Sport, Coaching and Physical Education

This wide-ranging course gives you the flexibility to choose a sociological or health pathway, allowing you to specialise in your final year of study. Led by an academic team at the cutting edge of teaching and research in this field, your learning combines theory of teaching and lab work with practical activities including an exciting outdoor and adventure education experience. You experience working with and teaching children through on-campus visits from schools or community work. There are also opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills through placements with our official partners Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations. Successfully completing the course opens the way to becoming a teacher of physical or primary education, after completing a PGCE year.

Course accreditation/industry endorsement
We increase the employability of our graduates by being a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

We also have Rugby Football Union (RFU) recognised and accredited training facilities, equipment and programme for Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 2, an additional pitch-side trauma course.

Facilities and specialist equipment
Six CASES-accredited laboratories
Strength and conditioning facility
Free gym
Sports arena
Sport centre
Multi-use games areas
External sports pitches
Human Performance Centre
Up-to-the-minute sports analysis equipment such as the Catapult GPS tracking and Nacsport camera system
Realistic mock-classrooms for PE teaching practice including specialist technology allowing you to watch and self-assess your lesson
A Forest School for training in outdoor learning and play

Career-powered links
We are official partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region such as Bedford Tigers RLFC, MK Dons, Cricket East and Be Active, giving you opportunities to build your employability through work placements. Students gain valuable work-based experiences within coaching, project management and community sport through their involvement with the Bedford Blues Foundation.

Your student experience
Learn from an academic team at the cutting edge of teaching and research in this field who have also taught in schools and are qualified coaches.

Combine study of the theory of teaching and lab work with practical activities including an exciting outdoor and adventure education experience.

Your laboratory-based work develops your understanding of human performance as well as sport psychology and physical activity.

Collaborate with our partners to deliver school and community-based projects while gaining experience working with and teaching children through on-campus visits.

Benefit from our industry links with the Bedford Blues Foundation, Luton Town FC, the Football Association, Sport England, governing bodies, active partnerships and industry experts.
Enhance your learning through field trips to destinations such as St George’s Park, the home of England Football; Box End Water Park, Bedford; and an outdoor activities centre, to name a few.

Recent industry visitors include Nick Cox, Academic Manager at Manchester United, and Kevin Pickard, International Swimming Coach.

Benefit from the support of your own personal academic tutor who will guide you throughout your student journey.

Course modules

You benefit from work placements throughout your three-year degree. To prepare for your final-year dissertation, you also take two research units: Introduction to research methods (Year 1) and Research methods for sport, exercise & physical activity (Year 2).

Your subject-specific units are:

Year 1
Introduction to sport and exercise psychology – Discover how psychology can boost sports performance. Working in sport – An overview of the sector, its challenges and career options. Anatomy and biomechanics – Study the basics of the human body and the way it moves. Human physiology – Understand how the body works and adapts to exercise. Sport, physical activity and social inclusion - Explore how social and cultural factors shape how people experience sport and exercise today. Foundations in physical education and sports coaching pedagogy - Different ways to teach and coach, and how learning, content and context work together.

Year 2
Social psychology of sport – Why people act the way they do in sport settings. Developing physical education and sport pedagogy - Learner-centred approaches to planning and teaching net and striking/fielding games. Contemporary issues and social practices in sport and physical activity - How social issues and everyday life shape how people view, play and get involved in sport. Pedagogies to promote physical literacy, health and wellbeing through movement - PE teaching methods that can impact health and wellbeing. Physical activity and health interventions – Ways to promote active, healthy lifestyles. Dissertation preparation – Sharpen your research skills and prepare your proposal.

Year 3
Applied sport and exercise psychology – Learn psychological strategies to boost performance. Inclusive physical education and sport pedagogy - Use inclusive practices to plan, run and reflect on sport or PE activities. Professional development and employability - Build the skills to land a graduate-level job in your chosen field. Sport, physical activity and disability - Examine the barriers affecting how people with disabilities get involved in sport. Narratives of bodies and health - How individuals and society view physical activity, sport and exercise. Critical sport pedagogy – Contemporary issues in physical education and youth sport, and ways to challenge them. Dissertation – Conduct original research in your chosen area.

Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website.