Sports Coaching and Development
Gain an industry-recognised qualification while working directly with professional clubs, developing practical coaching skills, leadership abilities, and a portfolio of real-world experience that makes an immediate impact in community sport.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
C607
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£17,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
-
Start Date
September
-
Location
Pontypridd
-
Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£17,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
Learn through work-based placements, weekly guided study, and residential sessions. Explore inclusive coaching, interdisciplinary topics, and sport’s role in education, health, and wellbeing, while building essential skills in communication, planning, and reflective practice for a career that matters.
DESIGNED FOR
Those looking to combine BTEC study with hands-on experience at a professional sports club.
Endorsements and Partnerships
- FAW
- EFL in the Community
- CIMPSA
Career Paths
- Teaching
- Community Sports Coaching
- Professional / Elite Coaching
- Sports Management Roles
- Sports Development Roles
Skills taught
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Leadership
- Teamworking
- Analytical Skills
Course Highlights
Module Overview
Gain practical coaching and community sport experience, refine your skills, embrace challenges, earn awards, and cultivate the drive, confidence, and adaptability to motivate others and create meaningful community impact.
Introduction to Sports Coaching (Online)
Step into sports coaching with purpose. Explore inclusive practice, plan impactful sessions, and grow reflective confidence while applying learning in real settings that shape safe, people-centred coaches.
Reflection on Learning in the Workplace (Online)
Gain real-world experience in sport through supported workplace learning. Apply academic knowledge, build professional and reflective skills, and gain clear insight into career pathways within the sports industry.
Foundations of PE, Health and Wellbeing (Online)
Develop the knowledge and skills to promote active, healthy lifestyles. Study PE, physical literacy, and wellbeing through practical, inclusive learning, preparing you for careers in education, sport, and health.
Introduction to Sports Development (Online)
Discover the power of sport to shape communities and transform lives. Learn development models, policies, and pathways, tackle real-world challenges, and build the skills to create positive impact in the sports industry.
Lead, deliver, and innovate in sport and wellbeing programs, apply your skills in real settings, and build the confidence and drive to create real community impact.
Coaching for Inclusion (Online)
During this module you will develop inclusive, confident, and reflective coaching skills. Explore athlete development, training planning, and real-world challenges while learning to create safe, welcoming, and equitable environments for all participants.
Leadership and Organisational Practice (Online)
Advance your leadership in sport by applying theory to real organisational settings. Explore governance, team dynamics, and ethical decision-making while developing research skills and shaping your professional identity.
Physical Education and Community School Sport (Online)
Learn to design, deliver, and evaluate lessons that promote equity, mental health, and wellbeing, while developing leadership, digital, and professional skills for education and sport careers.
Sport for Development (Online)
Building on first-year foundations, this module explores sport as a tool for global social change. Analyse programmes, lead initiatives, and develop ethical, professional skills to create meaningful impact locally and internationally.
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
You’ll learn by working in a professional football club while studying online. Most of your learning happens at the club, with short periods at the university to meet, reflect, and work with others. Each week, you’ll take on real projects, solve challenges, and put your learning into action, building the skills and confidence to succeed in the world of sport.
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How you'll be assessed
You’ll develop your skills through practical tasks, portfolios, case studies, and real-world challenges like performance appraisals, project presentations, and collaborative projects. Regular feedback from peers, club mentors, and EFLitC staff helps you see your progress and shape your learning. Online tasks and self-assessment give you space to explore, set goals, and take ownership of your development, building the confidence, curiosity, and skills you need to make an impact in the football industry.
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Placements
You will be based at professional football club, gaining weekly experience in coaching, sport development, and community engagement. This will help you develop the skills and understanding needed to progress in your career.
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Facilities
Students benefit from USW’s state-of-the-art facilities during Residential Visits and, when at their partner clubs, have access to a range of industry-standard facilities, combining hands-on learning with community building. Interactive tasks, digital tools, and a Club Mentor support growth in coaching, reflection, and personal development.
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Max Roberts
Sports Coaching and Development graduate
Billy Liptrot
Sports Coaching and Development graduate
Gregorio Estevez Marchesini
Sport and Exercise Science student
Sam Thomas
Strength and Conditioning graduate
Denise Cuer
Sport and Exercise Science student
Cameron Bailey
Sport and Exercise Therapy student
Shubham Trivedi
Football student
Steph Walker
Sports Coaching student
Endorsements and Partnerships
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96.4% of USW Sport graduates are in Employment and/or Further Study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23)
Top in Wales for student satisfaction in Sports Science (Complete University Guide 2023)
Sports Science is rated top in Wales for Teaching Quality and Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2024)
96.4% of USW Sport graduates are in Employment and/or Further Study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23)
Top in Wales for student satisfaction in Sports Science (Complete University Guide 2023)
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS Points: 48 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: DD to include at least one A Level in Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology but to exclude General Studies.
- Welsh BACC: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade D and D at A Level to include at least one Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology subject but to exclude General Studies.
- BTEC: BTEC Diploma Merit Pass or BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Pass Pass in a relevant subject.
- Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma in Science or Maths with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
- T Level - P
Additional Requirements:
Entry criteria detail typical offers but USW considers all applications on an individual basis which means that we could make offers based on qualifications, personal profile and experience. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed may also be acceptable.
All applicants for the course need to be affiliated with one of our partner EFL Clubs.
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
Closed for International applicants
Unfortunately, this course is not currently open to international applicants, please visit our course pages where you can find an alternative course choice.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,535
per year*£9,535
per year*£17,200
per year*£17,200
per year*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.
*Obligatory
This fee includes £40 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee.
Cost: £55.42
Whilst optional it is strongly recommended signing up for this service especially if you are likely to have placements each year and wish to pursue a career post University where a DBS check is a requirement. Please note the service has to be joined within 19 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate.
Cost: £13
Students will have to fund the cost of travel to the residential elements of the course.
Students will need to fund their travel and subsistence costs when on placement. Costs vary, depending on location.
University Quality Assurance
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.
How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
Advanced entry
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International admissions
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
