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Sport Coaching and Physical Education Top Up

  • BA (Hons)
  • 1 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
Solent University
More about Southampton, Solent University

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Our sport coaching and physical education top-up course is the ideal way to build upon your foundation or HND qualification. You’ll earn a full honours degree in just one year, and be well prepared to move into either a PGCE, Teach First or School Direct programme.

The course combines theory, research and practical skills to ensure graduates adopt innovative approaches to teaching and coaching. You’ll learn to critically analyse current practices and develop an evidence-based approach to workplace tasks.

The course is split into five modules. Core modules include ‘Games Based Coaching’, ‘Teaching Physical Education In Schools’ and a final dissertation project. You’ll also pick two optional modules, refining your knowledge and building specialisms in areas that are best suited to your career ambitions.

You’ll learn contemporary coaching and physical education techniques including physical literacy and games based coaching. This work will then be put into practice outside of the classroom, where you will have the opportunity to deliver PE sessions to local primary school children. Planning, delivering and evaluating these PE lessons form a part of your unit assessment, and provide invaluable experience for your CV.

Plan, deliver and evaluate your own physical education programmes. Improve your employability and earn valuable experience for your CV.

What does this course lead to?
This one-year top-up course is the ideal springboard for careers in teaching and youth sport. Graduates will be well prepared to progress onto a PGCE, School Direct or Teach First programme.

Those who aren’t pursuing a career in teaching can make an impact in a range of other careers. These include sport coaching, leisure management, and graduate level roles across the wider leisure and service industry.

Who is this course for?
Solent’s sport coaching and physical education top-up is open to students with a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent qualification in a sports-related discipline. Applicants will be interviewed to discuss the suitability of their dissertation proposal and research topic.

Modules

CORE MODULES
Games Based Coaching
Teaching Physical Education in Schools
Dissertation

OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Global Sport Issues
Outdoor Adventurous Activities
Physical Literacy

Assessment method

Students are assessed using a mix of written examinations (10%), practical examinations (15%) and coursework (75%). This includes a dissertation/research project.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 1 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
SC14
Institution code:
S30
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Southampton, Solent University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
SC14
Institution code:
S30
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

For information about applying to Solent as an International applicant, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/help-for-international-students

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Grade 4 / C in GCSE English and Maths.

HND (BTEC) - M

Pass with a Merit overall (55% average) in a sport related subject.

Relevant HND/foundation degree pass with merit overall (55 per cent average)

A foundation degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) or equivalent (240 credits) in a sport related subject
Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and mathematics or equivalent.
Applicants will be interviewed to discuss the suitability of their dissertation proposal and research topic.

Additional entry requirements

Interview

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6with 5.5 in each individual component.
TOEFL (iBT)80with a minimum of 20 in each individual compoenent.
Solent University can also accept the following English Language Test: Duolingo English Language Test 115 overall with a minimum of 95 in each component. All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office. We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We understand that each student is unique. At Solent we encourage individuality and have adopted a balanced approach to Admissions, by considering exam results alongside portfolios / interviews or auditions.

Our contextual offer scheme allows offers below our standard academic entry criteria to those who have faced challenges which has impacted their performance and predicted higher grades, by taking into account additional selection criteria such as a strong portfolio, interview or audition.

Learn more on the Southampton, Solent University website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Scotland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
International£19081Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries

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