This combined course gives you the opportunity to study two complementary fields and understand how the whole athlete works, as well as the fuel required to enable them to perform at their best. Discover wide-ranging career opportunities when you combine a drive for exercise and sports with a passion for food and nutrition.

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

Exercise and sports science at Deakin gives you a nationally recognised, field-leading education in improving the performance, health and participation of individuals and teams through structured exercise, training, coaching and advice. You will develop the expertise to become a professional leader in the field, and 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 second year, students complete 80 hours of practical experience in Exercise Programming. The Exercise and Sports Science Practicum in final year offers a minimum 140 hours of practical experience.

Additionally, you can choose to study the Food and Nutrition Practicum in your final year, giving you 100 hours of practical food or nutrition industry experience.

These experiences are a core feature of this Deakin course which, combined with one-on-one career mentoring by staff, sets you apart from other graduates.

These work-integrated learning experiences give you the opportunity to undertake hands-on experience in a variety of sporting, exercise or health environments, and set you apart from other graduates. The roles can involve coaching, sport science, sports administration, sport management, 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/VFL football clubs
• Basketball Victoria
• Cricket Victoria
• Cycling Victoria
• Football Federation Victoria
• health and fitness providers
• recreational gyms
• rehabilitation clinics
• state and national sporting organisation and clubs
• state and national institutes of sport
• Tennis Australia.

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

• bone health
• cardiovascular disease
• children’s food habits
• food policy, regulation and sustainability
• nutrition and ageing
• social and physiological aspects of food and nutrition.

With an increase in demand for qualified nutrition professionals, you will be in a strong position to pursue various career opportunities.

Combining studies in exercise and 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.

As well as typical roles in the sport, exercise, coaching and fitness industries, you may pursue employment in:

• sports administration
• facility management
• community health and wellness
• rehabilitation
• sport science.

Other employment opportunities include:

• 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.
   

You will also be well prepared for a nutrition-focused career and can work in areas in the nutrition and food industry such as::

• food analysis
• food manufacturing
• food quality and safety
• food laboratories and research institutes
• food policy and regulation
• food wholesale and retail
• individual and population health
• nutrition research and education
• public health nutrition
• community nutrition
• consumer education and awareness campaigns
• nutrition and agribusiness
• product development
• sensory analysis.