Intro

Our integrated foundation year provides an extra year of study at foundation level, opening up opportunities if you do not hold the required A-levels or equivalent qualifications, are changing career or returning to study.

The foundation offers a wide perspective on the world of sport and gives you the support, knowledge and skills you need to study at degree level. Successful completion means that you can progress onto one of our sport courses from sport and exercise science to sport management.

You'll benefit from strong academic support and excellent facilities, and be equipped to get the most out of the honours degree that you choose. 

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code C611

Full-time 4 years – one year foundation course plus three-year honours degree

Apply now with UCAS for 2024

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff
72 UCAS tariff points. Level 3 Key Skills and General Studies will count towards the tariff.

A-levels
DDD.

BTEC
MMP/DM.

International Baccalaureate
24 points.

T-level
Pass with D or E in your core components in the Healthcare Science or Science T-level. Other T-levels are not accepted.

Other qualifications
We will consider applicants who have completed an Access course or other type of level 3 qualification on an individual basis; relevant experience may also be taken into account.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Interested in progressing to our PE degree?
If you're thinking of progressing from the foundation year to our PE with QTS degree, you'll need GCSE English and maths or equivalent along with your foundation year achievements before you apply for the degree. You'll also be expected to take part in an interview with other PE applicants.

If you do not have the required GCSEs, find out which equivalent qualifications we accept instead.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
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 centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Course structure

You'll complete six modules in the foundation year. They will allow you to explore sport and the subjects connected to it, helping you to choose the right degree for you. You'll be introduced to concepts and problems in sport providing a strong knowledge base and giving you a practical perspective on the subject. You'll also develop the practical, theoretical and scientific skills that allow you to understand sport and those who take part in it. You'll link theory with practice wherever possible.

Learning will be through a mixture of lectures and lab practical classes, group work, workshops and seminars. You'll be supported throughout by your personal tutor.

students on a balance board in the gym

Progress to a degree

Successful completion of the foundation year means that you'll be able to progress to one of our sport honours degrees: 

PR pitch sport bus mgt

Facilities

From September 2024 this course will be taught at our Brighton, Falmer campus. The Falmer campus is being redesigned, renovated and upgraded and will have lots of new facilities for sport and health science students.

As a Brighton student you'll use our sport science facilities which include:

  • biochemistry lab
  • biomechanical lab with running track and 3D motion analysis
  • blood analysis lab
  • data Analysis room
  • exercise rehabilitation gym
  • kinanthropometry lab housing our DEXA Scanner
  • neuromuscular lab housing our isokinetic dynamometers
  • psychology lab
  • physiology lab
  • research lab
  • strength and conditioning suite
  • two environmental labs which will house our dual environment chamber
  • VR screen room which will house the Igloo 210.

You may also use our extensive Falmer campus sport facilities as part of your studies. These include outdoor grass football pitches, floodlit synthetic pitches and courts, indoor swimming pool, large fitness suite and sports hall with netball, volleyball, basketball and badminton courts, and cricket nets. 

You won't be able to view the new facilities until autumn 2024 but you can get a feel for them by watching the short video, and checking out our current facilities and Falmer 2024 information.

 

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you’ll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports Scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about Sport Scholarships.

A group of people throwing frisbees

Meet the team

Caroline Thomas - course leader

Caroline graduated from the University of Brighton, where she obtained a first-class honours degree in Physical Education with QTS. She won the Pearl Holt award for Excellence in Physical Education for her contribution to the subject, and started her teaching career at Beacon Academy, a large mixed comprehensive secondary school with a sixth form. 

She spent her early career teaching as a dance specialist and teacher of physical education in addition to leading GCSE and A-level Dance in examinations. Caroline became a head of year after her first-year review, and was invited by the University of Brighton to be a mentor as part of the initial teacher training programme. Later advancements to leadership enabled Caroline to create a Performing Arts Faculty where she founded a vision for an outstanding performing arts curriculum, alongside physical education, that provided opportunities for the students to perform on world-class platforms, including London, Paris and New York, which resulted in multiple triumphs and awards being won.

After her teaching career Caroline was appointed as a Lecturer of Physical Education at the University of Brighton, which had always been her career aspiration. 

Caroline is an Early Career Researcher and has collaborated with a university in Henan, China to explore how culture shapes what we learn in physical education, and this will continue into her further studies as a student of the Educational Doctorate in 2024. Caroline’s interest is regarding health and wellbeing within physical education and policy design. She plans to explore how dissonance between different government departments does not create a unified approach to health and wellbeing within physical education, which could be pivotal in preparing young people for a modern and aging society.

Other members of the team

 

Caroline Thomas

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Careers

Sport is one of the few sectors experiencing economic growth both in the UK and globally.

Careers exist with various organisations including professional sport clubs, sport governing bodies, health and leisure clubs, sport public agencies, sport community recreation departments, sporting goods companies, sport marketing agencies, sport events organisers and athletic service organisations.

A degree in sport from the University of Brighton will enable you to turn your passion for sport into an exciting career and our employability hub and careers service will be there to offer support and advice.

Three people in canoes on a river

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,900 GBP

Students applying for this course will be eligible to apply for student funding for the full four-year course – foundation year plus three-year honours degree.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where health course includes a placement
    • UK students – travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund.
    • Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, this means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/ travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
  • An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
  • In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
  • For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
  • The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Falmer

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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