Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Sport Coaching

The Bachelor of Sport Coaching is a specialist sport coaching degree in Aotearoa, offering flexible learning and internships to cater to a wide variety of students. This qualification provides students with key skills that employers are looking for, not just in sport and related fields, but in everything from communications to corporate management.

Degree Structure

The Bachelor of Sport Coaching is made up of a total of 360 points, consisting of:

• 135 points of compulsory courses
• at least 120 points towards a major
• the remaining points can be from Sport Coaching courses or other degrees. A minimum of 225 points must be from courses above 100-level, with at least 90 points at 300-level.

Majors and Minors

BSpC students have the option of completing either:

• a major
• a major and a minor
• two majors (a double major). Each major has specific course requirements, but all consist of a minimum 120 points, with at least 45 points at 200-level and at least 60 points at 300-level. A minor consists of a minimum of 75 points, including at least 45 points above 100-level, in a single subject chosen from Sport Coaching, Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Health Sciences, Science, or Youth and Community Leadership degrees.

Distance Study Option

Most BSpC courses are available to study on campus or as a distance online learning option. Distance study supports students from other UC degree programmes, as well as people who are employed or lead busy lives.

Certificate Option

For those who wish to gain an entry-level qualification in Sport Coaching, there is a certificate option. The Certificate in Sport Coaching is available part-time or over one semester. It can lead onto the full bachelor's degree. Those already with an undergraduate degree or relevant post-secondary school study and work experience may consider the Graduate Certificate in Sport Coaching; an online, flexible learning qualification that enables you to develop your professional coaching skills.

Subjects and Courses

Sport Coaching courses are grouped into three main strands: pedagogy (the theory and application of coaching and learning), sport and exercise sciences, and sociology of sport. As well as core Sport Coaching courses throughout the three years of the degree, you will also study towards a major, a major and minor, or a double major.

Compulsory Courses

• SPCO101 Introduction to Sport Coaching
• SPCO102 Theoretical Foundations of Coaching and Teaching
• SPCO104 Anatomy and Physiology
• SPCO105 Sport, History and Society
• SPCO110 Practicum 1
• SPCO208 Sport and Culture in Aotearoa/New Zealand
• SPCO209 Exercise Physiology
• SPCO201 Learner-Centred Teaching and Coaching OR (300 level) SPCO302 Skill Acquisition in Sport
• SPCO320 Internship

Major Subjects

• Performance Analysis
• Physical Education
• Sport Science
• Sports Leadership and Management
• Strength and Conditioning with Nutrition

Minor Subjects

• Accounting
• Animation
• Anthropology
• Art History and Theory
• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences
• Business Analytics
• Business and Sustainability
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Cinema Studies
• Cinematic Arts
• Classics
• Computer Science
• Cultural Studies
• Digital Humanities
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• European and European Union Studies
• Finance
• French
• Game Arts
• Game Development
• Geography
• Geology
• German
• Health Education
• History
• Human Resource Management
• Human Services
• Indigenous Narrative
• Information Systems
• Innovation
• International Business
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• Mori and Indigenous Studies
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Media and Communication
• Music
• Nutrition
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Performance Analysis
• Philosophy
• Physical Activity
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Professional and Community Engagement
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Russian
• Screen Sound
• Screenwriting
• Society and Policy
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Sport Science
• Statistics
• Strength and Conditioning
• Taxation
• Te Reo Mori
• Tourism Marketing and Management
• Youth and Community Leadership

Fees

Domestic

2025 tuition fee estimate: $7,466 per 120 points 2026 tuition fee estimate: $7,914 per 120 points

International

2025 tuition fee estimate: $34,990 per 120 points 2026 tuition fee estimate: $36,355 per 120 points 2027 tuition fee estimate: $37,955 per 120 points

Further Study

Postgraduate Qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in Sport Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Science
• Master of Sport Science

Careers

Graduates can complete a qualification in one year to become a teacher or manager:

• Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary Education or Secondary Education)
• Master of Sport Science
• Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary Education or Secondary Education)
• Master of Business
• Postgraduate Certificate in Sport Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary Education or Secondary Education)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Science

Career Ready

• Put your skills into practice with a 120-hour internship in your final year.
• Gain skills in communication, management, leadership, teamwork, motivation, and psychology.
• Graduates are working as strength and conditioning coaches, community sports coordinators, performance analysts, sports scientists, managers, and more.