Physical Education BA(Hons)

Course in brief

Taught in Eastbourne alongside our other degrees in sport and exercise, this course enables you to gain a broad practical understanding of physical education, combined with the sport science and social-scientific aspects of PE and sport. Opportunities are offered to explore areas of personal interest in depth, creating a flexible degree that can prepare you for a range of careers.

You can choose to develop experience and skills in practical activity areas within physical education including dance, gymnastics, athletics, swimming and outdoor adventurous activities.

In addition you can choose to study leisure and recreation, competitive sport, performance and choreography, special needs, and gender issues in physical education and sport.

Underpinned by the examination of how learning occurs, concepts specific to physical education are explored: how do we acquire physical literacy; how do we engage with and experience physical activity cognitively, emotionally and socially; what role is played by culture, environment and politics?

Placement opportunities enable you to develop practical experience and apply what you have learned. Our Eastbourne campus has well-equipped sport and fitness facilities and you will also have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities.

Key facts

Location Eastbourne

UCAS code XC36

Full-time 3 years

Book your open day place

Applying for 2018: read our guide

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBC–BCC (112–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. 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.

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.

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

Physical Education Theory 1
Learning and Teaching through Physical Education: Practical Application 1
Physiology for Sport and Exercise
Qualitative Analysis of Human Movement
Introduction to Motor Learning and Performance

Options*

Gymnastic Activites
Dance
Foundation Games
Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Swimming and Water Safety
Track and Field Athletics

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

Year 2

Modules

Physical Education Theory 2
Learning and Teaching through Physical Education 2: Practical Application 2
Research Methods for Physical Education
Independent Professional Experience

Options*

Learning and Teaching through Artistic Activity
Dance Studies
Environmental Physiology
Strength and Conditioning
Performance Analysis
Track and Field Athletics
Learning and Teaching through Athletic Activities
Learning and Teaching through Games Activities
Invasion Games
Striking and Fielding Games
Net Games
Learning and Teaching through an Aesthetic Activity
Alternative Curriculum Activities
Gymnastic Performance
Learning and Teaching Through Adventurous Activities
Skiing and Snowboarding, Course Organisation and Management
Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Learning, Teaching and Coaching Through Swimming
Learning and Teaching Through Aquatic Activities
Water Sports
Youth and Youth Culture
Accredited Physical Education
Creating a Positive teaching and Learning Environment
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Skill Acquisition in Sports Performance and Physical Activity

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

Final year

Modules

Professional Work-based Experience
Dissertation
Physical Education Theory 3

Options*

Examinations in Dance
Dance Performance and Composition
Physiological Aspects of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Physiology of Training and Performance
Physical Education and the National Agenda
Track and Field Athletics
Rugby Union
Association Football
Hockey
Netball
Cricket
Basketball
Tennis
Leadership in Outdoor and Adventurous Activities
Martial Arts and Combat Sports: Theory and Practice
Advanced Teaching of Swimming
Skiing or Snowboarding
Community Sport Development: Policy and Practice
Gender and Physical Culture
Sport, Leisure and Deviant Behaviour
Sport, Values and Ideology: A Case Study of the Olympics
Personal, Social, Citizenship and Health Education
Education Studies 3: Inclusive Practice
ICT in Physical Education
Physical Education in the 14–19 Curriculum
Applied Sports Psychology
Employability, Enterprise and Innovation

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

Facilities

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.

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

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 headteacher, 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:

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) 13,920 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 2017–18.

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.

Podiatry students gain real-life experience in the Leaf Hospital clinic, with its comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, while physiotherapy students are taught in specialist practical skills rooms. The Culinary Arts Studio allows hospitality students to engage in workplace simulations and consumer research.

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.

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 Eastbourne 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

Unistats

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats is an organisation that collects specific data about university courses in the UK which enables you to compare information that is important in your decision-making when choosing a university. All universities publish Unistats data on their online course pages.

Wherever we can we have provided extra information here to help put the data into context so that it is as useful as possible when you are making decisions.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the official university document for each course. They are updated each year, and give a very detailed breakdown of what your course might look like.

Programme specification

Find out more

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