STUDY OPTIONS

OVERVIEW

STUDY LEVELS

Cert HE

UCAS CODE

C701

DURATION

1 Year

START DATE(S)

Sep / Nov / Jan / Feb / Apr

ENTRY YEAR

2025/26 | 2026/27

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

64

Course Introduction

What Will You Learn?

Combining modules from anatomy, physiology, psychology and nutrition, our 1-year Exercise Studies Cert HE is a basic introduction to exercise studies, equivalent to the first year of a degree.

Discover how exercise can help encourage positive lifestyle changes and how nutrition can transform health.
Develop the skills to coach confidently during practical sessions.
Learn the basics of sports and exercise psychology and get a better understanding of behaviour and what motivates different people.
Study the anatomy and physiology of the human body and learn how the body works through hands-on experience of specialist equipment.

If you’re interested in an Exercise Studies course in Manchester, check out our 1-year Exercise Studies HE Cert and unlock your greatness at UA92.

How You Will Study

Course
breakdown

24 weeks of
study

4 x 6-week blocks per year

1 subject module per block

4 CPD focus days per block

Subject Module
Breakdown

250 hours of
study per module

80 hrs face-to-face (32%)

20 hrs Digital Wednesdays (8%)

150 hrs independent study (60%)

Assessment
Breakdown

No traditional
end-of-year exams

100% coursework

Your course modules

Module 1: Developing Active Lifestyles 

Motivate and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace a life-long, active lifestyle. Learn how to develop activities and programmes that are inclusive and engaging, and promote long-term healthy participation in physical activity and sport. Advocate for the importance of physical activity in promoting individual and community wellbeing, across a range of ages and in various populations, including those with additional needs.

Module 2: Introduction to Sports and Exercise Psychology

Sports and exercise psychology helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and motivations affect your sporting performance and/or enjoyment of physical activity. You’ll dive into the world of psychology itself and its position as evidence-based science. This lays the foundation for understanding how these principles apply to individuals and groups across education, physical activity, health, and sport settings.

Module 3 - Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

Level up your anatomy and physiology knowledge, essential prep for the rest of your degree studies. This module is designed to help you grasp a basic knowledge of human anatomy (skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory) and physiology (muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory), to understand how your body functions and moves in and out of sport and physical activity settings.

Module 4 - Nutrition for Health, Exercise and Sport

This introduction to nutrition module is designed to help you understand the food and fluids that fuel and support your body’s functions. We’ll break down the science of nutrition including different food groups, exploring how nutrients work and their role in a healthy well-balanced diet. You will learn how to talk in food terms and prepare food which is suitably aligned to government guidelines like the Eatwell Guide and wider sports nutrition recommendations for a range of populations.

What is the 92 Programme?

It’s more than a degree, it’s preparation for life.

Alongside your course modules, you will engage with the 92 Programme, which is built into every degree and tailored to each subject area.

Engaging with the 92 Programme is a requirement for all students and will count towards your overall grade.

Through taught sessions, immersive experiences and coaching, you will build confidence, resilience, wellness, self-reflection and professionalism, skills designed to support your future success.

Find out more about how we prepare students for future career success.

Why the 92 Programme is part of your course?

In a recent study*, 78% of employers believe graduates do not arrive in the workplace fully equipped with the skills they need to be work-ready.

Another study conducted by the World Economic Forum** identified ‘10 Skills You Need for the Future of Work’. These skills include:

Emotional intelligence (EQ)
Analytical (critical) thinking
Active learning with a growth mindset
Interpersonal communication skills
Leadership skills
Technology skills

At UA92, we prepare you for life after graduation and equip you with the skills employers value most. You may not realise it, but developing these skills now, will get you set for career success and could land you that dream job in the future.

*CMI Report: Work Ready Graduates

**World Economic Forum: The Future of Jobs Report 2023

How is the 92 Programme assessed?

Assessment takes the form of a Professional Diary, which is a log capturing evidence of your learning, activities and reflections. This can be videos, photos or even audio.

This is supplemented with a reflective account, which links your experiences to your personal growth.

Why study at UA92

UA92 offer a deliberately different experience to traditional universities; with fixed morning or afternoon timetables and no end of year exams. Our industry-inspired courses, place character and personal development firmly at the core of the learning experience.

Degrees and Certificates of Higher Education awarded by the prestigious Lancaster University
No traditional end of year exams**
Study one module at a time
Courses co-designed with industry
Fixed morning or afternoon timetable***
Multiple start dates throughout the year
Focus on Character and Personal Development

91.4%

Name: Exercise Studies Cert HE
Availability: InStock

said they felt supported with their learning.

NSS Results 2025

UA92 scored higher than all Greater Manchester universities for Academic Support and Assessment and Feedback in the National Student Survey 2025.*

*compares UA92’s results against the 4 Universities in Greater Manchester: Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford, The University of Greater Manchester and The University of Manchester.

THIS COURSE IS TAUGHT AT...

UA92 Main Campus

This is where our story began, back in 2019. UA92 Main Campus is in the heart of Old Trafford, Manchester. Inside there’s a fully equipped Sports Performance Centre, Media Studio and Digital Academy. The tram stop is a 1 minute walk, which gets you into the heart of Manchester city-centre in under 10 minutes.

FIND US

UA92 Main Campus

Brian Statham Way

Old Trafford

Manchester UK

M16 0PU

Open in maps

a red wall showing the text welcome to ua92

Sports Facilities

Multi-Purpose Performance Lab

Our ‘Performance Lab’ is an inclusive space in our Old Trafford Campus that accommodates teaching and research. Students have access to high-spec strength and conditioning equipment, sport science technology and performance analysis apparatus.

Fitness Zone

‘The Fitness Zone’ is the gym-space located in our Old Trafford Campus. The state-of-the-art equipment and weights section includes two Elite Racks, Performance Flooring and a range of Sports Science equipment.

Movement Studio

The ‘Movement Studio’ is a multi-purpose, inclusive space in our Old Trafford campus for students to use outside of their study hours, with exercise classes for everyone and anyone to take part in.

Digital Academy

Our Digital Academy is home to a range of cool tech that sports students can use to enhance their learning, including our Rezzil Virtual Reality equipment and a 360 degree immersive audio and video environment.

Careers in Health, Exercise and Sport

What’s next?

This 1-year course is the perfect stepping stone for a full Health, Exercise and Sport degree. If you pass the Cert HE successfully, you will be eligible to progress to apply for the second year of the 3-year degree programme.

If you choose to leave after the 1-year Cert HE, you’ll walk away with a valuable Level 4 qualification which will support your job applications in the sector.

Whatever you decide, you’re on the right path towards a career in exercise and fitness, leisure or community sport. You could go into a job as a health promoter, health navigator, wellbeing champion, group exercise instructor or community activator for a local council.

91%

of graduates are engaged in employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

FIND OUT MORE

UA92 is above the national average for graduate outcomes. The Graduate Outcomes survey is the biggest annual survey that captures the status of recent graduates who completed their studies at a higher education institution in the UK.

*Graduate Outcomes Survey Results released in 2025. National Average is 88%.

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

We have over 100 industry connections who support our mission to develop career-ready graduates. These partnerships provide you with access to industry-leading expertise, mentorship opportunities and work-place experiences.

Our industry partners play a vital role in shaping both the curriculum you study and your student experience. From delivering guest lectures and masterclasses to providing internships and graduate roles.

Meet the Sport Team

Amanda Partington

Course Leader for Physical Education

Senior Lecturer across the sport programmes at UA92, with a Doctorate in Elite Performance ‘Designing and Delivering Talent Development Frameworks: A Practitioner’s Perspective’ in 2022. I’ve been operating in the world of Performance and Talent Development for over 25 years, and am a L4 high performance coach. As an International Coach, I have led a team through two Commonwealth Games cycles, in Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014. Alongside coaching, I have held senior management roles within England Hockey, England Squash and Hockey Wales, after a successful lecturing career across FE and HE.

I am also a member of CRiC (Cluster for Research into Coaching). My current research interests are designing and delivering  Talent Development Frameworks across various environments, alongside managing change across a multi-stakeholder network to provide the best environments to develop best performance. Additionally, creating best learning environments for HE students within a block teaching structure.

Christina Cunningham

Lecturer in Sport

As a Sport Lecturer at UA92, I bring over 15 years experience to the classroom. I have worked extensively with young professional athletes, and have developed a deep passion for athlete education and secured TASS Dual Career Status for UA92. With experience as a qualified PE teacher, I aim to merge best practices and knowledge gained from the professional sports environment with those from mainstream education and inclusive teaching practices, to help students unlock their true potential. As UA92s longest-serving academic, I witnessed the exciting and game-changing development of UA92 from pre-students to now, and my contributions were instrumental to the establishment of the PE Degree programme and wider UA92 life.

Christina Langley

Sport Lecturer

I’m a versatile Applied Sport and Exercise Physiologist with a passion for research and applied work in para-sports. I’ve gained experience in para-football, netball, and cricket, and have worked as a physical performance coach and consultant for England Para-Football and other high-performance teams. I’ve published research on musculoskeletal health and injury in people with cerebral palsy, and I’m currently involved in projects investigating physical activity, interoception, and para-swimming classification.

Christopher Wallace

Lecturer in Sport

I’m a lecturer in sport, an exercise physiologist, and a specialist in ultra endurance and triathlon coaching and coach education.

I have a background in Sports and Exercise Science and hold a master’s in Exercise Physiology. I’m excited about using AI to advance physiological methods that aid athletes and students, merging technology with training science for enhanced results.

Outside of work, I’m an avid climber and drummer and was part of Sean Conway’s crew for Iron 105.

Doug Owen

Sport Lecturer

My background is in the fitness industry, working as a Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist, and delivering courses for those looking to move into the field. From there, I moved into coaching and education and have been balancing the two worlds ever since, I enjoy the different perspectives that they bring. I switch off from work by relaxing quietly with a book.

Henry Titley Wall

Course Leader: Sports Coaching

I draw on over 10 years of experience working in professional football, research and data analysis, sport-for-development, and education to prepare UA92 students for successful careers. I’m currently studying for a PhD in Sports and Exercise Psychology, and i’m also MCIMSPA and ISPAS accredited, and hold several professional qualifications in coaching (including a UEFA B football coaching license), talent identification, performance analysis, and education. I’m passionate about harnessing digital technology to induce advancement across the world of sport and teaching practice. At UA92, i’m keen to ensure students are supported in their personal and professional development by providing industry experience, applied practice and academic skills in an engaging and inclusive environment.

Jason Doggett

Sport Lecturer

I’m a Lecturer in Sports Coaching with a passion for talent development, skill acquisition and pedagogy. I’m is currently undertaking doctoral research within bioecological talent development environments within women’s football. Alongside teaching, I have a wide range of experience within sport development and performance coaching including English Premier League and Welsh Premier League football academies. I’ve achieved a range of sport coaching qualifications including the UEFA A License, UEFA Elite A Youth License and FA Youth Award. I’m also motivated to support students to achieve success in the classroom and have the confidence to become an industry leader.

Johnson Chandigere

Sport Lecturer

I’m a trainee sport and exercise psychologist working towards my BPS Stage 2 accreditation through my Sport and Exercise Psychology Professional Doctorate course. My journey within sport and exercise psychology began with my own experiences of academy rugby, which lead me to take an interest into psychological performance and the holistic development of athletes within performance environments. I obtained my BSc Honours in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of South Wales, and my MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology from Liverpool John Moores, I am currently in the process of completing my Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology. During my studies, I began working in the applied field, specifically in different elite performance environments, with elite international athletes in different sports and coaches aiding their performance and holistic development. My teaching delivery focuses on bringing theory to life through providing real world context and knowledge supported by academic literature to ensure students are supported in their personal, professional, and academic development.   

Jon Radcliffe

Head of Sport

I have an academic background in Sports Science, Sport Psychology, and Strength and Conditioning. Having received a First Class BSc in Applied Sport Science and a MSc (distinction) in Psychology, I’ve conducted research examining the use of psychology within strength and conditioning, graduating as a Doctor of Philosophy in 2014. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and was awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in 2013. I also have considerable experience in programme design and leadership having designed and led Sports Coaching undergraduate degrees since 2016 as well as leading the Sport and Exercise Science suite of programmes through successful periodic reapproval.

Matt Fielding

Lecturer in Sport

I have a breadth of experience that spans 15 years over many different roles. I spent 5 years as a Head of Year, ensuring the pastoral care of 200 students, before becoming the Head of PE, responsible for the curriculum design and outcomes of all students. I then progressed to Assistant Headteacher, during which I also spent time consulting on the PE curriculum design to ensure that the students’ holistic development was appropriately nurtured whilst producing tangible outcomes. I have been an effective mentor to multiple PGCE students over this time, whilst also working in collaboration with exam boards and moderators to ensure best practice.

I decided to transfer my knowledge of working with young people to community coaching, taking up the role of Head Coach across multiple sites for Manchester United Foundation. I’m passionate about ensuring that all young people have access to opportunities and support needed for future growth and success.

More recently, I have taken up the role of Strength and Conditioning coach at Manchester Storm Ice Hockey club, where I supports players with all off-ice needs to improve their on-ice outcomes. This is coupled with further study as I work towards a Professional Doctorate in Elite Sport Performance at Dublin City University.