of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them
Course Award
BA (Hons)
Duration
1 year full time (Top-up)
UCAS Code
CN07
Placement
Opportunities available
Entry
January, September (2021)
Fees
View Fees
Opportunities for additional qualifications to boost your CV
£44m invested in flagship facilities, including sport, to support your future career opportunities
Do you want to become part of the booming fitness sector of the sports industry? If you are passionate about helping people achieve their health and fitness goals or aspire to work in coaching and fitness training, our Sport and Fitness Studies top-up degree will build upon your knowledge to help you forge a career serving a wide variety of clients in a range of roles.
Designed for anyone who has previously studied a relevant subject (up to Level 5), this sport and fitness top-up course expands upon your understanding of fields such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology. You will be able to tailor your studies to match your career aims through a selection of optional modules as well as conducting in-depth research into an aspect of the sport and fitness industry that interests you.
Alongside your sports top-up course, you will have the chance to gain a number of further industry-recognised qualifications to help you stand out after you graduate, including sports coaching, personal trainer and fitness instructor qualifications. You will also be supported throughout your studies by our range of cutting-edge sports facilities, including our brand new gym and Human Performance Centre.
If you have previously studied a relevant subject up to Level 5, you will be able to enrol on our one-year top-up course. If you have previously studied a relevant subject up to Level 4, you can apply to transfer onto our course at Level 5 for the remaining two years of your degree.
Currently studying a HND or Foundation degree? Join our Aspire Vocational top-up webinars to explore the benefits of studying a top-up degree. Find out more here.
Why should I choose this course?
- ENRICHMENT – Boost your career prospects with a range of additional professional qualifications, as well as engaging with the sports industry through events on campus
- SPECIALISE YOUR STUDIES – Drive the direction of your studies to suit your interests with a range of optional modules and a research project on the subject of your choice
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Apply your learning and skills to real-life practice, supported by our outstanding sports facilities
- TEAM SCOTLAND PARTNERSHIP – Our University will be the home for Team Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, offering exciting opportunities for our students to work with the team and its athletes
Our facilities
Students on our sports courses at University College Birmingham have access to a wide range of excellent facilities. Our campus features a brand new Human Performance Centre, cutting-edge gym and sports injury and massage clinics, while you also have access to the state-of-the-art facilities at nearby Avery Fields, thanks to our partnership with local rugby club Bournville RFC.
Our new Human Performance Centre includes a 35m sprint track (with force plate) and sled track, eight lifting platforms, 7m rig and large screens displaying live analysis data
Our purpose-built Human Performance Laboratory features the latest equipment including an anti-gravity treadmill, isokinetic dynamometer, Monark LC7 cycle ergometer and SECA body composition analyser
The impressive £3m Avery Fields complex – which we share with Bournville RFC – boasts an all-weather pitch, two grass pitches and a clubhouse with function room and modern changing facilities
Our sports clinics on campus are open to the public and provide the ideal environment for our sports students to put training into practice treating and assessing patients
Course breakdown
- Level 5 (transfer)
- Level 6 (top-up)
Core Modules
Fitness Training II
You will take a critical look at advanced training techniques in order to work with individual clients or groups in a fitness setting and conduct in-depth investigation of the training required for complicated client groups.
Industrial and Personal Development
You will research the career opportunities available within your chosen industry, exploring the pathways that will enable you to identify and develop the personal and management skills required to be successful. You will also review your own career experiences and form an action plan for your future.
Research for Sport
You will be introduced to the management and application of research, looking at using primary and secondary research tools and techniques through various research activities. You will establish research aims, objectives, research methods and how to collect both qualitative and quantitative data for use in your own research.
Sports Coaching
You will gain an understanding of the coaching process and the wide range of factors that influence it. This will provide you with an understanding of the key psychological and physiological considerations a coach has to take into account when developing athletes and how this can vary with regard to the athlete population.
Sports Psychology
The aim of this module is to investigate the composition of sport in relation to psychology. You will analyse and review the area of sport psychology focusing on key areas such as motivation, personality, learning and aggression. You will always examine the role of the coach and participants in relevance to psychological concepts.
Plus one option from:
Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
A key aspect in children and young peoples' development is how fitness contributes to health and wellbeing. You will critically explore how sport can contribute to health and how practical guidelines for this are developed by practitioners. This also includes the identification of drugs and the practicalities of working with children and young people involved with drug use.
Performance Analysis
The aim of this module is to provide students with the experience of analysing selected athletes. The focus of the module will be for students to develop their own methods of analysing performance. Within the module students will consider how from the analysis they can identify improvements to performance. The role of performance analysis will be considered, and the impact of enhancing coaching and subsequently, player performance.
Sports Nutrition
You will examine the nutritional needs of athletes and those undertaking substantial exercise programmes, exploring the importance of nutrition in achieving optimal health. Other topics addressed will include exercise and metabolism, energy generation, hydration and vitamin and mineral needs for athletic performance.
Voluntary Initiative
The voluntary sector is one of the most dynamic sectors worldwide. You will have the opportunity to work on a volunteer project within a private, public or community organisation and see how they market themselves and compete for resources with other voluntary projects. You will be able to reflect on your experiences as well as develop your personal and professional skills within a working environment.
Core Modules
Applied Fitness Training and Programming
This module focuses on performance-based training and includes sport-specific training, field-based assessment and programming for elite athletes. You will investigate elite level sport, and look at needs and performance analysis, to design specific training programmes for more advanced athletes.
Sports Project
This is a key project through which you will hone your independent learning, problem-solving, analysis and data presentation skills. You will deepen your knowledge in a selected area of the industry of your own choosing to be explored as a case study or a journal submission. Both methods are supported by an additional poster presentation.
Sports Psychology II
You will design and implement a range of interventions addressing areas such as concentration, motivation, aggression, anxiety and injury. You will critically evaluate measurement tools and the impact of regulatory and ethical issues. Using sports psychology in this manner benefits all professionals working in the sports environment.
Plus two options from:
Sports Coaching and the Development of Expertise
What does it mean to become an expert in the sports environment? You will gain an understanding of how to develop sport expertise through the use of evidence-informed coaching practice through theory, sampling and specialisation. You will also analyse and critique methods to facilitate motor and perceptual cognitive skills acquisition.
Nutrition for Performance
You will explore advanced concepts in sports nutrition and look at the application of diet in response to individualised sport-specific needs through the assessment of anthropometry and caloric assessment. You will analyse the use of contemporary and emerging diets within sport such as the Palaeolithic diet, ketogenic diets and intermittent fasting practices.
Sports Marketing
You will be integrating the concepts of marketing with sports-related products and services and the use of sporting events. This will give you the understanding and knowledge of the important factors that affect this area of business such as sponsorship, branding, digital marketing concepts, relationship marketing and consumer behaviour before examining their impact on the domestic and international markets.
The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.
Entry requirements
Level 5 (Year 2)
Academic: A relevant HNC or a foundation degree in the areas of Sports and Exercise Science, with 120 credits.
Level 6 (Year 3)
Academic: A relevant HND or a foundation degree in the areas of Sports and Exercise Science, with 240 credits.
If you are unsure if your previous qualification is suitable, please contact us before completing an application. You can call us on 0121 604 1040 or email direct@ucb.ac.uk
EU/international students
Academic: European and International qualifications studied in a relevant subject matter will also be considered. Applicants will need to have achieved 120 ECTS or equivalent (European Credit Transfer).
If you are unsure if your previous qualification is suitable, please contact us before completing an application. You can call us on 0121 604 1040 or send an email:
International: international@ucb.ac.uk
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
In light of COVID-19, we have made some changes to the way we deliver our teaching. We are continually following the guidelines and measures put in place by the UK Government to ensure our students and staff are safe on campus, whilst remaining committed to providing high-quality education. The information below explains how teaching will take place in semester 2 (or semester 1 for those joining us in January).
Assessment
Estimated breakdown of assessment for this top-up degree course:
- Coursework – 55%
- Practical assessment – 35%
- Written examinations – 10%
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2015-2020.
Additional qualifications and training
There are opportunities to gain further industry-accredited qualifications throughout the duration of your studies. These include:
- Level 2 Certificate Fitness Instructor (NCFE)
- Level 3 Personal Trainer (NCFE)
- 1st4Sport Level 2 Award in Multi-Skills Sports Coaching
Please note extra qualifications incur an additional fee.
Uniform and kit costs
This course incurs additional costs of approximately £55 for uniform. (Prices are subject to change each year – exact costs and information on how to order required items will be provided to you prior to enrolment.)
Kick-start scheme
As a new student studying this degree full-time, you will receive £300 per year via our Kick-Start Scheme (eligibility criteria applies). This scheme will support your studies and future career by contributing to course-related materials, uniform or selected items on campus. You might even qualify for an additional £500 per year.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
If you are a UK/EU student enrolling on a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2020/21, your fee for this academic year will be £9,250 per each full year. A half year tuition fee is £4,625. UK/EU students do not pay tuition fees for any placement periods.
International students
If you are an international student enrolling on a a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2020/21, your fee for this academic year will be £11,500 per year.
If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year, or £250 for a half-year placement.
University College Birmingham will be the home of Team Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
University College Birmingham adopts the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) position that cheating, including doping, in sport is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport and undermines the otherwise positive impact of sport on society. View our Clean Sport Commitment statement here.
Accreditations, endorsements and partnerships
University College Birmingham works with a wide range of organisations to ensure you receive the best possible training and qualifications recognised by industry.
70%
Work placements
Work placements are vital for gaining real-life experience and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and they may even lead to a job when you graduate. Our hired@UCB team can help find the ideal placement for you.
We encourage students on our BA Sport and Fitness Studies top-up course to gain work experience throughout your studies.
Work alongside experts in your sector
A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with:
- Warwickshire County Cricket Club
- Wasps Rugby Academy
- West Bromwich Albion FC Women
- Easy Gym
- Vibro-Suite Health and Wellness Club
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, please be aware that opportunities to travel abroad for placements, project work or residential trips may be affected by government travel restrictions. Please visit our updates and FAQs page for information.
I chose the course because I could relate it to what I do with my athletics. The lecturers make it enjoyable and have helped me when I’ve needed time with my athletics too. I’ve gained knowledge about my sport and it’s a good course with many pathways. Since I started here, I haven’t looked back.
Career opportunities
Note: Some roles below may require further study/training. The roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Sports coach
Average Salary: £32,500
Sports development officer
Average Salary: £30,000
Armed forces training and education officer
Average Salary: £31,232
Fitness centre manager
Average Salary: £23,000 – £30,000
Want to take your studies to the next level? Completing the BA (Hons) top-up degree will enable you to move onto our Strength, Conditioning and Performance MSc course.
James’s Story
James played a key part in Bournville RFC securing promotion to National League 2 for the first time in the club’s history.
Meet your lecturers
