BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development with Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) in Sport Coaching and Coach Development with Foundation Year, a sport and exercise sciences degree centred on coaching practice, athlete development, and coach education. Core topics include Statistics, Research Methods, Communication & Writing, and Ethics & Professional Practice. This four-year full-time programme includes a compulsory foundation year, with an optional placement year and an optional year abroad. The foundation year introduces academic skills, fundamental sport disciplines, and foundational research and data handling through modules such as Psychology of Education, Study Skills and Research, The Art of Sport and Exercise: A Foundation, and Research Methods and Data Handling, alongside optional modules in English, Mathematics, Biomedical Science, and Society and Culture. Year 1 builds core foundations with Academic and Research Skills for Sport and Exercise, Foundational Movement Skills, Coaching and Skill Acquisition, and Introduction to Sports Coaching. Year 2 develops applied capabilities through Research Methods for Sport and Exercise, Professional Practice, The Learning Coach, and Coaching Children and Adolescents. Year 3 advances professional competencies with Independent Study for Sport and Exercise, Adaptive Coaching Theory and Practice, Advanced Sports Coaching, and Advanced Coach Development, culminating in 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: 72 A level: DDD T Level: Pass BTEC: MMP GCSE: GCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15 English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 95 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 90%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 90 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 69%
- Gained a higher qualification: 7%
- Left higher education: 23%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
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 100 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 92%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Access course: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Placement Learning and Professional Development
- Psychology of Education
- Study Skills and Research
- The Art of Sport and Exercise: A Foundation
- Research Methods and Data Handling
- English
- Mathematics
- Biomedical Science
- Society and Culture
- 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 with Foundation Year 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 with Foundation Year 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 with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
90% 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 with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
The typical offer is DDD at A level. The average entrant had 115 UCAS points.
Does BA Sport Coaching and Coach Development with Foundation Year 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 with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
69% of students continued into their second year, and 23% left higher education.