Institute of Technology or Polytechnic
Southern Institute of TechnologyBachelor of Sport and Exercise
This course is available
On-Campus
Level of Study
Bachelor's Degree
Duration
3 years
Next start date
Expected Feb 2027
Campus
Invercargill Campus
Summary
If you're passionate about movement and full of energy, consider studying Sport and Exercise. This high-quality degree can pave the way for a fulfilling career in sport, exercise, recreation management, fitness, nutrition, health, teaching/coaching and education in the outdoors.
You will begin by studying foundation papers in exercise conditioning, nutrition, sport science, sports performance, personal training and management, before choosing a specialisation that aligns with your career goals. Combining scientific knowledge with practical, hands-on experience in small classes, the programme is designed to develop the skills, confidence, and industry experience needed to succeed in the sport, exercise, health, and recreation sectors.
This quality degree offers the opportunity to major in:
- Exercise Science and Health Promotion
- Teaching and Coaching
- Sport and Recreation Management
Study areas include anatomy, physiology, exercise prescription, strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports performance, coaching, rehabilitation, sports medicine, psychology, exercise physiology, outdoor projects, planning outdoor education, research, industry placements and advanced marketing, event management, sport science, teaching/coaching, applied exercise and nutrition/exercise as medicine.
A strong emphasis on Sport and Exercise Science allows students to explore how the body responds and adapts to exercise, performance, training, recovery, and rehabilitation. Students gain practical experience conducting fitness and performance assessments, analysing data, and applying evidence-based approaches to improve health, wellness, and athletic performance.
Students work with industry-leading equipment in SIT's Human Performance Centre, including a VO₂ metabolic cart, EMG and ECG system, an antigravity treadmill, 3D body composition analyser, watt-bikes, an eccentric bike, and a range of specialist testing and exercise equipment.
Regular opportunities to work with clients (including local high-performance athletes) provide valuable real-world experience and help students apply classroom learning in practical settings. Graduates leave with a strong foundation in sport and exercise science, supported by practical skills and industry experience that are highly valued by employers and further study providers alike.
Entry criteria
School Leavers
University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 - Three subjects at Level 3 or above made up of the following:
- 14 credits each, in three approved subjects
- Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing
- Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above made up of specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects or unit standards - package of three numeracy unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627 - all three required
Notwithstanding the stated criteria, applicants will be considered where they can demonstrate a likelihood of success in the programme. This includes commitment to a sporting code and/or recent experience working in a sport and exercise related capacity in a sports related business or gym.
Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. This includes successful completion of a programme of study at Level 4 or above and/or commitment to a sporting code and/or recent experience working in a sport and exercise related capacity in a sports related business or gym.
All applicants will be required to undergo police vetting for criminal convictions. This information will be shared as required with any placement agency as the majority of agencies working with children and young person’s now require this information to assist them in determining whether to accept students on placement. It is the agency’s right not to accept students and therefore some criminal convictions may seriously impede the student ability to complete the qualification.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band
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Please note that degrees and qualifications earned via remote or distance learning are excluded from the overseas credential evaluation and recognition services provided by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). For more information, please contact CSCSE directly: +86-10-62677800 (phone) or visit their website(external link that opens in a new tab).
You can learn more about international recognition of New Zealand qualifications on the NZQA website.