Set the pace for a successful future in sport coaching with our inspiring Foundation Degree.
Gain a major advantage by taking a foundation year as part of a four-year study programme to achieve your BSc (Hons) qualification
BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development with Foundation Year provides an opportunity for individuals who want a change of career, lack the formal qualifications to enter our honours degree, or want to explore a new subject
Enjoy an exciting learning experience through specialist voluntarty 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.
Get a running start to your studies with a foundation year
Studying a foundation year will provide you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to help you progress onto our honours degree level. You’ll explore and gain an understanding of the physical, technical and psychological development of elite and amateur athletes as well as strategies to increase participation in sport and use it as a vehicle for community wellbeing.
Successfully completing the foundation year allows you to advance directly to stage one of the honours degree: you will not be required to re-apply for the BSc (Hons).
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.
Engaging opportunities
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.
A highly experienced team
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.
State-of-the-art 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 new £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.
This course offers an ‘Industrial Placement Year’ giving you the opportunity to enhance your practical skills by putting theory into practice, network in your industry and stand-out in the graduate job market. The placement year takes place in your third year, once completed, you would return to University to complete your final year of studies.
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.
Entry requirements
September 2019 typical entry requirements
UCAS points
72 (up to 16 from AS-levels)
Specific requirements at A-level
N/A
Specific requirements at 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 L2 as part of your course of study.
Interview / Audition
N/A
Portfolio
N/A
Alternative entry qualifications:
BTEC - MPP
Pass Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2.
We usually consider an A-level in General Studies as a supplementary qualification. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.
Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.
Find out more about Sport Coaching and Development
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.
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS or you can apply directly to the University for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year.
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS or you can apply directly to the University for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year.
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 itnernationally, sport management, talent identification and health promotion.
For entreprenuerial 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.
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, state-of-the-art 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.
Included in your fees
To welcome you to our team, you’ll receive a University of Derby, Sport and Exercise Science t-shirt
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
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
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.
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