Intro

The Sport Coaching BSc(Hons) will help you develop the knowledge, practical skills and experience needed for a professional career in sport and fitness coaching.

Explore sport coaching theories and their application to practice in areas such as physiology, psychology, biomechanics and sociology. You will also consider how sport coaching is used as a development tool around the world.

Learn from staff who teach from their own professional coaching experiences in sports including tennis and cricket, and who continue to engage with national and international sport. Work placements will enable you to gain practical coaching experience in different sports, settings and scenarios. Previous students have spent their placement with Sussex County Cricket, British Cycling, Football 4 Peace, British Triathlon and Albion in the Community.

There are also opportunities to develop your skills in cardiac rehabilitation, the strength and conditioning of elite athletes and in coaching of specific sports including football, athletics and basketball. Our partnerships with universities in Belgium, Germany, Poland and Spain enable you to choose to study abroad for a semester.

Throughout your course, you will have access to the extensive sport facilities at our Eastbourne campus, which include two sports halls, a fitness suite, all-weather outdoor pitch and swimming pool. You will also use our British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited labs. Eastbourne also provides great outdoor environments including the South Downs.

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 CIMSPA Higher Education Partner. We are part of their pilot programme to develop CIMSPA 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 CX6C

Full-time 3 years

Apply now with UCAS for 2019 entry

Course content

Course structure 

There are 50 credits of option modules in year 2 and 40 credits of option modules in year 3, which you can use to specialise in an area of particular interest.

You will contribute to theoretical discussion and then plan ways of applying theories to your own studies, practical coaching placements and practical activities.

The core programme uses the full suite of practical and laboratory facilities at the School of Sport and Service Management. We also use the outdoor environment in and around Eastbourne, such as the seafront, the Downs and Friston Forest.

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

Year 1 provides a broad introduction to coaching in topics such as physiology, psychology, biomechanics, training principles, sport development and sociology. This sets the foundation for years 2 and 3, when you can start to explore your own interests by selecting from a wide range of optional modules.

Throughout the course, you will gain practical coaching experience in a variety of situations, ranging from coaching fellow students in the first year to completion of external coaching placements during years 2 and 3.

We have established links with many sports organisations where you can complete coaching placements as part of the course.

Sports coaching 2

Year 1

Modules

  • Fundamentals of Coaching
  • Practical Application of Coaching
  • Who Runs Sport?
  • Sport Practical, Physical Activity and Performance
  • Science of Movement
  • The Scientific Study of Sport and Exercise
sport coaching lacrosse

Year 2

Modules

  • Effective Coaching
  • Coaching Professional Practice
  • Data Analysis and Research Methods 
  • Coaching Contexts and Methodologies

Options*

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

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

 

sport coaching basketball

 

 

 

Final year

Modules

  • Advanced Coaching
  • Dissertation
  • Coaching Professional Enquiry

Options*

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

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

sport coaching

 

 

 

 

 

 

Placements

Placements give you a great opportunity to get practical coaching experience. We have partnerships with organisations and initiatives including:

  • Football4Peace
  • MU Foundation
  • British Triathlon
  • British Cycling
  • Albion in the Community
  • Sussex County Cricket
Sports-coaching

Staff profile

Dr James Wallis

Course leader

James is a principal lecturer on the Sport Coaching BSc(Hons) and Sport Coaching and Development BA(Hons) top-up degree. He is very active in professional and community coach education, currently working in professional cricket and in several European partner universities. He is the co-editor of the 2016 text 'Becoming a Sports Coach' published by Routledge.

James's main teaching commitments are in the theoretical bases of coaching and pedagogy, specialising in the development youth performance.

James Wallis

Careers

Our graduates have taken up roles in participation and performance sport with private, public and professional sports bodies, and also in community coaching in local and international contexts. They are now working as sports and coaching coordinators, exercise scientists and recreation officers.

This course will provide you with the opportunity to develop a career in many areas of sport, for example:

  • professional coaching in government body programmes 
  • social development and community programmes
  • PE teaching and associated roles within PE and school sport
  • sport, exercise and health consultancy and support
  • personal training/life coaching
  • many other areas dependent on a degree-level qualification (eg nutrition, performance analysis and disability sport).

You can also apply to study for a one-year PGCE to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

 

A student on an exercise bike at the front of a lecture

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 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. Must include level 3 units in science-related subjects. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 18 credits at merit or above.

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. 

English language requirements
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 degree preparation courses.

Fees

Fees

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

International (full-time) 14,460 GBP

 

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

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-time 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

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.

Walking along Eastbourne seafront
Enjoying sport above Eastbourne

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

All eligible 2019-entry firm and insurance offer holders are guaranteed an offer of university-managed accommodation.

Welkin halls
Located in the Meads area of Eastbourne, right next to the Students' Union and Student Services, Welkin halls are a short walk or bike ride to other areas of the campus.

  • Ensuite halls with a choice of room and flat sizes.
  • Breakfast and an evening meal are provided from Monday to Friday during term-time, this is included in your rent. You have access to shared, fully equipped kitchen facilities.
  • Rent also includes all utilities, 24/7 staff cover, contents insurance, cleaning of communal areas and off-peak access to university fitness facilities including a 25m pool.

Find out more about our accommodation in Eastbourne.

Unihomes
A unihome is a student house which the university manages on behalf of a private landlord. This option can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other life commitments.

  • Rent includes all utilities, broadband, contents insurance, cleaning of communal areas.
  • Generally shared bathroom with a variety of locations, room and house sizes. Some unihomes offer off-road parking.

Find out more about unihomes. 

Private renting
Eastbourne offers good choice when it comes to student accommodation.

There’s a good supply of affordable, high quality private rented accommodation and plenty of support and advice from us if you choose this option. Your first stop should be our studenthomes database. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards.

Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Welkin bedroom

Student bedroom in Welkin halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

Eastbourne campus map

 Student views  

 Rob Peters 

"I chose the University of Brighton because I liked the campus on the open day and knew of other people who were at the university, or had been, and recommended it. My first placement was with Tennis in the Park where I coached both children and adults. I also carried out a couple of terms at a local primary school, supporting the classroom teacher in delivering PE.

"Working at a tennis club with a great reputation was a great experience for me and something which helped me get my role with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) after graduation. The regular presenting and coaching in front of the cohort was really important, as I often have to present to coaches, volunteers, players and referees.

"I am currently a regional tennis services assistant for the LTA’s south-west participation team, where I work on key projects within the region to get more people playing tennis. I have been working with tennis clubs to modernise the way in which they operate, supporting venues with facility funding, writing business plans and providing overall support. I also help organise training courses and work with Southampton University to develop their tennis offer.

"It’s a great course to keep your options open. I was unsure of the type of role I was looking for but this wasn’t a problem, as the course allowed me to apply for a broad range of jobs."

Rob Peters

 Larette Tritton 

“I knew I wanted to have a career in the field of sport coaching and the course description really emphasised the importance of theory and practice. I enjoyed the variety of modules that were offered – I could pick ones that I was really interested in. With this element of freedom, I could create my own path. 

“Every teacher had an abundance of knowledge. They were always there to provide support when needed.”

“My second year placement was at Hampden Park Sports Centre, where I coached football and badminton; for my final year, I was at a community exercise circuit class in Angmering. Both placements exposed what I needed to improve on, giving me a holistic insight into the coaching world. 

“The course impacted my life massively as it changed my career direction. I discovered a passion for maximising participation in sport and exercise. This is something I had never thought about previously.

“After graduation I worked for Freedom Leisure as a sales and marketing assistant. I followed up enquiries with a motivational call, booked appointments, carried out needs analysis, conducted tours and was involved with marketing strategies and plans. 

“I now work for Sussex County Football Association as a Football Development Administrator. I look to promote and develop the game, supporting the FA National Game Strategy, setting up and booking people onto coaching courses, offering advice on the coaching pathway, and liaising with Sports Councils, NGBs and key partners. 

“The course positively challenges you – I guarantee you will grow and reach new heights academically.”

Larette Tritton sport coaching sasm

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Statistics

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

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

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