Two popular courses at Liverpool Hope University have been officially endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, or ‘BASES’, is the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.
The Association’s overriding vision is to ‘lead the advancement of knowledge and evidence-based practice within the UK’s sport and exercise sciences for the benefit of human performance, health and education’.
And now BASES has handed a prestigious ‘endorsement’ to two of Hope’s degree programmes - the BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science, as well as the BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science that also includes a Foundation Year.
The endorsement comes as part of BASES ‘Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme’, or ‘BUES’, which recognises ‘courses that provide undergraduates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills essential to enter into the profession.’
Professor Simon Marwood, Subject Lead for Sport & Exercise Science and Sport Rehabilitation at Hope, welcomed the endorsement.
He said: “Endorsement by BASES is recognition of what we always knew - that our programmes of study are a first class place to start a career in sport and exercise science, where students will not only excel in their knowledge in the subject, but also will develop their personal and professional attributes, ready for the workplace.”
When reviewing a course to see if it deserves an endorsement, BASES considers the curriculum, the practical experience gained by students and the resources and facilities of the institution.
It means Hope joins the likes of Loughborough University, Leeds Beckett University and the University of Bath in having sport science courses endorsed by BASES.
One recent graduate from Hope’s BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science course is Sophie Matthews, a keen athlete and runner who has a strong interest in performance analysis and improvement, particularly when it comes to biomechanical support. 
She said: “I really enjoyed the practical sessions at Hope, getting to grips with all of the equipment in the laboratories.
“We’ve covered some fascinating subjects, including the difference in male and female kicking techniques in football, as well as focusing on stride length and stride frequency, trying to figure which elements of which can potentially make you run faster.
“And that valuable practical experience should hopefully hold me in good stead in terms of my future career.”