Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Nutrition Science
Deakin course code	D333
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	No
Duration	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	The course map for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	098564J Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Combine a drive for exercise and sport with a passion for food and nutrition with Deakin's Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science combined course. Offered by the #1 sport science school in the world^*, exercise and sport science at Deakin gives you a field-leading education in improving the performance, health and participation of individuals and teams. The nutrition science component gives you an understanding of the nature of food and the importance of nutrition for individual and population health.

Study two complementary fields and understand how athlete's bodies work, as well as the fuel required to unlock peak performance. You will have the opportunity to participate in up to 295 hours of invaluable practical experience across both study areas, and benefit from career mentoring; setting you apart from other graduates and opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

Want to graduate with the knowledge and skills to become an expert in elite athlete preparation?

Exercise and sport science at Deakin gives you the expertise to become a professional leader in the field. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the biology, technology, behaviour and best practices that underpin exercise and sport science.

You will have the opportunity to participate in two sport industry practical experiences during this course. In third year, students complete 80 hours of practical experience at a pre-approved host organisation through the Exercise Programming unit. The Exercise and Sports Science Practicum in your final year provides a minimum 140 hours of practical experience.

Additionally, you can choose to study the Food and Nutrition Practicum in your final year, giving you a further 75 hours of practical food or nutrition industry experience. Or you may wish to undertake an elective international study tour (run every two years) to learn about the context of food, nutrition and health from an international perspective, past countries have included the Netherlands, the US, Singapore and Malaysia.

Work-integrated learning experiences allow you to undertake hands-on training in a variety of sporting, exercise or health environments, and set you apart from other graduates. The roles can involve coaching, sport science, exercise research and fitness. Many graduates have even been offered employment based on their excellent fieldwork performance.

You can find work experience with a variety of organisations such as:

AFL/AFLW football clubs
VFL/VFLW football clubs
Football Federation Victoria
Tennis Australia
WNBL clubs
Cricket Australia
private strength and conditioning and high-performance centres (including Institutes of Sport)
recreational gyms
rehabilitation clinics.

The complementary nutrition science component of this course gives you an in-depth understanding of the nature of food and the importance of nutrition for wellbeing. Become career-ready with a comprehensive knowledge of human nutrition, as well as the complexity of current issues relating to food and health including:

the role of food in disease prevention
nutrition education and research
food choice and intake
food regulation
nutritional physiology
lifespan nutrition
sustainable food systems
the science of food

With an increase in demand for qualified nutrition professionals, you will be in a strong position to pursue diverse career opportunities. Combining studies in exercise, sports and nutrition sciences means you will be ready to take your expertise into the field and find new and innovative ways to promote health across a broad range of organisations and communities. Find out more about the exciting and diverse career opportunities across sport and nutrition.

Are you a current Year 12 student? If you attend a school in a regional or remote area or within the City of Greater Geelong you may be eligible to apply for this course through our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme using our dedicated VTAC codes. As an eligible applicant you may also receive up to a 10 aggregate point adjustment towards your entry score. Make the most of your ATAR.

Discover our sport courses.

^*Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

This course allows you to receive recognition from both nutrition and exercise and sport science professional bodies.

While studying, you’re eligible to apply for student membership with the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Graduates can apply for ordinary membership of NSA or apply to become a registered associate nutritionist. Registration ensures you’re recognised as a qualified nutrition professional in the field. The course is globally recognised too – as a graduate, you’re also eligible to apply to become a registered associate nutritionist with the Hong Kong Nutrition Association and the UK Association for Nutrition.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)

Be a sought-after accredited Exercise Scientist. When you graduate with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science, you will be eligible to apply for accreditation with the peak national accrediting body Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA). Deakin was first to achieve this nationally recognised accreditation in Victoria, a result of our long-standing commitment to high education standards and curriculum delivery in sport. For more information please refer to the ESSA-accredited course application process.

Recognition of Prior Learning will only be awarded based on formal learning, which includes at a minimum documented learning outcomes and assessments (eg. course transcripts and course completion certificates). Students who received credits based on informal learning (eg. work experience) will need to apply to become an accredited Exercise Scientist via the non-ESSA accredited course application pathway.

ESSA has implemented a new English language requirement if you’re seeking initial accreditation or reinstating accreditation to show English language competence. Find out if you need to take an English language test. If you have any questions about this new requirement, please contact ESSA on 07 3171 3335 or info@essa.org.au.

Career opportunities

There are diverse career opportunities across many roles and fields available for graduates of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition.

Accredited Exercise Scientists are qualified to prescribe exercise to improve health, wellbeing, fitness and performance, and to assist in the prevention of chronic conditions, at an individual, community or population level. As well as typical roles in the sport, exercise, coaching and fitness industries, you may pursue employment in sports science, community health and wellness, or rehabilitation.

Upon graduating, you may find employment opportunities in:

elite, professional sporting clubs
local and state government agencies
professional sporting bodies
local and community sporting clubs
hospital and rehabilitation clinics
fitness and aquatic centres
private health and recreation centres
large business organisations in corporate health.

Find out more about where your exercise and sport science degree can take you.

Registered Nutritionists are qualified to provide evidence-based advice on matters relating to food and its impact on human health, and mostly work in group/community settings. You will be well prepared for a nutrition-focused career and can work in areas in the nutrition and food industry such as:

human nutrition
population health
food analysis
food sustainability
food policy
nutrition and disease prevention
assessing and evaluating food intake

Find out more about where a qualification in nutrition can take you.

After successfully completing the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science, you may consider applying for further study to advance your career in the sport science and nutrition industry. We offer:

Participation requirements

The course contains compulsory practicum hours designed to meet the ESSA Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES) professional standards, which comprise a minimum of 80 hours of exercise prescription and 140 hours of work integrated learning in an area of exercise and sports science directly aligned to their chosen career path.

You can also choose to study the Food and Nutrition Practicum in your final year, giving you a further 75 hours of practical food or nutrition industry experience.

Upon achievement of the prerequisite requirements, placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks listed on the Important dates page.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability, and/or athletes registered with the Elite Athlete Friendly University program.

Mandatory student checks

Working with Children Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement units.

Police record check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement units.

Pathways

This course is a pathway to professional qualifications via postgraduate study and/or research (honours, masters or PhD level) such as Deakin's Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Graduate Diploma or Master of Applied Sport Science, Graduate Certificate of Strength and Conditioning, Graduate Certificate of Sport Performance Analysis or Master of Dietetics. Other study pathways may include human nutrition, sport management, education, ergonomics, podiatry and physiotherapy.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and well-developed theoretical and technical knowledge within the broad disciplines of exercise and sport science and nutrition, food and health.
Communication	Demonstrate clear and accurate communication using a range of modes to select and deliver relevant information.
Digital literacy	Use a range of digital tools within both exercise and sport science and nutrition, food and health environments to accurately and efficiently locate, evaluate, and disseminate information, including the collection and analysis of data.
Critical thinking	Use information from multiple sources of evidence to inform decision making applied to both exercise and sport science, and nutrition, food and health.
Problem solving	Independently deconstruct a range of real world and complex problems within both exercise and sport science, and nutrition, food and health environments to formulate, execute and evaluate possible solutions.
Self-management	Demonstrate the capacity to learn and work independently, taking personal responsibility for actions and outcomes commensurate with priorities and timeframes established both personally and by others.
Teamwork	Consistently demonstrate professional behaviours while making effective contributions across a range of roles when undertaking collaborative work within intra- and inter-disciplinary teams.
Global citizenship	Practise ethical and professional behaviours with an awareness of, and sensitivity to, diverse global and local perspectives in both exercise and sport science, and nutrition, food and health.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety (0-credit-point compulsory unit) prior to the first laboratory based unit in this course
SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit) prior to your SLE coded unit
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
- 16 credit points of core units
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Nutrition Science
- 15 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of HSN coded course elective
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and Bachelor of Nutrition Science must be satisfied

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Note:

All Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus enrolled students are required to attend seminars and practical laboratory classes (if any) at the Melbourne Burwood Campus for the units marked (#) below.
Burwood students will need to enrol into the Burwood unit offerings.
Geelong students can choose one from the below two options:
- Online unit offering: Attend two x 2 day intensive practical classes, one day for HSN104 The Science of Food and one day for HSN106 Food Fundamentals. These intensive practical sessions are typically conducted on a Saturday or Sunday at Burwood (Melbourne) Campus.
- Burwood unit offering: attend four practical classes at Burwood. Geelong students who choose to enrol into Burwood offering can only do so if there is capacity and via manual enrolment.

Course structure

Core units

Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2022 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2022 should refer to previous online Handbooks or contact a Student Adviser at Student Central.

Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information.

Year 1 - Trimester 1

SLE010

Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

HBS109

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology *

HSE113

Human Growth, Development and Ageing for Exercise Scientists

HSN101

Foundations of Food, Nutrition and Health *

SLE133

Chemistry in Our World **

Year 1 - Trimester 2

HSE010

Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0 credit points)

HSE102

Functional Human Anatomy *

HSE104

Research Methods and Data Analysis in Exercise and Sport

HSN107

Physiology of Human Growth and Development

SLE155

Chemistry for the Professional Sciences +

Year 2 - Trimester 1

HSE111

Physical Activity and Exercise for Health

HSE201

Exercise Physiology *

HSN104

The Science of Food (#)

SLE212

Biochemistry

Year 2 - Trimester 2

HSN010

Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety (0 credit points)

HSE103

Exercise Prescription and Delivery

HSE204

Motor Learning and Development

HSN106

Food Fundamentals (#)

SLE222

Biochemical Metabolism

Year 3 - Trimester 1

HSE212

Physical Activity Promotion and Evaluation

HSE302

Exercise Programming ^

HSN105

Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems

HSN211

Nutritional Physiology *

Year 3 - Trimester 2

HSE202

Biomechanics

HSE208

Integrated Human Physiology *

HSN202

Lifespan Nutrition

HSN305

Assessing Food Intake and Activity

Year 4 - Trimester 1

HSE312

Exercise and Sports Science Practicum ^

HSE323

Clinical and Sport Biomechanics

HSN301

Diet and Disease

HSN309

Food Policy and Regulation (#)

Year 4 - Trimester 2

HSE309

Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Sport and Exercise

HSE330

Nutrition for Exercise Scientists

HSN302

Population Nutrition

plus one nutrition elective unit (must be HSN coded unit from level 3)

* Unit also available in Trimester 3

** Unit also available in Trimester 2

^ Indicates compulsory practicum core unit students need to complete in this course - refer course structure

+ Assumed knowledge: SLE133 Chemistry in our World or high achievement in VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 (or equivalent)

Elective units

Select one unit

Trimester 2

HSN308

Food, Nutrition and Society

HSN311

Food and Nutrition Practicum

Trimester 3

HSN360

International Perspectives in Food and Nutrition (offered in even number years, e.g. 2024, 2026, etc)

Work experience

The Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science features two compulsory practical experiences through work-based practicum. In third year, students will complete 80 hours of work integrated learning in exercise assessment, prescription and delivery in both third and final year. In their fourth year, students will also complete 140 hours of work integrated learning in an exercise and sport science setting directly related to their career path.

These work integrated learning experiences provide you with the opportunity to undertake hands-on experience in a variety of sporting, exercise or health environments. These may vary from local, state or national sporting organisations and professional sporting clubs; state and national institutes of sport; as well as health, and fitness providers. The roles can involve coaching, sport science, sports administration, sport management, exercise research and fitness, while many graduates have been offered subsequent employment based on their excellent practicum/fieldwork performance.

In addition to work integrated learning experiences in sporting, exercise or health environments, you may also choose to gain further practical experience through studying HSN311 Food and Nutrition Practicum as an elective in your final year. This allows you to build industry experience and connections while applying your skills alongside established nutritionists.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.