Exercise and Health Science with Industrial Placement, MSci at University of Aberdeen

Exercise and Health Science explores the role of sport, exercise and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease and overall enhancement of wellbeing throughout the life cycle. It seeks to further our scientific knowledge and understanding about physical activity, the principles and practice of performance, and the application of nutrition, psychology and physical activity to benefit health.

After developing fundamental knowledge of medical and sports science and an understanding of the link between exercise and health, students will be given the chance to pursue specific issues covering different aspects of health, physical activity, psychology and nutrition.

In your fourth year you will undertake a year's industrial placement and graduate after five years with an MSci (an undergraduate Masters degree) instead of a BSc. Placements vary considerably but in general terms, you will be placed in an industrial, commercial or research environment where you will obtain a breadth of practical experience to complement your degree programme and enhance your employability.

How You'll Study

You will be taught using a variety of methods and styles and we continually seek to make the teaching engaging, exciting and responsive to the latest research in your subject area. The research we carry out in the School directly informs and guides our teaching, particularly in the final Honours year. Our commitment to teaching is recognised by the range of University of Aberdeen Student-led Teaching Awards given to staff from our School.

As a student, your learning is supported by MyAberdeen, our virtual learning environment from which you can access the lecture Powerpoint slides, online practice tests, links to related reading, and tutorial support material.

We make innovative use of 'educational voting' handsets in class, remote control 'clickers' that allow each and every student to electronically respond in class by anonymous vote to questions posed by the lecturer.

Learning Methods

• INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
• LAB WORK
• LECTURES
• SEMINARS
• TUTORIALS
• WORKSHOPS

Why Study Exercise and Health Science?

• You will spend the fourth year of your degree in paid employment and graduate after five years with an MSci (an undergraduate Masters degree) instead of a BSc.
• This is an interdisciplinary degree delivered by specialists in exercise sciences, nutrition and fundamental biomedical sciences.
• The expansion of sectors emphasising the long term benefits of exercise and nutrition for health means there are extensive employment opportunities for graduates of this programme.
• 2016 has seen the opening of the new purpose-built Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health building at the University's Foresterhill campus. It will be equipped with state-of the-art laboratory facilities, write-up areas and a specialist Human Nutrition Unit.
• Many scientific disciplines contribute to exercise and health sciences, including physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, psychology, anatomy and biomechanics.
• You will develop a practical knowledge of research skills and methods related to the basic sciences underpinning the use of exercise in health and fitness.

Careers

Graduates in Exercise and Health Science will be strongly placed for employment in a wide range of health related industries and institutions.

Graduates find employment in many areas of Biomedical and human-based sciences subjects allied to medicine and also in the sport and leisure sectors where their understanding of the basis of human performance adds to their other skills. Many students will continue in research posts where the project work in the Honours year provides valuable experience. Others will go on to a more vocational medical related MSc, in for example, Physiotherapy or Dietetics; or a postgraduate qualification in Primary Teaching, PE or Biology. Graduates may also begin careers in the public health industry, occupational health and therapy, social work and related social services, teaching, the mass media and marketing.

Our degree programmes are built to enhance your employability and three flagship options give our degrees a distinctively different flavour from many others. All our degrees offer:

• A 10-week full time research project in the final year which will provide you with valuable experience of working in a medical science research environment
• An industrial placement year and graduation with an undergraduate MSci
• Highly relevant and sought after experience in bio-business aimed at giving you an understanding of the commercialisation of scientific ideas and an opportunity to learn about the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries