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Equestrian Performance & Business Management

  • Foundation Degree in Science
  • 2 Years
  • Full-Time
  • September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
University of Portsmouth
More about University Centre Sparsholt

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

What makes UCS special?
As a UCS equine student you will benefit from both our expert teaching team and professional environment, further enhancing your career progression. Our Rider Performance Studio houses our state of‑the‑art Racewood Eventing Simulator, which will enable you to further expand your level of knowledge surrounding rider performance and biomechanics, with the potential to support our industry relevant research currently being undertaken within UCS equine. The equine team has extensive industry experience and links, which supports you when developing your graduate skills and future employment opportunities. We have a number of collaborative agreements and placement opportunities with studs, welfare organisations, nutrition companies and equine clothing brands.

What Makes This Course Unique?

  • Taught by leading industry experts who are passionate about research and inspiring you to drive forward your career.

  • Outstanding onsite facilities and opportunities to use industry relevant research equipment, enabling you to develop specialist skills and knowledge to prepare you for a successful transition into employment

  • Tailor your learning to your interests and career goals with optional modules and dissertation if you choose to top‑up to a full BSc for year 3.

What will I learn?
The course has been carefully designed to help you build strong practical skills alongside applied knowledge to maximise your employability. Lectures revolve around discussions on current industry topics, developments and research, further supporting graduate skills.
Practical learning to ensure you graduate with career confidence:

  • Equitation theory and practice in both years

  • Industrial placements to increase industry exposure.

  • Opportunities to use research equipment embedded within modules.

  • Rider biomechanics practicals and analysis.

How will I be assessed?
Support from your tutors throughout your programme of study will help to develop your skills and knowledge, and you will be assessed using a wide range of formats including written reports, presentations, written exams, oral assessments, case study reviews, business proposals and laboratory reports.

Focused on Your Future:
This course will enable you to enjoy a range of careers in the equine industry or to continue in education, for example with our BSc (Hons) Top‑up programme.

How our graduates are shaping the future:

  • Excelling in diverse roles within equine business, coaching and training, or pursuing further academic study.

Modules

Course Modules*

YEAR ONE – SOLID FOUNDATIONS

Equine industrial skills

Equine biology and functional anatomy

Scientific and practical equitation

Equine health and welfare

YEAR TWO – GET JOB‑READY

Equine nutrition

Sustainable equine entrepreneurship

Equine research and analysis

Plus choice of two optional modules from:

– Equitation science and coaching

– Equine media and communication

– Equine reproductive physiology and genetics

*subject to change

Assessment method

Tutorial support throughout the study will help you to develop your skills and knowledge, using a varied range of assessments, including case studies, seminars and investigative reports with a range of practical sessions.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Foundation Degree in Science • Full-Time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
D422
Institution code:
S34
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
D422
Institution code:
S34
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
CEE

Including a relevant subject/science at C or above (minimum 64 UCAS tariff points).

T Level
Pass (D or E)

In a relevant subject/science.

UCAS Tariff
Offer: 64

Dependent on qualifications. Must be relevant to subject of study and ideally include a life science element.

Access to HE Diploma
Merit: 15 Pass: 30

A satisfactory 'Pass' in a relevant subject/science, with a minimum of 15 credits at merit in science based units.

Scottish Advanced Higher
DD

In a relevant subject/science.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
MM

In a relevant subject/science (64 UCAS tariff points).

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
MM

In a relevant subject/science (64 UCAS tariff points).

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 24

Including a relevant subject/science at H4 or above with Maths and English at S3 if no GCSE or equivalent.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
MPP

In a relevant subject/science.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H4H4H4H5

Including one in a relevant subject/science.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
MPP

In a relevant subject/science.

Minimum requirement is 64 UCAS tariff points.

Students who successfully complete the FdSc may apply to 'top-up' to the BSc.

We welcome applications from people with non-standard or international qualifications.

Entry requirements for students joining after Year 1: Successful completion of a NQF level 4 (Cert HE or HNC) or NQF level 5 (Dip HE, HND or FdSc) in a relevant subject. Please email degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk.

Additional entry requirements

Other
In addition to the Level 3 qualifications listed above, applicants must also hold GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C or above or Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Minimum scores of 5.5 in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.ielts.org/about-ielts/ielts-for-migration/united-kingdom
PTE Academic60Minimum score of 59 in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.pearsonpte.com/selt-tests/pte-academic-ukvi
Trinity ISEPassPass in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening (CEFR B2) www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/SELT/UKVI

We will also accept the following qualification (CEFR B2): LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 - minimum score of 33/50 in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening Skills for English B2 - pass in each of Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listeninghttps://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£9780*
EU & InternationalTBC

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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

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

Students from EU member states can apply for an EU scholarship. Please contact degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk

Full Fees and Finance information and details of any additional course costs can be found on our website: https://www.ucsparsholt.ac.uk/student-information/fees-finance/

Sponsorship information

UCS Bursary Scheme

University Centre Sparsholt (UCS) will award bursaries of up to £4,500 to up to four new students each academic year.
There is flexibility in how these bursaries can be used, but they are intended to help with the cost of studying in order to make university more affordable.
The recipients of the bursaries will continue to receive the same amount for each year of their studies, as long as expectations for attendance and engagement are met.
The bursaries are a part of the University Centre's Access and Participation Plan 2025/26 -2028/29 and therefore priority will be given to students whose backgrounds are traditionally underrepresented among the UCS student body.
Further details regarding how to apply will be supplied to all offer holders who have accepted an offer to study with us when they complete their 'Next Steps' registration form in the Summer term.

https://www.ucsparsholt.ac.uk/student-information/fees-finance/

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