BSc (Hons) Community Football Coaching and Administration (Top Up)

This is a unique and exclusive course, run in partnership with the EFL Trust. The course has been specifically designed for students who have already obtained a football-related Foundation Degree or equivalent qualification.

The BSc (Hons) Community Football Coaching and Administration (Top-Up) allows you to gain a full Bachelor of Science degree in less than a year. The course focuses on both the football and business-related knowledge needed to develop professionals for the football industry, you will consolidate your learning and start to specialise your work-based learning experience in line with your career ambitions. Developed in partnership with professional coaching organisations, this football coaching course allows you to study and gain work placements across the globe.

The BSc (Hons) Community Football Coaching and Administration course is a natural continuation of the Foundation Community Football Coaching & Development course, which is also delivered through blended learning. You will undertake studies at your local EFL club and attend 3 residential blocks at our world-leading USW Sport Park Campus.

As part of the partnership agreement between USW and the Football Association of Wales (FAW), USW football courses staff will operate a FAW UEFA B License course as an additional option. This course is exclusive to USW students and sits outside the regular domestic courses operated by FAW Coach Education. Places on the course are limited and as such, students interested in obtaining the additional qualification must meet the eligibility criteria and undergo a rigorous selection process.

Run in partnership with

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2023
2024

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2023	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
	Full-time	1 Year	September	Glyntaff	A

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2024	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
	Full-time	1 Year	September	Glyntaff	A

Click here to watch a video overview of the course

Year Three Modules

In year three you will consolidate learning and start to specialise in work-based learning experiences in line with your future career ambitions. You will study a broad array of subjects including Community Football Coaching, Strategic Sports Development, The Business of Football, Critical Issues in Sport Coaching and Leadership. You will also be required to complete an Applied Professional Project throughout the year related to football or sport coaching.

Please note core modules are delivered via Blended learning

Community Football Coaching: Theory to Practice (20 credits) - Grant Kalahar

The module aims to further enhance student knowledge of the various aspects of community-related football coaching and the demands placed upon the modern-day football coach. The concept of the module is in line with the demands of industry in aiming to develop students who are theoretically aware, but are also practically applied.

Critical Issues in Sports Coaching (20 credits) - Stuart Jarvis

The module aims to develop students' critical awareness of contemporary topics across coaching, leadership, performance and participation in sport. It will allow students to consider a range of participant populations and develop a critical appreciation of the contribution of sociological, psychological, physical and practical concepts and their impact on sporting performance. This module adopts a problem-based approach, requiring the student to consider innovative and creative solutions to contemporary problems and issues in sport.

Strategic Sports Development (20 credits) - Lyn Jehu

To introduce students to the concepts of strategic management and planning; provide an overview of relevant frameworks and techniques with which to analyse contemporary sports development and management issues; critically examine sports policy, strategies and development plans and their impacts; provide students with an opportunity to identify and evaluate strategic options; provide students with an appreciation of international sports policy and the development of sport on a global basis.

Business of Football (20 credits) - Jay Probert

Students will demonstrate an understanding and ability to critically analyse evaluate and appraise the key internal and external contexts in which football businesses operates. Furthermore the module seeks to provide students with a critical awareness of the contemporary issues, including sustainability, globalisation, corporate social responsibility, commercialisation, business innovation and risk management.

Applied Professional Project (40 credits) - Stuart Jarvis

The module is designed to provide a platform upon which the learner can enhance the effectiveness of their workplace experience. For their chosen professional activity, the student will be expected to develop independent learning based on experience in the workplace.

Teaching

Blended learning students have access to an online library, Blackboard (online virtual learning environment), as well as other learning materials, and will also get the opportunity to spend time at the USW Sport Park to complete practical teaching/coaching and assessments.

Students will complete work-based learning that is managed through tutorials and a mentoring programme. The work-based learning programme can be completed within your own football work environment and students will undertake studies at their local EFL club.

Students will be required to attend 3 residential blocks at our world-leading USW Sport Park Campus in September (induction), January and April. On average, there will be 12 hours of content to view per week and it is expected that students spend a further 10/15 hours a week on further independent/directed study.

Guest lectures with extensive knowledge and experience across the industry are often invited to deliver across various modules (e.g., David Adams, Jane Ludlow MBE, Paul McGuinness).

Support

Students will have a large support network in place around them. Each student will be supported by academic module leaders, course leaders and the student support services team at USW. Students will also receive the support of a National Academic Support Coach whose role is to travel the UK and set up 1 to 1 academic support sessions with students and their local EFL club.

Assessment

Students will be provided with a range of assessment types including:

MCQ tests
Essays and written assignments
Practical assessments
Work-based learning portfolio’s and projects
Applied professional project
Poster presentation
Oral presentations

Assessment support and resource will be provided to students who have additional needs.

Placements

Work Experience placements are organised for students within community trust clubs in various roles and departments to cater for the learners interest and desired career paths.

Facilities

We have a brand-new specially designed sporting performance facility that focuses on rugby and football coaching. It includes a specialist centre for strength and conditioning with 12 lifting platforms, providing a high performance environment for aspiring athletes.

Our full-size indoor 3G pitch is built to the Fifa Pro standard and World Rugby 22 standard. It will guarantee training all year round for our rugby, football and coaching students. We are the only university in England and Wales to offer this facility.

You'll also find a notational analysis suite and over 30 acres of playing fields, including five floodlit pitches. We have a sand-dressed 'astroturf' pitch, as well as a full-size FIFA approved 3G pitch. In addition to these all-weather pitches, there are six grass football pitches, three grass rugby pitches, and a large changing pavilion.

Our facilities are regularly used by international professional teams, such as the Wales national football team and Cardiff City Football Club, as well as the touring New Zealand, South Africa and Australia rugby squads. This confirms the high quality of our pitches and the versatility of our equipment.

Lecturers

Course Leader

Robyn Pinder (Lecturer in Football Coaching - Blended Learning)

Module Leaders

Jay Probert (ASM - Head of Football Coaching and Development)
Stuart Jarvis (Lecturer Sport)
Lyn Jehu (Lecturer Community - Football Development)
Grant Kalahar (Lecturer in Football Coaching)
Bobby Briers (Lecturer Blended Learning - Sport)

We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

This course is delivered predominantly online and not available to International Students wishing to reside in the UK on a student VISA as formal affiliation with a UK EFL Trust sports club is required.

The successful completion of an appropriate Foundation Degree or equivalent. USW considers all applications on an individual basis which means that we could make offers based on qualifications, personal profile and experience.

In addition a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check is required (additional cost applies, no offences are considered spent).

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.

August 2023 - July 2024 Fees

Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14400

August 2024 - July 2025 Fees

Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC

Student Perks

At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.

Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.

Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

Funding

Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs

Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.

UK students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

Admissions statement

Students who graduate from this course can pursue careers as:

Performance coach
Sports or football development officer
Multi-skills sports coach
School sport coordinator
Talent coach
Club coach
Participation coach
PE teacher
FE college lecturer
Primary school teacher
Coaches, workforce and coach education coordinators
Sports management and administration positions
Self-employed business managers

Our Careers and Employability Service

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.

This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.