Physical Education BA(Hons)

Course in brief

This course enables you to gain a broad practical understanding of physical education, combined with sport science and social science perspectives of physical education and sport.

You will study at our Eastbourne campus with its extensive sport and fitness facilities, and BASES-accredited sport science labs. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities.

You will develop your experience in practical activity areas including dance, athletics and swimming, as well as learn about more alternative sports and activities. Areas of personal interest can be explored in more depth through option modules.

Placements will enable you to develop practical experience and apply what you have learned in the real world. We’ll help you find a placement that best reflects your career aspirations. Students have had placements with organisations such as schools, outdoor and adventurous activity centres, professional football clubs, NHS rehabilitation programmes and Sky Sports.

You’ll be taught by an inspirational course team who have many years’ experience of working within physical education and who are widely published.

We are one of just 10 institutions nationally, selected by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), to become a CIMPSA Higher Education Partner. We are part of their pilot programme to develop CIMPSA endorsed and quality assured degree programmes to improve students’ employment prospects. The partnership also offers many benefits for students studying this course.

Key facts

Location Eastbourne

UCAS code XC36

Full-time 3 years

Our next open day for this course will take place in the autumn. Register your interest now and we will let you know when you can book your place.

Apply now with UCAS

Start in 2018: how to apply

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBC–CCC (112–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–DMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
28 points, including English at Standard level 5 or Higher level 4, and maths at Standard level 4.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least three GCSEs including English language and maths.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3.

Other
All offers are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure check.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

Year 1 provides the foundation for years 2 and 3, during which you can tailor your degree according to your individual career goals and interests by selecting from a wide range of optional modules.

A variety of teaching methods are used including lectures, first-hand teaching experience, seminars, group tasks and practical performance.

These approaches to your studies will help you to develop both specific skills related to physical education and a set of transferable skills that can be used in a variety of jobs.

The course also offers you opportunities to undertake work-related placements in years 2 and 3. An opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities is also an option.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, we will inform you of any improvements or innovations to the curriculum through our admissions portal.

Areas of study

The course enables you to study practical activity areas within physical education, along with sport-science and social-scientific aspects of physical education and sport.

In addition you are able to choose modules from areas such as leisure and recreation, competitive sport, dance performance and choreography, special needs, and gender issues in physical education and sport.

The study of physical education is underpinned by understanding how learning occurs and the factors that determine how individuals engage with and experience physical activity cognitively, emotionally, socially and the impact of culture, environment and politics.

Fundamental concepts of physical education are explored including physical literacy, pedagogy, motor development and skill acquisition.

Year 1

Modules

Performance in Physical Education: OAA, Gymnastics and Swimming
Performance in Physical Education: Games, Dance and Athletics
Nature and Values of Physical Education
Health, Physical Education and Sport
Applied Pedagogy in Physical Education
Science of Movement

Year 2

Modules

Reflection and Research in Physical Education
People, Place and Pedagogy: The Practice of Teaching Physical Education
Pedagogy and Practice in Physical Education and Sport

Options*

Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise
Learning and Teaching Through Athletic and Adventurous Activities
Primary Physical Education: Theory and Practice of Teaching KS1 and KS2 PE
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body: Physical Education and Wellbeing
Games
Creating a Positive Teaching and Learning Environment
Learning and Teaching Through Gymnastics and Swimming
Accredited Physical Education
Learning and Teaching Through Games and Dance
Young People and Youth Subcultures
Sport Psychology in Action
Exercise Referral and Rehabilitation
Nutrition for Physical Activity
Strength and Conditioning
Performance Analysis
Outdoor Adventurous Activities
Marketing Communications and Advertising
Sport for Development and Peace
Sport and Exercise Psychology

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

Modules

Professional Work-based Experience
Dissertation
Contemporary Issues in Physical Education and Sport

Options*

Physiological Aspects of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Science of Physical Training
Advanced Strength and Conditioning
Advanced Performance Analysis
Sports Nutrition
Martial Arts and Combat Sports: Theory and Practice
Primary Physical Education: Active Learning in the Primary Setting
Physical Education and the National Agenda
Level 6 Practical Activity
Practical Aspects of the Law and Regulation of Sport
Gender, Sexuality and Physical Culture
Theory, Sport and the Future
Racism in Sport and Popular Culture
Sport and Deviancy
Education Studies 3: Inclusive Practice
Community Sport Development: Policy and Practice
Physical Education in the 14–19 Curriculum
Injury and Rehabilitation in Sport and Exercise
Sport for International Development and Peace
Applied Sport Psychology
Applied Exercise and Health Psychology
Enterprise and Innovation

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Facilities

Sport and fitness
The Eastbourne campus has excellent sport and fitness facilities on site which include:

large six court sports hall
artificial ¾ length training pitch
climbing wall
25m swimming pool
two gymnasiums
36 station fitness suite with a designated cardiovascular area packed with bikes, treadmills, and rowers, cross-trainers and steppers
two dance studios.

Laboratories
Accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). our laboratories are equipped with the latest modern facilities.

You will have access to a -10 to +50°C hot-cold chamber, an altitude/hypoxic chamber that rises to the equivalent of 5500m, 3D motion analysis, ground reaction force plates, a DXA bone scanner, exercise physiology laboratories, biomechanics laboratories and three biochemistry laboratories.

Placements

Placements are arranged under the guidance of the course leader or academic tutor with the assistance of the careers and employability team who will help ensure the placement location fits your professional development needs and career aspirations.

Placements our students have undertaken include:

primary, secondary, pupil referral and SEND schools for those interested in a career in education
outdoor and adventurous activity centres such as Bewl Water and Blacklands Farm – some have travelled to Snowdonia or Devon to specialist camps and activity centres.
with cadet training centres and St John’s Ambulance Service for those interested in public or military service
in public and private health and leisure facilities.

We also arrange bespoke placements: recent examples include with Sky Sports (Soccer AM), Fulham Football Club (links to player nutrition, training and HR departments), NHS Cardiac Rehabilitation and East London Community Boxing Development Programme (engaging Asian females in physical activity through boxing).

Placements are undertaken in your final year. The benefits of placements include:

enhancing your CV
informing with final year projects
allowing you to explore a potential specialism
giving you an opportunity to make professional contacts
giving you practical experience, increasingly vital in today's competitive graduate jobs market
developing your personal skills including communication, problem solving and confidence.

Some students are offered a job in their placement company after graduation, or find that their applications are prioritised.

Staff profiles

Dr Gillian Teideman Course leader

Gillian has been a teacher of physical education and dance in Sussex for 18 years. During this time she has been head of physical education in two secondary schools and most recently assistant head teacher, leading on National Challenge at a local comprehensive school.

Gillian was West Sussex representative for the QCA National Curriculum review and a lead PESSCL tutor. Her work developing Student Voice (removing barriers to learning) was adopted as an exemplar of good practice by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Gillian is a senior lecturer in physical education and she teaches on modules including: Education Studies; Examinations in PE; Creating a Positive Teaching and Learning Environment; Tennis; and Striking and Fielding Games.

Other key staff on the Physical Education BA(Hons) course include:

Course statistics

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Careers and employability

The importance of physical activity to the economy, the culture and health of people is an important subject of study and can lead to many employment opportunities.

As a graduate you will be able to apply for a postgraduate Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) course if you choose a career in the primary or secondary teaching profession.

Other careers include:

leisure related jobs of the public and private sectors
sport coaching
military
police
emergency services
wider education (FE, adult education, community education, special education, medical and health education)
vocational training in the fitness sector
youth work.

Further opportunities are also available for undertaking postgraduate research.

Employability is embedded into the teaching and learning across all modules. You’ll keep an e-portfolio and examine your skills set in order to plan and carry out appropriate professional development activities, and engage with research and develop skills of enquiry throughout the course. You’ll also be guided in becoming a critically reflective thinker and develop independent and collaborative learning skills.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,040 GBP

Optional field trips, including ski trips and water sports excursions, will cost extra. For more information, see the Visits and contacts section below to contact our enquiries team.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Eastbourne

Sunny, friendly and relaxed, there’s lots to do and enjoy in Eastbourne – music and arts festivals, theatre, galleries and sports – and all against the backdrop of the beach and the beautiful South Downs.

Eastbourne hosts some major sporting events, from Eastbourne Extreme – one of the biggest extreme sports festivals in the UK – to Eastbourne International, an annual tennis tournament where some of the world’s finest players prepare for Wimbledon.

Eastbourne has a close-knit community feel. From where ever you are on campus every place you need to go is around 15 minutes away on foot – the beach, the town centre and the South Downs. There is a great selection of clubs, pubs, restaurants and shops and always plenty of student-friendly deals on offer.

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Located in one of the sunniest towns in the UK, our Eastbourne campus sits between the hills of the South Downs National Park and the south coast.

The campus has extensive sporting facilities, including a sports hall, fitness suite, climbing wall, swimming pool, three gyms, a dance studio and an artificial training pitch. For sport and exercise students, there are also exercise physiology labs, a human movement laboratory and an environmental chamber.

Professional-standard facilities on this campus include the Leaf Hospital Clinic, specialist practical skills rooms, culinary arts studio and accredited sports science laboratories.

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Accommodation

Eastbourne

Our Eastbourne hall of residence, Welkin Halls, is in the residential Meads area, next to the Hillbrow and Welkin site and within walking distance of Darley Road. The train station is about 20 minutes away on foot.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. We recommend Unihomes when you’re balancing learning with placements, shifts and other commitments, because they give you more choice and flexibility.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages, and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accomeastbourne@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 643810.

Welkin Halls

Welkin bedroom

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Eastbourne campus map

Find out more

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