About This Course
Are you one of life’s adventurers or thinking of a career in Adventure based sport?
If so, then this is the course for you!
You may have dreamt of climbing Everest, wondered what ‘it takes’ to Big Wall climb in Yosemite or perform successful Glacial travel in Antarctica. You may have Ice climbed in Norway, walked the 15 peaks of Wales, or completed Trad climbing in the UK. Perhaps you dream of Sailing the Atlantic, Surfing ‘Jaws’, or Kayaking the Conwy Valley? Maybe you’re interested in undertaking an expedition in adventurous terrain or simply excited about Adventure Sport? This course is uniquely designed to help you realise these dreams.
By providing you with ‘hands on’ experience and understanding of the core Sport Science studies of human responses to adventure environments and performance in adventure sports, you will gain the skills required for a career in the expanding Adventure market. This essential core Sport Science knowledge is uniquely combined with the continuous opportunity to develop your own adventure and outdoor skills. Specifically, as well as learning core Performance and exercise science, you will complete ‘doing’ modules with the emphasis on adventuring out and learning practically. If you want to get out in the mountains, beaches, camp, hike, scramble, winter walk, climb, explore the sea cliffs on foot and from a kayak, and want to do it practically ‘hands on’ through whole days out then this course for you.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- 5th (of 76) for course satisfaction - Guardian Good University Guide 2020
- 5th in the UK for Research Quality – Complete University Guide 2020
- 2nd in the UK for Value Added demonstrating our ability to help each student achieve their best possible outcome - GGUG 2020
- We are internationally renowned for our work in sport science and you’ll be studying at a research-led Sport Science School that was 7th in the UK in the most recent governmental assessment - REF 2014
- The School was one of the first to offer an academically focussed degree integrating its internationally renowned expertise in sport science with more vocational elements concentrating on outdoor activities
- In the Teaching Excellence Framework, Bangor University was the 1st university in Wales to be awarded Gold
- The School has close links with UK Sport, the England and Wales Cricket Board, England Rugby and the Ministry of Defence (to name a few)
- Bangor’s location makes it an ideal place to study outdoor activities as there is access to a wide range of natural environments ranging from the coast to the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park
- This course draws on expertise from staff who are leading researchers in their fields but also actively participate in outdoor and high-risk activities such as climbing, canoeing, skiing, etc. The vocational elements of this degree are strengthened further by input and delivery from highly qualified and experienced outdoor practitioners at our external partners, Snowdonia Watersports and the Conway Centre
- Students undertake an Expedition module (run by the Conway Centre) integrating their scientific knowledge, outdoor activity skills and life skills, to complete a mountain- and/or water-based journey in a wilderness environment. Previous students have visited the Alps and Nepal
Course Content
Students will typically have one or two hours of lectures per week for each module as well as laboratory time, seminars and tutorials. This direct contact time will be tied with student-centred learning such as reading, writing essays and reports, gathering information and data, working on group projects and preparing verbal and poster presentations. These form the basis of your assessment, along with examinations, case studies and critiques of research.
25% of students’ time is spent in lectures, seminars and lab practicals. We keep our lectures, seminars and lab class sizes small:
• Lectures: 30-150
• Seminars: approx. 12
• Laboratory practicals: approx. 25
This means that our students have closer contact with lecturers and tutors, and all our students have access to regular one-to-one meetings with staff.
What will you study on this course?
We aim to equip you over the programme to become adventure ‘experts’ in terms of applying core sport science to the world of adventure, whilst also giving you the practical skill sets to undertake independent mountain and water based adventures yourself. There is a real focus on you developing your own personal and group skills in judgment and awareness as well as the practical skills of a variety of adventure activities. These independent skills will stay with you for life and help you realise your goals.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Adventure Sport Science Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Course Cost
Mandatory Costs:
Project: Printing of posters = £20 (if submitted before deadline) or £28 (if submitted late).
Students will also need to purchase a memory stick or compact disc to store their project data for submission.
Modules JXH-1024 and JXH-2029: students must purchase a map of Snowdonia and a compass (approx. £20 total).
Necessarily Incurred Costs:
Project: Students may choose to travel to collect data for their projects.
Students may choose to work with vulnerable participants requiring them to complete a DBS check (£44).
Students may choose to complete a project with costs (e.g. lab consumables). The first £50 is paid for by the School. Any additional costs will be met by the student.
JXH-2030 Research Expedition module: This field trip is free of charge. However students may choose to complete the expedition beyond Snowdonia. If they do so they must pay additional petrol costs. Typically these are £25 per person.
Optional Costs:
Graduation gown.
Graduation Tea is free of charge to all graduates but additional tickets may be purchased for friends and family at £10 per head.
Optional extra-curricular courses, e.g. Gym Instructors Course approx. £500; First Aid Course approx. £30-£100; National Governing Body Award qualifications at £100-£500 per course.
Students may choose to buy personal safety equipment (e.g. their own waterproof jacket). However this equipment can also be borrowed from our outdoor providers.
Notes:
We do not require students to submit a bound copy of their dissertation.
General University Costs
Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)
- Full time: £9,000 per year
- Part time: £750 per 10 credits
International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.
When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
USA Requirements
International Year Zero: HSD GPA 2.0 OR SAT 1500+
International Year 1: HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 500+ each section OR ACTs 26+
Undergraduate Courses: HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 550+ each section OR ACTs 26+
Postgraduate Courses: Bachelor Degree GPA of 3.0. GRE not required
PhD/Research Course: Masters Degree
Note: Some courses may require higher entry requirements. Refer Individual Course page for details.
Applicants from USA need NOT provide additional evidence of English Language ability, if previous education was with English medium of instruction. Otherwise, an IELTS overall 6.0 with 5.5 in each component or equivalent is normally required (some courses may require a higher score).
For 2021 entry:
GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Language, Maths and Science.
Offers are tariff based, 48 - 112 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: PPP - DMM
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Sports Leaders UK: Higher Sports Leadership qualifications
- Welsh Baccalaureate
- Extended Project Qualification
- General Studies not accepted
- Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to the outdoors (e.g. practical experience, work experience, Duke of Edinburgh Award).
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants.
*For full details go to our website and for a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com
General University Requirements
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.
Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.
EU and International students' entry requirements
For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
More information
Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants
E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:
Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF
Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717
International students (non-UCAS applicants)
Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to
Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF
Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028
Careers
This course is also ideal preparation for a career in the outdoors as an instructor, an exploration or expedition leader, in outdoor development training, and also in education and recreation generally.
All our courses will prepare you for a career as a sport scientist, working with squads of elite athletes and performers to fine tune their training; sport science research; working in the public health sector, for example in sports therapy or physiotherapy; or working in the health/fitness industry generally. Postgraduate study and a career in teaching (after completing a postgraduate certificate of education), research and lecturing is another vocational route. There are also some specific career opportunities for different degrees listed with the course details.
Some School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science graduates simply use their academic qualification and the transferable skills that they have developed to work in management, the emergency services or to set up their own business.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)
The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.
The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.
The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.
Internships
Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.
Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.
Student Volunteering
Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.
The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.
TARGETconnect - Working while you Study
The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.
TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:
- Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
- Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
- Work experience / internships
- Voluntary opportunities
Application
General University Application
How to apply through UCAS
UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.
Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.
The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.
When to apply?
We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.
Your Personal Statement
Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.
To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.
Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.
After you’ve applied
You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.
You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.
International Student?
If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.
As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:
- apply via UCAS,
- or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
- or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents
Erasmus student?
We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.
The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.
Confused about your next steps?
Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.
