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BSc (Hons)
Dance and Exercise Science
Key Information
Academic Year
Combine dance, fitness, and the science of human movement
If you want to develop as a dancer while understanding how the body moves, performs, and responds to exercise, BSc (Hons) Dance and Exercise Science at the University of Lincoln is the course for you.
Dance and Exercise Science brings together dance technique, choreography, performance, and teaching with the scientific study of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, conditioning, and nutrition. You'll learn how to move creatively and perform effectively, while understanding the science that supports physical performance, fitness, health, and wellbeing.
You'll study across the Lincoln School of Creative Arts and the School of Psychology, Sport Science and Wellbeing, giving you the opportunity to develop both creative and scientific expertise. This combination can help prepare you for careers across dance, fitness, health, wellbeing, education, and community settings, while providing a foundation for further professional training or postgraduate study.
Why study Dance and Exercise Science at Lincoln?
BSc (Hons) Dance and Exercise Science is designed for students who want to combine creative practice with an evidence-informed understanding of movement, fitness, health, and wellbeing.
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Train in dance and develop your creative practice through technique, choreography, performance, and practical studio work.
- Understand the science behind movement through areas including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, conditioning, and nutrition.
- Tailor your studies by choosing two specialist Sport and Exercise Science strands at each level from Sport Psychology, Movement Analysis, Physiology, and Strength, Conditioning and Nutrition.
- Apply theory to practice, using scientific knowledge to understand movement, support physical preparation, and promote health and wellbeing.
- Build professional and transferable skills, including communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, and reflective practice.
- Develop experience across different professional contexts, including performance, teaching, fitness, health, wellbeing, and community practice.
- Prepare for employment or further study, with the course designed around the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of careers involving movement, physical activity, health, and wellbeing.
The course also reflects professional expectations across the sector through consideration of Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA) standards. The programme is not intended to provide direct professional accreditation, but its curriculum is designed to reflect industry expectations and support professional development.
What you'll learn
Dance, performance, and choreography
You'll develop your technical and creative abilities through practical dance training, choreography, performance projects, and reflective practice.
You'll learn to:
- Develop technical ability, physical confidence, and performance skills.
- Explore choreography and creative decision-making.
- Apply different approaches to movement and performance.
- Work collaboratively on creative projects.
- Reflect critically on your own practice and development.
- Understand the professional expectations associated with dance and performance.
The science of movement and performance
Alongside your dance studies, you'll explore the scientific principles that underpin human movement and physical performance. Depending on your choices, you'll study areas including:
- Sport Psychology – exploring psychological factors affecting performance, participation, and wellbeing.
- Movement Analysis – understanding how and why the body moves and how movement can be analysed.
- Physiology – examining how the body responds to exercise and physical activity.
- Strength, Conditioning and Nutrition – exploring physical preparation and factors that support performance and health.
This interdisciplinary approach means you won't simply learn about dance or fitness separately. You'll develop an understanding of how creative movement, physical performance, and scientific knowledge can work together.
Learn through practice
Teaching is designed to connect academic knowledge with practical application.
You'll learn through a combination of:
- Studio-based dance practice.
- Performance and choreography projects.
- Lectures and seminars.
- Workshops.
- Laboratory-based teaching.
- Presentations and group activities.
- Applied projects and independent study.
- Reflective and evidence-based practice.
Assessment reflects this practical focus, with students completing work such as performances, choreographic projects, portfolios, presentations, laboratory reports, case studies, and reflective assignments.
Support and student experience
Learn from established expertise
The programme draws on existing teaching expertise, modules, and facilities from Lincoln's established Dance and Sport and Exercise Science expertise. This means you'll learn across disciplines that already have subject-specific expertise and established teaching environments. The programme has also been developed with input from students, graduates, and external expertise in dance science, performance psychology, dancer wellbeing, and professional development.
A practical, collaborative learning environment
You'll learn alongside other students through practical classes, collaborative projects, performance work, choreography, teaching activities, and group-based tasks. The course is designed to help you build confidence progressively, while encouraging you to reflect on your development and connect your learning with your future career ambitions.
Academic and professional development
You'll be encouraged to become a reflective practitioner who can connect academic knowledge with practical experience. Support includes learning through lectures, seminars, studio sessions, laboratory teaching, practical activities, projects, and independent study. The programme also incorporates opportunities for professional development, leadership, and reflection, helping you build the confidence to move from university study into employment or further training.
Careers and future opportunities
The combination of dance, fitness, and sport and exercise science can give you a broader range of potential career directions than studying either discipline in isolation.
Depending on your interests and further training, potential careers include:
- Dance performer
- Choreographer
- Dance teacher or instructor
- Fitness instructor
- Personal trainer
- Sports coach
- Exercise referral practitioner
- Community health and wellbeing practitioner
- Public health roles
- Performance support roles
- Dance and movement wellbeing roles
- Roles within education, fitness, health, wellbeing, and the creative industries
The proposal identifies dance performance and choreography, dance teaching, fitness instruction, personal training, sports coaching, community health and wellbeing, exercise referral, public health, and performance support among the potential career pathways.
Where could further study take you?
The course can provide a foundation for postgraduate study and professional training in areas such as:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Dance Movement Psychotherapy
- Sport and Exercise Science
- Dance Science
- Other postgraduate study across health, wellbeing, education, and the creative industries.
Some of these careers require additional postgraduate professional training, so the degree should be viewed as preparation for further study rather than direct entry into regulated healthcare professions.
Build experience that supports your career
Professional development is embedded throughout the course. You'll develop your confidence through practical experience, independent learning, evidence-based practice, and opportunities for industry engagement and work-related learning.
You may also have opportunities to engage with organisations and employers including NHS trusts, local authorities, charities, gyms and fitness centres, private physiotherapy practices, care homes, and community organisations, with potential opportunities for work experience, volunteering, placements, speakers, and applied learning.
Entry Requirements 2027-28
United Kingdom
104 to 112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications.
If you are eligible for a contextual offer, a one grade or 8 UCAS Tariff point reduction to the standard entry requirements will be applied.
A Level: BBC
BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
T Level: Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points.
International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall
GCSE's: Minimum of three at grade 4 or above, which must include English . Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may be considered.
The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
We may also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.
Additional requirements:
- Applicants will be invited to attend an audition.
International
Non UK Qualifications:
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk
Contextual Offers
At Lincoln, we recognise that not everybody has had the same advice and support to help them get to higher education. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education, ensuring that we have fair access for all students regardless of background and personal experiences. For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit our Offer Guide pages. If you are applying to a course that has any subject specific requirements, these will still need to be achieved as part of the standard entry criteria.Is this course right for you?
Dance and Fitness could be a good choice if you:
Want to develop your dance skills while exploring the science of movement and physical performance.
- Enjoy practical learning and want to apply what you learn
- Are interested in careers across dance, fitness, health, wellbeing, education, or community practice.
- Want more flexibility than a traditional single-subject dance degree can offer.
- Are curious about anatomy, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, conditioning, or nutrition.
- Want to develop both creative and scientific skills.
- Are considering further professional training or postgraduate study after your degree.
If you want a degree that connects creative performance with the science of movement, BA (Hons) Dance and Fitness offers a distinctive route into a broad range of careers and further study.
Fees and Funding
University Study is a major investment, so it’s important to understand the costs and support available. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found below. Eligible students may be able to access scholarships and bursaries to help with study costs.