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level: UG top_up: false international: true clearing: false full_time: true part_time: true start_month: September location: Waterside

Sport Coaching BSc (Hons)

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  3. Sport Coaching BSc (Hons)

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code

    BSc: C610
    BSc with Foundation: C611

  • Level

    UndergraduateUG BSc (Hons)

  • Duration

    Full Time: 3 years
    Full Time Foundation: 4 years
    Part Time: 4-6 years

  • Starting

    September

Updated 09/04/2025

Open Days

Updated 09/04/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

This course is subject to validation for September 2025.

The University of Northampton’s Sport Coaching BSc (Hons) degree is designed to develop your practical and theoretical coaching skills. We look at the importance of our coaching style, approaches, and behaviour towards athletes.  As well as how our theory and sport science knowledge can help improve long term athlete development alongside our coach-athlete relationships.

Our Sport Coaching degree will develop key skills such as long-term planning, reflective practice, conducting athlete needs analysis and understanding pedagogy in different sporting environments. For sports coaches to take a holistic approach to their athletes’ development, we need to have an understanding the physiological, technical, psychological, and social factors that feed into the long-term athlete development. As the programme develops students can opt from modules that focuses on specific areas that helps develop their coaching skills. This can be for participation or performance/elite level coaching.

Other aspects include team dynamics, leadership styles, understanding performance environments and working within multi-disciplinary sports teams. This BSc Sport Coaching course has a performance analysis strand which allows students to develop their notation and analysis skills. This includes collecting and analysing real data with our partners, Northampton Saints.

A vital aspect of this sports coaching course is that our students complete a placement within their second year, allowing them to put into practice the theory and practical skills they have gained. We have partners such as Northampton Town Football Club and Northampton Saints that are placement options for our students. Students also get the option to continue this placement into their third year.

Ranked 2nd in the UK for Sport & Exercise Sciences in the National Student Survey 2024*

*Calculations are based on Office for Students (OfS) data from the average positivity score across all NSS questions for this subject area across all modes and levels at UK Universities

Highlights

A person in green pants stands holding a laptop in front of a seated person with a laptop on their lap, inside a room with green decor.

Students use the Sports Dome facility as part of their practical, hands-on learning.

Long hallway with a blue wall on the right displaying the text

The corridor of the Sports Lab. This is where students can do some of their study.

Entry Requirements

A typical offer for BSc Sport Coaching Degree would be:

  • BCC at A Level or,
  • DMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or,
  • Pass (C and above) at T Level

We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  • Admission to this Sport Coaching foundation course is normally:

    • DEE at A Level or,
    • MPP at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or,
    • Pass (D or E) at T Level

    We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

    However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the course you wish to study.

  • All International and EU students applying for a course with the University of Northampton must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
      for study at undergraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

Course Content

  • The coaching process, pedagogy, developing your own coaching philosophy, coaching styles, effective coaching approaches, long term athlete development and comprehensive planning/needs analysis are at the core of our Sport Coaching degree. As well as performance analysis, coaching theory and work placement modules.

    Sports Coaching students can then select from the remaining optional modules to specialise and focus their programme towards their intended career goals, Modules in areas such as; Sports Development, Sport and Society, Fitness Training and Sport Psychology.

    To develop your applied skills, you complete a minimum of 120 hours of work-based learning in your second year and third year of the sports coaching degree, so you have many opportunities to apply ideas from the course and build the skills that employers look for. This Sports Coaching course has strong links with many local and national organisations, clubs and bodies.

    Watch what our students have to say about BSc Sport Coaching in this video.

      • SPO1024 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 Credits)
      • SPO1038 The Social Context of Sport and Exercise (20 Credits)
      • SPO1039 How to be Successful at University (20 Credits)
      • SPO1075 Sport Coaching Practice (20 Credits)
      • SPO1042  Sport Coaching Science (20 Credits)
      • SPO1057 Introduction to Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition (20 Credits)

      All modules in Stage 1 are compulsory.

      • SPO2018 Sport Research Methods (20 Credits)
      • SPO2079 Developing Professional Practice (20 Credits)
      • SPO2080 Sport Pedagogy in Context (20 Credits)
      • SPO2046 Performance Analysis Techniques (20 Credits)
      • SPO2048 The Developing Athlete (20 Credits)
      • SPO2020 Fitness Training Methods (20 Credits)
      • SPO2057 Psychology of Sport Performance (20 Credits) (Designated)

      All modules in Stage 2 are compulsory unless otherwise stated.

      Optional Placement Year

      • SPO2050 Sport Optional Placement Year (20 Credits) (Designated)
      • SPO4001 Dissertation (20 Credits)
      • SPO3044 Creating Performance Coaching Environments (20 Credits)
      • SPO3064 Performance Analysis Applications (20 Credits)
      • SPO3062 Team and Group Dynamics in Sport (20 Credits)
      • SPO3070 Social Welfare Issues in Sport (20 Credits) (Designated)
      • SPO3075 Advanced Professional Practice (20 Credits) (Designated)

      All modules in Stage 3 are compulsory unless otherwise stated.

  • At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

    If you join this full time Sports Coaching degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

    Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your sports coaching university course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

    *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

  • The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a sports degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

    If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

    Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  • Will I have access to specialist sports facilities on campus?

    Sports Zone at Waterside is home to a multi-use sports dome suitable for a variety of sports, including football, badminton and netball. The facilities include two sports performance labs, a pair of teaching rooms and changing rooms. In addition, there also are three outdoor multi-use games areas and floodlit full-size all-weather sports pitch. The sports dome is used for teaching, research and recreational activities.

    Will I have the opportunity to go on placement during the sports coaching degree?

    You complete a minimum of 120 hours of work-based learning in your second year and have the option to complete a further 120 hours in your final year as part of your studies, so you have many opportunities to apply ideas from the course and build the skills that employers look for.

    An optional placement year between years 2 and 3 is also available.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,535
  • UK Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
  • UK Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • International Full Time: £15,700
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £15,700 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UON will adjust UK fees annually in line with Government Policy.

  • Additional costs will be incurred if you decide to participate in optional field trips/visits as part of your course. The exact cost will depend upon the location chosen for the trip.

    You will need to wear a suitable sports kit for practical sessions as part of the course. You can purchase a Sport and Exercise kit (polo shirts and hoodies) but these are not compulsory. The exact cost of the kit will be provided at the start of the course.

    Costs associated with producing a poster for the final year conference.

  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Fees quoted relate to study a sports coaching degree in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £15,200
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200

Is this course for you?

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