Katie Twell

Why I chose Surrey 

The Sport and Exercise Science BSc at Surrey stood out to me, mainly because of the range of placement opportunities on offer and the fact it had a scientific focus. I was looking for a course that placed a heavy emphasis on the science in sport, as opposed to coaching or the sociology of sport. Also, the vocational qualifications gained alongside the degree (which ultimately helped me to get part-time work alongside my studies) were really appealing. The beautiful campus sealed the deal when I came to visit on an Open Day! 

My best experiences 

I loved my time at Surrey, and particularly enjoyed my placement year, working in an exercise physiology lab. I also thoroughly enjoyed getting to select my own dissertation project, where I chose to research the impact of the menstrual cycle on strength and power. Getting to present my findings at a major sporting conference was a highlight of my four years. I also loved getting stuck into different societies on campus and getting to serve on the committee for Musical Theatre Society for two years.  

"Try and gain as much experience as you can, even if this means starting out with lots of volunteering. The more you can do to make yourself stand out, the better!"

What I do now 

I currently work as a Health and Wellbeing Physiologist at Nuffield Health. This involves running different combinations of exercise physiology tests each day, and leading lifestyle intervention appointments to help clients lead healthier lives. The thing I find most enjoyable about my work is the range of clients I get to see each day, which means hearing lots of different stories and getting the opportunity to help a variety of people. 

Getting the best foundation at Surrey 

The course at Surrey leant itself well to having two distinct pathways: the elite sports performance route or the health/clinical route. In second year, I started to lean towards the health in sport pathway, and my placement year solidified this. I regularly assisted in the running of cardiopulmonary exercise tests during my placement year, and seeing how exercise could help diagnose different heart and lung abnormalities was so interesting to me. After returning for my final year and getting to select more clinical modules, I knew that I wanted to have a career in exercise physiology.   

My advice 

Try and gain as much experience as you can, even if this means starting out with lots of volunteering. Reach out to companies yourself if you feel that you can’t find the right opportunity for you being advertised. The more you can do to make yourself stand out, the better! Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. 

Find out more about our Sport and Exercise Science BSc.