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What makes Physical Education and Sports Coaching at Worcester special?

Physical Education and Sports Coaching provides the opportunity to study both subjects across three years to prepare you for a career in either subject. The innovative and flexible approach to the curriculum design enables you to explore a range of different subjects throughout your degree which have been specifically designed to meet the changing needs of the Physical Education and sport coaching professions and has a broad range of modules that will prepare you for a career in teaching or supporting the delivery of Physical Education and extra-curricular activities and within the coaching industry.

During your first year (level 4) you will study fundamental modules common across PE, coaching and development. The broad based start to your degree provides opportunity for you to be confident in your choice as you gain more knowledge and learn about your degree subject. The course design however facilitates the flexibility for you to progress onto one of the related degrees at the end of your first year.

The course is delivered by a large team of highly experienced and enthusiastic Physical Education and Coaching practitioners, committed to ensuring a quality experience that will provide you with the tools to become an effective and employable graduate. Throughout the course, you will take part in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and work placements, gaining valuable experience in primary and secondary schools and other community settings.

Progressing from this course, you will be in a strong position to apply for a Qualified Teacher Status course such as the Post Graduate Certificate of Education, or to move onto one of our Master's courses.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • First year modules common across PE, Coaching, Development pathways offering flexibility on completion of level 4
  • Opportunities to teach children from all key stages and ability levels
  • Regular opportunities to coach in a vast range of sports which will challenge and develop your understanding of your coaching practice. You will have the opportunity to coach peers, school groups and external clubs and organisations
  • Excellent facilities including state of the art inclusive University Arena, 3G AstroTurf, dance studio, outdoor educational site including lake and outdoor activity centre, S&C suite and gymnasium
  • Opportunity to gain additional qualifications, such as a variety coaching awards.
  • Sports-related volunteering and Earn as You Learn opportunities
  • The opportunity to study abroad for one semester
A girl holding a hockey stick is smiling

9th for Student Satisfaction

Our Sports courses are 9th in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2024.

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Top 25% satisfaction

Our Sports courses are ranked in the top 25% of UK universities for overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)

I chose The University of Worcester because I know people who have attended over the years and they told me about the overall support that is given for learning. The quality of teaching has been excellent, and the support and mentoring by the PE and Coaching team has been fantastic. I am dyslexic so the lecturers have adapted their teaching style to support me, or I have booked extra support from the lecturer, and it is never a problem.

Khalid Al-Dujaili, PE and Sports Coaching student, Class of 2023

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

104
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

104 UCAS Tariff points (for example, BCC at A Level).

An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this course.

Other information

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from the UCAS website.

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Jack Austin

“One of the elements of the course I have really come to value is the great support I received from the academic staff. Due to smaller cohorts, I found the lecturing staff immensely encouraging and supportive and were readily able to offer both group and 1-2-1 tutorials. The personal academic tutoring system utilised at the university I found to be very beneficial. This was complimented by a really friendly and collaborative PE department who made my studies engaging and enjoyable”.

“My degree pathway blended both an understanding of the fundamentals of physical education but also sports coaching. Having this has enabled me to undertake several opportunities and roles both inside and outside of the university environment. Giving me the understanding of what is needed to become a PE Teacher, I now feel confident moving onto my PGCE at Worcester”.

Jack gained a first class honours degree In Physical Education and Sports Coaching.

Photo of a student standing in sports kit

Erin Cameron

“I chose Worcester for the support they give to sport scholarship students who are studying whilst playing a high level of sport, as at the time I was playing rugby at a high level and wanted to continue with this alongside full time study.

I have really valued the placement opportunities offered, as they have provided me with the experience I needed to go into the real world. In fact, it was through my school based placement module that I heard of the Graduate Sports Teaching Assistant at my placement school. Additionally the support offered by the staff at the Uni has been amazing and they have really helped me progress throughout my time at University.

I’m moving onto working in a private school as a Graduate Sports Teaching Assistant, whilst completing my MSc in Sports Coaching.”

Erin gained a first class honours degree in Physical Education and Sports Coaching.

Lucie Kovarova

Lucie Kovarova

Lucie studied Physical Education and Sports Coaching Science.

“As an international student I was excited to explore a new culture, develop my English and embrace different approaches in sports environments,” she said. “The course offered me the possibility of a dual career both as a PE teacher and a sports coach, moreover, it consisted of interesting modules that I believe will support my future journey.”

She added: “I am so glad that I had opportunities to meet inspirational people and great friends, get involved with university events, and overcome personal and academic boundaries. University life left me with unique memories and skills. I am looking forward to celebrating graduation and studying for a Postgraduate degree to further specialise in the sports industry.”

Read Lucie’s full case study here.

Course content

Course content

Year 1

Mandatory

  • Principles of Sports Coaching and PE
  • Physical Activity, Health, Wellbeing
  • Scientific Principles in Teaching and Coaching  
  • Adapted Physical Activity, Sport and Disability

Optional

  • Learning to be a Sports Professional
  • Introduction to the Sporting Landscape
  • Optional modules offered by the Centre for Academic English and Skills/School of Education 

Year 2

Mandatory

  • Advanced Scientific Principles in Teaching and Coaching
  • Creating Successful Research
  • Learning and Teaching through Games or Coaching Pedagogy and Practice

Optional

  • Contemporary Issues in Sport
  • Teaching and Coaching Athletics 
  • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities in the Curriculum 
  • Teaching Swimming in School 
  • Teaching Special Education Needs and Disability PE in Schools
  • Sport and Disability
  • Performance Analysis
  • Optional modules offered by the Centre for Academic English and Skills/School of Education

Year 3

Mandatory

  • Independent Research Project in PE or Independent Research Project in Sports Coaching
  • School Based Placement or Professional Placement

Optional

  • 14-19 PE and Sport
  • Leading and developing PE in Primary Schools
  • Engaging Young People in Physical Activity
  • Group Dynamics in Sport
  • Analysing Social Issues in Sport
  • Applied Performance Analysis
  • The Developing Child in Sport
  • Advanced Coaching and Pedagogy
  • Contemporary Issues in Disability PE
  • The Sports Entrepreneur
  • Disability Sports Coaching and Performance

 There are some modules which are excluded combinations (cannot be taken together) but your tutors will advise you on the content of the modules and also how to make the module selections.
Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. 

A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the Personal Academic Tutoring system, enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive lectures, seminars, and practical workshops. Interactive lectures and seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures, and practical workshops are focused on applying some of the theoretical concepts discussed whilst also developing subject specific skills. There are many opportunities to work with children from local schools in order to develop your understanding of teaching and coaching and to evaluate different approaches used. There is also a work based placement in your final year where you will experience being in one school or work environment in order to consolidate many of the skills developed throughout the course.

In addition, meetings with Personal Academic Tutors (PATS) are scheduled on at least four occasions in the first year and on a least three occasions in each of the other years of the course.

Contact time

In a typical week you will have around 12 - 16 contact hours of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and group work. The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year you will normally have slightly less contact time in order to do more independent study, your project and your work placement. Typically contact time will be structured around:

  • 4 hours of (large group) lectures
  • 6 hours of seminars in groups of approx. 20
  • 4 hours of practical workshops

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, students are expected to undertake around 24-28 hours of personal self-study per week.  Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and/or group projects, undertaking research, preparing for assignments/assessments.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.

Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Teaching is informed by the research and consultancy and the majority of School of Sport and Exercise Science lecturers have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments.

Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and a final year independent studies project.

The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:

Year 1

  • 4 Essay/Written assessment
  • 4 Presentations
  • 1 Practical Delivery
  • 1 Portfolio

Year 2

  • 3 x practical assessments
    4 x individual or group presentations
  • 4 essays / written tasks
  • 1 reflective coaching journal

Year 3

  • Major Independent Research Study 4000-6000 words
  • 2-3 Individual or group presentations/delivery
  • 3-4 Written assessments
  • 3 x reflective and skills portfolio/viva

Feedback

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback on examination performance is available upon request from the module leader. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document. 

Find your passion

Meet The Team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.

richard-pepperell

Richard Pepperell

Richard is an experienced PE teacher and sports lecturer and joined the University of Worcester in 2017. He has been working in education since 2002 and is the Course Leader for PE and Sports Coaching at Worcester since 2018.

He continues to work in rugby coaching, as a standards verifier for Pearson’s suite of PE and Sport BTEC programmes, an external examiner at two other institutions and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Lerverne- Barber-2023

Lerverne Barber

Lerverne is Head of School and Principal Lecturer. She joined the University in 2002 as a member of the Physical Education (PE) teaching team, taking on the role of Course Leader from 2008 - 2011.

Lerverne has a wealth of experience in her subject area, having been a Secondary PE teacher, PE adviser and Ofsted Inspector. She has also worked as an Independent PE Consultant leading projects and delivering training for organisations such as the Youth Sport Trust and the Department for Education.

Lerverne has played a key role in developing the School's international profile in countries such as China and Japan, for work in inclusive sport and Physical Education. In 2011 she became a University of Worcester Teaching Fellow for excellence in learning and teaching and in 2015 she achieved the award of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy for her leadership of learning and teaching (SFHEA), followed by the award of National Teaching Fellow (NTF) in 2017.

charlotte-beaman-evans

Charlotte Beaman-Evans

Charlotte is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and the Sports Scholarship Coordinator at the University of Worcester. Before joining the University, she was previously a teacher of Physical Education in a secondary school.

Charlotte is now embarking upon a career in Higher Education having completed her MSc in Sports Coaching Science and Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.

A keen sports player Charlotte has played a range of sports including rugby, football and hockey, achieving international status in rugby.

karen-broughton

Karen Broughton

Karen prides herself on her quality of teaching and learning and has been nominated and short listed for various Student Choice Awards.

She has written, developed and taught a variety of new modules that reflect the changing PE environment to better prepare students for the varying roles that they may enter following University.

“As an aspiring teacher myself, Karen has been a great role model and has shown me the importance of creating good relationships and a positive environment for students. Her door is always open, and she will make the time of day for anyone."  Student quote, 2023.

Rebecca Foster MBE in sports attire smiling at camera

Rebecca Foster MBE

Rebecca has developed a research profile that compliments her practitioner led experience.  Being an ex-schoolteacher Rebecca has investigated what high quality physical education may look like in English schools, which then extended to special schools. Further to this she has used her volunteering roles within the Deaf community to display insight into the challenges and benefits Deaf athletes face from school to elite level competition.

Michelle Morgan

Michelle Morgan

Michelle Morgan joined the University of Worcester School of Sport and Exercise Science full-time in 2011, after fulfilling a number of part-time roles within the School during both her undergraduate and MSc studies. Michelle has a range of experiences in sports coaching (both in the UK and USA) with a Netball specialism as a UKCC Level 3 coach. In her role as a Senior Lecturer for the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching Science degree, Michelle uses her industry and academic experiences to support and develop students’ understanding of the demands of the sporting industry, including the skills and qualities needed to be employable.  

 

Craig Williams

Craig Williams

Craig is an engaging and innovative teaching practitioner who blends learning and applied experiences to develop student employability, both during and after their studies.

His extensive network has led to a range of interesting placement and job opportunities for students at the University.

Craig is passionate about most sports, and in his words, still attempts to play football and cricket when the body allows! 

David Mycock

David Mycock

David consults and researches in the field of coaching science and coaches externally in elite level football. He has helped evolve the game of blind futsal and is a qualified FA Tutor. David is the Head Coach of Worcester Blind FC and has previously coached the England and Great Britain Blind Futsal teams at major tournaments, and is currently the Head Coach of the Czech Republic National Blind Football team.

David has a variety of NGB Awards and as an ex-professional football player is a member of the Professional Footballers Association. His role at the University has grown since 2006 and he is now the Link Tutor for the SSES Partnership programmes with Masaryk University in the Czech Republic.

dr-christian-edwards

Dr Christian Edwards

Christian is a Principal Lecturer in Sports Coaching Science and the Course Leader for the sports coaching degree pathway, and leads on sociological, psychological and research methods modules within the school’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Christian also coordinates the final year independent research project for all sports coaching and physical education degree pathways.

helen-hope

Helen Hope

Head of Department for Sport Development, Management and Therapy.

Helen Hope is a Principal Lecturer in Physical Education. Before joining the University in 2005 she had taught in secondary schools for ten years and was Head of a PE department for five years. She has previously led the PGCE PE teacher training programme for three years before moving into teaching on the Undergraduate Modular Scheme (UMS) course. She became a Head of Department in September 2015 and leads on Student Retention for the School.

Helen prides herself in demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning and has won and been nominated for various Student Choice Awards. Helen has a keen interest in transformational learning, blended teaching approaches and the use of authentic assessments, ensuring that students are able to apply their learning in real-life situations. As Retention lead she has developed new processes and systems to ensure that students are supported in their personal learning journeys.

Careers

Careers

In 2018, 95% of PE and Sports Coaching Graduates were in full time employment of further study 6 months after completing their degree.

A high number of graduates go on to study a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) either for secondary Physical Education teaching or Primary teaching. Others go on to study a Masters in Sports Coaching Science. However the content of the course develops a variety of employability skills, enabling Graduates to enter into an extensive range of different professions including, Sports Administration Development, Sports Development Officers, Sports Activity Leader, Social Media Marketing Co-ordinator; Sports and Disability Inclusion Coach; Recruitment Consultant Specialist and many more.

“My experiences of teaching in the school on placement were amazing, it was hands-on and really reflected the opportunities that are given to you on this course. The other part of this course I enjoyed was actually getting to know the tutors and forming relationships with them. It's not like other Uni's or even bigger courses where the tutors don't really know each person, here the tutors take the time to build those connections and get to know you, what sports you are interested in and how they can help you progress in each next step.”

Annabel Wain, PE and Coaching student, Class of 2022

Two students are walking next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential
Costs

Fees and funding

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2024/25 academic year is £9,250 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2024/25 academic year is £16,200 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the academic year 2024/25 are £1,156 per 15-credit module, £1,542 per 20-credit module, £2,312 per 30-credit module, £3,083 per 40-credit module, £3,469 per 45-credit module and £4,625 per 60 credit module.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

All Physical Education and Sports Coaching students are expected to wear School of Sport and Exercise Science branded sports kit. This includes a polo top, t-shirt and a hooded sweatshirt and costs approximately £85.

For work placements, students are expected to self-fund any travel costs incurred.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Chestnut Halls' at £131 per week to 'Oak Halls' at £221 per week (2024/25 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Sports Scholarships

At Worcester we are committed to supporting elite and talented sports performers who are dedicated to both sporting and academic success. Our sports scholarships are available for a range of team and individual sports. For further information, visit our sports scholarships pages.
How to apply

How to apply

Applying through UCAS

Physical Education and Sports Coaching BSc (Hons) - C690

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application.

UCAS Code

C690

Apply Via UCAS

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Admissions office

admissions@worc.ac.uk
01905 855111

Richard Pepperell

r.pepperell@worc.ac.uk
01905 542232

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