Sport and Exercise Science Level 3

If you’re passionate about sport, fitness and understanding how athletes perform, the NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity – Sports Science pathway is a two-year course designed to develop your practical, scientific and professional skills.

You’ll explore how the body performs, how athletes train and recover, and how science can be used to improve sporting performance. You’ll combine classroom learning with practical sport, fitness testing, coaching and performance analysis.

Across the two years, you will study topics including:

• Technical and Tactical Skills - develop your understanding of sporting skills, tactics and performance
• Sports Coaching - develop your ability to plan and deliver effective coaching sessions
• Practical Team and Individual Sports - develop your sporting performance across a range of activities
• Exercise, Health and Lifestyle - explore how exercise and lifestyle choices affect health and performance
• Sports Nutrition - understand how nutrition supports training and performance
• Fitness Testing - develop practical skills in assessing fitness and interpreting results
• Anatomy and Physiology - understand how the body functions and responds to exercise
• Sports Injuries - explore injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation
• Strength and Conditioning - understand how training can improve athletic performance
• Psychology for Sports Performance - explore the mental factors affecting athletes
• Performance Analysis - learn how sporting performance can be analysed and improved
• Biomechanics - explore how movement and scientific principles influence performance
• Ethics and Values in Sport - examine important issues affecting sport
• Organising Sports Events - develop skills in planning and delivering sporting events
• Work Experience in Sport - gain valuable experience within the sports industry.

The course combines theory with practical sport and sports science, giving you opportunities to apply your learning in realistic sporting environments.

You may take part in fitness testing, strength and conditioning, coaching, performance analysis and practical sporting activities.

You will also have opportunities to take part in enrichment experiences such as outdoor challenges, university visits, sports facilities and specialist training environments.

Alongside your study programme, you may also have the opportunity to be involved in the Manchester City - City in the Community football programme, providing additional experience within a professional sporting environment. Participation is subject to programme requirements. 

You will complete 35 hours of work experience as part of your two-year study programme, giving you the opportunity to gain industry experience while developing your communication, teamwork, leadership and professional skills.

The two-year Level 3 course is assessed through a combination of coursework, practical assessments, research, presentations, projects and demonstrations of practical skills.

Lessons and assessments could include:

• Practical sport and coaching sessions
• Fitness testing and assessment
• Strength and conditioning
• Sports performance analysis
• Anatomy and physiology activities
• Sports science investigations
• Individual and team projects
• Presentations and research
• Practical demonstrations
• Work-related learning.

You will become increasingly independent and professional as you progress through the two years, applying your knowledge to realistic sporting situations.

Regular feedback will help you develop your knowledge, improve your practical performance and prepare for your next step.

The NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity - Sports Science pathway can prepare you for progression into employment, higher education or further specialist training within the sports, fitness, health and leisure industries. 

The course can help you explore careers and progression routes including:

• Sports Scientist
• Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Performance Analyst
• Sports Coach
• Fitness and Exercise Professional
• Sports Nutrition
• Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation pathways
• Sports Development and Community Sport
• Performance Support roles

Some specialist careers will require further higher education or professional qualifications. 

Successful completion of the two-year Level 3 qualification can support progression to higher education, depending on the entry requirements of your chosen course and university.

Potential areas of further study include:

• Sport and Exercise Science
• Sports Coaching
• Strength and Conditioning
• Sports Rehabilitation
• Sports Therapy
• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Sports Nutrition
• Physical Education
• Sports Development and Management.

You will also have opportunities to visit universities and explore sport and exercise science facilities, courses and career pathways. 

Whether you want to work with elite athletes, develop sporting performance, become a coach, analyse performance or progress into sports science, this two-year programme will help you build the knowledge and practical skills needed for your future.

By combining sport, science, practical experience and work-related learning, you’ll be prepared to progress towards higher education, employment or further specialist training within the sports industry.