Sport Science and Coaching BSc (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- Typical Offer: 104 - 112 UCAS tariff points
- UCAS Code(s): CX61 (full-time); 350N (sandwich)
- Start Date(s): September 2025
- Duration: Three years full-time / four years full-time with a year placement
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
- Campus: Clifton Campus
Introduction:
From teaching the basics to celebrating career-defining wins, coaches are essential to sports people’s success at every level. To an individual, a coach is a mentor who oversees, instructs and supports them to be the best they can be. To a team, a coach is a leader who helps tackle challenges head-on and guides them to victory.
In sports coaching, communication is king. A good coach not only needs to know their sport inside out, but they also need excellent teaching, listening and leadership skills. That’s why at NTU, you’ll take all your learning directly to the pitch, track or arena as you get hands-on with our industry partners. You could inspire and teach future stars at grassroots level, assist elite athletes at the top of their game, or make a positive difference to people’s lives by getting involved with community sports initiatives.
BSc Sport Science and Coaching is about using sport and exercise science to inform your sports coaching practice; it’s about developing transferable skills which will benefit you in any career; and above all, it’s about getting out there and doing it for real.
Sport and Wellbeing Academy
Each year a number of our Sport Science students get the chance to work in our Sport and Wellbeing Academy. This exciting opportunity allows you to apply some of the theory you've learned in a real-world environment and develop the skills needed for working in industry. Working alongside our experienced Senior Exercise Practitioners you'll have the opportunity to deliver exercise programmes to help improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.
You can also work with local schools to implement 'The Daily Mile' which improves the fitness and concentration of their pupils. NTU's sports teams are currently in the top ten in the BUCS league (British Universities and Colleges Sport). Our aim is to reach the top and working in the Academy gives you the opportunity to work with our teams on their training, performance and nutrition to make this dream a reality. Find out more about the Academy...
Why study this course?
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Work on live briefs for organisations like Nottingham Rugby Club, Nottingham Forest Community Trust and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. -
Top 10 University for Sport in the British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Championship. -
Become a qualified personal trainer alongside your sports coaching degree. -
Coach local sports teams and school children with our Sport and Wellbeing Academy.
What you’ll study
Our sports coaching degree is focused on maximising sport and exercise performance by developing evidence-based techniques and applying them to real-life coaching. You’ll examine coaching theory, delve into the science behind exercise physiology and psychology, and test your ideas in our specialist labs and suites. Then, you’ll put all your learning into action with hands-on sports coaching practice, as you tackle live briefs set by our partner organisations and get work-like experience with local people and NTU’s sports community.
After trying out a bit of everything in Year One, you can tailor your degree to suit your ambitions by choosing from an extensive range of optional modules in your second and final year, covering topics from the sociology of sport to observational analysis and talent development.
You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a coaching qualification, plus you can get a Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Personal Trainer qualification. This will incur a small fee, but it’s much cheaper than doing it elsewhere.
Study highlights include:
- Build an industry network as you work on briefs set by organisations such as UK Coaching, Paddle UK and Rackets Cubed.
- Take part in sports coaching activities which can lead to nationally-recognised coaching awards.
- Get involved with our Sport and Wellbeing Academy, where you can get face-to-face coaching experience with school children and grassroots sports teams in our local community, or gain personal training experience.
- Get additional qualifications alongside your sports coaching degree, like, a Diploma in Professional Practice during a placement year, and a Personal Trainer certification with CIMPSA.
- Boost your employability further by learning a language on our University Language Programme (ULP), or consider a study year abroad.
- Consider being your own boss, with the support of NTU Enterprise.
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Physiology (20 credit points)
Foundations in Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 cp)
Introduction to Human Movement Science (20 cp)
Sport, Culture and Society: a Critical Introduction (20 cp)
Explore the importance of the social sciences in the understanding of sport and in the education of every sports professional.
Exploring Coaching Practice (20 cp)
Developing Academic and Research Skills (20 cp)
Get an overall perspective of the research process in the context of sport, exercise, health and leisure management, and learn the research skills necessary to successfully complete your studies.
Core modules:
Analysis of Human Movement Science for Sport (20 cp)
Building on the biomechanical principles studied in Year One, you will develop the skills required to explain measurable human movements and forces using biomechanical theories.
Coaching Science (20 cp)
You will devise and implement a coaching programme, drawing upon theory from your other modules.
Applying Coaching Theory to Practice (20 cp)
This module facilitates and encourages further exploration of topics within coaching, and develops the academic skills necessary to relate the study to coaching as a profession.
Integrated Applied and Professional Skills (20 cp)
Using enquiry-based learning, you will continue to learn about the research process and gain an understanding and experience of how research is conducted within sports and exercise science.
Optional modules - choose two:
Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology (20 cp)
Through both theoretical and practical study you will learn how the body’s structures and functions are altered by bouts of physical exercise, and how these concepts can be applied to training.
Practical Applications in Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 cp)
This module introduces the concept of evidence-based practice, and frameworks of assessment, intervention and evaluation to address issues in sport, coaching, social and exercise psychology.
Sociology of Sport, Health and the Body (20 cp)
Develop a critical understanding of the active body in society by connecting key theories and concepts with personal experiences, professional challenges, and popular cultural examples.
Optional year-long work placement. If you are not taking a placement, you will progress directly to your final year in year three.
Core modules:
Sport Project and Dissertation (40 cp)
Advanced Coaching Practice (20 cp)
Performance Skill and Expertise in Sport (20 cp)
This module outlines how human movement and motor programs are initiated, controlled, learned, taught and performed.
Optional modules - choose one:
Strength, Power and Endurance for Sport and Exercise (20 cp)
Advanced Topics in Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 cp)
Students will become familiar with selected areas such as motivational climate, athletic identity, mental toughness, psychology of injury and morality in sport and the emphasis of this module will be placed on current primary research.
Performance Analysis (20 cp)
Explore a range of performance analysis approaches and methodologies using industry-standard hardware and software. You’ll learn the skills for collating, preparing, and analysing performance data before developing recommendations to maximise performance.
Transforming Sport: Sustainability and Social Justice (20 cp)
Study and challenge the accepted beliefs and practices of those who govern and promote sport. Drawing on a variety of topics, this module presents a case for sport sociology as an agent of positive change in sport.
Optional modules - choose one:
Applied Human Movement Science for Sport (20 cp)
The aim of this module is to address in the context of biomechanics how to improve and or optimise human performance and to understand how human performance can be affected by or result in dysfunction.
Challenging Critical Issues in Sport (20 cp)
You'll analyse complex problems such as sports injury, drug use in sport and inequality and develop potential solutions using positive social changes.
Talent Development in Sport (20 cp)
This module will explore a critical view of the role of talent development in sport, focusing on the psychosocial, environmental, and personal factors that can influence the talent development process.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
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How you’re taught
How will I learn?
Our sports coaching teaching team share decades of professional experience between them, ranging from industry practice to academic research. At NTU, our outstanding research informs all our teaching – and not only will you be taught by the people behind it, but you’ll also be using the very same facilities and equipment they use.
You’ll learn through a mix of:
- lectures, covering the key theories and most pressing issues in sports and coaching
- seminars, which are smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working
- practical workshops using our extensive range of industry-standard facilities
- external visits to the organisations which set your live briefs.
Study abroad opportunities
Get ready to embark on an adventure with our study abroad programs at partner universities or by getting a work placement overseas. Both opportunities will boost your employability, build lifelong friendships, and allow you to experience the world in a whole new way.
How you’re assessed
People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. That’s why we’ve adopted a range of assessment types on our sport science course, including:
- coursework, including group projects, case studies, dissertation and other assignments
- practical assessments, such as individual and group presentations, laboratory assessments and lab reports
- written exams and multiple-choice tests.
Careers and employability
Sports coaching is an exciting and immensely rewarding career. On this degree, the broad range of topics you’ll cover naturally feed into careers across the wider exercise health and fitness sectors, as well as coaching jobs. But your prospects aren’t limited to the sporting world: you’ll graduate armed with a whole host of transferable skills which can be applied to any job you choose.
You’ll be supported by our award-winning Employability team for up to three years after you graduate, and have access to comprehensive online career resources for life. If you’re a budding entrepreneur, you can even get free advice and guidance in setting up your own business from NTU Enterprise.
Placements
After Year Two, you can complete a year-long placement (or ‘sandwich year’) on a paid or voluntary basis. This sandwich option is a very popular way to gain the vital work experience that employers look for, and 100% of our BSc Sport Science and Coaching (Sandwich) students were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey).
We’ll support you throughout your placement, and you’ll be able to complete a Diploma in Professional Practice while you work.
Our most recent sports coaching placement students have worked at organisations across the UK and beyond, like:
- Football clubs including Notts County FC and Lincoln City FC
- Schools and colleges, such as New College Stamford, Redlands Community Primary School (Loughborough) and Moulton College (Northampton), and paid roles in private schools
- Goal Soccer Academy in Australia
- Spirit Dojo Legacy (mixed martial arts club)
- PGL (children’s adventure holidays)
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
Where will I study?
You’ll be based on Clifton Campus, where you’ll get hands-on with the same industry-standard facilities used by our academic researchers. These include:
- IT, Sports Psychology and Skill acquisition suites, used for coaching, statistical, and performance analysis.
- Sport, exercise and health physiology laboratories, fully equipped with specialist facilities that cater for different types of exercise testing and physical activity.
- British Olympic Association (BOA) Approved Environmental Chamber, which can simulate climates anywhere in the world, from Everest to Egypt, and has been used by Olympic athletes for acclimatisation to extreme competition environments.
- Human movement and Performance Analysis Suite, including isokinetic and isometric dynamometers for assessing force produced by muscle groups of the body. You will also have access to Vicon, Qualisys and THEIA motion capture systems.
- Clifton Sports Hub Where you will develop your practical skills through coaching and participating Find out more about our sport science facilities.
There are also over 40 sports clubs to get involved with during your time at NTU, allowing you to discover new passions, integrate with our sporting community, and even apply some of your learning to your own pastimes. Plus, all our campuses host their own gym and fitness suites, and you’ll have access to sports coaching and injury clinics.
To keep you busy outside of your studies, our Clifton Campus is just a short bus ride away from Nottingham’s vibrant city centre, where you can enjoy lush green spaces and shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night. What’s more, you’ll be within easy reach of four internationally-renowned sporting venues, including two major football stadiums (City Ground and Meadow Lane), Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, and the National Ice Centre (home to Nottingham Panthers ice hockey club).
Entry requirements
- Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level equivalent PE or Science subject*
- Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level equivalent PE or Science subject*
*If you are applying with a BTEC Extended Certificate (previously BTEC Subsidiary Diploma) you will also need an A-level in a science subject or equivalent. We will accept Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Sport Studies or Psychology
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level equivalent PE or Science subject*
*If you are applying with a BTEC Extended Certificate (previously BTEC Subsidiary Diploma) you will also need an A-level in a science subject or equivalent. We will accept Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Sport Studies or Psychology
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
What do the course fees cover?
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs approximately £20 - £30.
CIMSPA Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer qualification - if you choose to take this qualification alongside your degree there will be a small fee to register with CIMSPA. For guidance in 2023 the fee was £75.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service on telephone +44 (0)115 848 2494.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. Visit our fees page for more information.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
What do the course fees cover?
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Students will also be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs approximately £20 - £30.
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up-to-date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.