Sport Coaching BSc (Hons) at Northumbria gives you the practical skills and underpinning pedagogical, sociological, psychosocial and scientific knowledge to pursue a career working with athletes across a wide range of sport and physical activity contexts. With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, this course offers you the opportunity to apply key coaching concepts and behaviours in real world situations.
Research-active academics and practitioner-based tutors guide your learning throughout, bringing real coaching expertise into every session. The curriculum is designed around the competency frameworks of UK Coaching, UK Sport, and Sport England, which may help you to demonstrate your skills to employers. An optional placement or study abroad year can further strengthen your professional experience and career readiness.
You'll start by building a broad understanding of sport coaching, coaching science, athlete development, and the social context of sport. This sharpens critical thinking and self-reflection, preparing you to progress into more specialist and applied study.
Next, the focus shifts to coaching skills, pedagogy, and leadership. You'll apply theory in real coaching scenarios, honing practical and analytical skills that leave you ready to progress to your final year with confidence.
Your optional placement or study abroad year gives you the chance to apply your coaching knowledge in a professional or international setting. The experience builds industry connections, broadens your perspective, and strengthens your final year and graduate profile.
In your final year, everything comes together as you lead an independent research project and tackle advanced coaching challenges. You'll be equipped to pursue a career in coaching, teaching, or further study with both academic rigour and applied confidence.
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You'll start by building a broad understanding of sport coaching, coaching science, athlete development, and the social context of sport. This sharpens critical thinking and self-reflection, preparing you to progress into more specialist and applied study.
Next, the focus shifts to coaching skills, pedagogy, and leadership. You'll apply theory in real coaching scenarios, honing practical and analytical skills that leave you ready to progress to your final year with confidence.
Your optional placement or study abroad year gives you the chance to apply your coaching knowledge in a professional or international setting. The experience builds industry connections, broadens your perspective, and strengthens your final year and graduate profile.
In your final year, everything comes together as you lead an independent research project and tackle advanced coaching challenges. You'll be equipped to pursue a career in coaching, teaching, or further study with both academic rigour and applied confidence.
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.
The aim of the Academic and Professional Skills module is to develop your knowledge, understanding and application of academic, personal and professional skills relevant to university graduates which will help you to successfully complete your degree programme. Both formal and informal techniques will be used to assess your development in key areas such as written communication, critical analysis and self-reflection. You will develop a range of general transferable skills useful for other modules throughout your programme, including knowing how to find appropriate literature to support your ideas and how to develop balanced arguments. The information you will learn will be linked to topics of interest to those working in the areas of sport, exercise and rehabilitation, giving you insight into these fields as potential career paths in addition to more general employability skills such as communication, digital fluency and time management.
This module will introduce you to research in relation to sport, exercise and rehabilitation. The module will guide you through the research process involved in generating new information via scientific methods. The module will provide both a theoretical and practical introduction to basic experimental approaches, data analysis techniques and report writing, and demonstrate the usefulness and limitations of research-generated information. You will gain an understanding of fundamental concepts and principles of conducting research and interpreting the findings.
You will learn about the research process (e.g., developing a research question and ethical considerations) and be introduced to the scientific method such as the basic concepts of planning, collecting, organising, and analysing data and report-writing in sport, exercise and rehabilitation. Learning materials will be delivered via interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, directed tasks and independent study. You will learn the basics about managing, analysing and interpreting data in practical-computer-lab workshops comprising the quantitative method of enquiry. You will also be introduced to basic methods of working with data from interviews and focus groups comprising the qualitative method of enquiry. For each of the methods, you will learn to identify when it is suitable to use; how to run the analysis; how to report its findings to experts and lay people; and how to use these findings to inform your critical judgement about your own research and that of others.
This module aims to help students develop an understanding of the fundamental knowledge and skills of effective coaching. The module will examine coaching practice in relation to current theories and models associated with effective coaching. You will be given an opportunity to gain practical coaching experience and observe coaches in action within this module.
You will have the opportunity to learn and develop your knowledge of the different models, principles and processes of Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD). The module addresses the key principles of growth and maturation in children and allows you to examine normal physical and motor development of children and to identify where developmental patterns are not as expected.
You will develop an insight into some of the injuries and medical issues of concern to the coach when working with young athletes and how to minimise the risks and put in place preventative measures. On completion of the module you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of Multi Skills acquisition covering the areas of FUNdamentals, A, B, C’s and the correct techniques of developing these skills.
The module is designed to introduce students to the role of science in the understanding of sports performance and how the scientific principles can be applied to the sports coaching process. Students will study the four main disciplines of physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition in order to appreciate the role that science has on current practices in sport. Students will develop an understanding of the fundamental concepts within the four main disciplines. The application of these concepts to sport will be outlined to illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of the sports coaching process.
This module is centred on two important and interrelated areas. First, we examine the modern make-up of sport across all levels and track key changes in sport organisations occurring due to changes in the way that we live and work in modern society. For example, we will investigate issues including (but not limited to) commercialisation and globalisation, modern consumption practices, celebrity and stardom, neoliberalism and corruption. Second, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks, winners and losers, accepters and resisters to these social movements manifest in sport. To do this, we look at myriad definitions of the sport consumer and sport stakeholders. We will examine who benefits from sport’s current organisation and what are some of the costs (e.g. social, human, economic) of such practices.
You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.
In this module, you will learn how to apply the systematic-scientific method to address problems of relevance to your discipline. The module will guide you through designing, conducting, analysing and presenting your own research findings and prepare you for carrying out an independent research project. The module will provide both a theoretical and practical perspective on the research process, with a focus towards understanding the usefulness and limitations of research-generated information.
The main focus of the module is work, or career, specific learning. It encourages you to develop independence and to take responsibility for your own career-relevant skill development. This process is supplemented by the inclusion of generic lectures, workshops, associated directed learning tasks and individual tutorial support. The generic lectures will provide you with the knowledge necessary to allow you to capitalise upon this Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunity. Workshops and directed tasks will allow for the development of essential self-reflection skills.
Generic lecture and workshop topics include:
· Self-reflection and SMART analysis and Key Skills exercises to establish your development needs as a Practitioner in Sport and Exercise.
· Creating a CPD contract and CPD Portfolio
· Identifying appropriate CPD opportunities to enhance your degree related expertise and aspirations
Once you have written your SMART / Key Skills analysis and CPD contract you will then be able to identify a number of potential CPD opportunities in the form of short courses, workshops, and coaching awards. Many of the skills and abilities you will learn will be of value to your life-long learning aspirations.
Potential CPD Opportunities may include:
· Volunteering / working in a sport and exercise environment
· Working in a PE context
· Shadowing a professional in the workplace
· Writing business plans
· Writing grant applications
· Attendance at conferences, workshops, courses.
Regular contact is maintained between you and your supervisor in order to ensure that you are supported throughout the module.
This practically oriented module will focus upon the application of research informed approaches to coaching that promote conditions for optimal learning and motivation across different sport coaching contexts. Coaching Skills and Practice builds upon the knowledge, skills and applied experiences gained at Level 4 to develop a research rich understanding of key pedagogical principles (e.g., coaching behaviours, practice design) that can be applied to create progressive, engaging and transferable outcomes in different sport coaching contexts. This module aims to introduce the concepts of how to create motivational climates (e.g., self-determination theory) that meet group/individual needs to positively influence engagement, motivation and well-being in sport. In addition, this module will develop an understanding of applied skill acquisition research that can be used to create conditions for optimal learning, and transfer of skill to different applied sport coaching contexts (e.g., high performance, participation, special populations).
This module will enable you to develop an in-depth understanding of leadership and leaders across a range of sport organisations including the often un-sung but crucial DNA of organisational operations. The module takes a broad approach to these concepts and is inclusive of leadership and organisational behaviour across multiple sports settings. Topics will include (but are not limited to) the processual aspects of managing people in organisations such as the key aspects of the human resource management (HRM), contemporary issues of people management in multiple sports organisations, non-profit organisations and the role of volunteers, how leaders enact policy in practice, and how leaders operationalise inclusion and diversity. We will look in depth at how leaders build organisational culture and integrity, and how leaders nurture their teams. We will underpin discussions with recognition of the contextual challenges and opportunities that leaders and managers are tasked with navigating, ensuring that they are sensitive to the interests and priorities of multiple stakeholders.
This practically oriented module will focus upon the application of pedagogical research to sport coaching that promote the co-construction of knowledge, effective relationships and ethical practice across a variety of sport coaching contexts. The module therefore complements the largely cognitive based approaches to sport coaching practice included in SP5039: Coaching Skills and Practice and builds upon pre-existing knowledge from SP4008: Introduction to Coaching to equip students with an adaptive tool-kit of coaching behaviours. Due the experiential learning emphasis of this module, students will also be able to expand upon the real-world experience derived from their placement module (SP5029: SER Professional Development and Practice). A central aspect of Sport Coaching Pedagogy is to develop a deep and nuanced understanding key pedagogical research (e.g., constructivist, socio-constructivist) and their application to real world sport coaching contexts. By the end of this module, students will be able to demonstrate and explain how specific pedagogical approaches apply across different sport coaching contexts.
Optional modules may include:
Optional modules may include:
You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.
The module aims to develop your skills of independent working by engaging with a topic of your own choosing. You will develop a critical and in-depth knowledge of a specific area (within the remit of your degree programme) in relation to a research or clinical problem of contemporary relevance to the industry/profession. You will learn aspects of research such as literature searching, filtering and quality assessment, project design considerations, ethical implications and data analysis methods. You will develop skills such as time management, contingency planning and critical thinking to produce a well-planned, coherent and ethical project.
This module will explore the pedagogical principles and practices underpinning sports coaching. Specifically, the module will focus upon the application of theoretical and evidence-based approaches to develop coaching practice. The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to build upon and apply the knowledge, skills and experiences gained at Level 4 and Level 5 to develop a critical, nuanced and theoretically informed understanding of key pedagogical principles applicable across a variety of sport coaching contexts. Weekly content will be concentrated on the interactive effects of specific coach behaviours, practice design and coach-player interactions to create coaching environments that are conducive to optimal learning, engagement and performance across different sport coaching contexts (e.g., high performance, recreation, development, special populations). The module will place particular emphasis on developing students practical coaching skills that are informed by current research.
This module aims to enhance your coaching craft through a thorough critical and reflective analysis of evidence-informed coaching strategies and actions designed to enhance coach and athlete performance in areas such as wellbeing, engagement and thriving. The module builds on the foundational psycho-social theories of coaching outlined in SP5039: Coaching Skills and Practice to build a deeper and richer contextual appreciation of the specific coaching strategies and actions that influence performance in athletes and coaches alike. You will have the opportunity to reflect upon current and past practice and critically evaluate coaching research to develop an adaptive toolkit of coaching strategies and actions aimed at enhancing athlete and coach experiences of sport. By the end of this module, you will be able to critically evaluate, discuss and apply evidence based coaching behaviours aimed at improving athlete and coach performance in sport.
Optional modules may include:
Standard Offer 112 UCAS Tariff Points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Contextual Admissions 96 UCAS Tariff points
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions and we understand that every applicant’s circumstances can be different, which is why we take a flexible approach and assess your individual circumstances and potential when reviewing your application.
To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths, Statistics, or Physics and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or equivalents.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
The UK tuition fee for 27/28 is £10,050 and is set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase this fee in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.
The remaining fees for 27/28 are to be confirmed and relate to the International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements.
The University may increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments). If the University intends to exercise this right to increase tuition fees, notification will be communicated with all students affected by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which we intend to exercise that right. Student fee loans have risen in line with the level of uplift decided by the UK Government.
Extended Degrees: Students will pay the applicable Foundation Year fee in the first year of study. Tuition fees will follow the Level 4 cap in the first year of Undergraduate study, with tuition fees in subsequent years increasing as per the above information.
* Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.
This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.
Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.
This is the programme fee for your first year of study. The programme fee includes the international tuition fee, International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements.
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Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria is ranked 5th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021).
Over 90% of Sport Coaching students at Northumbria felt their course positively challenged them and built the skills needed for their future. (NSS, 2025)
Northumbria's sport science facilities are accredited by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES), giving your practical learning a professional, industry-recognised quality standard.
This course aligns with the competency frameworks of UK Coaching, UK Sport, and Sport England, positioning you well for careers in professional coaching environments.
An optional placement or study abroad year broadens your coaching perspective, builds industry connections, and adds meaningful professional experience to your graduate profile.
This carousel contains 5 slides. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate.
Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria is ranked 5th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021).
Over 90% of Sport Coaching students at Northumbria felt their course positively challenged them and built the skills needed for their future. (NSS, 2025)
Northumbria's sport science facilities are accredited by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES), giving your practical learning a professional, industry-recognised quality standard.
This course aligns with the competency frameworks of UK Coaching, UK Sport, and Sport England, positioning you well for careers in professional coaching environments.
An optional placement or study abroad year broadens your coaching perspective, builds industry connections, and adds meaningful professional experience to your graduate profile.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901.
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Page last reviewed: 7 November 2026
