Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)

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If you are applying for this course from within the UK/EU, click apply now.

Course starts: 14 September 2020Apply now

If you are applying for this course from outside the UK/EU, click apply now.

Course starts: 14 September 2020Apply now

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Indulge your passion for sport and physical activity. Gain a deep understanding of sport-related psychology and physiology. Specialise in sports coaching theory and practice, opening up a path to a wide range of sport-related careers.

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Overview

This course develops hands-on practical skills as well as academic rigour. During the first year, you’ll be introduced to sport and exercise related psychology, physiology, anatomy, coaching and motor skills. You’ll also be encouraged and supported to obtain National Governing Body Coaching Awards, opening up great opportunities when you graduate.

Why us?

  • This course has 100% Overall Satisfaction according to the National Student Survey 2018
  • This course is endorsed by The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
  • Provides students with the requisite skills and experience to work with sports people of all ages and at all levels
  • The opportunity to apply to the Elite Bursary Scheme
  • Our Sports Science courses were ranked 3rd overall in the UK in the 2018 UK Engagement Survey
  • The University of Sunderland was ranked 12th in the Courses and Lecturers category of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2019

  • Developing your practical experiences in front of groups and individuals is an important component of this course, thus a significant part of it will be based in our multi-million pound sports facility at CitySpace, or with members of the sporting community
  • 91% of our BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2015/16 (based on UK students)
  • Our Sports Science courses were ranked 3rd in the UK for Assessment and Feedback, 3rd in the UK for Retention and Progression, and 3rd in the UK for Employability in the 2018 UK Engagement Survey

Course structure

Our teaching methods are designed to develop both your knowledge and also skills that enhance employability. Methods include small group work, practical activities, workshops, lectures, tutorials, computer-based learning, presentations and independent learning.

There are also on-going assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning. Assessment methods include essays, reports, practical work and presentations.

You can also choose modules which can result in PD:Approval accredited Personal Trainer and Exercise Referral awards at no additional cost.

Year 1 (national level 4):

  • Academic and Professional Skills (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Anatomy (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Physiology (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Motor Skills (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Coaching Leadership (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 credits)

 

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Read more

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules

  • Research Design and Analysis (20 credits)
  • Motivating Physical Activity (20 credits)
  • Physiology of Fitness and Training (20 credits)
  • Theory and Practice of Sports Coaching (20 credits)
  • Growth and Child Development (20 credits)

Optional modules - choose one

  • Injuries and Rehabilitation (20 credits)
  • Exercise Testing and Prescription (20 credits)
Read more

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules

  • Dissertation (20 credits)
  • Developing Excellence in Sports Coaching (20 credits)
  • Adaptive Physical Activity (20 credits)
  • Sport Psychology (20 credits)

Optional modules - choose two

  • Sport and Exercise Physiology (20 credits)
  • Sport and Exercise Nutrition (20 credits)
  • Strength, Conditioning and Prehabilitation (20 credits)
  • Exercise for Special Populations (20 credits)
Read more

  • Our Biomechanics lab contains equipment that measures motion, muscle activity and forces on the body during high intensity sports and the activities of daily living.

    Facilities include:

    • 3D motion capture systems including Vicon® systems and Xsens® motion capture suits
    • Software such as Dartfish®, Kinovea® and LongoMatch® software to capture live action images for match tagging and coaching feedback
    • Movement tracking tools such as Actigraph® and Catapult®
    • Delsys® Trigno electromyography equipment to see how the muscles of the body are working
    • Kistler® force platforms and Batak® reaction walls to analyse sporting performance
    • Novel® Pedar systems to analyse foot pressure
    Biomechanics equipment

  • Our City Campus features a state-of-the-art facility called CitySpace. It features:

    • Sports hall (suitable for hosting large-scale events)
    • Fitness suite/gym
    • Strength and conditioning room
    • Injury prevention and support suite
    • Fitness classes
    • Climbing wall
    CitySpace

  • Facilities for monitoring and testing exercise physiology and psychology include:

    • Polar® Team2 heart rate monitoring system for assessing the heart rates of a full squad of team players in real time
    • Cortex® gas analysers to evaluate cardiovascular performance
    • Biochemical analysers from Randox®, Jenway® and Gonotec® to measure substances and enzymes within the body
    • Tendo®, Myotest® and Globus® equipment to profile your strength and power and develop specific training programmes
    • Fusion Sport® SMARTSPEED light gates for assessing speed, agility and reaction times
    • Assess and enhance cognitive performance using our Neurotracker® 3D multiple object tracking equipment
    Exercise physiology and psychology

  • In our lab you'll find fitness and conditioning equipment that would be the envy of most modern gyms. From a wide range of cardiovascular equipment to machine and Olympic weights, you will receive hands-on teaching in a professional environment.

    Fitness and Conditioning Suite

  • Across the Sunderland area you'll have access to the following sports facilities:

    • 50m Olympic size swimming pool
    • 95m artificial ski slope
    • Warehouse climbing wall
    • Football training pitches at Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light
    • Marine Activities Centre for sailing, canoeing, kayaking and powerboating
    • LTA approved indoor tennis centre with 13 indoor and outdoor courts
    • Floodlit athletics tracks
    Sport facilities

  • Anatomy is taught by experienced staff in a specialist clinical lab using skeletons, anatomical models, 3D software, online material and human subjects. You will learn techniques for sports injury rehabilitation, including the use of sports massage and ultrasound equipment.

    You will also examine balance and stability using our Biodex® stability and balance trainer and assess strength imbalances using our sophisticated Biodex® dynamometer and new BTE Primus® rehabilitation equipment. You can investigate how new techniques such as thermal imaging are being used in injury assessment with Flir® IR cameras.

    Sports medicine and anatomy

  • The Sciences Complex is based on our City Campus. It has benefited from multi-million pound investment in modern facilities in recent years and continues to develop as our health sciences offer grows.

    It is the central hub for many of our health and sciences courses and is made up of a variety of teaching and learning spaces, including labs, problem-based learning classrooms and facilities that encourage interprofessional learning. A lot of academic staff offices are based here, with an open-door policy in place.

    The Sciences Complex
  • Map and directions

Facilities

Sunderland's outstanding facilities include laboratories with the latest fitness equipment and technology.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is


  • GPA 3.0 or above from High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement


If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at admissions@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

We also require three passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language, or an equivalent qualification, for example; a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have studied for a new GCSE for which you will be awarded a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

If English is not your first language we will require an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) can also be considered if the applicant's element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is:

  • £9,250 if you are from the UK or EU
  • £12,000 if you are from outside the EU

If you are not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

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This information was correct at the time of publication.

City Campus by night

Employment

Potential employers for graduates of this course include national sports associations, sports and leisure companies, recreation services, local authorities, health bodies including the NHS, schools and colleges.

During the course, you will be encouraged and supported to obtain National Governing Body Coaching Awards to support future development in the area. This will allow you to develop the skills required to become an effective coach across a range of activities.

PD:Approval qualifications

Sport and Exercise Sciences now has accreditation from PD: Approval, the national endorsement body for Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), to award vocational qualifications (related to the health and fitness industry) to students who successfully complete specific modules.

University level Main module mapped to

Vocational qualifications
5 Exercise Testing and Prescription Level 3 Personal Trainer
6 Exercise for Special Populations Level 3 Exercise Referral Instructor

Career options

Job roles include the following (some require further training):

  • Sports coach/instructor
  • Sports and exercise psychologist
  • Fitness centre manager
  • PE teacher

Meet the team

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing.

Page last updated: 21 November 2019

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