Fitness Health and Exercise HND

Course code 006C

What is special about this course?

The HND Fitness, Health and Exercise* is designed to build on the HNC award and develop your skills and knowledge. You will advance your study of fitness, health and exercise activities and related areas, specifically increasing awareness of the interdisciplinary nature of fitness and health and developing an understanding of the need to involve participants fully in their own fitness and health development.

You will be able to give ownership of programmes to individuals, enabling optimum customer service and developing and applying transferable exercise skills with specific populations.

*subject to revalidation

Special features

  • On completion of this course you may also be eligible to apply to go on the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) register, therefore better preparing you for employment in the industry
  • You will have the opportunity to make use of sport and fitness facilities across the region

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

Entry to Year 1 of this course, HNC:

  • 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
  • 2 A Levels at grade D or above
  • These should preferably include English plus a science subject or Mathematics
  • Alternatively, the completion of a relevant sports-related NC or NQ at SCQF level 6 or above
  • For mature student entry, requisite experience with evidence of potential to succeed
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply, appropriate industry related experience will be taken into consideration
  • You may be required to attend an interview
  • This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Advanced entry:

  • For Year 2 entry, all applicants must have achieved HNC Fitness, Health and Exercise Group Award (15 credits) and be accepted as a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme member through your campus system. Placements cannot be started without this

Year 1 - HNC

Year 1 of the HND is the HNC Fitness Health and Exercise.

Year 2 - HND

Mandatory units are:

  • Applied exercise prescription for specialist population groups 
  • Applied fitness assessment for specialist population groups 
  • Applied nutrition assessment and prescription 
  • Current exercise trends 
  • Fitness, health and exercise: graded unit 2 
  • Getting started in business

Option units may include:

  • Core strength and posture
  • Deliver personal training sessions
  • Flexibility training
  • Mechanics for the health and fitness professional
  • Metabolic considerations for personal trainers
  • Planning and management of personal training
  • Research in sport and fitness: an introduction

Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus.

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • Part-time (unstructured)
  • You will study by way of face-to-face lectures and tutorials in the classroom, and practical work in campus sports facilities

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 2 years
  • Part-time (structured): 4 years
  • Part-time (unstructured): 4 years +

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness
  • Perth

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £474

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775
Part-time (per HN credit) £532 £585

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

On completion of your course you might want to consider the following employment opportunities:

  • Fitness instructor
  • Personal trainer
  • Gym supervisors/managers
  • Community activity development
  • Active schools coordinator

Opportunities also exist within the NHS and private training providers, as well as self-employment.

Can I progress into further study?

On successful completion of the HND Fitness, Health and Exercise, you may be able to progress to the third year of the BSc (Hons) Sport and Fitness or the BA (Hons) Sports Management.

Is there more information available online?

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What makes the course special is the small class sizes and the way you can build up good relationships with the lecturers. They are very supportive and easy to communicate with. The course is ideal for opening your eyes to the different opportunities sport and fitness has to offer. It’s a great pathway to my future career. 

Iona studied Sport and fitness at UHI Perth.  

Apply for Fitness Health and Exercise HND

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.