Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science

Name: Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
Price: <a href='#fees-and-scholarships'> Commonwealth supported place </a> AUD

VU course code: SBEC | CRICOS: 117806A | Level of study: Undergraduate

ATAR

Lowest selection rank: 55.05*

Duration

3 years full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

In Person

Fees

Commonwealth supported place

Location

Footscray Park

Next start date

16 February 2026

Application closes

08 February 2026

View all start dates

A young man using exercise equipment in well-equipped exercise room

Overview

Build a rewarding career in health, fitness, and sport performance with the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at Victoria University (VU).

This hands-on, science-based degree equips you with the knowledge and practical skills to support health and wellbeing, enhance athletic performance, and prevent or manage injury and chronic conditions.

You’ll gain broad experience working with diverse populations and have the flexibility to tailor your studies to suit your interests – whether that's clinical health or sport performance.

Through a combination of classroom learning, laboratory work, and industry placements, you’ll graduate ready to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Throughout the course, you'll explore key areas in exercise and sport science, including:

movement and performance screening
exercise prescription and delivery
injury prevention and rehabilitation support
coaching for skill development and physical performance.

With accreditation pathways and strong industry connections, you’ll be well prepared to pursue a career in exercise science, fitness, health promotion, or sport.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Integrate foundational and theoretical knowledge in exercise and sport science, with technical and professional skills, to analyse, improve and maintain health and performance outcomes;

Integrate evidence-based practice in exercise and sport science and critically evaluate, compile, and communicate the scientific rationale for decisions informing practice;

Exhibit the ability to design, deliver and manage safe and effective exercise and sport science assessment and programming across a range of contexts in a professional, ethical, inclusive, and collaborative manner;

Exemplify the use of professional skills that are responsive to the diverse needs of people, including First Nations Peoples, gender and sexually diverse persons, persons of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those living with a disability;

Exhibit the capacity to work as an independent and collaborative professional who can communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to clients, their carers (where relevant), and as part of interprofessional and multidisciplinary teams; and

Critically reflect on practice capabilities and recognise the need for ongoing professional development.
: The degree offers two minors to align with your career goals:
Clinical Practice – Ideal for those aiming to work in health and rehabilitation settings, supporting people to improve fitness and health.
Sport Practice – Designed for those interested in working with athletes and teams in sport performance and coaching environments.
: Practical learning is central to this course. You’ll apply your knowledge through:
Laboratory-based skill development
Work-integrated learning placements with industry partners
Experience in the VU Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation Clinic
These experiences ensure you’re career-ready with real-world confidence.
: Study this course via our award-winning VU Block Model®, where you complete one subject at a time over four weeks, rather than juggling several at once.
Learning in workshop-style classes, you’ll develop strong connections with your peers and practical skills for your future career.
You’ll also get fast feedback on your assignments, helping you to improve quickly as you progress through your course.
Learn more about the VU Block Model®

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

Minimum ATAR: 55.05*

This course has a minimum ATAR entry requirement. This means you’ll need to achieve a certain ATAR, along with other criteria, to be considered for this course.

The following table shows the ranking results of our current student intake and is an indication of the ATAR you’ll need to successfully apply.

*Minimum ATAR is based on the lowest selection rank (ATAR plus adjustments) that received an offer for the 2025 intake for the Bachelor of Exercise Science (Sport Practice). Use as a guide only – entry ranks will change in 2026 depending on the number and quality of applications received.

ATAR profile of people who received an offer for the Bachelor of Exercise Science (Sport Practice).
	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors)	Selection Rank (ATAR including adjustment factors)
Highest rank to receive an offer	88.60	95.55
Median rank to receive an offer	55.80	69.10
Lowest rank to receive an offer	43.65	55.05

Learn more about ATAR

What is ATAR?

The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) compares the results of final-year school students, with adjustments made for factors such as hardship. The ranking is expressed as a number between 0 and 99.95. ATAR minimum entry requirements are not usually essential entry criteria for applicants who have completed secondary education more than 2 years ago.

Entry criteria

Minimum entry criteria include:

English-language requirements
academic requirements.

Your work and life experience will also be considered.

To find specific entry requirements for this course, please select the section below that is most relevant to you.

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

: This information is relevant if, in the 2 years prior to studying with us, you have completed (or will complete) one of the following:

Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE)

an Australian or overseas equivalent to VCE

an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.
: This information is relevant if you have completed an accredited award (such as a certificate or diploma) at an Australian Registered Training Organisation (usually a TAFE, polytechnic or other registered VET institute).

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
: This information is relevant if you’ve previously completed all or part of a university or other higher-education course.

Admission criteria

Completion of at least one semester of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of a bridging or enabling course eg. Foundation course or equivalent.
: This information is relevant if you left secondary school more than two years ago and haven’t studied since.

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago.
PLUS:
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

VU Early Entry

If you're currently in Year 11 or 12, our exclusive VU Early Entry program comes with a Conditional Offer to the course of your choosing*, a personalised course plan, special events, exclusive discounts and access to one-on-one course advice.

*Conditions apply.

Learn more about VU Early Entry

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

You should carefully consider the inherent requirement statement as a:

guide for your learning during the course
way for you to identify challenges you may have in studying this course.

Learn more about inherent requirements

Additional information

Students will require a Working with Children Check and National Police Check to be eligible to undertake and participate in workplace visits, placements or projects. Use the following site links to obtain additional information:
http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274.

SUPERVISED PLACEMENT
The Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) Practicum Standards specify that for accreditation as an Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES), students need to complete a minimum total of 140 hours of practicum that is required to include at least 80 hours of activities to demonstrate competence in exercise assessment, prescription and delivery and up to 60 hours of any other activities within the scope of practice of an Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES). The exercise assessment and prescription hours must be to improve health and fitness, well-being, or performance, and not for the treatment and/or management of a clinical condition or injury. Exercise delivery hours can be with non-clinical clients or with clinical clients when prescription is provided by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) or qualified health professional. No more than 15 hours can be undertaken in a simulated learning environment (SLE).

In terms of Supervision arrangements for Practicum, Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) specifies that all supervisors must be appropriately qualified and experienced for the activity being supervised and supervisors of exercise delivery must be trained in exercise prescription. At least 80 hours of practicum must be supervised by one of more of: a supervisor with a Bachelor degree in exercise and sport science or higher, an Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) level 2 qualification for strength and conditioning placements, or a qualified physical education teacher for placements in a school setting. Up to 60 hours may be supervised by a professional holding a formally recognised qualification for the activity being supervised, with any exercise assessment, prescription and delivery hours supervised by such an individual overseen by a supervision plan with an appropriately qualified and experienced supervisor as specified above.

SCL3004 Sport and Exercise Practice is designed to ensure that students meet these Practicum Standards. SCL3004 provides for practical placement. Prior to commencing practical placement in SCL3004 students must have a valid working with children check, current police check, and first aid and CPR certificate. In SCL3004 students must pass a theory practical readiness test and a practical readiness test to determine competency for placement before commencing placement. Students must also submit a 140 hours practicum placement logbook indicating they have worked with apparently healthy clients, and have these hours signed off in accordance with Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) criteria, which must be graded by the practicum supervisor as “satisfactory”.

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Exercise Science (Sport Practice), students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of:

96 credit points of First Year Core units
144 credit points of Professional Core units
48 credit points of chosen Minor studies

Units

Fees & scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

Commonwealth supported fees

2026 CSP fees for domestic students will be published once they become available.

Scholarships

Careers

This course is designed to meet the accreditation standards set by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) for Exercise Scientists. Graduates are prepared for diverse careers across:

fitness and athletic performance
personal training
strength and conditioning coaching
occupational and corporate health
community health programs
preventative health services
education and research sectors.

Whether your passion lies in helping individuals improve their everyday health or in supporting athletes to reach their peak, this degree opens the door to a dynamic and meaningful career.

Accreditation

Successful completion of this course will make you eligible to apply for membership of the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) as an Exercise Scientist.