SPORT, COACHING AND FITNESS

BSc (Hons) Top-up

Accredited by University College Birmingham

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BSc (Hons)

Duration

1 year FT

UCAS Code

C605

Placement

Opportunities available

Entry

September

Fees

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Department of Sports

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104,000 employed/self-employed sports coaches, instructors and officials in UK*

*Statista, 2019

£44m invested in flagship facilities, including sport, to support your future career opportunities

Are you pursuing a career in areas such as fitness training or coaching? As two of the biggest sectors within the sports industry, coaching and fitness offer a vast array of opportunities for supporting people to achieve their personal goals. Our Sport, Coaching and Fitness top-up course will enable you to expand upon your current knowledge in this area to get you ready for a range of industry roles.

This one-year course is designed for anyone who has previously studied a relevant subject (up to Level 5), and will help you build further skills and knowledge related to topics such as health and wellness through physical activity, nutrition and inclusive coaching for working with different groups, including disability sport and Special Educational Needs (SEN). You will also be able to conduct your own research project into an area of the industry that interests you and matches your career aims.

Throughout our sport and fitness top-up course, you will have access to outstanding practical training facilities including our Human Performance Centre, gyms and outdoor sports facilities. You will also have opportunities to gain additional qualifications and practical experience alongside your studies, ensuring you are ready to hit the ground running in the sports industry.

Why should I choose this course?

ENRICHMENT – Boost your career prospects with a range of additional qualifications recognised by the sport and fitness industry
WORK EXPERIENCE – Engage with industry through a range of opportunities throughout your course, with our past students having worked for top professional sports clubs
PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Apply your learning and skills to real-life practice, supported by our outstanding sports facilities and expert teaching staff
SPECIALISE YOUR STUDIES – Drive the direction of your studies to suit your interests with a range of modules, placement work and a research project on the subject of your choice
AWARD-WINNING UNIVERSITY – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)

Our facilities

Students on our sports courses at University College Birmingham have access to a wide range of outstanding training facilities, including a state-of-the-art gym, Human Performance Centre and Laboratory. You will also have access to a range of outdoor training facilities at nearby Avery Fields, including 4G astroturf and grass pitches

Human Performance Centre 3D tour

Our 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

Course breakdown

Modules

Core Modules

Exercise as Medicine

The module aims to promote health and wellness through the increased use of physical activity and exercise in the prevention and treatment of disease. Students will be able to provide brief interventions on physical activity advice whilst protecting and promoting the health of patients.

Nutrition for a Healthy Population

This module will establish a firm understanding of how nutrition impacts health. It will include a strong focus on human metabolism and will explore how diet and lifestyle impact weight management and disease prevention. You will research nutrition and non-communicable disease risk and will examine contemporary dietary interventions focused on disease prevention. Finally, you will explore current issues in public health such as child obesity as well as identifying key international drivers and influential organisations.

Special Populations and Inclusive Coaching

Building on the understanding achieved within previous coaching modules, students will be given the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge of working with different groups. The students will experience an inclusive coaching environment, i.e. SEN, disability sport, etc., and gain an understanding of the adaptations needed in order to deliver an effective learning environment. Students will be able to evaluate their delivery and highlight possible areas for adaptations and development.

Sport and Nutrition Project

You are required to select a research question or topic aligned to your profession, formulate the best way to answer the question, and present your written findings in both a written and presentation format (poster presentation).

Work Based Learning for Sport

The aim of the module is for students to gain work based experience within the sport and fitness industry. The experience will allow the students to further enhance both their career specific skills and transferable skills. Throughout the work based learning module students will have the opportunity to experience and observe a variety of different practices. The module further aims to develop the student's ability to analyse the work based experience, with the use of reflection models. In addition the module is focused upon ensuring the students are employment ready following the completion of their studies.

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

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 complete our enquiry form here or call us on 0121 604 1040

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 complete our enquiry form:

Enquiry Form

Key information

Teaching and assessment

Note: Indicative information only – actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction.

Teaching

Example of a typical teaching week (up to 15 contact hours):

Large group teaching – 6 hours
Smaller group teaching – 6 hours
Tutorials – 2 hours
Work experience

You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time.

Assessment

Estimated breakdown of assessment for this degree course:

Coursework– 50%
Practical assessment– 50%

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030.

Additional qualifications and training

You will have opportunities to gain additional qualifications, including:

Level 2 and Level 3 Gym Instructor and Personal Training qualifications
1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Multi-Skills Development in Sport

Please note extra qualifications may incur an additional fee.

Uniform and kit costs

This course incurs additional costs of approximately £50-£100 for uniform and kit. (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.)

Tuition fees for home students

If you are a home student enrolling on a bachelor's or foundation degree course at University College Birmingham, the 2025/2026 academic year tuition fee for full-time study is £9,535. For part-time study, the fee is £4,767.50.

View tuition fees for home students

Kick-Start Scheme

As a new student studying this course full-time, you will receive £300 per year through our Kick-Start Scheme (UK students only, 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 may also qualify for an additional £500 per year.

Find out more about the Kick-Start Scheme here.

Unibuddy Community - meet other students on your course

Starting university is an exciting time, but we understand that it can sometimes feel a little daunting. To support you, you will be invited to join our Unibuddy Community, where you can meet other students who have applied for the same course at University College Birmingham, before you start studying here.

As soon as you have been made an offer, you will be sent an invitation email to complete your registration and join the Unibuddy Community. For more information, check out our Unibuddy Community page.

Latest updates

Join the conversation and check out the latest updates from the department of Sport and Nutrition.

UCB Sports

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%

of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them

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 team can help find the ideal placement for you.

Work placement opportunities and requirements are integrated into some of the modules that you will study on our BSc Sport, Coaching and Fitness course, allowing you to put theory into practice and enhance your future employability.

Work alongside experts in your sector

A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with previously:

Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Wasps Rugby Academy
West Bromwich Albion FC Women
Easy Gym
Vibro-Suite Health and Wellness Club

The Sport, Coaching and Fitness programme offers students the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge across a wide variety of modules. The multidisciplinary approach allows students to progress into a broad range of careers.

Matthew Holmes Programme Lead – Sport, Coaching and Fitness

Career opportunities

Note: Some roles below may require further study/training. The roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.

Health and wellbeing/sports development officer

Average Salary: £30,000

Further education lecturer

Average Salary: £28,575

Community sports coach

Average Salary: £24,000

Fitness centre manager

Average Salary: £23,000 – £30,000

Personal trainer

Average salary: £27,000 - £37,000

Armed forces training and education officer

Average Salary: £31,232

Want to take your studies to the next level? Completing the BSc (Hons) degree will enable you to move onto our postgraduate courses such as Strength, Conditioning and Performance MSc.

Hired

We are here to support your career goals every step of the way.

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James’s Story

When James decided to leave the US Navy, he found a new calling in fitness training and joined University College Birmingham to learn the ropes as a mature student.

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