General Information

Overview

Improve the health, fitness and performance of people and teams through training, coaching and advice with our  Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science. Learn how to navigate the increasingly digitised exercise and sport industry through access to cutting-edge laboratories and technology, including wearable sensors, virtual reality and 3D analysis equipment.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study. 

  • Applied Psychology 
  • Data Science 
  • Entrepreneurship 
  • Health Statistics 
  • Health Societies 
  • Indigenous Studies 
  • Innovation 
  • Management for Health 
  • Marketing 
  • Neuroscience 
  • Nutrition
View minor units

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • ACC10007 Financial Information for Decision Making
  • BIO20004 Health and Disease Across the Life Course
  • ENT10002 Creativity and Innovation
  • ENT20006 Lean Startup Springboard
  • HEA10004 Digital Health Foundations
  • INS10001 Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences
  • INS20002 International Indigenous Perspectives
  • MBP10001 Technology and Data Acquisition
  • MDA10006 Innovation Cultures: Perspectives On Science and Technology
  • MKT10009 Marketing and the Consumer Experience
  • NEU10002 Neuroscience
  • NEU20006 Neurophysiology
  • NTR20001 Nutrition Science
  • NTR20002 Nutrition in the Life Course
  • SIP10001 Creating Social Change: From Innovation to Impact
  • SOC30016 Technology, Bodies and the Lifecourse
  • SPO10001 The Sports Industry
  • SPO20001 Building Sport Brands
  • SPO20003 Sport Business Analytics
  • SPO30001 Leading Sport Organisations
  • SPO30003 Future of Sport
  • STA10003 Foundations of Statistics
  • STA20010 Statistical Computing
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:  

  • retrieve, critically evaluate and communicate information about local and global health, exercise and sport science from a variety of sources using a range of technologies 
  • promote and optimise the health, fitness and sporting performance of individuals and/or populations 
  • demonstrate professional and ethical behaviours 
  • reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes, and plan ongoing personal and professional development 
  • apply content knowledge, concepts, practices, theories, evidence and skills associated with the sub-disciplines of exercise and sport science to a range of exercise, sport and health-related activities and settings, working independently and in teams 
  • apply innovation and technology to extend the boundaries of knowledge and research in exercise and sport science.

Career opportunities

The career opportunities for exercise and sport science graduates are continually expanding, and include working as sport scientists, exercise scientists, coaching/development officers, strength and conditioning specialists, in government agencies as well as medical/clinical and corporate health and wellness areas.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science is accredited at the level of exercise science which means graduating students are eligible to apply to Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) – the national accrediting body – as an Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES).

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of: 

  • 20 core units of study in exercise and sport science (250 credit points) 
  • other studies comprising a minor, student enrichment studies or electives as applicable (up to 50 credit points).


Students may not complete more than 125 credit points (normally 10 units) at introductory level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative. 

Domestic students have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement in addition to the SPH30015 Industry Professional Practice unit already embedded in the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science. Some Work Integrated Learning opportunities are not available to international students due to visa restrictions.

Professional placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. Some Work Integrated Learning opportunities are not available to international students due to visa restrictions. International students may be required to change courses in order to complete Work Integrated Learning and should consider visa and extended study duration prior to applying. 

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising: 

  • 20 core units of study in Exercise and Sport Science (250 credit points) 
  • 4 units of study from the Professional Placement co-major (100 credit points) 
  • other studies comprising electives (25 credit points).

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science is 150 credit points.

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Working with Children (WWC) Check

All enrolled students must maintain a current Australian Working with Children Check throughout the duration of the program.

First Aid Certificate

A current Australian First Aid Certificate or CPR certificate is required prior to undertaking any placement units.

NDIS Worker Screening Check

Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider.  The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR 

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations. 

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course. 

Selection rank adjustments

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne

Subject adjustments 

A study score of 25 in Health and Human Development, any Mathematics, Physical Education, any Science or Sociology equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.  

Meeting course prerequisites 

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any Mathematics or equivalent (excluding Foundation Mathematics).

Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2023

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 93.9 96.5
Median rank to receive an offer 63 68.22
Lowest rank to receive an offer 54.1 58.75

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English and applicants who do not meet the Mathematics prerequisite can sit the STAT Multiple Choice or successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program. Mathematics study scores or prerequisites older than 10 years are not considered to have met course prerequisite requirements. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English and applicants who do not meet the Mathematics prerequisite can sit the STAT Multiple Choice or successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program. Mathematics study scores or prerequisites older than 10 years are not considered to have met course prerequisite requirements. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Educational history 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English and applicants who do not meet the Mathematics prerequisite can sit the STAT Multiple Choice or successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program. Mathematics study scores or prerequisites older than 10 years are not considered to have met course prerequisite requirements. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2023
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 15 29%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/P N/P
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) <5 <5
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 17 33%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 10 20%
International students 0 0%
All students 51 100%

Notes:

"<5” – the number of students is less than 5
N/A – Students not accepted in this category
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.

Interested in the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

View course page