Access to HE Diploma (Sports Science)

Access courses

A student leaning over a weight lifting bar in a gym.

This Access course is designed for adults who may not have the conventional educational requirements but would like an opportunity to enter a higher education course.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

CU Scarborough (Scarborough)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

CUSCA011

Start date

September 2025

How to apply

Book an Open Event

Download a prospectus

The information on this page is for 2024-25 entry and should be used as guidance for 2025-26 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

The aim of this Access to Sports Science course is to enable you to acquire the academic and practical skills, knowledge and confidence to start a degree programme of your choice. This should help you to fulfil your chosen career potential in the field of sport, nutrition, sports psychology, secondary physical education teaching and sports coaching.

As well as subject-specific knowledge, we aim to prepare you in the fundamentals of study skills which include writing standard English, writing essays and sourcing information.
The course offers 45 credits at Level 3 in subject-specific units, and a further 15 credits at Level 3 in study skill units. The 45 credits will be made up of health-related and sport science-related modules.
The course provides you with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and experience needed when moving onto your degree, as well as the skills to move forward in your academic journey. This includes developing your academic writing skills, referencing, critical analysis and research skills. All these skills are required to move onto a degree programme.

Why you should study this course

Quickest route to Higher Education.
No end-of-year exams.
Mapped to match with modules taught on degree programmes.
Open learning environment.
Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete an eligible higher education course (subject to SFE requirements). For more information visit the Advanced Learner Loan website.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regulated.

What you'll study

Modules

The Acquisition of Sports Skills – 6 credits

Understand the stages, structures and processes involved in the passage of a nerve impulse from origin to motor units.
Understand the components of information processing and reaction time.
Understand a range of learning theories to the sporting situation.
Understand a variety of theories of practice and feedback to the stages of learning.
Understand learning curves in the process of skill acquisition.

Compulsory

Report Writing – 3 credits

Finding and Reading Information – 3 credits

Anatomy and Physiology – 6 credits

In this module, you will have the opportunity to develop a more detailed understanding of the basic structure and function of the cell. You will learn the relationship between the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory and nervous system. Finally, you should develop an understanding of the key responses of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems during physical activity.

Compulsory

Extended Project – 6 credits

This module gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your extensive subject-specific knowledge in a specific area of your choice. You should be able to construct an argument in an extended piece of work. Finally, you will be encouraged to present your work in a form consistent with the conventions of the specific subject that includes an appropriate form of academic citations.

Compulsory

Preparation for Higher Education – 3 credits

Sports Psychology – 6 credits

Understand theories of personality type as related to sports performance.
Understand the effects of anxiety on sports performance.
Understand appropriate methods of motivating performers.
Understand the impact of aggression in sport.
Understand the role of team dynamics in sports performance.

Compulsory

Sports Development – 3 credits

Writing Standard English – 3 credits

This module will allow you to develop your use of grammar in standard English, along with the opportunity to develop your understanding of appropriate punctuation in accordance with the rules of standard English. This module also aims to help you to develop your understanding of the use of paragraphs within your essays and the use of syntax.

Compulsory

Sports Injuries – 3 credits

This unit will help you to understand different types of acute and chronic injuries related to sports participation and gain an understanding of the principles of tissue repair. You will cover the relevant rules and regulations in sport that relate to health, safety and prevention of injury. You should also gain an understanding of the use of PRICE as an initial treatment for sports injuries. Finally, you it will help you to understand the relevance of training methods, equipment, and technique to minimising chronic sports injuries.

Compulsory

Principles of Coaching – 3 credits

Fitness Trainer – 3 credits

Understand the components of fitness.
Understand the methods of fitness testing.
Understand the criteria for screening clients pre-exercise.
Understand the principles of a progressive exercise programme.
Understand the physiological effects of warm-up and cooldown on body systems.

Compulsory

Sports Nutrition – 3 credits

Understand the role of macronutrients and micronutrients in a sporting context.
Understand the process of digestion.
Understand the macronutrient needs for different types of athletic performance.
Understand the effects of dietary strategy on athletic performance.
Understand the role of fluids in athletic performance.

Compulsory

Speaking and Listening Skills – 3 credits

Sociological Aspects of Sport – 3 credits

Human Tissues and Systems – 3 credits

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 access course offers an opportunity for students to study for a Level 3 Diploma.

The CU model of delivery focuses on one module at a time, allowing you to focus on the in-depth content of the subject. Lectures are delivered by subject experts using a variety of methods to reinforce the concepts of the topic from traditional lectures, group work, worksheets, case studies and research activities.

Our timetable purposefully mirrors school timetables, avoiding Mondays and Fridays on campus, which tend to coincide with teacher training days.

Teaching contact hours

Our Access to Higher Education courses run over 36 weeks. Attendance on campus is required 9:30am – 2.30pm (including a half-hour lunch break) on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

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. Assessment methods may include:

essays
group work
presentations
projects
coursework.

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.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English are preferable but not mandatory for commencing the Access course. Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English can be acquired alongside the Access course as they are a pre-requisite to progress onto universities.

GCSE maths, English and one science at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.

As part of the application process, an interview and a literacy and numeracy assessment will be required so that our tutors are satisfied that you can benefit from the course and be able to cope with the future requirements of studying in higher education.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK	£3,384	Not available

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 government's 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

Our purpose-built campus building is arranged around an open central atrium that includes IT suites and study spaces.

The onsite library stocks essential and recommended reading and over 115,000 eBooks. The building also includes areas for career guidance and study support services, a café, a prayer room and social areas. Next to the campus is Scarborough’s leisure village. This complex includes an Olympic Legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all-weather pitches and the Scarborough Athletic football ground.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you will obtain an Access to Higher Education Diploma, which allows you to apply for several relevant degree programmes within the Coventry University Group*. You will have knowledge of a range of health-related topics that can help you start your degree programme. You will have also gained a range of study skills that will be useful throughout your studies and future career, including research, referencing and the correct style of academic writing.

*CU Coventry, CU London and CU Scarborough come together to form Coventry University College Limited, a Subsidiary Company of Coventry University and a part of the Coventry University Group with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

Further study

Successful completion of this course will guarantee you a place on any degree programme at CU Scarborough (excluding nursing courses). The most relevant course is Sport Performance and Coaching BSc (Hons).

You could potentially obtain a place on the following degree programmes with Coventry University subject to you meeting the additional entry requirements. Please see the subject web pages for more information.

How to apply

UK students

Access courses are designed for students who haven’t had the opportunity to access higher education, so formal qualifications are not mandatory. If you’re interested in an Access to HE course you’ll need to apply to us directly by completing our online application form.

Once your application form has been processed you’ll receive the outcome of your application via the email address you provided.

Apply now

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

(+44) 02477 652222

ukadmissions.cu@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

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). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

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.

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.

⁴Facilities

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.

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 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 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.

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Student life

Accommodation

Fees and funding

Access to HE Diploma (Sports Science)

Course overview

Why you should study this course

Accreditation and professional recognition

What you'll study

Modules

How you'll learn

Teaching contact hours

Guided and independent study

Online learning

Assessment

Entry requirements

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

Fees and funding

Facilities

Careers and opportunities

Further study

How to apply

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Sport Performance and Coaching BSc (Hons)

Your next steps