BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development
About this course
BA (Hons) in Sport Coaching and Coach Development is an undergraduate degree focusing on the practical, scientific and theoretical principles of sports coaching and coach development. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Communication & Writing, and Ethics & Professional Practice. Students can optionally undertake a foundation year, an optional placement year, or an optional year abroad. The first year introduces foundational movement skills, coaching science, skill acquisition, and coaching through performance analysis alongside academic and research skills. The second year builds professional practice and research methods while exploring coaching children and adolescents, applied coaching, and the learning coach. The final year covers advanced sports coaching, adaptive coaching theory, high-performance sport and talent identification, and an independent study project.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff: 112 A level: BBC T Level: Merit BTEC: DMM GCSE: GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6 English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 16 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 92%
- Assessment and feedback: 91%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 92%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 55%
- Gained a higher qualification: 20%
- Left higher education: 20%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 58 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 64%
- Working and studying: 12%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 3%
Most common jobs
- Sports and fitness occupations: 14%
- Therapy professionals: 14%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 9%
- Teaching Professionals: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 9%
- East Midlands: 53%
- West Midlands: 19%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 2%
- South East: 4%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Access course: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Placement Learning and Professional Development
- Academic and Research Skills for Sport and Exercise
- Foundational Movement Skills
- Coaching and Skill Acquisition
- Introduction to Sports Coaching
- Introduction to Coaching Science
- Introduction to Coach Development through Performance Analysis
- Research Methods for Sport and Exercise
- Professional Practice
- The Learning Coach
- Coaching Children and Adolescents
- Applied Sport Coaching
- Independent Study for Sport and Exercise
- Adaptive Coaching Theory and Practice
- Advanced Sports Coaching
- Advanced Coach Development
- Working in High Performance Sport and Talent Identification
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development at University of Derby earn?
The median salary is £24,000 after 15 months, £22,000 after 3 years, £26,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,500 and £31,000. The £26,000 median after five years is £1,500 less than the UK median for Sport and exercise sciences.
What do graduates of BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development at University of Derby do next?
86% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development at University of Derby?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development at University of Derby?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 121 UCAS points.
Does BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development at University of Derby include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development at University of Derby?
55% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.