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University of the West of Scotland

UCAS Code: C621 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Entry requirements

A level

D,D,D

Including a science (Biology preferred) and PE. Year 2 entry: BBB including a science and PE.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

24

including 3 subjects at H4 including a Science or PE For year 2 entry, 30 points with 3 subjects at H4, including PE, 1 Science and English

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

H3,H4,H4,H4

Including a science (Biology preferred) and PE.

Scottish HNC

Pass

Year 2 entry with HNC in one of the following subjects: Coaching & Developing Sport; Sport Coaching & Development; Fitness, Health & Exercise; Applied Sports Science; Applied Sports & Exercise Science; Physical Activity & Health with A in Graded Unit Year 1 entry with lower HNC grade may be considered, subject to available places

Scottish HND

Pass

Year 3 entry with HND with BB/BBB in the Graded Units in the following subjects: Applied Sports Science; Coaching & Developing Sport; Fitness, Health & Exercise; Sport Coaching & Development; Physical Activity & Health Year 2 entry with lower HND grade may be considered, subject to available places

Scottish Higher

B,C,C

Including a science (Biology preferred) or PE.

T Level

Pass (C and above)


in relevant subject For Year 2 entry, Grade M required in relevant subject

UCAS Tariff

69

Including a science (Biology preferred) and PE.

About this course

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2025

Subjects

Sports coaching

Sports development

Overview

Prepare for employment in the sports coaching and development industries with UWS’s BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching & Development programme.

This programme has been developed in consultation with sports industry partners to provide the knowledge and skills sought after by employers. The applied nature of this programme leaves you well-equipped to work in the promotion and development of sports, or in the teaching and coaching of sport.

Programme highlights

• Work-based learning is a key feature of this course and will help you to develop practical skills relevant to the modern sports coaching and development industries. Students have undertaken placements with a wide range of sports coaching and development organisations in Ayrshire and beyond.
• The programme focuses on a broad range of topic areas and is designed to open up a large number of employment routes for graduates.
• Highly qualified and experienced teaching staff are committed to providing a supportive learning environment and a flexible approach to study.
• This course is based at our stunning £81 million Ayr Campus.
• Throughout your studies, you will undertake various modules which will allow you to achieve CIMSPA* Professional Standards including Gym Instructor and Working with Inactive People.

*The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity

Careers

This programme will prepare you for a successful career in sports coaching and development. You could potentially pursue a career in the following areas:

• Active schools and sports development
• Academia and education – including physical education teaching
• Disability sports development
• Facilities management or operations
• National governing bodies
• Sports coaching
• Sport event management
• Sport business ownership

Many graduates have gone on to complete postgraduate study, including Masters programmes and postgraduate diplomas in order to become qualified as Physical Education teachers.

Modules

Year 1

In Year 1 you will develop an understanding of the Fundamental skills and knowledge required within the sports industry including physiology, anatomy, psychology, coaching, development, health and fitness. You will also learn about general academic skills, embedding these skills within your studies and develop your personal and professional skills.

Year 2

Year 2 will introduce you to core areas including coaching theory and practice, physical education, policy, psychological and sociological aspects of sport and exercise. You will also undertake your first professional development module including your first placement within an area of the sports industry relevant to you.

Year 3

Year 3 provides the opportunity to continue to engage in your key areas of interest and your career path within the second of your professional development and placement modules. Understanding of contemporary issues in sport and exercise through coaching, physical activity, health and physical education will be enhanced through the application of theory and practice whilst also introducing you to key research methods.

Year 4

In Year 4 you will consolidate your understanding of theory and practice within modules whilst also tailoring your studies to focus on your career path and preparation for graduation. Topics include Global issues in sport development, coaching, adapted and inclusive sport and physical activity, outdoor sport, physical education, and applied sport psychology. You will also complete a dissertation in an area of interest to you with the support of your supervisor.

Assessment methods

The BSc (Hons) Sport, Coaching & Development degree will be taught through a combination of learning methods including tutor-led lectures, tutorials and seminars, practical workshops and exercises in a simulated work environment, small group teaching and group project work. Independent, online and peer-to-peer learning is an important element of this course. 

You will be exposed to a variety of assessment methods throughout your studies, including:

// group and individual work
// multiple-choice exams
// class tests
// presentations
// reflective practice reports
// essays
// practical examination
// research production
// journal reviews

Tuition fees

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

International
£18,000
per year

The Uni

Course location:

Ayr Campus

Department:

Health and Life Sciences

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.

72%
Sports coaching
72%
Sports development

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

76%
Staff make the subject interesting
87%
Staff are good at explaining things
74%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
67%
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

72%
Library resources
68%
IT resources
73%
Course specific equipment and facilities
62%
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?

99%
UK students
1%
International students
55%
Male students
45%
Female students
58%
2:1 or above
28%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

E
A
D

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.

£18,000
med
Average annual salary
95%
low
Employed or in further education
56%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

41%
Sports and fitness occupations
8%
Welfare and housing associate professionals
8%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

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

£26k

£26k

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.

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here