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HNC FITNESS, HEALTH & EXERCISE

  • Start date:   August 2025
  • Level of Qualification:   SCQF Level 7
  • Course Type:   Full-time

HNC FITNESS, HEALTH & EXERCISE

The HNC in Fitness, Health, and Exercise is your first step towards a dynamic career in the fitness industry.

Start date – August 2025 

End date – June 2026 

SCQF Level - 7 

Mode –  Full time   

Days: 3 days per week Monday to Friday 

Times: 9am – 12pm and 1pm - 4pm 

Duration: 1 Year 

This qualification is a nationally recognised qualification endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), equipping you with the essential knowledge and practical skills to thrive as an exercise professional.

Whether your passion lies in personal training, group fitness, or health promotion, this course prepares you to work in a variety of exciting settings.

You'll gain a solid foundation in fitness principles, health and wellbeing, and exercise programming, giving you the confidence to inspire and guide others on their fitness journeys.

Ready to turn your passion for fitness into a rewarding career? This is the course for you.

  • sport

    What the course includes

    This course covers everything you need to thrive in the fitness, health, and exercise industry. You’ll dive into key areas like anatomy, physiology, and nutrition, learning how they connect to overall fitness and wellbeing.

    Develop practical skills for screening clients and designing personalised exercise plans, while staying updated on industry trends and government initiatives.

    The course also focuses on critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving, helping you grow as a self-directed and adaptable professional. With opportunities to enhance your core skills and plan your career, this qualification sets you up for success in both employment and further study.

    Topics include: 

    • Anatomy and exercise physiology – You will gain in-depth knowledge on the body systems and how the body works, transferring this into a practical setting when working with clients. 
    • Group exercise – You will plan, deliver and evaluate group exercise sessions. 
    • Gym based sessions – You will work with clients to plan, deliver and evaluate session to allow your clients to gain the best results for them. 
    • Nutrition for fitness – You will learn about the major food groups, lifestyle and diets. 
    • Health screening – You will learn how to create a PAR-Q and complete screening procedures prior to exercise with individual clients and groups. 
    • Psychology of sports coaching – You will learn the importance of psychology within a sporting context. 
    • Exercise principles and programming – You will learn about fitness testing and creating client programmes. 

Why choose this course

This nationally recognised SCQF L7 qualification will provide you with the underpinning knowledge in both a practical and theoretical setting to allow you to pursue a career within the health and fitness sector.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will have the chance to gain entry to the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) as a gym instructor practitioner (Level 2).

As part of your course, you will complete a mandatory work placement experience. This will take place with our partner X-Cite and/or local primary schools. A PVG is required to undertake the work placement. 

Entry requirements

  • For external applicants, two Highers at grade C or above, one of which should be English 
  • For internal applicants, a Level 6 sport and fitness award, or equivalent, with good attendance, good submission of work and a positive tutor reference 

We welcome applications from people with relevant life and work experience. 

An Enhanced Disclosure Scotland application is required which you will do through the college if offered a place. 

If English is not your first language, ESOL Level 5 is an entry requirement for this course. 

  • Graduation 2024

    Where it leads

    Education: HND or degree-level courses in subjects related to fitness, health and exercise. Previous students have progressed onto sport studies or PE teaching courses at Queen Margaret University, Napier University, Stirling University and The University of Edinburgh.  

    Employment: Roles in a health and fitness suite, sports centre or health spa as a fitness instructor, lifestyle adviser or gym instructor. Previous students have found employment with local authority and private sector gyms. 

Interview arrangements

If you are invited for an interview/course information session, plan to be in college for around two hours. The interview includes:

  • An introduction from the course tutor
  • An individual interview
  • Short written task

Please bring your practical kit and be prepared to take part in fitness testing activities. Also bring evidence of your qualifications and/or employment references.

Fees, Finance & Funding

There may be help available to assist with your study related costs. Impartial, confidential help and advice on financial matters is available from the Student Funding Team - including Bursaries, Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Loans Company and student support funds. Click here to find out more

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Take that next step in your career and apply for this course today. If the course is not yet open for applications, feel free to ask any questions by clicking make an enquiry.

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