Undergraduate Course

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 2 years

UK fee

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

UCAS points

72 (September 2024 entry)72 (September 2025 entry)

Start date

September

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Developed in collaboration with ProChance Football, this foundation degree will help you future-proof your career. As a promising sportsperson and/or sports official, you are focused on your performance on the pitch and pursuing your dreams to play/officiate professionally. Your life off the pitch is crucial too, and it’s important to plan for your future after sport.

This flexible and unique foundation degree allows you to do that, and receive a recognised qualification for doing so. You’ll be able to train and play full-time, while studying and working towards your degree.

The blocked on-campus delivery and remote study methods have been designed to support elite/professional players and officials.

The course places you at the core of the programme, focusing on your personal and professional development; you’ll explore:

You will:

Once you finish the course, you’ll not only have formal recognition of a foundation degree on your CV, but you’ll also be in a position where your next career step will be an extension of your current sporting life. It can also be a stepping stone to further development through a BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development Top-up.

A male pointing at a coaching board

Develop a wide skill set

In your first year you’ll explore how to develop personally and professionally and look after your physical and mental wellbeing. You’ll explore positive communication, including counselling skills and techniques, and learn about team working, which will help develop your confidence in leadership.

During your second year you’ll complete an independent project, reflecting on sporting communities and their place in your life and others. You’ll explore ethics on a personal and societal level and apply these to current issues. You’ll also develop and use your business skills to plan and implement products and services – a valuable preparation for the next stage in your career.

Sport and Exercise Science - your questions answered

In the below video, Head of School for Sport and Exercise Science, Andy Hooton, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Derby. 

Andy Hooton, Head of Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science.

View Sport and Exercise Science - your questions answered! video transcript

Mark Faghy conducting research in the background, with a man wearing an oxygen mask.

Managing Excellence

When Mark Faghy first arrived in Derby as a teenage undergraduate, he stated proudly that his goal was to become manager of the England football team. Now he is a respected research academic leading an international collaboration in the fight against Covid. And his students are helping.

Read Mark's storyRead Mark's story
Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Big spaces for big ideas

Kedleston Road offers it all: study in our largest library, relax at Basecamp, train in real-world healthcare settings, and stay active in our state-of-the-art Sports Centre.

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What you will study

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your Undergraduate Open DayBook your Undergraduate Open Day

How you will learn

This programme includes traditional academic study with practical application and work-based learning to offer a unique experience. This course is delivered in blocks and has been designed to meet your needs.

We use a range of assessment methods, including traditional formats such as written papers, presentations and portfolios. In addition to these we use less traditional methods such as blogs, vlogs and interviews to assess your progress. These reflect work-based elements of your course and will help you prepare for your future career.

Who you'll be taught by

You'll be taught by a range of academics with excellent expertise in the area, including:

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Personal Academic Tutoring

Our Personal Academic Tutoring programme supports your academic journey, helping you achieve your goals and unlock your potential.

Learn more

Entry requirements

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2024 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points72
A LevelN/A
BTECMPP
GCSEGCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2

Additional entry requirements

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points72
A LevelN/A
BTECMPP
GCSEGCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2

Additional entry requirements

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and funding

2024/25

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,250 per year

N/A

International

N/A

N/A

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


Apply directly to the University

Careers

Upon completion of the course, you will be given the opportunity to progress onto our BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development.

You could also go on to pursue a career in football or other professional sports roles such as academy coach, performance analyst, sport scientist or strength and conditioning coach.

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

Career Support Image

96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

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Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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Full-time