Frequently Asked Questions
What are the entry requirements for this program?
Click here for information on
entry requirements and
alternative entry avenues.
Also see
Assumed Knowledge and
HSC Plus.
I really want to be able to do this Health and Exercise Science course, but I am afraid that I won't get the marks?
See entry requirments and alternative entry above.
Can I undertake this program as a part-time student?
No. Currently you are required to enroll as a full-time student but you may seek permission to reduce your full-time load. Note part-time enrolment requires your attendance at the Kensington campus. Attendance is for lectures, tutorials and practical / laboratory sessions.Attendance is compulsory for a minimum of 80% of those scheduled. Lectures, tutorials and practicals are run between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday for lectures.
Can I do this program as distance education?
No. The Bachelor of Health and Exercise Science degree program is a highly practically orientated, science based program. Therefore it is not possible to deliver the level of practical experience required via distance education to undergraduate students. Attendance is required for two 12 week semesters each year and for examinations.
Can I get advanced standing for tertiary courses that I have already completed?
Yes. Tertiary level courses (subjects) that are comparable in content will be credited towards your degree program. Credit for prior learning will be at the discretion of the Program Director.
What kind of jobs can I apply for?
When you have completed the Bachelor of Health & Exercise Science program you will be a qualified exercise scientist eligible to apply for membership with the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science.
Employment opportunities for graduates will exist in two major fields: high performance sport and the health care industry.
Graduates will leave the program and choose to specialize. Major specializations include exercise physiology, strength & conditioning / musculoskeletal rehabilitation, biomechanics.
Each of these specializations can be applied in the two industries.
Exercise physiology can be performance monitoring through exercise testing. Elite athletes rely on this to know whether their training is causing improvement. Elite sport includes sporting teams, elite able bodied and disabled athletes. The exercise physiologist is qualified to assess physical performance of an athlete. This involves either the development of or implementation of existing testing procedures. Information will be acquired throughout the training and competition cycles of and athlete. This information is then used by the coach to refine the athlete’s training program.
This kind of testing and exercise prescription is used in health care for people who are recovering from major accidents or injury or illness. The exercise physiologist is trained in targeting advice strategically for optimizing compliance to activity. Training also allows the physiologist to advise individuals who may have risk factors for disease or be recuperating from a illness of condition (eg. a heart attack).
Strength & conditioning / musculoskeletal rehabilitation is for people recovering from major accidents or injuries or suffering a disease that affects the musculoskeletal system. In this context you are working as part of a rehabilitation team and intervention would be in the post acute phase of rehabilitation (ie wks and months after the initial injury). Strength and conditioning is an essential part of high performance staff and requires specialized staff.
Biomechanics relates to the quantitative analysis of movement. This is used in sport for improving efficiency and technique of movement. It is used in rehabilitation to provide direction for clinicians and other practitioners about what needs to improve to improve movement.
As an allied health professional the exercise physiologist is using their specialist knowledge to help a patient achieve the best outcome regarding functional performance. This involves specialist knowledge of the healing processes in skeletal muscle, bone and the cardiorespiratory systems. This knowledge is then used to assist the patient regain muscle strength or cardiorespiratory condition. This rehabilitation work is carried out amongst a team of health professionals including medical staff (rehabilitation specialists, cardiologists, specialist surgeons etc), physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nursing staff.
What kind of salary can I expect to earn?
The Australian Association of Exercise and Sports Scientists has a salary scale which is comparable to the income earned by physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Are there any scholarships available for students in this program?
There are scholarships available for entry into the University but not the program specifically. For information on University scholarships, including the Ben Lexcen Sporting Scholarships, please visit the
UNSW scholarships webpages.