Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)

Undergraduate

Develop into a confident, reflective and skilled sports coach, gaining practical experience and potential placement opportunities to prepare for a career in sport and related fields.

Course option

Degree with foundation year

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

C610

Start date

September 2026
November 2026
January 2027
March 2027
May 2027
July 2027

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

Sports coaches play a key role in driving both sporting success and lifelong participation in schools and communities. This course aims to prepare you for a career in sports coaching, teaching, sports development, leisure management, community programmes and more.

Become a standout coach with real-world skills. Build the confidence and expertise to lead in sport through hands-on coaching.
Develop key graduate attributes employers value, such as leadership, teamwork and communication.
Apply coaching theory to real-life scenarios, learning to adapt your approach to suit different participants’ needs and motivations.
Explore the breadth of sports coaching opportunities, from community settings and schools (such as sports clubs, physical education, and youth projects) to talent pathways (like professional teams and national governing bodies).

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

Opportunities to gain hands-on experience with schools, professional sports teams and community organisations, lead sports festivals and engage in short coaching placements with established collaborators.²
Learn from a team with expertise across professional sport, development pathways, and education (staff subject to change).
Build strong employability skills applicable in various sectors, beyond sports.
Develop key graduate attributes, such as confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills, helping you enhance your employability.
Previous and current sports students have gained a year of experience with professional sports teams (e.g., Southampton FC, Wasps RFC, Coventry City FC, Norwich F.C., Birmingham City F.C.) and governing bodies (English Institute of Sport) and short placements with a range of local employers (e.g. Positive Impact, CV Life, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools).

What you'll study

First year modules consist of fundamental practical and theoretical approaches to sports coaching. The coaching process, which includes planning, delivery, reflection, and various academic approaches, will be introduced. In addition, you will gain knowledge of bio-psycho-social, which will help inform a broad understanding of the needs and wants of the individual or group. You will develop your discipline-specific study skills and professional practice. A key aspect is acquiring the necessary skills base and understanding the process of practical coaching in preparation for year two study, where these skills will be developed further. In addition, you will have the opportunity to gain a national governing body coaching qualification. 

Modules

Foundations of Sports Coaching - 30 credits

Explore the core skills and ideas that help you plan and deliver practical coaching sessions. Learn to think about who you’re coaching, what activity they’re doing, and how to coach effectively. Understand the role of coaches and their key responsibilities like safeguarding, ethics and risk assessment.

Put theory into action by designing and leading sessions in real coaching environments.² Build key skills designed to support your learning and boost your future career in sport.

Compulsory

Teaching and Learning in Sports Coaching – 30 credits

Discover how different teaching and coaching styles help people learn and improve in sport and physical education. Explore coaching models, learning theories and instructional/questioning techniques that support learning and keep participants engaged.

Focus on how your coaching approach shapes the learning environment. Through hands-on sessions and workshops, test out different ways to coach, backed by theory. By the end of the module, you should know how to design inclusive, effective, and exciting coaching sessions that suit different sports and participants.

Compulsory

Physical Development in Youth Sports Coaching - 30 credits

Learn how exercise affects the physical development of children and young people. Explore how growth, maturation and training shape how young participants respond to exercise, and how to design safe and effective training programmes to support their development.

Look at key issues in youth sport, like talent selection, sport specialisation, relative age effects and key development models. Carry out field-based tests and learn how to judge how reliable and useful they are. This knowledge should help you coach young people in a way that supports both their development and well-being.

Compulsory

Supporting Psycho-social Needs in Youth Sports Coaching - 30 credits

Explore what your participants need from a psychological and social point of view, and how the environment you create can support their development. Look at how factors like confidence, motivation and social support affect performance, development and well-being, and learn how to create a positive coaching environment.

Explore evidence-based strategies and behaviours that you can use to support your participants’ psycho-social development. Most importantly, learn how to apply this knowledge directly to your coaching, helping you better support the people you work with.

Compulsory

Year two modules build on the fundamental knowledge gained in your first year. You will develop competence in the coaching process, with an emphasis on the critical analysis of the pedagogical approaches and scientific principles underpinning practical coaching sessions. You will apply your knowledge to practical scenarios, enabling you to continue developing your professional skills and their application, particularly reflective practice and career management. In addition to this, you will further develop research skills and employability by exploring qualitative and quantitative approaches to research and a mandatory structured work experience module².

Modules

Bio-psycho-social Developments in Athletes - 30 credits

Explore how young people bio-psycho-socially develop and how this relates to sports coaching. Look at how to safely improve physical and psycho-social abilities in young athletes, taking into account growth, maturation and individual needs of a youth athlete.

Focus on your role as a coach within a wider support team, learning how to work with other professionals. Design, deliver and monitor physical development programmes, while also exploring key topics like overtraining, injury risk and planning long-term training and periodisation strategies for healthy development.

Compulsory

Developing Physical Literacy in PE and Community Sport - 30 credits

Early positive experiences with movement help the young stay active for life. Learn how school PE, after-school clubs and community sport shape how children move, feel and think about physical activity.

Explore the National Curriculum for PE and key policies that support young people's development through sport. Build your confidence in delivering engaging, high-quality sessions that support every aspect of a child’s growth - physical, emotional, social and mental wellbeing.

Look at how PE and sport can boost behaviour, school achievement, attendance, health, well-being and life skills - helping you shape meaningful experiences for young people.

Compulsory

Professional Skills in Sports Coaching - 30 credits

Build your theoretical and practical coaching skills alongside your professional competencies and career confidence. Explore national and international coaching frameworks and current research, learning how they shape real coaching practice and how to create effective, engaging environments for participants across different sports.

Take part in a practical coaching placement to apply what you’ve learned and gain real experience.² You will be assisted by the academic team to source a placement opportunity. Focus on your future career—learning how to find and apply for jobs, showcase your strengths, and reflect on your goals and development.

By the end of this module, you should have the knowledge, practical experience and professional skills needed to take your next steps in the world of sports coaching and related professions.

Compulsory

Research in Sports Coaching - 30 credits

Build the research skills you need for sports coaching. Explore both qualitative and quantitative methods, learning how to critically analyse information, solve problems and discover new insights in your field.

Practise designing your own research projects and learn how to communicate your findings clearly—whether through scientific reports or more creative formats. By the end of the module, you should be confident in using research to support your coaching practice and sharing your ideas with others.

Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement² can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Modules

UK Work Placement– 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Final year modules focus on contemporary issues, community participation and high-performance pathways to further develop your employability profile. 

Modules

Promoting Sports Participation - 30 credits

Explore how to promote sport and increase participation through effective events and long-term strategies. Look at key topics like equal opportunities, community engagement, health and wellbeing, and how sport can shape personal identity.

Learn how play-based activities and government-funded programmes can boost inclusion and encourage more people to get involved in physical activity. By the end of the module, you should be able to design and evaluate sports events that aim to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Compulsory

Contemporary Perspectives in Sports Coaching – 30 credits

Explore the latest ideas shaping sports coaching today. Build a strong understanding of current theories and trends and analyse how they influence real coaching practice.

Look at a range of up-to-date coaching topics and think critically about how they can improve the way sport is taught and delivered. Practice sharing these ideas clearly with both expert and general audiences - helping you communicate confidently in different professional settings.

Compulsory

Advanced Sports Coaching - 30 credits

Deepen your understanding by focusing on nested planning, coaching delivery and critical reflection on coaching over short-, medium- and long-term durations. Explore different coaching theoretical frameworks and evidence informed practical methods to tailor your approach to the unique needs of your athletes and the coaching environment.

By integrating scientific and non-scientific knowledge you will design flexible coaching plans for the needs of the individual, using mental models, game models, bio-psycho-social development and curriculum principles. The course also emphasises coach decision-making and professional judgement in adapting your style based on context and challenges.

Through reflective frameworks, evaluate your own growth and coaching methods. By critically examining both scientific and practical knowledge, refine your coaching skills to better support your athletes’ development and performance.

Compulsory

Independent Research Project - 30 credits

Conduct, analyse, interpret and communicate, via a scientific research paper and oral presentation, a piece of investigative research in a specialised area of sport and/or exercise. You will be supported and guided by your supervisor throughout your research. However, you're expected to demonstrate increasing independence, along with high levels of organisational and time management skills. You will also need to show technical skills and an awareness of research ethics and/or health and safety.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The Sports Coaching BSc (Hons) course is delivered in various academic approaches to ensure all learners are catered for. Practical sessions and workshops employ a range of innovative approaches, (e.g. escape rooms, gamification, group projects) to engage and make learning memorable.

Teaching and learning methods may include: 

lectures
seminars 
tutorials 
presentations 
group projects 
workshops 
practical workshop sessions 
practical sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. The assessment methods may include:

practical sessions
coaching plans
portfolios
tests
essays
group work
presentations
reports
projects
coursework
core tests
individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

Our sandwich degree option allows a full-year work placement, which can be taken abroad, or you can undertake a study year abroad. The university runs several speciﬁc schemes to enable overseas study periods or work experience². Current teaching staff also ensure that they bring their internationally rated research expertise into their teaching practices (staff may be subject to change). You will also have opportunities to challenge yourself in a range of community and academic projects, both locally and globally. These international opportunities may include collaborative online learning with students at established overseas participating universities and field trips².

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed².

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement	What we're looking for
UCAS points	112
A level	BBC to include PE, Biology, Psychology or Sociology. Excludes General Studies.
BTEC	DMM in the BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in a Biological or Sport Science based subject. Excludes Health and Social Care.
International Baccalaureate	30 points to include 5 points in Biology at Higher Level.
GCSE	GCSE maths, English and two sciences at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.
Access to HE	The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits above Merit of which 15 must be at Distinction in Biology or Sport Science related units. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above

Additional information

Please note that some work placements may require additional health and professional suitability checks including criminal record checking via DBS². The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The university is, therefore, unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual/Fair Access Offers

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Offer, you could automatically receive a contextual offer which is 16 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Offer.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation pathway. Upon successful completion this should provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year	Not available
EU	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £18,300 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £18,300 per year	Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement² or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee³ to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

This course is based at Coventry University's main campus, with most of the teaching being delivered at our Westwood Heath facility. Westwood Heath houses both excellent teaching rooms and sports facilities. Some teaching will also be delivered at the Alison Gingell building⁴.

Westwood Heath

Our Westwood Heath facility houses modern teaching rooms alongside grass and AstroTurf pitches, where most of your time will be spent. Practical sessions are captured using our state of the art AP Capture camera system and software to enrich the teaching and learning experience.

Student running, among lots of equipment

Alison Gingell Building

You will benefit from the outstanding sports and exercise sciences facilities in the purpose-built Alison Gingell building. This includes a sports hall, sport and exercises science laboratories, strength and conditioning suite, gait analysis track, 3D motion capture system and an environmental chamber.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

This course offers practical experience opportunities² that help you develop the skills expected of an advanced coach or PE teacher. You’ll take part in hands-on learning through our strong connections with local and national sports organisations, teams and schools.

You can also choose to take an optional sandwich year, adding a full year of work experience in a coaching setting to boost your CV.

If you want a career in sport coaching, PE teaching, sports development, leisure management, or community programmes, this course could be the perfect fit for you.

Further study

PGCE courses allow entry to teaching careers and our more specialist sport MSc programmes in Applied Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation and Psychology. Providing opportunities for graduates to develop skills in a more specific area of study.

Upon successful completion of this course, you should have gained the relevant skills and knowledge to embark on a range of different career paths. These could include:

sports coaching
school/community sports coaching
disability sports coaching
academy coaching
PGCE and Physical Education teaching
sports development officer
leisure management
personal training
sports performance analysis.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.

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How to apply

BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Apply via UCAS

C85

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time students can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If this course has a part-time option you will need to apply directly to the university.

Apply via the portal

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
EESU081

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2026/2027 contract will apply for the 2026/2027 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.