Sport, Exercise, Health and Physical Education Discipline

School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Improving the health and wellbeing of individuals through nutrition, physical activity and sporting excellence.

Sport, exercise, health and physical education

Exercise and physical fitness are crucial for all of our wellbeing, from the rehabilitation of chronic medical conditions through to fine-tuning the performance of elite sports professionals.

Accredited sport and exercise scientists develop interventions that improve health and fitness and assist in the prevention of chronic conditions, and can provide expert advice and support to athletes and coaches to help them understand and enhance sports performance. Exercise physiologists are qualified allied health professionals equipped with the knowledge and ability to design and deliver safe and effective exercise interventions for people with medical conditions, injuries or disabilities.

Our Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and Bachelor of Cinical Exercise Physiology courses are accredited with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), ensuring our students graduate ready for real-world practice as qualified sports scientists and exercise physiologists.

We are globally recognised for our cutting-edge research that makes significant advancements for sports and physical health, and pass that knowledge on to our students via our expert teachers who have industry experience that spans hospitals, private practice, and research.

Our students gain practical experience through QUT Health Clinics, which provides interdisciplinary healthcare for local communities and families. The Exercise Physiology Clinic provides students with a safe and supportive learning environment to apply their clinical skills and develop professional competencies for their transition to the real world, supervised by accredited Clinical Exercise Physiologists.

Our courses are accredited with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)

Taking you further

'During my undergraduate sport and exercise science studies at QUT I developed a passion for exercise physiology. In particular, how to improve the performance and recovery of athletes. This inspired me to progress to a Master of Philosophy focused on the physiological responses and adaptations to exercise in extreme hot and humid environmental conditions. QUT has some of the leading experts in environmental physiology, neuromuscular fatigue, and sports science, as well as world-class laboratory spaces and equipment, so the choice to undertake my research here was easy.'

Benjamin McMaster

Gain real-world experience

'I found the experience at both the QUT Health Clinics and my external practicum sites invaluable. By my final year I was confident consulting one-on-one with patients, performing blood pressure readings, blood glucose tests, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular assessments. The experience I gained at the QUT Health Clinics equipped me to handle complex patient cases at external placement sites.'

Clare Dal Bon

Achieve your dreams

'I love studying at QUT because it allows me to meet incredible people in incredible facilities. As part of my time with the Brisbane Roar, we've been allowed to go along to Suncorp and learn about all the processes that go behind each and every game. What I've enjoyed most about this experience would be the opportunity to put what I've learned over the years at QUT into a real world situation.'

Frankie Devitt

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Career paths

Want to help others improve their health and wellbeing, and motivate them to make lifelong changes for the better? A career in sport and exercise science or clinical exercise physiology might be for you!

Sport and exercise scientists generally work within fitness and sport, whereas clinical physiologists work in disease prevention and rehabilitation in clinical settings.

Sport and exercise scientist

Sport and exercise scientists apply their knowledge about exercise and its effect on the body to a variety of careers including fitness, strength and conditioning coaching, performance analysis, corporate health, or exercise and sport science research. A research career can lead to developments in sport and exercise science that result in healthier communities, and fitter and stronger athletes.

Our degree in sport and exercise science is one of the first university programs in Australia to offer a clear pathway into a career as an accredited exercise scientist or accredited sports scientist. Possible careers include:

Corporate health officer
Performance analyst
Personal trainer
Sports scientist
Strength and conditioning coach
Wellness consultant

Clinical exercise physiologist

Clinical exercise physiologists have expert knowledge about how exercise can improve health and fitness or reduce the onset of chronic disease and its related symptoms. They are skilled in developing rehabilitation programs for patients with acute and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

Our clinical exercise physiology degree opens doors to a career as an accredited exercise physiologist, with opportunities to work in hospitals and clinics for prevention and rehabilitation of injuries and a range of cardiac, musculoskeletal, occupational, neurological and psychological disorders. Graduates can also move into private practice and work as specialists in clinical diagnostics, exercise programming and health promotion. Possible careers include: