Gain the skills and knowledge for action-packed careers which focus on both performance and participation in sport.
Gain a major advantage by taking a foundation year as part of a four-year study programme to achieve your BSc (Hons) qualification
BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development with Foundation Year provides an opportunity for individuals who want a change of career or want to explore a new subject
Enjoy an exciting learning experience through specialist voluntary work placement opportunities
Learn from expert tutors who work with amateur and elite athletes in sports ranging from athletics and cycling to golf and martial arts
Make the most of our exceptional sports facilities in our specialist sports centre
Through practical learning, this course aims to meet the growing demand – regionally and nationally – for sports coaches with strong practical experience and recognised qualifications.
92%of students agreed that staff are good at explaining things **BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development - National Student Survey 2022
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.
Whether you'd like to coach athletes or promote the benefits of sport and exercise science to the wider community this practical course will help you to develop an understanding of the technical, physical and psychological elements that affect participation.
You'll gain in-depth knowledge of the profession, ranging from promoting entry-level sport to coaching elite performers. We cover the principles and practices for training, performance analysis, how to use sport as a catalyst for change within communities, and how to manage projects aimed at increasing physical activity and sport participation.
The course includes practical experience in real-world settings, from group coaching to individual performance development, ensuring you graduate as a confident and independent professional.
Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more
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.
Fostering personal and sporting potential
Our theory-into-practice philosophy will enhance your coaching knowledge, skills and behaviours. This will provide you with the underpinning principles and practical skills needed to plan, deliver, analyse and evaluate athlete performance. By engaging with such activities you will be prepared to enhance individual and sporting potential.
Themes such as individual training prescription, pedagogy (how people learn), performance analysis, and effect of sport on society and sports development in practice will be covered throughout the programme.
Zenon becomes an Academy Football Analyst for Arsenal FC
Zenon Backhouse has made it into the Premier League as a Performance Analyst by securing a role with Arsenal Football Club.
There are plenty of opportunities to apply your knowledge throughout your course. You’ll gain insights into a range of applied settings from group coaching to individual performance development. Opportunities are also available to get involved in projects aimed at increasing sport participation and physical activity within different communities.
Voluntary and paid coaching positions have been secured by students with sports clubs during their studies. Coaching in the USA has also been arranged as summer work by other students.
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:
Our teaching team has a wealth of coaching experience, along with extensive contacts across the industry. They work with a range of sports professionals and organisations as consultants and advisors, which keeps their teaching up to date and relevant.
We have links with professional bodies at both regional and national levels, this includes the British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences, the Institute for Sports, Parks and Leisure and key sports governing bodies like British Cycling and The Football Association.
Such partnerships add an extra dimension to your studies, including inspirational masterclasses from experts in both participation and performance sports. Notable guests have included representatives from Chelsea, Fulham and Liverpool Football Clubs, British Cycling, Sale Sharks, Cheshire East Sport Development Unit and the English Institute of Sport.
Specialist facilities
Our Derby campus is the perfect setting for a stimulating learning experience in sport. A main hall, fitness gym with strength and conditioning area, studios, squash and badminton courts, an internal climbing wall, sprint track, changing rooms, treatment rooms and a café are all included in our £10.8m Sports Centre. The award-winning Sports Centre complements our existing facilities, for example, our floodlit all-weather pitches and tennis courts. Specialist equipment is also made available to students such as our sports performance analysis software, our 3D motion analysis equipment, and physiological testing equipment.
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.
Our Human Sciences Research Centre conducts theoretical and applied research into the prevention and treatment of diseases and into improvements to the quality of life for people of all ages.
Senior Lecturer, Dr Luke Gibson, gives an insight into his industry experience, his research in professional sport, and some of the modules he teaches on:
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.
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, interactive tutorials, seminars, and workshops. There will be a significant amount of practical teaching and learning experiences throughout the course, enabling students to develop their practical skills and application of theory to practice. Students will be encouraged to work individually and as part of a group to gain skills relevant to the world of coaching and sport development employment.
Assessment
Assessments will include a combination of theoretical and practical assignments, such as individual written reports, individual and group presentations, and individual and group practical coaching assessments. This variety will enable learning and assess necessary skills required for future employment. Although there are some exams, a large proportion of the assessment includes of presentations and written assignment. This form of assessment will prepare you for the real word in which you will be required to write reports and present the findings in both a coaching and sports development career.
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.
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)
Understanding the theory behind coaching and performance and applying this to real-world situations will enable you to graduate as a confident and independent development coach. As a graduate, you will be equipped to start careers within sport coaching both nationally and internationally, sport management, talent identification and health promotion.
For entrepreneurial minded students, the module on small business planning will give you basic knowledge around bid writing, marketing and strategic planning to support you in venturing into sport coaching or business alone.
Our MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science masters level course provides the opportunity for students to progress their sporting knowledge at postgraduate level. The course also has a Psychology pathway, if this interests you.
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.
Please also note that due to the current Covid-19 situation, if your course offers fieldtrips, the location of these may change or be cancelled. If this happens, you will be communicated to in advance and we will do our very best to seek out other practical opportunities to ensure your experience is not affected.
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
Two bound copies of 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.
Discover Uni
This is a new course so the data displayed via Discover Uni is for students studying in another subject area.
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