CASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (CUES)
The CASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (CUES) awards endorsement to sport and exercise science degree courses that provide undergraduates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills essential to enter into the profession.
CASES is a professional membership association that has endorsed sport and exercise science undergraduate courses since the scheme was launched in 2005. The Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme is now the recognised standard for all sport and exercise science undergraduate degree programmes in the UK*.
CASES endorsement is awarded to courses that meet criteria covering the necessary foundation of sport and exercise science knowledge, technical skills and professional development competencies required to succeed in the profession. When reviewing a course, CASES considers the curriculum, the practical experience gained by students and the resources and facilities of the institution. Further details of the criteria and application process are provided below.
View the full list of CASES endorsed courses.
**New features of application (updated summer 2025)**
Following revision to the review process, there has now been some updates to the CUES application supporting documentation form. Changes include:
- A need for applicants to articulate key features such as practical hours, assessment of practical competencies and how artificial intelligence has been incorporated.
- New criteria relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Climate Change and Sustainability.
- Identifying how accredited staff specifically contribute to the delivery of the programme.
Endorsement criteria
To gain CASES endorsement, applicants must demonstrate that an undergraduate degree satisfies the criteria outlined in the Application Supporting Evidence, which is structured around the following sections:
- Scientific knowledge
- Technical skills
- Application of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills
- Understanding and use of research
- Professional development and practice
- Employability and career readiness:
- Professional accreditation and affiliations of academic staff
Within the application form, applicants are required to provide a brief narrative explanation of how the course meets each of the specified criteria and reference the documents (e.g. module descriptors, laboratory manuals) that provide supporting evidence.
How to apply
Application submissions have two windows throughout the year. 31 January and 31 May. You can submit at any point of the year, however, the applications will not be reviewed until after these deadlines.
Prior to the above windows, please inform us of your intention to submit so that that we can offer any support where needed before submitting the completed CUES application. Please fill out the form here.
To apply, follow the link to the Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme Application Form and submit along with relevant supporting documentary evidence.
Re-endorsement is made via the above link also, following the same process. And if needing to apply changes to your course, please see the section below on Course Changes.
Once the review process is complete, the CASES office will email the course lead to advise them of this and will be able to issue the final documents and add the course(s) to the CASES website and/or course finder only once the final balance (if applicable) is made.
Payment can be made either by invoice (please provide purchase order number) or by credit card.
Further information can be found in the Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme Application Guidelines. We have also published a completed Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme Application Form Exemplar to help applicants to complete their own applications.
Endorsement Fees
The endorsement fee for a single degree course is £1,800 + VAT. This covers the cost of the
application review and assessment process; and the five-year period of endorsement.
For additional courses, routes or pathways that are part of the same ‘programme framework’
and therefore submitted within the same application, the endorsement fee is £400 + VAT for
each additional named route/pathway. To be classed a part of the same ‘programme
framework’, all of the different routes/pathways must share common ‘core’ modules making
up at least 75% of the total course content.
If an application for endorsement is not successful 80% of the total application fee will be refunded.
Once the review process is complete, the CASES office will email the course lead to advise them of this and will be able to issue the final documents and add the course(s) to the CASES website and/or course finder only once the final balance (if applicable) is made.
Endorsement Guidance and Examples
Please see the below examples to demonstrate the depth of detail and evidence we require of a CUES application:
Additional Information for Applicants
Benefits of CASES endorsement
CASES endorsement gives university departments credibility and evidence of quality assurance from the leading UK professional body in sport and exercise sciences.
When an undergraduate degree course is CASES endorsed, it sends a message to students, parents, careers advisors, employers and other university departments that the course provides a robust curriculum and ensures graduating students are well prepared to enter into the sport and exercise science profession.
In addition to the marketing benefits of degree endorsement, Undergraduate Endorsement will also be an invaluable resource (alongside QAA subject benchmark statements) for departments and staff who are validating/re-validating or reviewing their degree programmes.
CASES endorsement differentiates your course(s) from those at other institutions. We therefore encourage you to communicate your course endorsement through your website, printed materials, social media and public relations' campaigns.
Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme Fees
The cost for each course endorsement application is £1,800 + VAT. This covers the cost of processing and reviewing the application, in addition to the five-year period of endorsement. The fee for additional named pathways within a BUES application is £400 + VAT. More details can be found in the Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme Application Guidelines.
During the five-year period of endorsement, all endorsed degrees will be:
- Listed on the CASES Endorsed Course directory and Course Finder directory on the CASES website
- Listed in the CASES Careers Guide (printed and online editions)
- Listing in the CASES quarterly publication, The Sport and Exercise Scientist and BASES monthly newsletter (following endorsement/re-endorsement)
- Permission to promote degree programmes as 'CASES endorsed' including use of the CASES Endorsed Undergraduate Course logo.
Institutions with a BUES endorsed degree will also benefit from the following:
- Free printed copies of the CASES Careers Guide
- Exclusive discounts: 20% off advertising a course in CASES quarterly publication, The Sport and Exercise Scientist, and 25% off job vacancy listings
- Preferential bulk membership rates for students and staff.
If an application is unsuccessful, 80% of the total application fee will be refunded.
Once the review process is complete, the CASES office will email the course lead to advise them of this and will be able to issue the final documents and add the course(s) to the CASES website and/or course finder only once the final balance (if applicable) is made.
Additional Information for Students
Benefits of studying a CASES endorsed degree
With so many undergraduate courses available it is important that you consider which is the best for you. The BASES (now CASES) Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme was originally launched in 2005 with the aim of raising standards of education provision to students; and continues to be the hallmark of quality assurance and high standards for sport and exercise science undergraduate courses.
To help you make the decision of which course to study, the following is offered as a guide to the key characteristics of a course endorsed by CASES:
- CASES endorsed courses have been assured in recognition of a robust and rounded curriculum and appropriate resources for training sport and exercise scientists.
- CASES endorsed courses provide undergraduates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies deemed essential to enter into the sport and exercise science profession.
- CASES endorsed courses cover the three sub-disciplines of sport and exercise science - physiology, biomechanics and psychology - in sufficient depth, as well as covering interdisciplinary approaches.
- Endorsement ensures that there are good laboratory facilities to which you will have access. This will help to ensure that you get hands-on experience in the methods used by practicing sport and exercise scientists.
- Endorsement ensures you will be taught by staff with appropriate qualifications, expertise and professional body accreditation, including those accredited by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES).
Note: What BUES does not aim to evaluate is the quality of the course, as this is already done through internal quality assurance mechanisms under the auspices of the QAA.
CASES Accreditation and Supervised Experience
Individuals who have a CASES endorsed undergraduate degree (and go on to complete a relevant postgraduate degree) will be considered as having the required level of underpinning technical knowledge and understanding for CASES Accreditation. CASES Accreditation is awarded to practitioners deemed to have the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to be safe and fit to practice effectively and independently as a sport and exercise scientist.
Applications to join Supervised Experience (the most common route to BASES Accreditation) or direct applications for CASES Accreditation are simplified for those who have completed a CASES endorsed course, as the content has already been approved as meeting the standards required.
Course Changes
We recognise that courses are ever changing and expanding/developing to meet the needs of the industry. Therefore, we have created a process whereby, an institution has the opportunity to inform us of any changes without affecting the current endorsement they hold based on the key principles outlined in the CASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme guidance.
Please be advised that if the changes are deemed too great and integral to the course, you may be asked to submit a new complete application.
Example Completed Course Change Form
Please download and complete this form and send into education@cases.org.uk. This well then be considered by the review panel following the two annual submission dates 31 January and 31 May.
HESA - Higher Education Statistics Agency
HESA collects, assures and disseminates data about higher education (HE) in the UK on behalf of their Statutory Customers. As the trusted source of HE data and analysis, they play a key role in supporting and enhancing the competitive strength of the sector.
Working with HE providers in each of the four nations, they collaborate with them to collect and curate one of the world’s leading HE data sources. Using this knowledge and expertise they provide a rich, open source of HE information for data users.
If you are looking to add CASES to your own institution's record, please use this pre-filled document.
*CASES endorsement of Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate degrees is awarded to courses that meet criteria covering the necessary foundation of sport and exercise science knowledge, technical skills and professional development competencies required to succeed in the profession.
CASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (BUES) is now the recognised standard for all sport and exercise science undergraduate degree programmes in the UK. CIMSPA endorsement of Sport and Exercise Science degrees reflects the inclusion of content that maps to standards required in roles within the physical activity and fitness sector e.g personal trainer, fitness instructor.
As such, it is appropriate for a degree to be endorsed by both organisations.