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Strength, Conditioning and Sports Nutrition

University College Birmingham

UCAS Code: C611 | Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc

Entry requirements


A level

C,D-D,D

UCB will accept A Level in General Studies for this course and will also take into consideration applicants who are studying an extended project.

You will need a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points

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

PPP

This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.

You will need a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points

T Level

P

A T-level graded Pass with a core component profile less than C.

UCAS Tariff

48-56

Level 3 qualifications are accepted at UCB for entrance, a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points will be required. If you are unsure if your qualification is accepted call us on 0121 604 1040 or email [email protected].

About this course


Course option

2years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Sports therapy

**OVERVIEW**
**If you are keen on a career as a strength and conditioning coach or working in the field of sport and exercise science, this foundation degree offers you a unique opportunity to combine the study of strength and conditioning with sports nutrition. Featuring a combination of theoretical and practical work, our course uses the latest up-to-date research on strength, conditioning and nutrition to ensure your practitioner skills are based on the latest evidence from the industry.**

Our Strength, Conditioning and Sports Nutrition course is accredited by top industry bodies including the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), preparing you for long-term professional success after graduation. Supported by University College Birmingham’s cutting-edge sports facilities and equipment, along with a range of opportunities for you to gain practical experience, you will learn how to use a broad range of conditioning skills to optimise an athlete’s performance, as well as gaining an understanding of how nutrition can improve results.

Alongside your strength and conditioning course, you will also have the chance to gain a wide variety of further industry-accredited qualifications during your studies. Options range from first aid to gym instruction and coaching weight lifting.

**WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?**
- **Industry approved** – Graduate with an IUSCA and NSCA-accredited strength and conditioning qualification, as well as gaining NSCA student membership and access to additional industry resources and opportunities

- **Work placement** – Boost your hands-on experience through industry placement opportunities – past students have worked with a range of top sports clubs

- **Practical application** – Apply your training through practical strength and conditioning work in our state-of-the-art facilities, including our Human Performance Centre and gym

- **Enrichment** – Study for additional qualifications including first aid training, Level 2 Gym Instructor and UKCC 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Weight Lifting (British Weight Lifting)*

- **Award-winning university** – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)

*Note: extra qualifications may incur an additional fee

**FACILITIES**
Our Human Performance Centre features the latest equipment including a 35m sprint track, eight lifting platforms, 7m rig and large screens displaying live analysis data. We also have a purpose-built Human Performance Laboratory which hosts an anti-gravity treadmill, isokinetic dynamometer, Monark LC7 cycle ergometer and SECA body composition analyser.

Our sports clinics on campus are open to the public, enabling students to put training into practice treating and assessing patients. We also share the impressive £3m Avery Fields complex with Bournville RFC, offering an all-weather pitch, two grass pitches and a clubhouse with function room and modern changing facilities.

**ACCREDITATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS**
This course is accredited by the NSCA and the IUSCA.

**PLACEMENTS**
We encourage students on our course to gain work experience throughout your studies.

Employers we have worked with include West Bromwich Albion FC, Wasps Rugby Academy, City of Birmingham Basketball and MSC Performance.

**CAREERS AND PROGRESSION**
Examples of careers you could pursue following this course:
- Strength and conditioning coach

- Nutritionist

- Personal trainer

- Fitness centre manager

- Exercise physiologist (in the sports sector)

- Secondary school teacher (physical education)

Upon completion of the foundation degree, you can also progress onto the final year of our full BSc (Hons) degree.

- **Please refer to our website www.ucb.ac.uk for the latest updates to this course**

Modules

**YEAR 1**

- Academic Development
- Anatomy for Strength and Conditioning
- Exercise Physiology
- Practical Strength and Conditioning Principles I
- Practical Strength and Conditioning Principles II
- Principles of Nutrition

**YEAR 2**

- Field-Based Conditioning
- Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
- Research for Sport
- Sports Biomechanics
- Sport and Exercise Nutrition
- Psychological Principles of Strength and Conditioning

Assessment methods

**Note: Indicative information only. Actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website: www.ucb.ac.uk**

**TEACHING**

Example of a typical teaching week (up to 12-15 contact hours):
- **Large group teaching** – 4 hours
- **Smaller group teaching** – 9 hours
- **Tutorials** – 2 hours
- **Field trips and sports events**
- **Work experience**

You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time.

**ASSESSMENT**

Estimated breakdown of assessment for this degree course:

- **Coursework** – 50%
- **Practical assessment** – 47%
- **Written examinations** – 3%

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
EU
£13,500
per year
International
£13,500
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University College Birmingham

Department:

Sport and Nutrition - FdA/FdSc

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

88%
Sports therapy

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Sport and exercise sciences

Teaching and learning

85%
Staff make the subject interesting
88%
Staff are good at explaining things
76%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
85%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

82%
Library resources
79%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
88%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
62%
Male students
38%
Female students
40%
2:1 or above
22%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

E
D
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Sport and exercise sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£17,100
med
Average annual salary
54%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

32%
Health associate professionals
8%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
7%
Sports and fitness occupations

One of the fastest growing subjects in the country, the number of sports science graduates went from under 3,000 in 2003 to over 10,000 in 2013. Numbers have fallen slightly since 2015, but we still have over 9,000 graduates in the subject. However, the good news is the country's appetite for good health and fitness - and the adaptability of graduates in the subject - means that sports science grads are less likely than average to be out of work. Sports science graduates, not surprisingly, tend to get jobs in sport, fitness and health - coaching and teaching especially - but they're found all over the economy. Management and business are also popular options for graduates from this subject — and sports science graduates are particularly found where drive, determination and physical fitness are an advantage.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Sport and exercise sciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£18k

£18k

£21k

£21k

£23k

£23k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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