Interested in sport coaching as a form of education? Keen to study a sport degree that will put you on the pathway to a teaching career? Realise your ambitions on this challenging and vibrant new course.
Choose a four-year course which includes a foundation year for an invaluable introduction to your studies
Fulfil your potential: the foundation year route is for you if you are pursuing a change of career or exploring a new subject area
Gain an impressive combination of skills relating to sport coaching, teaching and education
Be inspired by our strong network of contacts including professional coaches, elite athletes and educational leaders
Build the ideal platform to progress to teacher training opportunities such as a PGCE
Deliver sports sessions to groups of different ages and abilities to develop your practical skills
Work with sports clubs, schools and community organisations for vital experience in real-world settings
Benefit from exceptional facilities including our new multi-purpose Sports Centre and state-of-the-art laboratories
Learn from staff who are highly experienced in both the sport and educational arenas
Bringing together the art and science of both sport and education, this inspiring degree will build your academic and practical skills in equal measure. It is now available as a four-year course with a foundation year to give you a strong basis for your future studies and career.
Sport and Exercise Science - your questions answered
In the below video, Head of Discipline 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. You can also watch exclusive subject content by signing up to Derby on Demand.
Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.
Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.
Sport and Education at Derby
If you have an interest in sport coaching as a form of education, this innovative and interdisciplinary course is a perfect option for you. It leads to a qualification which will help you stand out in the graduate job market.
While more traditional sport coaching degrees concentrate on the physical training of athletes, our BA (Hons) Sport and Education course broadens your perspectives and gives you a deeper understanding of the relationships between the disciplines of sport and education.
Exploring the importance of the sport coach as an educator, you’ll cover the principles of learning and how they can be applied in different educational settings for teaching and coaching practice alike.
Drawing on areas such as educational psychology and human development, you’ll also develop your awareness of contemporary theory which will prove invaluable should you decide to progress to teacher training.
Expert teaching
You’ll be motivated and engaged by expert tutors who know all about combining education and sport: they do so every day in their work. Supportive, encouraging and approachable, they can call upon a wealth of professional as well as academic experience.
Thanks to our flourishing partnerships across the sector, you will also be able to attend inspirational guest lectures and network with professional coaches, elite athletes and education specialists.
Translate theory into practice
Our close links with both the sports industry and the education sector will open doors for you. Employers have had significant input into the design of this course, so you can be sure that what you are learning will meet their needs and expectations.
It also means you can start to build your professional networks and enjoy opportunities such as work experience, industry-led research and coaching practice, including delivering sport sessions to groups of different ages and abilities.
By working in real-world settings – such as with sports clubs, schools, colleges, community organisations and local authorities – you will gain a better appreciation of the educational aspects of sport as well as the different career options available.
Specialist facilities
You can take full advantage of the facilities at our iconic £10.8 million , which boasts a main hall, fitness gym, studios, squash and badminton courts, an internal climbing wall, sprint track, changing rooms, treatment rooms and a café.
Our substantial investment in sport has also seen the introduction of bespoke equipment and state-of-the-art laboratories to keep our sports students at the forefront of new developments in testing and measuring the parameters of health and fitness. You will advance your skills in our high-specification sport and exercise and biomechanics laboratory. You will also become adept in using a range of computer software packages for statistical and movement analysis.
Our Performance Suite
Our Performance Suite allows Sport and Exercise Science students to learn about performance analysis, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, and injury prevention. As well as elite athletes outside of the University, you'll also be working with our Team Derby athletes to help them improve their performance and successfully compete. Take a look at the Performance Suite and Vicon cameras in action:
We take every opportunity to enrich your learning experience, fostering important transferable skills and intellectual abilities beyond the core content of your degree.
Alongside the course, you will benefit from our Steps to Success programme which promotes your personal and academic development and helps you make more informed decisions about your future career plans.
You’ll develop skills in academic research too, conducting an independent investigation into a theme of your choice – with the chance to showcase your findings to lecturers and fellow students at a University conference. This experience is particularly helpful if you would like to study at postgraduate level.
To add variety and interest to your CV, we support you to pursue additional professional qualifications, including coaching badges and other awards given by the National Governing Bodies for specific sports.
Sports Scholarships
The University of Derby is a sporting hub for talented athletes and coaches. We have a track record of improving the performance of our University sports clubs and we have created an infrastructure to provide support for talented athletes. We offer a Sports Scholarship programme that aims to help talented student-athletes realise their sporting potential while supporting them through their academic studies. We offer scholarships of up to £6,000 and provide tailored athlete-support packages delivered by an experienced multi-disciplinary Performance Sport team.
Join Team Derby
If you enjoy a challenge and would like to make the most of your own sporting passion and prowess, you could become involved with Team Derby which is the focal point for the University’s sporting community. It encompasses all aspects of sport, including courses, numerous sports clubs, the Athletics Union and sport development activities. You can also take part in the national BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) competitions.
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.
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.
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.
This course is delivered using a variety of traditional and contemporary teaching and learning methods. These include lectures, tutorials, and practicals, as well as innovative approaches using information technology. A student-centred approach is adopted throughout and considerable emphasis is put on experiential learning, as well as the practical application of underpinning principles.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used during the course, which include essays, written and practical exams, reports, portfolios, and presentations. In addition to final module assessments, students will receive feedback on their performance throughout the course enabling learning and progression.
Personal academic tutoring
Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Stuart Mourton is a Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Sport and Education and BSc (Hons) Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health and a Senior Lecturer in Skill Acquisition.
These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2023 entry.
Requirement
What we're looking for
UCAS points
72
A Level
DDD
T Level
Pass
BTEC
MPP
GCSE
GCSE 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 HE
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2
English language requirements
IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
One of the major benefits of this degree is that it paves the way to such a wide variety of careers. Your qualification will set you apart as a versatile and resourceful graduate with a strong set of transferable skills.
You could choose to chart your future career in sport coaching, in education or in a combination of both. There are also interesting roles in broader areas such as physical activity co-ordination, sport and health development, fitness and recreation management, and health promotion.
Through our Professional Development Package, you'll gain valuable transferable skills, including:
Written and verbal communication
Research and analytical
Personal motivation, organisation and self-reflection
Numeracy
IT literacy
Critical awareness
Careers and Employment Service
To boost your employment skills, you can access the University's Careers and Employment Service. The team can connect you with employers to help find opportunities for work placements, part-time jobs, and volunteering. Our careers consultants are also on hand to guide you through the career options for your degree, CV writing, or starting your own business - and we commit to helping you for three years after you graduate to find a job.
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.
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.
Additional costs and optional extras
We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
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.
Included in your fees
To welcome you to our team, you’ll receive a University of Derby, Sport and Exercise Science t-shirt
We will contribute to or pay the full cost of additional qualifications which are arranged by us. For other additional qualifications you’re interested in, we may contribute to or fund these but this is at the Sport department’s discretion
If a DBS check is needed for the purposes of a module or programme related work placement, this is included in your fee if done via the University
Mandatory costs not included in your fees
If not already owned, appropriate clothing for practical sessions such as tracksuit bottoms and trainers - approximate cost is £50-£100
Two bound copies of your Independent Study (dissertation) - approximate cost is £12
Travel to placements - cost varies depending on your placement venue of choice
Optional costs not included in your fees
You may wish to purchase optional textbooks or e-books to support your studies - costs for these are dependent on your choice
To support your studies, you may want to invest in additional qualifications such as pitch-side first aid and safeguarding - costs will vary depending on your choice
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. 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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