Program Overview

Introduction to the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education with Foundation Year

The BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education with Foundation Year is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with the pedagogical practice required to coach athletes across a range of ages and abilities. This program also provides students with a thorough understanding of the Physical Education curriculum at both Primary and Secondary school levels.

Overview of the Program

This course is specifically designed to support students' transition to degree-level study in Sport, with a focus on practice-based learning and international opportunities. Upon completion of the foundation year, students are guaranteed to progress to the first year of the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education degree.

What's Covered in the Course

The program covers a wide range of topics, including:

• The coaching process
• Principles of performance analysis
• Introduction to Physical Education and School Sport
• Children's development: physical, emotional, health, and wellbeing
• Introduction to academic skills for sport and exercise
• Becoming a practitioner in sport and exercise

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector.

Why Choose This Course

Students will gain vital, first-hand experience of physical education by undertaking placements, typically in schools. They will also receive talks from guest lecturers who work within the sector, providing relevant and up-to-date advice. The course is mapped to the national curriculum of physical education, ensuring that what students learn mirrors what the sector needs.

Entry Requirements

The essential requirements for this course include:

• 80 UCAS Tariff points
• GCSE and other level 2 requirements (this course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications)
• A Level, BTEC, and other level 3 requirements (specific qualifications and grades are listed)
• International qualifications (including International Baccalaureate Diploma and EU/International students' requirements)

Fees and How to Apply

The annual tuition fee for UK students is ｣9,790 in 2026/27. The course is not available to International students. To apply, students must register with UCAS, complete their details, select their course, write a personal statement, get a reference, pay the application fee, and send UCAS their application.

Course Structure

The course is divided into four years: a foundation year and three years of degree-level study. Each year consists of core modules, including:

• Foundation Year: Academic Skills for Success, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Negotiated Studies, Health and Wellbeing in Society, Introduction to Human Biology, and Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science
• Year One: The Coaching Process, Principles of Performance Analysis, Introduction to Physical Education and School Sport, Children's Development, Introduction to Academic Skills for Sport and Exercise, and Becoming a Practitioner in Sport and Exercise
• Year Two: Sports Coaching and Physical Education: Professional Practice 1, Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching and Physical Education, Sport, Physical Activity, and Health in Practice, Applied Pedagogy in Sports Coaching and Physical Education, and Research Skills and Data Analysis
• Year Three: Sports Coaching and Physical Education: Professional Practice 2, High Performance Sports Coaching, Independent Research Project, and Psychological Perspectives of Athletic Development

Employability

Upon graduating, students will be in a position to gain employment within a sports coaching or school sport setting or embark on postgraduate studies. The course ensures students are given the relevant, up-to-date information required to enter employment in the PE and school sport environment, promoting lifelong physical activity and healthy active lifestyles.

Facilities and Staff

The Foundation Year is taught primarily at the City South Campus in Edgbaston, and from Year 1 of the degree, students' time will be split between City South and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr. The university boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a biomechanics lab, nutrition kitchen, performance analysis space, physiology lab, sports therapy clinic, and strength & conditioning gym. The staff includes experienced lecturers, such as Julie Davis and Jessica Lowe, who have expertise in their respective fields.