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Course review
Review by: Georgie W
University: Swansea University
Course: Sports Science
Year of study: 2nd
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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The course in general
How many contact hours do you have in the average week?
15-20
Ideally, what 3/4 subjects would you recommend doing in order to be in the best position for your course?
Psychology, Maths, Biology, and Physical Education
Why did you decide to study your degree programme?
I have a big sporting background and a keen interest in sport and how and why we take part in sport.
Explain the things you wish you'd known about your degree before you applied:
I wish I'd known how much the kit was all going to cost!
Describing your average day
Explain how your day is made up. For example, do you have labs/seminars/tutorials/lectures?
Mostly we have lectures with labs for exercise physiology, coaching science and psychology. Lectures last either 1 or 2 hours and they normal involve a lecturer going through a PowerPoint and us taking notes while he or she speaks.
Labs occur for the three modules stated above every 2-3 weeks in small groups of between 15-25.
How much extra work/reading are you required to do out of lectures?
You are given reading lists at the beginning of the year and they are also available online.
In first year, alot of reading is not required as it is a basic follow on from A-Level PE. However in your second year there is more work. In particular, exercise physiology has additional required reading.
A bit of work outside of lectures is required to do assignments but this is depending on how well you want to do.
The best and worst parts of the course
What do you like best about your degree programme?
It is a broad subject for 1st and 2nd year with 3 key areas; physiology, psychology and biomechanics.
The key benefit of the degree at Swansea is that you can specialise in your third year.
What do you like least about your degree programme?
I don't really enjoy the more science based part of the degree since I do not have a good background in this area.
Academics and course content
What do you think of your university's academics and facilities?
Swansea has very good academic facilities which are available for both labs and research purposes. The university has a large motion analysis lab and a large physiology lab.
Swansea has fabulous sporting facilities with a large sports village with a sports hall, squash courts, large university gym and outdoor and indoor athletic track. The sports village is also right next to the Welsh national swimming pool. There are several football, rugby and cricket pitches. However, the biggest appeal for me was the 2 all weather pitches for my main sport - hockey. These pitches are used for weekday pitch training for hockey, rugby, football, American football and lacrosse.
Explain how you expected your course to be and how it compares to how it actually is. Give an outline of the content of the course.
The course covers three main areas; physiology, psychology and biomechanics. Basic information is given in first year via PowerPoint's and lecture notes.
Lab sessions take place to aid learning whereas practical sessions take place to aid knowledge application in a sporting situation i.e. coaching science.
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University review
Review by: Georgie W
University: Swansea University
Course: Sports Science
Year of study: 2nd
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Visit the Swansea University forum and see what people are discussing right now!
Click here to go back
Describing your university
Sum up your university in one paragraph:
Swansea is a fabulous university with good town, beach and country access. As a campus based university it has good facilities and good transport links. It also offers good sporting facilities for the beginners to the elite.
What is the academic life like at your university?
There are good course facilities with several computer suites and a large library.
Describe your Freshers' Week - was it as you expected, better or worse? Why?
Amazing, with a good variety of nights available. Also the Fresher's Fair during the first week was really useful as all the societies and sports teams were there so it was easy to join.
What is the best and worst thing about your university?
Best - wonderful location as the beach is 5 minutes walk away from campus and if you are a keen surfer as well, you are 15 minutes away from the better surfing beaches further up the Gower.
Accommodation prices are cheaper in comparison to English universities. Due the Uni being campus based, everything is all closed located, especially if you're actually living on campus.
It is a small university which allows you to meet lots of people.
There are good sporting facilities only 5 minutes from campus and a taxi ride into town for nights out is only £5. There are good, cheap nights out with Wednesdays spent on Wind Street (or Wine Street as it is called by students!) and Mondays in Oceania (the biggest one in the UK). Very good nights can also be
spent in Sin City on Thursdays, or at the union on Fridays/Saturdays.
Worst- You may have issues getting accomodation in your 1st year on campus or the Student village due to demand. Also the student village is 15 minutes away from campus which can be an issue. Large library but is a nightmare around exam times.
Sport and extra curricular
What are the sport and other activities on offer like at your university?
There are very good sporting opportunities at Swansea from the traditional sports like rugby, football and hockey to small sports like boxing and rowing. The biggest sporting day of the year is Varisty versus Cardiff which is an amazing day with twenty of our 1st teams playing.
There are lots of other activities ranging from the Dance Society and Cheerleading, to Law Society and Chess!
The social scene
What is the social scene (and/or nightlife) like at your university? Is it particularly alcohol orientated?
There is agood mixture of social scenes, with several pubs and clubs down Wine street. Wednesday nights are very good down Wine street as it is Sports night with the night finishing at Play. Also the union bar is good on Friday and Saturday nights and especially at the end of exams.
There is a bar in town called Monkey which is an alternate club for rock music, and there is Sin City and a few gay clubs as well. A large Oceania has opened recently as well which is very good on Monday nights as it's a student night.
What do you think of the city your university is based in or near (as a city)?
There are quite good shopping facilities, restaurants, bars and two cinemas. The city is also near to the Liberty Stadium for Osprey games (Rugby Union) and Swansea City (Football games). The city is close to the beaches and has good train and road access.
Accommodation
Do you live in a halls of residence or a student house (or college)? What would you suggest is best in your opinion?
During my first two years at university I have lived in private rental housing in the Uplands and Brynmill area. Although you do meet more people in the first few weeks if you live in the halls of residence but it is a lot cheaper to live in private housing.
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