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Wintec sport student in training exercise

Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science

SC9501

Course details

  • Feb 2025
    Jul 2025
  • Three years
  • Full-time or Part-time
  • $8,508* per year
  • You may qualify for fee-free study under Fees Free Policy
  • Level 7
  • Available for International Students. International Fee Guideline
  • Hamilton Rotokauri Campus

Summary

Study the Bachelor of Sport Science and Human Performance and turn your passion into a rewarding and dynamic career. In this programme, you will gain the skills and knowledge to become a well-rounded practitioner of sport and exercise science. Subject areas covered include coaching, exercise physiology, sport nutrition and psychology, biomechanics, sport rehabilitation, and personal training.

You will also undertake research projects with clients and work alongside industry professionals, providing valuable networking and relationship opportunities. You will grow practical, industry-relevant experiences using the same state-of-the-art sports testing and consulting facilities used by national and international athletes.

What you will learn

All third-year students will complete practical experiences in their specific areas of interest. These may be accrued by placements at local gymnasiums, working with clients for injury rehabilitation, nutrition, physical conditioning and performance assessment and improvement. Students will also have the opportunity to undertake research projects with clients and work alongside respected industry professionals.

Discover the exciting world of sport and exercise science and press the play button to find out about our study options and career pathways. 

View programme modules

Group A compulsory level 5 modules

Module code Module name Level Credits Pre-requisites Co-requisites
SPHP​501Musculo-Skeletal Anatomy 515  
SPHP502Physical Literacy 515  
SPHP503Human Body Systems 1 515 
SPHP504Exercise Programming and Design​ 515  
SPHP506Human Movement Studies515  
SPHP507Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology 515  
SPHP508Lifestyle, Nutrition and Health515  
SPHP513Human Body Systems 2​
515  
HSPT501Te Hihiri515  

Group B compulsory level 6 module

Module code Module name Level Credits Pre-requisites Co-requisites
SPHP610Research Methods​
615
 

Group C elective modules

Module code Module name Level Credits Pre-requisites Co-requisites
SPHP601Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation 615SPHP501 
SPHP602Coaching​ Pedagogy615SPHP507 
SPHP603Exercise Physiology 615SPHP503SPHP513​
 
SPHP604Advanced Exercise P​rogramme Design 615SPHP504 
SPHP605Outdoor Education615
 
SPHP606Biomechanical Applications in Sport and Exercise615SPHP506
 
SPHP607Sport and Exercise Psychology 615SPHP507​ 
SPHP608Sport Nutrition615  
SPHP612Motor Learning and Control615SPHP506 
SPHP618Biochemistry615SPHP503​SPHP513​ 

Group D elective modules

Module code Module name Level Credits Pre-requisites Co-requisites
SPHP701Assessment and Rehabilitation of Injury 715SPHP601 
SPHP702Advanced Sport Coaching​715SPHP602​ 
SPHP703Physiological Preparation for Sport 715SPHP603 SPHP618
 
SPHP704Applied Exercise P​rogramming715SPHP603SPHP604 
SPHP705Practicum715​Completed first 4 semesters; panel selection 
SPHP706Applied Biomechanics in Sport and Exercise715SPHP606
 
SPHP707Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology 715SPHP607​ 
SPHP708Nutrition and Metabolism in Sport715SPHP608SPHP618 
SPHP710Research Topics in Sport and Exercise715SPHP610​ 
SPHP711Exercise Prescription for Special Populations715  
SPHP714Scientific Principles of Strength and Conditioning715SPHP603​​SPHP604​​ 
SPHP715Directed Study715
 
SPHP718Community Nutrition and Health Promotion715SPHP508​​ 

 

Group E option

Module code Module name Level Credits Pre-requisites Co-requisites
DFNZ701Design Factory Industry Project730  
BIBM500Introduction to Accounting515  
BIBM521Commercial Law515  
BIBM550Introduction to Marketing515  
BIBM571Management (Operations)515  
BIBM606Introduction to Finance515BIBM550 
BIBM622The Law of Business Entities515BIBM521 
BIBM631Event Planning and Management515BIBM571 
BIBM651Marketing, Planning and Control515BIBM550 
BIBM672Operations Management515  
BIBM673Project Management515  
BIBM681Human Resources515  
BIBM770Resource Integration Management615  
BIBM771Strategic Management615  

The 30 credit module DFNZ701 can be offered as an option within any Wintec degree programme, wherever the degree programme structures allows such an option.  Admission into the Design Factory module is on negotiation with the Centre Director or delegated authority and selection into the module is in line with the Design Factory process

Module codeModule nameLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
SPRT501Fitness Industry Business Skills515  

The 15 credit module SPRT501 can be offered as an option within the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise degree programme, wherever the degree programme structure allows such an option.

Module code Module name Level Credits Pre-requisites Co-requisites
MASS501Relaxation and Wellness Massage515 SPHP501
MASS603Massage for Physical Performance615  

Modules MASS501 and MASS603 can be offered as an option within the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science degree programme, wherever the degree programme structure allows such an option.

Design Factory NZ

In their third year of study, students can apply to study the 30 credit Design Factory NZ module. This experience teaches a range of problem-solving methodologies, which students will apply to a real-world challenge provided by an industry partner. Students will work in a multi-disciplinary team alongside students from engineering, business, IT, sport and exercise science, media arts, and more. 

Joining Design Factory NZ will provide students with the opportunity to learn and work in new ways, prototype solutions to complex problems, and develop their soft skills of creativity, empathy and communication - all in high-demand for the workplace of the future.

Read more about Design Factory NZ here.

Design factory NZ logo small size

Career/further opportunities

Graduates may be employed in a wide range of areas within the sport science, health and fitness, and education sectors including local and regional sports organisations, health and fitness centres, community health, and personal and team fitness training.

Application process

  1. Apply online or download and complete an Application to Enrol Form
  2. If you are unsure that you meet the entry criteria, complete the online Additional Information Form. This will enable us to assess your application further.
  3. If you have them, provide us with certified copies of your prior academic transcripts. Find out more about supporting material for enrolment here.
  4. We may also need to verify your identity (your legal name and date of birth) as well as your residency status. If you are a domestic student we may be able to do this through your National Student Number (NSN); if we can not, we will need you to provide evidence of this by supplying verified copies of your birth certificate or passport.

Once you have submitted your application

  • We will email you to confirm we have received it and let you know if there is anything more we need from you.
  • We will assess your application and let you know the outcome.
  • If you are accepted to study, we will send you an enrolment offer letter - you will need to accept this to confirm your place on the programme. Click here to find out more about enrolment and accepting your offer.

Scholarships

Do you need any financial help? If you intend to study in this programme, you can apply for a scholarship. More information about specific sport scholarships is available here.

Kiwi Olympian grabs study by the handlebars at Wintec

Meet New Zealand Olympian, BMX athlete, and Wintec student Leila Walker.

Leila, 19, represented New Zealand at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, competing in the individual women’s BMX racing event.

Leila Walker competing in BMX at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Leila Walker competing in BMX at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Photo sourced from Leila Walker's Instagram)

The BMX star, ranked seventh in the world, is currently in her first year of studies with Wintec, working toward a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science.

Balancing learning, training, and competing can be tricky for high performance athletes, but being able to study part-time has really helped Leila manage her commitments.

With intense preparation leading up to major events like the BMX Racing World Championships and the Olympics, she often trains up to six days a week.

“The load is definitely high with training,” Leila said.

“Studying part-time has been the perfect balance of not being too much and still keeping my mind busy and my life ticking over outside of my athlete world.

“I found Wintec super accommodating…I’ve spent a long time overseas this year, but I’ve found my lecturers, tutors, and the sport department really accommodating. The communication is really great with shifting assessments and providing help if I ever need it.”

Leila Walker at Wintec's Rotokauri Campus

Leila Walker outside Wintec's Rotokauri Campus

Leila always had a strong passion for sport, which steered her choice to study sport and exercise science, however, her choice to train with Wintec was guided by the feedback of staff and students.

“It was always going to be sport and exercise science. I’m just a huge lover of sport.

“Feedback I’ve heard from staff and students is that Wintec is a lot more practical and performance-based [compared to other tertiary education providers], which is really cool. Coming from a high performance and sport background, this struck my interest.

“Previous students also said Wintec was really accommodating with travel and athletes,” Leila said.

Outside of the curriculum, Leila also enjoys the social aspect of her studies, meeting new people in her classes who share her passion for sport.

“I really enjoy the social aspect of Wintec, being around a different group of people. I feel with my training, I’m often around the same people all the time. It’s really cool to be in a new environment and see new faces,” Leila said.

In the classroom, Leila enjoys the practical nature of her learning.

“My studies are highly relatable to my career. Stuff we learn in class, I pick up on within my training, it’s practical,” Leila said.

Although she is at the start of what is gearing up to be a bright sporting career, Leila has already decided she wants to work with high performance athletes once her career in BMX is over.

After what has been a “huge overseas stint”, Leila plans to spend her summer in New Zealand, where she can rest and reflect on her achievements throughout the year.

Leila is planning to compete in the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Study Sport with Wintec

A career in sport and exercise science is ideal for people passionate about sport, health, fitness, wellbeing, or human performance. Whether students are driven to help others reach their goals, prepare for competition and achieve excellence, or are elite athletes wanting the knowledge to reach their potential in competitive sport, Wintec provides students with a qualification recognised and respected worldwide. To learn more, head to wintec.ac.nz/study-at-wintec/courses/sport-science-and-human-performance

Generic sport photo shoot at Wintec

Disclaimers

Entry criteria

General academic admission

a) Candidates are required to have:

i) NCEA Level 3 comprised of 60 credits at NCEA Level 3 or above and 20 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above, including:
  (1) 14 credits each at NCEA Level 3 in three approved subjects; and
  (2) Literacy (10 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above made up of 5 credits each in reading and writing); and
  (3) Numeracy (10 credits at NCEA Level 1 or above);

OR

ii) A minimum of 60 credits at NCEA Level 2 across four subjects (15 credits per subject) including English and a Science subject or Physical Education.
  (1) In addition candidates are required to have gained a minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pāngarau on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF),
  (2) plus a minimum of 8 credits at Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori, 4 credits of which must be in Reading and 4 credits in Writing;

OR  

iii) An equivalent or relevant level 4 qualification as approved by the Team Manager or delegated authority.

UE 2020

Applicants who achieved University Entrance through NCEA in 2020 will be assessed under separate NZQA entry requirements that take into account the impacts of COVID-19. Candidates are required to have:

  • NCEA Level 3 comprised of 60 credits at NCEA Level 3 or above and 20 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above, including:
    • 12 credits each at NCEA Level 3 in three approved subjects; and
    • UE Literacy (10 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above made up of 5 credits each in reading and writing); and
    • UE Numeracy (10 credits at NCEA Level 1 or above).

Special admission

Domestic applicants aged 20 years or above who have not met the General Admission or entry requirements for a programme but whose skills, education or work experience indicate that they have a reasonable chance of success may be eligible for Special Admission. Special admission will be granted at the discretion of the relevant Head of School/Centre Director or designated
nominee. Such applicants may be required to successfully complete a foundation, bridging or tertiary introductory programme as a condition of entry into higher level programmes.

Provisional entry

Domestic applicants aged under 20 years who have not met the general academic admission and entry criteria for a programme but who can demonstrate a reasonable chance of success through other educational attainment and/or work or life experience may be eligible for provisional entry at the discretion of the relevant Head of School/Centre Director or designated nominee. Provisional entry places restrictions on re-enrolment to be lifted if the applicant’s performance is deemed satisfactory by the relevant Head of School/Centre Director or designated nominee.

First Aid requirements

Students enrolled in this programme must hold, or be working towards, a current first aid certificate (covering NZQA units 6401 and 6402) for the duration of their enrolment.

English language requirements

Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.0, with no individual band score lower than 5.5; or equivalent.

Safety checks

In order to comply with the provisions of the Vulnerable Children’s Act, 2014 and Child Protection Policies for all ‘specified organisations’ providing a ‘regulated service’, all candidates/students will be subjected to safety checks. These will include but are not limited to;

  • A Formal interview
  • Referee checks
  • A police vet check
  • A risk assessment 

Any unsatisfactory result arising from the full safety checking process may result in the candidate/student being precluded/declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study. Furthermore, students must declare any pending or new convictions arising during any stage throughout the entire enrolment period. A conviction or failure to declare a conviction may also result in the student being immediately withdrawn from the programme.

Want to see full details of the entry criteria?
Don't meet the entry criteria?

Pathways

Sport Science and Human Performance pathway diagram

To check what you need to gain direct entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.

Your first day

Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.

Semester 1 2025

Whānau evening:
Date: Monday 17 February 2025
Time: 4pm-6pm
Venue: Q Block foyer, Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance, Rotokauri Campus

Induction:
Date: Tuesday 18 February 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Venue: Q Block foyer, Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance, Rotokauri Campus

Returning students, please check your timetable below for your first day of class.

What you will need

​Please bring a pen and notebook on your first day, and we recommend that you bring a personal device that can connect to the internet (laptop, smartphone, tablet etc).

You will also need to bring ID documents for Police vetting. Please click here for more information about the Vulnerable Children's Act, the safety checking process, and what forms of ID you need to bring.

Timetable information

All Wintec timetables are available online here.

How to find your way around

Campus maps can be found here.

Parking and bus information

Both the Rotokauri and City campuses have parking available - payment and permits may be required. The Gardens Campus has free parking available. Learn more about parking and find out about bus services here.

He reo pōwhiri, your official welcome to Wintec

Tēnei te mihi mahana ki a koe e piki nei, e kake nei ki te Kuratini o Waikato.

You are warmly invited to attend the official welcome to Wintec for all new students, staff and whānau (family) at either our marae, Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa or Rotokauri campus. The pōwhiri is a welcoming ceremony involving mihimihi (speeches), waiata (singing), and will conclude with kai timotimo (light refreshments). Please gather at the campus hubs, and a staff member will guide you through our pōwhiri.

Click here to find out when the next pōwhiri will be.

Paying for your study

Course-related costs

  • You will need to have a current First Aid Certificate or be working towards completing one.
  • You will need to purchase a polo shirt as part of your practical placements. All details will be given to you at your induction. 

Additional information

Booklist

Purchasing textbooks

If your programme requires you to have access to textbooks, these can be purchased through a range of suppliers listed below:

    New Zealand-based suppliers

    General book suppliers

    First aid certificate

    Health status

    Uniform

    Equipment

    Clinical placement

    Prospectus (course guide)

    The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.

    Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus

    The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.

    Request an emailable or printed copy of the Prospectus

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