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Foundation Degree (FdSc)

Sports Coaching and Development

Gain an industry-recognised qualification, whilst studying at a professional sports club and completing a comprehensive portfolio of work-based learning.

How to apply Apply Through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us

Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    S1H9

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £16,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

You’ll get practical experience of working within the sports coaching and development industry

DESIGNED FOR

Students based at a professional sports club studying BTEC awards.

Career Paths

  • Teaching
  • Community Sports Coaching
  • Professional/Elite Coaching
  • Sports Management Roles
  • Sports Development Roles

Skills taught

  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Leadership
  • Teamworking
  • Analytical Skills

We make a difference in practice, not just on paper. Our courses are designed by people who offer jobs - and taught by people who have real work experience.

A sports student leading a sports coaching session with a group of children.
Two students smiling at each other in a classroom
Students playing a game of football on the indoor 3g pitch. Two people are stood on the side line.
A football academic talks through strategies seen in action to coaching and performance students at USW Sports Park

Course Highlights

Mentoring

A member of staff from your club would be assigned to you as a Mentor and they would support you by facilitating the learning materials and organising your placements.

Placement Opportunities

A key part of this degree is the increased amount of placement hours you will experience.

Module Overview

The Foundation Degree Sports Coaching and Development will be based within the student’s sports organisation, and lectures, seminars and tutorials will be delivered on site and via provided material. The course will teach you aspects of generic children and youth coaching, sports coaching, sports development, social inclusion, and sports management skills.

Academic Research and Study Skills
This module is designed to introduce individuals to academic and research skills required at level 4 to underpin their further studies.

Introduction to Sports Coaching
To prepare students to deliver safe and effective coaching sessions. To introduce students to the theories of physical literacy and fundamental movement skills (FMS) which can be utilised in the preparation, delivery and evaluation of foundation level sports provision.

Introduction to Sports Science for Coaching
The aim of this module is to gain basic knowledge and understanding about sports science and to identify how its application may aid the coach in developing athletes to achieve improved sporting performance.

Introduction to Sports Development
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the principles, roles and scope of sports development work within the UK.

Managing Sport
This module will allow students to gain an appreciation of the key management skills and disciplines required in managing and developing sport from a number of operational contexts.

Reflection on Learning in the workplace
This provides students with the learning to accompany their placement activities and aims to help develop them professionally.

You will develop the skills and knowledge gained in year one around understanding coaching and leadership principles and approaches to developing and managing sport across a range of target groups. You will enhance your knowledge by studying barriers to sport and completing a school or community sport placement which will enable you to put your ideas into practice. 

Project Operations Management
This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the approaches and techniques associated with managing projects and the operational functions needed to implement them.

Sport Placement
The module will provide an opportunity for students to develop reflective practice that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of their work-related experience.

Community Sports Development
The module aims to introduce students to the concept of community sports development. This will involve an examination of the success of initiatives complemented by an overview of the challenges faced by specific population target groups.

Physical Education and Community School Sport
On completion of the module students will demonstrate an in-depth awareness of Physical Education and School Sport.

Sports Coaching and Leadership 
The students will be expected to use their advanced knowledge and coaching skills to plan and deliver practical sports sessions to a wide range of specific populations.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

You will be enrolled as a student at the University of South Wales and have access to several learning materials. You will spend a minimum of five days per year at the University of South Wales High Performance Centre at the USW Sport Park and receive full accommodation during these Residential Visits. In between these visits, your learning will be based at your club, with your Club Mentor facilitating online learning materials produced by USW Lecturers. You will have access to an online library, blackboard and other learning materials, and will spend a time at the USW Sport Park to complete practical teaching.

Teaching Staff

The USW Sports Coaching and Development team are experienced staff all who have worked in the sports coaching and/or development industry, some of whom have even played and coached at a professional/elite level. Our staff have experience of coordinating and managing sport in both local authorities, sports clubs and national governing bodies of sport, and are able to bring this real-life knowledge and experience into the classroom to bring topics to life. Many of our staff are still active in the industry either coaching or representing sports organisations on boards and strategic groups.

Placements

In year two you will complete up to 200 hours of coaching (work-based learning) that is managed through weekly tutorials and a comprehensive mentoring programme. The work-based learning programme will be completed within the sports organisations and will provide opportunities to gain experience in areas such as social inclusion, school and grass root club development, sport development, and coaching. 

Facilities

We have a 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.

A group of students discussing football strategy with the sports coaching lecturer.

  • 94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.

  • 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)

  • 94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.

  • Top in Wales for student satisfaction in Sports Science (Complete University Guide 2023)

Careers and Employability

Graduate Careers

The Foundation Degree Sports Coaching and Development will prepare you to work in a multitude of sports coaching, teaching and development roles, instilling the coaching, leadership and development skills that will allow you to change lives through sport. Graduates with a Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching and Development can go on to work as sports development officers, Workforce and coach education coordinators, school sport coordinators, 5x60 officers, National Governing Body officers, PE teachers (primary and secondary), community coaches and self-employed business managers.

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: 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 in a relevant subject.
  • Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma in Science or Maths with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points

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/Rugby Clubs.

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

UK Full-time Fee

£9,535

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,200

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. 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).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

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  

Students will have to fund the cost of travel to the residential elements of this course.

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.

Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.

A student sat smiling and talking to friends off camera in Treforest Student's Union
Student Life
Close up shot of the front of the Alfred Russell wallace building.
Pontypridd Campus, Glyntaff
A double room at our Pontypridd accommodation featuring a large window.
Accommodation

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.

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.
 

Related Courses

Sports Coaching and Development (Top Up) - BSc (Hons) Learn more
Sports Business and Management - BA (Hons) Learn more

Next Steps

How to apply
Apply Through UCAS
Book an Open Day
Chat to Us