The Bachelor of Science in Human Movement and Sport Sciences comprises one main discipline, the Major in Human Movement and Sport Sciences, and one secondary discipline, the Minor.
Human movement and sport sciences are necessarily multifaceted, since they address a phenomenon that is not only biological but also physiological, psychological, social, historical and economic, at different levels.
Physiology and psychology analyse the constraints that internal biological or mental processes impose on human behaviour. The sociological approach is a way of addressing sport as a phenomenon that has repercussions on both the local and national economy, and on political life.
The practice of physical activities in art or sport, as well as techniques designed to manage vital functions to achieve control of the body, show how these constraints can be partially overcome through appropriate education. Similarly, these practices highlight the close interdependence between body and mind, which can be approached through the study of numerous disciplines in the human sciences.
The Minor is to be chosen from the list below. Some Minors are taught at the University of Geneva.
Before you can start the Bachelor's degree course in Sport Sciences and Physical Education, you must pass a preliminary examination of physical skills. Detailed information on this page
Studies and elite sport
UNIL offers adjustments for elite athletes. Deadline for application: 30 April. Further information
Studying with the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences offers a wide range of options. As a result, graduates in Human Movement and Sports Sciences work in a variety of areas, in numerous professional sectors.
Except for a few specialist areas that require qualifications in a particular field (such as teaching), graduates may move into sectors that do not necessarily have a direct link with their discipline.
Career prospects depend partly on the choice of Master’s course.
Areas of activity
State and private schools: teaching physical education and another area
Private businesses: for example, teaching physical activities in a company, organising and managing sports camps, sports and health centres, and gyms
Rehabilitation centres, hospitals, specialist institutions and health and social care institutions
Sports associations and federations: training, management, consultancy and communication
Every two years, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (OFS) conducts a survey on graduate employment, one year after students have completed their course. View the results for Human Movement and Sports Sciences online:
Results of the survey for UNIL graduates specifically
Robin Favre
Graduate, Bachelor of Science in Human Movement and Sport Sciences
How did you choose your studies?
"We're lucky enough to see a wide variety of sports during the courses. The great thing is that, thanks to the practical classes, you quickly develop very strong bonds with the other students! They're generally very close-knit groups."
After high school, I took a sabbatical year during which I was in the army as well as doing high-level sport. I then enrolled in movement and sport sciences at UNIL. I chose this course because, as I already knew a lot about sport, I wanted to discover all the management and organisational aspects involved. Being able to do this while remaining active and making links with my sporting activity was very fulfilling for me. I really enjoyed my Bachelor's degree, and I hope I'll enjoy my Master's as much! I've signed up for the Master's in Movement and Sport Sciences, with a focus on sport and leisure management. It's more of a marketing and event management orientation.
There is an entrance exam for the Bachelor's degree in Human Movement and Sport Sciences at UNIL. Although difficult, it really isn't insurmountable. The main purpose of this exam is to check whether you have a basic level of knowledge, and it's important to prepare well before taking it, even if you're an athlete. I'd advise you to plan at least two or three months in advance, and to be well informed. All the information is on the Institut des sciences du sport website and that of the ESSUL student association. We're even preparing a brochure on the exercises you need to do to get ready. It's all about varied training, because the exam is just as varied: there's a running test, apparatus, and so on. And even a choreography!
As an elite athlete, I didn't need to take the entrance exam. My friends tease me about it, but it also means that you don't have the training for all the sports you start at university, which you then have to learn on the job!
In terms of my studies, having taken a year off, I went from nothing to everything. That said, I was lucky enough to start part-time, which enabled me to adapt gradually. This situation was due to my practising biathlon at elite level alongside my studies, which I stopped in my second year in order to be full-time at university. We're lucky enough to see a wide variety of sports during the courses. The great thing is that, thanks to the practical classes, you quickly develop very strong bonds with the other students! They're generally very close-knit groups. The relationship with the teachers is also different from other faculties; for example, you quickly get on their first-name basis when practising sport. It's a really cool atmosphere! The only disadvantage of doing sport during the week to earn credits is that if you get injured, you risk losing a year's study because you'll only be able to take the theory classes. Even if the practical courses seem to be a panacea, you mustn't forget that they only represent a minority of the courses (24 credits) and that the rest of the courses are purely theoretical and far from obvious. But that doesn't mean you can't complete your Bachelor's degree, since you can do it in five years if you need to!
I think you need to be versatile, dynamic and open-minded to study these subjects. Depending on whether you're more used to ball sports or aesthetic sports, for example, you won't have the same basic abilities and you have to be prepared to get out of your comfort zone. In fact, you're going to make a fool of yourself lots of times, and that's what's so much fun!
Exchanges and mobility
Going on a university exchange is a unique and highly rewarding experience, provided you prepare well. The first thing to remember is that you need to start taking steps well in advance. For example, if you're planning to go away in your 3rd year of a bachelor's degree, you should start taking steps at the beginning of your 2nd year at the latest.
