 4 or above.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application
104-120UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066How to apply
Full-time
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 31 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.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
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 minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component 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.
Pre-Sessional English programme
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.
Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
- 4 years with year in industry
- 5 years with foundation and industry years
