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Sport and Exercise Sciences at Bangor University

Situated between the mountains and the sea, we have been delivering an outstanding education and student experience in sport and exercise sciences since 1978. We have a global reputation of producing world-leading research and skilled graduates that impact upon elite sport, healthcare and business.

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Bangor Sport Science Official Video

Scenic shot of Llyn Nantlle and beyond. Green mountains and blue sky and the lake at the bottom

There's nowhere else that's got mountains 20 minutes away and then the coast as well.

The location we're in is unmatched. I'm not sure you can really find a university that does this course and is in such an amazing location.

Bangor is such a special place. There's just a vibe here that you can only get by being here that no other uni can offer.

We're really passionate about what we teach in the classroom because it's also what we're researching ourselves.

I can teach about my research in class, and then the next day I can demonstrate how I perform my research to the students in the lab in real time.

Some of the things that help define sport science at Bangor.

This difference with the universities is both the breadth of expertise and the breadth of topics covered.

It's quite impressive to cover things that aren't standard sport science and topics like injury,

but not everyone also includes high altitude medicine-related research, as well as biomechanics and performance psychology.

We get to know you on day one of your degree. Um, we follow you all the way through that degree.

Doesn't feel like you're asking a question in front of a room of 300 people.

It really does feel like a tight-knit family here. All of the lecturers are willing to give you that time.

You could be in a lecture with maybe 20 to 30 people.

Which does allow you to get more out of it.

We have several well-equipped lab spaces, including physiology labs, motion capture labs, and biomechanics labs,

as well as biochemistry labs where we can actually look at what's going on in people's samples, such as blood samples.

Two state-of-the-art environmental chambers that can simulate hot or cold conditions, as well as high altitude.

So I came to Bangor about five years ago, started off doing a foundation year because I didn't have the qualifications to come into the full degree.

That was a really transformative and incredible experience.

The foundation year really made me excited for academia and helped develop the skills that I needed.

I found the learning environment here at Bangor just immaculate, thanks to the lecturers and the facilities.

And so I stayed. All students graduate to support specific careers, such as in elite and amateur sport,

as well as physiotherapy and in health settings, but also to a range of general careers.

We've had students go on and work in emergency services in the Ministry of Defence, as well as in business.

I've been going kayaking every weekend, which has been amazing.

I didn't really see that being something I could do at uni. I'm a committee member for the canoe club.

I'm also part of the paddleboarding society and mountain walking.

I work at the university climbing pool and Canolfan Brailsford.

The community at Bangor is genuinely diverse.

For instance, I've just given a lecture to students from Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, Wales, England and Saudi Arabia.

Our graduates have gone on to work in many sporting organisations, including the Wales Cricket Board,

Welsh Rugby Union, Manchester City Football Club and Disability Sport Wales.

Wherever you want to go. We will empower you to get there.

Join us at Bangor University to achieve our vision to guide the future of sport, health, exercise and human performance science.

 

Undergraduate Degrees

We've designed our degrees around what you want to achieve. Passionate about teaching? Our Sport and Physical Education degree prepares you perfectly for a PGCE to teach A Level PE. Love the outdoors? Adventure Sport Science gives you the technical skills and teaching ability for water and mountain-based disciplines.

Your interests shape your path – we make sure you're ready for it.

See our Courses

Intercalated Degrees

Already studying medicine? We offer BSc programmes that let you specialise in sports science or clinical sports science. You'll gain expertise that bridges medicine and performance, opening up new career possibilities.

See our Courses

Academic in black Bangor Sport Science T-shirt doing lab work smiling at the computer

Why Study Sport and Exercise Sciences?

Sport and exercise science is where passion meets purpose. We're using scientific principles to help people move better, perform at their peak, and live healthier lives.

This field is growing fast. It's becoming one of the most sought-after subjects across the UK and around the world. Students are choosing it because they can see the real impact it's making, from elite performance to everyday wellbeing.

We're not just studying how the body works - we're discovering how to make it work better.

student in a red t-shirt on a treadmill with a mask on his face

Kickstart Your Sport and Exercise Career At Bangor

At Bangor, our researchers are working with industry partners to tackle real-world challenges, experiences which they use in your classroom. So you’re not just studying Sport and Exercise Science, you’re building the skills, confidence, and connections that employers value. If you’re ready to make an impact in sport, health, and human performance, this is where your journey begins. Discover what our graduates are doing now and learn about placement and internship opportunities.

Watch - Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences

student female running in sport lab
Two students running on the Treborth track

Bangor Sport Facilities

We've got everything you need to stay active and push your limits. Our indoor and outdoor facilities are ready for whatever moves you - from weight training to athletics. Whether you're into indoor cricket, tennis, squash, or trampolining, or prefer the outdoor pitches for football, rugby, and hockey, you'll find your space here. This is where you'll train, compete, and discover new passions.

Bangor University Sport and Exercise Sciences Virtual Tour

Normal site campus

Unusually for such a high ranked sport science department, all your facilities are easily accessible in one space. Our teaching and lab buildings are all located on the Normal Site Campus helping to reduce your travel time and create a great community working and learning environment.

Sports Normal site lobby

This is the access hub to the departments Physical Activity and Well-Being centre, together with the onsite leisure facilities, including two sports halls and a small strength and conditioning space.

Canolfan PAWB (Physical Activity and Well-being) centre

You are now in the main corridor of the PAWB centre, where students have access to three separate teaching and research labs.

PAWB Physiology and teaching lab

Here is where you get direct practical experience using the most up-to-date sport and exercise science equipment. This regular hands-on experience helps set us apart from other top ranked sport science departments. You’ll get real world practical experience using the equipment in the same way the department does when working with organisations to investigate neuroscience, psychophysiology, sport psychology, personality, and physiology to answer future employers’ questions and have real impact. For example, how to measure exercise behaviour change? How to accurately measure patients, potential talent, and world class athletes’ physiology to help drive positive change for them? Or how to design and implement individualised pressure training programmes for high performance teams? Incidentally, the departments individualised pressure training programme was recently implemented with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and directly helped the England Men’s teams’ win the World Cup.

PAWB Physiology and teaching space 2

It is both important for all students to have practical hands on experience and that we continue to sit in the UK’s top 5 list for Sport Science departments, the PAWB centre houses a number of separate teaching and research spaces. Here is one specifically designed for health, pre- and rehab, and other aspects of medical based application of sport science knowledge.

PAWB Physiology and teaching space 3

In this teaching and research lab, the PAWB centre has a suite of S&C equipment, from free weights right through to treadmills that can work up to speeds faster than humans can typically run. The use cases for this is vast from simple warm ups to high performance testing.

Normal site sports hall corridor

All the facilities are just a short walk apart and often just a quick hop down a corridor.

Outside George building

Everything is designed with your studies in mind. We minimise travel challenges by housing your facilities in a simple to access space. This is the main Sport Science building where you can access staff offices, lecture theatres, more labs, together with a fantastic view of the Menai Straits!

Normal site sports hall

This is the larger of the two on site sports halls and contains full size basketball, 5 a side football, and netball courts, together with 4 badminton courts. This is used by students both for recreation activities, but also directly in modules and classes for practical sessions and research purposes.

Normal site gymnasium

On site we have two sports halls. In this, the smaller of the two, students and clubs can access the space for a variety of activities.

This is the main entrance of the George building

This is the main entrance of the George building. As a grade II listed building you can see it has a lot more character and soul than the typically new glass fronted buildings you’ll encounter in other institutions.

George lecture room corridor

On this wing of the George Building, you can access the two main teaching and lecture spaces.

George building octagonal room

In this lecture theatre, you’ll experience smaller group teaching and seminars. These enable you to develop your learning and knowledge and offer a smaller forum where discussion and challenge take place.

George building main lecture hall

This is the department's main lecture hall. This is where you’ll experience the traditional teaching method of a university and interact with the staff to gain the core aspects of your sport and exercise science degree.

George stairs

The George building is split over several levels. Once up the stairs, you can access the staff offices and additional research and teaching labs.

Staff office

The staff offices are in the same building as your lectures, and you won’t need a special card or code to access them. This means you can schedule tutorials and discuss your studies directly with staff in a safe and friendly environment and on an ad-hoc basis.

The George building lab corridor

The second floor houses another series of research and teaching labs where you have further access to world-class equipment.

Physiology Research lab 1

In the first of the George building physiology labs, you’ll find hundreds of pieces of equipment that are used for a multitude of purposes, from taking and analysing blood through to manipulating exercise and performance environments. The latter can be completed in this lab via the environmental chamber, where we can manipulate both room temperature (extreme heat to extreme cold) and humidity. This helps investigate how extreme environments impact human performance, e.g., Firefighters, athletes, rescue, and military personnel.

Physiology Research lab 2

Similar to the first of the two physiology labs in the George building, the octagonal houses hundreds of pieces of equipment, including an altitude (hypoxia) chamber.  

Route to Padarn

It's just a short hop outside the Padarn labs and teaching spaces, where you’ll find the biochemistry, motion analysis, psychology, and motor control labs.

Padarn Biochemistry

In Padarn's biochemistry and prep labs, you’ll have access to all the equipment necessary for collecting and analysing the bodies' ‘chemistry’.  Here, you can collect and analyse everything from hair samples through to blood, muscle tissue, and the body's cell structure.

Psychomotor lab

This is an example of one of our 7 separate psychology and psychomotor control labs. In these. you have access to equipment at your fingertips, including multiple electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrophysiology (ERP), eye tracking, manipulandum’s, graphics tablets, balance boards and even Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and brain simulation. All these will enable you to investigate and further your knowledge of sport and exercise science to a level that will stand you apart when you enter the workplace.

Padarn Motion analysis lab

In the motion analysis lab, you’ll have access to a 12 camera Vicon passive tracking system and an Optotrac active marker tracking system performance. Here you can really get to grips with developing your understanding of human movement to aid in your skill development surrounding performance analysis from the sports, health, and wider high-performance sectors.

Treborth

In addition to the excellent facilities on the Normal site, just a 5-minute walk between Telford’s famous Menai suspension bridge and Stephenson’s noted and picturesque original railway bridge - Britannia - you’ll have access to Treborth. This houses flood-lit 4G pitches and traditional grass pitches (football, rugby, hockey, even American football) together with a full-size athletics running track. Whilst you can access these facilities for general sport and leisure, you’ll also experience practical classes here where you can put what you learn in the lecture theatre into a real-world setting.

Student George smiling at the camera
Video transcript: Undergraduate Student - George Robinson

BSc Sport Science at Bangor University

Why I Chose Bangor University

One of the main reasons I chose Bangor University was the environment. As a passionate rock climber, I was instantly drawn to the breathtaking landscape when I attended the open day. The location is perfect for outdoor sports, making it an ideal place for anyone who loves adventure and fitness.

Student Life and Sport Societies

A highlight of my experience at Bangor has been Serendipity, the event where all clubs and societies come together. It was amazing to explore the wide range of sports and activities available.

I took part in taster sessions, which helped me meet new people and try out different sports. One of the best decisions I made was joining boxing—something I had always wanted to do but never had access to back home. Bangor provided the perfect opportunity to dive into new sports and develop my skills.

Course Highlights and Favourite Modules

The BSc Sport Science course at Bangor offers a diverse range of modules, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

One of my favourite modules is motor behaviour, which I find fascinating. The course structure allows me to explore the scientific principles behind human movement, helping me understand how people develop and refine their motor skills.

Living in Bangor

Bangor is a small and peaceful town, perfect for students who prefer a quieter environment away from big cities. The beautiful scenery makes it an incredible place to live and study.

For those interested in climbing, I highly recommend INDY Climbing Wall—it's an amazing spot to practice and improve your skills.

Future Aspirations

My goal is to become a physiotherapist, and Bangor provides plenty of opportunities to develop in this field. The practical experience gained from the BSc Sport Science course, combined with the networking opportunities available through the university, will help me take the next step in my career.

Student Profile George, Sport Science

"The course is designed to equip students with the skills to enter a sporting environment. With Bangor being a research orientated university, it puts a lot of emphasis on developing research and critical thinking skills. "

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Jamie McDonald

Professor Jamie Macdonald

Professor of Sport and Exercise Science

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Dr Sophie Harrison

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

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Dr Stuart Beattie

Dr Stuart Beattie

Reader in Sport & Exercise Science. Course Director Performance Psychology (Distance Learning)

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Geoff Coombs

Geoff Coombs

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

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Student wearing Endurance Performance Testing gear in the lab at Bangor University

Our Research in Sport and Exercise Sciences

Research and Impact in Sport Science

We're 1st in Wales and 5th in the UK for Sport Science research, with 100% of our work rated as world-leading or internationally recognised (Research Excellence Framework, 2021).

This isn't just impressive on paper - it transforms your learning. You'll work directly with researchers who are advising UK Sport, the NHS, and the MOD. During your degree, you'll conduct your own supervised research in areas like Psychology of Elite Performance, Extreme Environments, or Physical Activity and Wellbeing.

You'll present your findings at our Student Conference - a signature experience that develops the problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills employers are looking for. We're not just teaching you about research; we're making you a researcher.

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