student with basketball indoors student with basketball indoors

Course Summary

Our BSc Sports Coaching course has a strong practical emphasis, which will allow you to develop your understanding of sports coaching by applying cutting edge coaching research and academic knowledge to the delivery of coaching sessions in a range of sports. There is also the opportunity to gain coaching experience through undertaking placements with both community and professional sports organisations in the UK and potentially abroad.

To inspire an active nation and our future sporting heroes, more active, skilled and qualified coaches are needed to ensure national policies are delivered effectively in schools, colleges, clubs and community settings.

The BSc Sports Coaching course will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills consistent with the principles of great coaching unveiled by UK Coaching, the lead agency for coaching in the UK.

The National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Sports Coaching are embedded into the curriculum, along with a number of sport-specific National Governing Body awards (e.g. Level 1 UK Coaching Certificate) and UK Coaching workshops and badges.

Destinations of some of our recent graduates include Women’s Academy Coach at Manchester City FC, Teacher of Post-16 Education and Coach at Everton Free School and Football College, and Head of Performance Analysis at Wigan Warriors RLFC.

Why you'll Love it


What you'll Study

Year 1 introduces the principles that underpin effective coaching practice. You will have a number of practical opportunities to develop as a coach in the sport of your choice and undertake a number of national governing body awards and UK coaching workshops and badges.

In Year 2, you will further develop your practical delivery skills, and apply the skills and knowledge developed through work-based learning (five-week coaching placement).

In Year 3, you will deliver 20 hours of coaching for a professional club or organisation and reflect on your coaching practice. You will carry out a dissertation and deliver coaching sessions to local primary school children.

Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)

Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)

Who you'll Learn from

Paul Humphries

Senior Lecturer
Paul Humphries

How you'll Learn

Practical classes will be taught in a sports hall, and on a 3G MUGA pitch and AstroTurf hockey pitch. Practical delivery skills form part of the assessment in Years 1, 2 and 3. Furthermore, you will complete a coaching placement in Years 2 and 3.

Beyond the Classroom

As part of your studies you will take our Work Based Learning module, where you will be fully supported in securing a work placement of at least 150 hours, which you may be able to use in trying out a future career. In Year 3, a module is also designed to further develop and provide opportunities to apply knowledge and skills relating to practical sports coaching as students are required to undertake a four-week (equivalent to 20 hours) individual coaching placement in a community setting. 

Our Year Abroad Study Exchange module offers a unique opportunity to participate in a short-term placement around the world.

This course offers the exciting opportunity to study abroad for a full academic year at one of our bilateral exchange partners or through ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs), a network of over 300 additional higher education institutions worldwide.

 

Entry Requirements

104 UCAS points

UCAS Tariff 104 points
GCE A Level Typical offer – CCC - BCC
BTEC BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate 26 points
Irish / Scottish Highers Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H4 H4
Scottish Highers: BBBB
Access requirements Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level T Level - Pass grade with C or above on the core
OCR Cambridge Technicals OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. All successful candidates who receive an offer of a place for this course and choose the University of Chester as their Firm choice will be required to undergo checks with regards to their suitability to practice. 
 
A couple of months prior to admission to this course, the University will contact you to request that you complete a self-declaration form detailing any relevant convictions or other information that you believe may have an impact upon your ability to undertake work with children or vulnerable adults.  You will also receive instructions on how to complete an online application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through the University as a registered body, there will be a charge for this.  Please note that the University does not accept previous DBS checks from other registered bodies or the update service. For details about the cost of the DBS and for further information please visit our DBS web pages.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For those who do not have IELTS or an acceptable in-country English language qualification, the University of Chester has developed its own online English language test which applicants can take for just £50.

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Where you'll Study Exton Park, Chester

Fees and Funding

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2024/25 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU starting in or after the 2021/22 academic year will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

£13,950 per year (2024/25)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2024/25 are £13,950. 

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.  

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Course specific additional costs

You will be expected to purchase a university branded sport kit to be used during practicals and placements. A technical t-shirt (Black) with the Division and course logo will cost £22.00.

Prior to admission to this course, you will be required to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through the University, for which there will be charge.

For details about the cost of the DBS and for further information, please visit our DBS web page.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.

 

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

The BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching course will provide you with appropriate academic, technical and professional knowledge, in order for you to enter careers in sports coaching and instruction, teaching and lecturing and sport development. Destinations of some of our recent graduates include Assistant Academy Manager at Manchester City FC, Disability Rugby League Coach at The Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation, Teacher of Post-16 Education and Coach at Everton Free School and Football College, and Head of Performance Analysis at Wigan Warriors RLFC. Students have also gone on to gain further qualifications either in teaching or at Master’s level.

Progression options

Sports Medicine MSc

Sports Performance Analysis MSc

Sports Performance Science MSc

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.