Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

By choosing to study at Lougborough, you will be joining the number 1 ranked university in the world for sport-related subjects (QS World Rankings by Subjects). This ranking, which Loughborough has held for the last seven years, is based on the views of graduate employers and the world-leading research we produce.

1st in the world for the seventh time running for sport-related subjects QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017-2023
Silver Athena Swan Silver Award for Commitment to Gender Equality
100% of research impact rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' REF 2021
Top 20 Loughborough University is ranked within the top 20 universities for graduate prospects The Complete University Guide 2024

Sport-related subjects at Loughborough

The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences is a globally recognised centre of excellence for the study of sport, exercise and health across the natural and social sciences.

Our postgraduate degrees are informed by our research, ensuring your studies keep pace with the latest developments in sport and exercise science.

Our wide-ranging expertise encompasses areas including: medicine, molecular biology, nutrition, physiology, biomechanics, economics, pedagogy, psychology, sociology and sport management.

Research degrees

In addition to our exciting range of taught programmes, there are also a variety of funded and unfunded opportunities to join the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences as a doctoral researcher. You can develop your own unique research proposal or browse our current list of PhD opportunities – either way, we’d love to hear from you.

Browse our PhD opportunities

Research and teaching

You will learn directly from internationally renowned academic staff who are driving forward understanding of sport, exercise and health science, influencing national and international sporting bodies and enabling teams and individuals to push the limits of athletic performance.

As a result, our Master's degrees are informed by research ranked 1st in the UK for research power and environment in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (Times Higher Education – REF 2021 League Tables).

Links with industry

Our students also benefit from the School’s influence and standing within the sport and exercise industry, as well as our links across elite sport, including national governing bodies based here on our Loughborough campus.

We work with influential sport organisations from across the world who wish to partner with us on a range of cutting-edge research, teaching and enterprise activities. These partnerships benefit our students by ensuring that our teaching and research is informed by industry and have a real-world impact on society, culture and the economy.

Facilities

The Loughborough University campus offers the largest concentration of world-class training facilities in the country, is home to national and regional centres for many sports and has been named University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

As a result, our students have access to bespoke training and testing equipment, the latest physiological, molecular, and environmental technologies, two climate chambers, and a range of dedicated laboratories.

Students can also benefit from the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine – East Midlands (NCSEM-EM), an Olympic legacy funded project aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the nation.

NCSEM-EM research takes place under five key themes: physical activity in disease prevention; exercise in chronic disease; sports injuries and musculoskeletal health; mental health and wellbeing, and performance health.

All of our facilities support students in developing the professional skills needed in careers across sport and exercise science.

Career opportunities

Our degree programmes provide our students with the skills, knowledge and experience to be among some of the most employable in the UK (Top 20 in the UK for graduate prospects, Complete University Guide 2023).

Our postgraduate students have gone on to further study or to follow careers in teaching, lecturing and research, as well as taking up positions within a variety of organisations or starting their own businesses.

Specifically, our graduates have gone on to secure job roles with:

  • England and Wales Cricket Board, Performance Analyst
  • Hachette, Digital Commercial Executive
  • Adidas (Greece), Sports Management Specialist
  • Oxford University, Researcher
  • GlaxoSmithKline, Customer Development Executive
  • NHS Manchester, Physiotherapy Assistant
  • British Gymnastics, Development Officer
  • Staffordshire University, Lecturer in Sport Policy and Sports Development
  • English Institute of Sport, Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Lucozade, Sports Scientist