About us

Sport and Health Sciences at Exeter enjoys an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research and consistently ranks in the UK’s top three Sport Sciences departments.

A leading research-intensive department

• Ranked 2nd for Sports Science in The Times Good University Guide 2012 sustaining a top 3 position for the fourth year running and ranked 1st in The Guardian University Guide 2012. This outstanding achievement is mirrored by an equally impressive performance in the National Student Survey 2011, in which the School has been ranked 3rd and has remained in the UK’s top 6 Sport Sciences departments for the last five years.
• Our academics are active in world leading and internationally excellent research across the discipline, as recognised in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise in which we ranked 7th in the UK¹.

Providing an excellent learning environment

• Facilities for students are excellent with purpose-built teaching and research laboratories for sport and exercise physiology, biomechanics, health and performance psychology and qualitative research. The School provides arguably the finest facilities in the world for the study of the exercising child.

Supporting athletic endeavour

• Our expert staff work with individual sports performers, sports teams and squads, as well as individuals in the local community. Within the field of sports biomechanics we undertake technique and gait analysis, to identify possible causes of injury occurrence and the effects of footwear and shoe inserts. Sport and exercise physiology work includes testing of endurance, lactate, strength and lung function as well as dietary analysis. Sport, exercise and health psychology services include performance profiling and planning, goal setting, concentration skills and team building.
• Exeter is one of the UK’s top sporting universities, consistently top 15 in BUCS championships. Sports scholarships are available to support talented individuals in their chosen sport while they study.

Working to improve public health

• The University of Exeter recognises the global importance of scientific research. An investment of £80 million in science over the next three years will support five themes of interdisciplinary research tackling some of the biggest global problems of the 21st century. Our researchers play a central role in one of these themes: Translational medicine, personalised healthcare and public health.
• Our researchers are active in studies to improve health and well being through physical activity, from depression, anxiety and addiction to diabetes and obesity. We work with various organisations including the NHS, local hospitals, health charities, Kellogg’s, Unilever, Glaxo Smith Kline, the Sports Council for Wales and the Rugby Football Union.