BSc (Hons) Sport & Fitness Degree 2026 www.ucseducation.org
Flexibility, Immersion, Success: Your Degree Path to Sports Coaching Excellence
WELCOME
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Are the habits you have today in line with the dreams you have for tomorrow?
Selecting the next path in a learning journey can be confusing for any student. Our dedicated professional team will help you to make an informed decision that best supports your career aspirations. On behalf of Universal Centre of Sport, I encourage students to find out more about how we can support your career aspirations and look forward to welcoming those who are serious about their future. UCS is an inclusive centre guided by the traditions of industry professionals, that places key emphasis on areas around intellectual curiosity, provision to others and a comprehensive perspective on education. A UCS education grounded in sporting excellence, promotes career preparation and provides opportunities for personal and professional growth in sport and it's associated areas. We are a student-focused learning community that values equality and diversity as well as focusing on the education of the whole person. Here at UCS, we guide the intellectual, ethical and physical development of each of our students. Established in 2014 to serve the growing needs of the sports industry, UCS has become one of the UK's leading providers in Sports Education at Degree Level. In 2024/5, we have campuses across the country as far afield as Manchester and Surrey. UCS has an outstanding track-record of developing excellent graduates, delivering the next generation of the workforce to different sectors of the sports industry. OUR GOALS: At UCS, we are all about getting you to the next level. We strive to better our students through educational experiences both in and out of the classroom. UCS aims to create a haven where students feel safe to tackle challenges and accomplish all goals, whether they are personal or professional. We want to help you to become the best versions of yourself, whilst having fun along the way. Dominic Anderson Director of Performance, Standards & Curriculum
WHY CHOOSE UCS?
Nothing says more about an organisation than it's values. They are key to everything we want all of our students and staff to be. They are the cornerstone of our success and our continued development. All staff and students are encouraged to display these behaviours and set agreed targets to challenge themselves to be the best they can be.
UCS specialises in Undergraduate degree level programmes in the sports industry. Our industry based stepping-stone provides opportunities to develop coaching, employability and management skills necessary to be successful in your chosen career. UCS have been delivering Higher Education Programmes since 2014 and are proud of our students outstanding successes.
OUR VALUES
COLLABORATION EXCELLENCE WELL-BEING INCLUSIVITY INTEGRITY
the ucs way
THE TUTOR TEAM The tutoring team are made up of highly skilled and qualified lecturers and experts in their field that maintain their connections with industry, including coaching and management of high performance sports teams and professional sports clubs. The lectures are complemented by a range of industry-expert guest speakers, emphasising the vocational relevance of this degree programme. ASSESSMENT All UCS courses provide opportunities to test a student's understanding of the subject informally, before the completion of the formal assessments that count towards the final grade. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or 'formative' assessment, for which students receive feedback from their lecturer. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades received do not count towards the final module mark. There is a formal or 'summative' assessment at the end of each module. Assessment methods include written examinations, essays, reports, portfolios, performances, presentations and a dissertation. Students receive feedback on all formative and summative assessments undertaken through coursework and are encouraged to discuss them with their tutors in order to develop further. TEACHING METHODS UCS offers a flexible blended learning model, combining both in-person and virtual learning. This consists of 80% live, tutor led, online delivery and 20% face to face learning. Each academic year includes three in-person teaching weeks, where students engage directly with academic lecturers. Throughout the rest of the year, students participate in live, virtual sessions remotely. Attendance at these sessions is compulsory, UCS will arrange your travel and accommodation, as required. Options available are discussed during the interview process and during induction week. This flexibility enables students to pursue relevant industry opportunities, while continuing their studies. By integrating academic learning with practical experience, UCS provides a balanced approach to education and career development. REGULATION UCS, as part of the Oxford Virtual Education Group, is a Pearson registered Centre. All UCS provision is awarded by The University of Northampton and as such is regulated by the Office for Students.
THE UCS WAY
THE PATHWAYS Students can identify 'pathways' when joining UCS so that their future career is enhanced by gaining specific opportunities and qualifications that are aligned with their chosen career. Education & Training "Embark on a rewarding journey for aspiring educators! This pathway is tailored for students passionate about shaping young minds. Gain invaluable experience within school and college settings while pursuing Level 3 and Level 4 teaching qualifications. Discover the joy of teaching and mentoring while honing your skills in a supportive environment." Personal Training and Strength & Conditioning Pathway "Fuel your passion for physical development and performance with our immersive pathway. Designed for students eager to excel in the fitness industry, this programme offers hands-on experience. Acquire Level 2 Physical Instructor and Level 3 Personal Training certifications while immersing yourself in practical work experience. Shape bodies and lives while you grow your career."
FEES & FUNDING
SELF FUNDED STUDENTS If you are not eligible for a tuition fee loan, chances are we will be able to accept payment by installment using FlexEd. This is ideal for students who may be doing a second degree, a self-funded course, or may be sponsored by their employer. Please contact an advisor for more information. If you are from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and want to study at a UCS Campus in England, you need to contact your own government to discuss what support is available for tuition and living costs. Channel Islands and Isle of Man students are not eligible for funding from UK government.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Applications for Higher Education courses from International Students can be made online from any country at the UCAS website www.ucas.com.
COSTS For Academic Year 25-26, the following fees apply for UK students: BSc Sports Coaching £9000 Undergraduate students generally have two types of expenses - tuition fees and living costs. Students studying in Scotland: In most cases, Scottish domiciled fee status students have their fees paid for them by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and may be eligible for living cost support. TUITION FEE LOANS Student Awards Agency Scotland (SASS) pay your fees directly to your college or University. These are non-repayable if you study in Scotland, but you must submit an application every year. LIVING COST LOANS You can apply for a bursary and loan to help with living costs. How much you get depends on your household income and if you are a young or independent student. OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS If you don't qualify for student finance, you may be able to apply for a range of other loans, bursaries and grants. The UK Government provides details of various sources of funding which are usually dependant on eligibility. More information can be found here.
KEY FACTS Level: Undergraduate Duration: Full Time: 4 Years Starting: September 2026 Fees UK 25/26: £9000
OVERVIEW For sports coaches to have a holistic approach to their athletes' development, we need to have an understanding of the physiological, technical, psychological and social factors that feed into the long term athlete development, as well as developing performance analysis skills and applying all of our practical coaching skills into the real world, through the UCS network of sports organisations. COURSE DETAILS The coaching process, pedagogy, developing your own coaching philosophy, coaching styles, effective coaching approaches, long term athlete development and comprehensive planning/needs analysis are at the core of our Sport Coaching degree. As well as performance analysis, coaching theory and work placement modules.
sport & FITNESS bsc (hons)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer would be 75 UCAS points, including a BC profile for those studying A Levels, BBC for those studying Scottish Highers, a DMM profile for the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma and a D*D* award for those studying the BTEC Level 3 Diploma. You would need to have studied physical education, sports science or a science related subject at A-Level, BTEC, NCFE or a Level 3 equivalent qualification. All applications for full-time undergraduate courses are completed through UCAS. Scan the QR code, enter your basic details, and our advisor will be in touch to talk you through the rest of the process. GET IN TOUCH For questions about study or admissions, please contact us: Email: info@UCSeducation.org, Tel: 01753 362248 or SCAN QR CODE.
STUDENT FINANCE SCOTLAND We encourage you to apply for a full-time loan as soon as possible, even if your place is not yet confirmed. To learn more about loans and how to apply for them, please see the SAAS website - www.saas.gov.uk or call 0300 5550505. Lines are open 9am to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only.
HOW TO APPLY
SPORT & FITNESS BSC (HONS) YEAR 1 MODULES
UCS has worked closely with the University of the Highlands & Islands to select a suite of modules that reflects the needs of the sports coaching industry, such as Analysis, Psychology and Applied Business Practice. UCS has an unrivalled network of local clubs and organisations ready and able to provide you with valuable experience. Please note the modules shown on the next pages, relate to Academic Year 2025/26.
Human Structure and Function (20 Credits) Module code UC607005 Status: Core Professional Skills and Knowledge (20 Credits) Module code UN907002 Status: Core Mechanics of Human Movement (20 Credits) Module code UB807007 Status: Core Principles of Sport & Exercise Psychology (20 Credits) Module code UC608003 Status: Core Practical Exercise Instruction (20 credits) Module code UC607006 Status: Compulsory Introduction to Sports Coaching & Leadership (20 credits) Module code UC607001 Status: Compulsory
APPLYING YOUR SKILLS To develop your applied skills, work experience is integrated into the degree programme modules in each year that you study with UCS, so you have the opportunities to apply ideas from the course and build the skills that employers look for.
SPORT & FITNESS BSC (HONS)
SPORT & FITNESS BSC (HONS) YEAR 2 MODULES
Introduction to Research Methods (20 Credits) Module code UX208453 Status: Core Sport & Exercise Physiology (20 credits) Module code UC608002 Status: Core Nutrition for Performance & Health (20 credits) Module code UB408001 Status: Core Movement Analysis (20 credits) Module code UC608004 Status: Core Applied Coaching & Leadership (20 Credits) Module code UN808466 Status: Compulsory Work Placement 1 - Team Working & Communication (20 Credits) Module code UN108456 Status: Compulsory
SPORT & FITNESS BSC (HONS) YEAR 3 MODULES
The Professional Practitional - Ethics, Policy & Practice (20 Credits) Module code UC609004 Status: Core Research Methods (Sport & Fitness) (20 credits) Module code UC609005 Status: Core Work Placement: Industry-Specific Skills (20 credits) Module code UN109677 Status: Compulsory Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology (20 credits) Module code UC809676 Status: Compulsory Sport & Exercise Science: A Critical Analysis (20 credits) Module code UC609001 Status: Compulsory Sport Nutrition & Dietary Considerations (20 Credits) Module code UC609006 Status: Compulsory
At UCS, our ethos of embedding your learning in the heart of professional industry allows you to develop these skills and put together a set of skills to help you be successful in your chosen career. Through specific, targeted work experience, we focus on the 3 key employability skills and graduate attributes: The Growth Mindset is key to us at UCS. We believe that all of our staff and students should be open to new ideas and experiences, striving to be better in everything we do. We want students to use the unique opportunities afforded by working and learning in a professional industry environment to develop a growth mindset. To be open to new experiences and accept honest, constructive feedback to grow into successful coaches, managers and leaders. Interpersonal Skills are skills required to work well with other people, helping you to work effectively as a member of a team, meet client and customer expectations and solve problems. The UCS work experience opportunities allow you to develop a range of interpersonal skills, such as, communication skills, team-working, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, problem solving and decision making. Be Reliable and Dependable. This is all about developing personal skills and traits, such as being organised, managing time effectively, being trustworthy, working hard, taking responsibility, asking for help when needed, and using your initiative.
EMPLOYABILITY
SPORT & FITNESS BSC (HONS) YEAR 4 MODULES
Advanced Applications of Coaching & Instruction (20 Credits) Module code UC610105 Status: Compulsory Work Placement: Professional Practice (20 credits) Module code UN110853 Status: Compulsory Physical Activity for All (20 credits) Module code UC610108 Status: Compulsory Legal Issues in Sport and Fitness (20 credits) Module code UC610107 Status: Compulsory Dissertation - Sport (40 credits) Module code UN110851 Status: Compulsory
Any institution is only as good as it's people. At UCS we are very proud of our alumni and their successes Here we showcase some recent stories:
Ondrej Prielozny - Coach Ondrej is currently employed full time by Oxford City Football Club as a coach. He coaches across the male age groups and within the women's academy too.
Cavan Burns - Footballer & Coach Cavan combined both his high level football ability and his coaching expertise to gain valuable work experience with Dubai City Football Club. He is now a full time coach working for Celtic FC which has allowed him the opportunity to travel to Australia on tour.
alumni
Habtamu Ayele - Teacher Habs currently works for VLUK as a teacher at The Football College, as he gained his PGCE after graduation. He is also a coach for Bolton Wanderers FC. He completed his UEFA B and is now working towards his UEFA A.
Sam Spencer - PGCE Student After completing his BSc degree with UCS, Sam has started a PGCE course in Education at Brunel University with ambition to become a teacher.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Adam Timson - Football Coach Whilst studying for his degree with us, Adam joined Leicester City FC Women as a volunteer coach. During this time, Adam moved into a part time position with the club.
Ethan Thomas - PE Intern Currently working as a PE intern in Halifax, Ethan is looking to complete a teaching qualification. He is also working towards his RFU refereeing qualification and Level 2 coaching.
At UCS, we believe that education is only part of the equation. Students need to develop the skills required to prepare themselves for the world of work. To this end, all students are expected to participate in a structured and varied schedule of work experience, which ensures they can apply learned theory to real-life sporting environments. The expectation of completing work experience is integrated into the degree programme, with specific modules designed to include assessments directly linked to the experiences gained during relevant work placements. This approach ensures that students can apply practical knowledge from their work experience to their academic studies, allowing them to develop industry-specific skills while meeting academic requirements. The assessments are structured to reflect and evaluate the competencies and insights students acquire in sports specific environments.
*All information in this brochure is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to updates or revisions.
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