Sport Development & Coaching Sciences BSc (Hons)

Course overview

You can still apply to BU (including through UCAS Extra). Please apply through UCAS as soon as possible; your application can only be assessed once we have received it from UCAS.

An exciting degree bringing together the disciplines of sports development, sports management and coaching, designed specifically for graduates wishing to face the challenges of a rapidly changing industry. The number of graduates entering the sporting industry is increasing. Potential employers are increasingly looking towards vocational expertise and experience to compliment academic qualifications.

Our course is specifically designed to address this issue with the third year of the course being spent on an industrial placement in the sporting industry. This placement will give you the opportunity to gain the industrial experience and relevant sporting skills that employers are seeking from today’s graduates. The major limitation with many degree courses currently offered in sport-related disciplines is that they do not reflect the employment opportunities available upon graduation. This degree was developed after extensive consultation with industry and concentrates upon the areas of sports development, coaching and management, the areas identified by industry as those requiring well- qualified graduates.

The structure of the course was developed following discussion with specific organisations including UK Sport, Sport England, Sports Coach UK, the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, and some of the sport National Governing Bodies. As well as the Industrial Placement, our students also experience work-based learning in years 1 and 2, during which they develop their skills in coaching, development and management environments. Our students therefore graduate with an academic degree, a range of specific vocational experiences and the key personal skills required to excel in employment.

What our students think

"The course has more than met my expectations. It has helped me grow in confidence and gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding within my chosen area. The lecturers are extremely accommodating and always willing to give support and guidance. Now that I have completed four years of study I feel completely prepared to apply everything I have learnt to the working environment." Philippa Wickens

"I always knew I wanted to study sports science, but I felt this course offered more than just a sports related science degree. It covered many other areas and gave me a solid grounding before entering the working environment. I was also really attracted to the fact that there was an opportunity to travel on my placement year. I spent the year in Australia working for the National Governing Body for Netball. This allowed me to learn so much and build up contacts that I used for my dissertation and for future career opportunities in Australia." Stephanie Cowling