BSc (Hons) Physical Education and School Sport (with Foundation Year)

Make a difference to the lives of young people through physical education and school sport. Build the skills for a rewarding career, inspiring children to be more active, and improving their health and wellbeing through sport.

The foundation year entry provides an alternative route into degree-level study. It’s ideal for those who need to gain subject-specific knowledge and skills in order to progress with the full BSc qualification.

Key Information

Course Duration: 4 years full time

UC UCAS Code: CF10

Part or Full Time: Full Time

Level of Study: Foundation Year Degrees

Typical Offer: 32-48 UCAS tariff points or equivalent

Course information

Download Programme Specification

Immerse yourself in a vibrant campus brimming with sports activities, and make the most of our purpose built outdoor classroom and brand-new £8.8m sports academy facilities. Benefit from our partnerships with local organisations, including schools, sports clubs, and national bodies and experience supporting sporting events.

Alongside your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your CV with additional qualifications such as the LTA teacher training award, Level 1 certificate in coaching rounders and FA secondary school teachers award. You’ll develop your teaching skills in a range of learning environments such as the swimming pool and outdoor classroom.

This course is perfect for aspiring PE teachers and those who wish to work with young people to develop their health, wellbeing and physical literacy.

UCAS | A typical offer for this course is 32-48 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.
GCSE | A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 9 to 4, (or A* to C grades if relevant) or equivalent, to include English Language and Mathematics.
A-Level | Typical offer is EE-DD or equivalent. This must include a minimum of one A-level.
Vocational Award | Typical offer is a PPP in an Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
Access | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
IB | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in an IB Diploma, to include a minimum of one Highers at H3 or above.

This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Standard Level S3 if equivalent GCSEs have not been obtained.
Scottish Highers | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in Scottish Highers. This must include a minimum of one Higher.
Irish Leaving Certificate | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in the Irish Leaving Certificate. This must include a minimum of one Highers.

This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Ordinary Level.
OCR Cambridge Technical | Typical offer is a PPP in a Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
T Level | Typical offer is Pass in your T Level overall grade in a relevant subject.

We welcome students with equivalent qualifications. Contact the admissions team to discuss.

We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you.

Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course.

Please contact us for further information.

Email us

Your career

Industry opportunities on this course are diverse to ensure you develop the skills, experience and connections needed for your graduate career. Many of our students secure graduate roles with their work placement employers.

Work placements and experience

Supported work placements are central to your learning and development on this degree. Over three years you’ll undertake up to 200 hours of professional experience in schools, school sports clubs or sports clubs.

Many of our students choose to work for one of our partner organisations including Move More, Hartpury Primary School, Altus School, Thomas Keble School and Cheltenham Ladies College.

Others decide to gain experience through their own relationships further afield. Through the support of our ICE department and your tutor, we will support you to secure a placement to match your interests and career goals.

Field trips and guest lecturers

Field trips and industry professionals in lectures form an important part of your learning, enabling you to experience different businesses, careers and best practices.

Recent field trips have included a visit to the Malvern Hills, led by TT adventures. Here, students were able to upskill and gain valuable qualifications. A study trip module also sees you take students coasteering, and stand-up paddle boarding. It’s a chance to help plan and carry out a school trip (extra fees are required for this trip).

Graduate destinations

As a Physical Education and School Sport graduate you’ll have developed the knowledge, skills and experience needed to progress onto teacher training routes.

However, the programme isn’t limited to careers in teaching. The transferable skills you’ll acquire will open up other graduate careers. Our careers team can support you to find and prepare to secure your perfect role. Recent graduate destinations have included:

PGCE Primary and Secondary
Initial Teacher Training
Teaching assistant, primary school
Camp manager/physical activity leads, Just Camps
Postgraduate study, MSc Coaching Science
Police force
Health advisor
Personal trainer

Success Stories

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.

Academic support

You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.

Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.

Your career

Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.

Course information

Overview

This course is perfect for aspiring PE teachers and those who wish to work with young people to develop their health, wellbeing and physical literacy.

Entry requirements

UCAS | A typical offer for this course is 32-48 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.
GCSE | A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 9 to 4, (or A* to C grades if relevant) or equivalent, to include English Language and Mathematics.
A-Level | Typical offer is EE-DD or equivalent. This must include a minimum of one A-level.
Vocational Award | Typical offer is a PPP in an Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
Access | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
IB | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in an IB Diploma, to include a minimum of one Highers at H3 or above.

This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Standard Level S3 if equivalent GCSEs have not been obtained.
Scottish Highers | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in Scottish Highers. This must include a minimum of one Higher.
Irish Leaving Certificate | Typical offer is 32-48 UCAS tariff points in the Irish Leaving Certificate. This must include a minimum of one Highers.

This must also include Maths and English Language at a minimum of Ordinary Level.
OCR Cambridge Technical | Typical offer is a PPP in a Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
T Level | Typical offer is Pass in your T Level overall grade in a relevant subject.

We welcome students with equivalent qualifications. Contact the admissions team to discuss.

We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you.

Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course.

Please contact us for further information.

Employability

Your career

Work placements and experience

Many of our students choose to work for one of our partner organisations including Move More, Hartpury Primary School, Altus School, Thomas Keble School and Cheltenham Ladies College.

Field trips and guest lecturers

Field trips and industry professionals in lectures form an important part of your learning, enabling you to experience different businesses, careers and best practices.

Graduate destinations

As a Physical Education and School Sport graduate you’ll have developed the knowledge, skills and experience needed to progress onto teacher training routes.

PGCE Primary and Secondary
Initial Teacher Training
Teaching assistant, primary school
Camp manager/physical activity leads, Just Camps
Postgraduate study, MSc Coaching Science
Police force
Health advisor
Personal trainer

How you'll study

Your support network

Academic support

Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.

Your learning experiences

Your career

Modules

What you'll study

This course offers a balanced range of theory and practical modules designed to give you an in-depth understanding of our national curriculum. You’ll study core modules designed to develop your skills in delivering high-quality PE across a range of activities, including: movement, games, swimming, and outdoor and adventure activities (OAA). You’ll also benefit from optional modules, allowing you to suit your interests and career goals, as well as field trips to education providers across the UK.

Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands - you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modules before deciding which ones to study.

Module credits

On successful completion of your modules you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and final years may contribute towards your final degree classification.

Your foundation year is an ideal step into higher education in order to prepare you for undergraduate study and ultimately a career in teaching PE. Here you will study a broad range of modules which will develop your academic writing skills and knowledge and understanding of the scientific principles that underpin physical activity and health.

Compulsory Modules

Academic Literacy for University Studies

Understand and explore topics including the scientific method and enquiry, team working, research skills, and effective time management.

Professional Development in Practice

An opportunity to explore graduate destinations associated with your programme of study, building a portfolio of experiences aiding your professional development.

Exploring Current Concepts

Develop understanding and knowledge of literature reviews including constructing a rationale and summarising and presenting relevant information to suit a purpose, subject and audience.

Principles of Sports Science

An introduction to central human biology, anatomy and physiology and its adaption to sport training. The module will explore the psychological and physiological factors that impact the performance of athletes.

Business Enterprise and Management

This module covers the learning and understanding of the balance of theory and practice in contemporary business practice; an appreciation of the complexity of modern organisational environments and the critical role of enterprise and innovation.

Your first year will focus on understanding and exploring the national curriculum and its development. You’ll also get hands-on experience teaching PE through core modules, developing the functional skills needed as a PE teacher. Focus on understanding the differences between teaching and coaching, whilst realising their value and importance to one another.

Compulsory Modules

Coaching and teaching portfolio

Apply coaching theory to practice, evaluating your abilities.

Introduction to exercise physiology

Begin to understand the biological systems used during exercise.

Introduction to sport and exercise psychology

Understand athlete and exerciser behaviour through key theories in sport and exercise psychology.

Principles of strength and conditioning

Focuses on the basics of performance training, and its physiological effect on the body.

Academic skills for sport and exercise scientists

This module will allow you to develop a range of key academic and professional skills which will be invaluable for success in your studies, and serve as ideal preparation for a future career in sport.

Research and data skills in sport

During this module you will develop a wide range of fundamental research and data analysis skills, ensuring that you are well-prepared to apply these skills across a range of other modules later in your programme and for your future career in sport.

Introduction to the Sports and Education Industries

An introduction to industry skill development via an industry facing module, which enables a student to learn through an authentic learning experience with real-world examples. Students will engage in real-world, practical experiences that mirror professional coaching and teaching environments, where they will develop the skills and knowledge to plan, deliver and evaluate high quality teaching and coaching.

Start to tailor your learning as you gain experience of the different Key Stages. Advance your planning and teaching application through on-site practical experience and work placement. Explore learning theories and new teaching concepts, including the idea of physical literacy and learning through games. Use this year to reflect, appraise and refine your teaching and coaching practices.

Compulsory Modules

Coaching children

Both academia and industry consistently emphasise the importance of providing aspiring coaches and teachers with opportunities to apply theory to practice whilst working with a group of children. The module content and assessments are meticulously aligned to ensure that students can translate classroom learning into real-world action. Through a variety of hands-on teaching experiences, students will effectively implement teaching and learning strategies, applying a broad and balanced curriculum to enhance their practical skills and theoretical understanding.

Pedagogy in action

This module provides students with opportunities to analyse how theoretical concepts can inform coaching and teaching by deconstructing examples from practice.

School sport development

This module explores the comprehensive landscape of Physical Education (PE) and School Sport, delving into the various elements it encompasses. It focuses on strategies, policies, and funding opportunities that can enhance the development and improvement of school sports and overall student health. The learning experiences extend beyond traditional classroom instruction, incorporating authentic and situational learning opportunities to provide a well-rounded educational experience.

Developing the professional profile

This module provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience within a professional setting relevant to their field of study. Placement aims to enhance student employability skills, knowledge and understanding of industry whilst developing their professional identity.

The sport and exercise scientist

Understand research methods and analysis in sport and exercise science required for future applied and research projects.

The sport and exercise researcher

Explore the research process, how research is designed within sport and exercise science, and its implications for practice.

Optional modules

Independent report

A chance to review an approved topic area in line with your programme of study and develop your independent working skills.

Study trip

You will engage in a programme-relevant study trip which will provide a context for you to synthesise content from across your programme of study and make applications and inferences to this real-world setting, while expanding your horizons.

Community sport

This module explores community sport's impact on health, inclusion, and economy, applying development principles, policies, and stakeholder engagement to design and evaluate inclusive programmes.

Your final year is your chance to focus on your particular areas of interest, preparing you for your future career. You’ll continue to refine and better your teaching practice through on-site practical experience and placement. Dive further into the breadth of the national curriculum, exploring modules such as reflective portfolio, where you’ll experience teaching swimming and trampolining.

You’ll also spend time working on your dissertation project. It’s a substantial research project exploring a topic of your choice. Placement opportunities within schools are often utilised to work collaboratively on projects relating to your dissertation.

If teaching is your goal, you’ll also use this year to start applying for teaching training routes, including PGCE’s. We’ll run a mock PGCE interview day to support you through this process. You can also use this year to tailor your studies to suit a career outside teaching, if that’s what you prefer.

Compulsory Modules

Professional development in sport

This module will provide opportunities for students to explore and reflect upon professional development needs of the industry and critically reflect upon their own personal and professional needs to enhance their future employability.

Advancing the professional profile

Consider your own teaching experiences and the effective application of teaching standards.

Sport research project

Your opportunity to independently research a topic related to your programme of study and develop a range of graduate skills.

Optional modules

High performing teams

Evaluate the leadership and management of sport science support within the performance environment.

Developing the Youth Athlete

This module provides students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical application to provide strength and conditioning provision to the youth population for both sporting and health purposes.

Contemporary issues in sports education

This module explores the intersection of contemporary sport policies, inclusive practices, and ethical considerations, while integrating evidence-based teaching and coaching approaches to support professional development and reflective practice in diverse contexts.

Modules

Overview

What you'll study

Module credits

Level three foundation year (year one)

Compulsory Modules

Academic Literacy for University Studies

Understand and explore topics including the scientific method and enquiry, team working, research skills, and effective time management.

Professional Development in Practice

An opportunity to explore graduate destinations associated with your programme of study, building a portfolio of experiences aiding your professional development.

Exploring Current Concepts

Develop understanding and knowledge of literature reviews including constructing a rationale and summarising and presenting relevant information to suit a purpose, subject and audience.

Principles of Sports Science

Business Enterprise and Management

Level four (year two)

Compulsory Modules

Coaching and teaching portfolio

Apply coaching theory to practice, evaluating your abilities.

Introduction to exercise physiology

Begin to understand the biological systems used during exercise.

Introduction to sport and exercise psychology

Understand athlete and exerciser behaviour through key theories in sport and exercise psychology.

Principles of strength and conditioning

Focuses on the basics of performance training, and its physiological effect on the body.

Academic skills for sport and exercise scientists

Research and data skills in sport

Introduction to the Sports and Education Industries

Level five (year three)

Compulsory Modules

Coaching children

Pedagogy in action

This module provides students with opportunities to analyse how theoretical concepts can inform coaching and teaching by deconstructing examples from practice.

School sport development

Developing the professional profile

The sport and exercise scientist

Understand research methods and analysis in sport and exercise science required for future applied and research projects.

The sport and exercise researcher

Explore the research process, how research is designed within sport and exercise science, and its implications for practice.

Optional modules

Independent report

A chance to review an approved topic area in line with your programme of study and develop your independent working skills.

Study trip

Community sport

This module explores community sport's impact on health, inclusion, and economy, applying development principles, policies, and stakeholder engagement to design and evaluate inclusive programmes.

Level Six (final year)

Compulsory Modules

Professional development in sport

Advancing the professional profile

Consider your own teaching experiences and the effective application of teaching standards.

Sport research project

Your opportunity to independently research a topic related to your programme of study and develop a range of graduate skills.

Optional modules

High performing teams

Evaluate the leadership and management of sport science support within the performance environment.

Developing the Youth Athlete

Contemporary issues in sports education

The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions – alongside independent learning. Students are expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour. Your course may also include work placement learning as part of some modules.

The Foundation Year includes an internship using Hartpury’s on-site facilities and industry links.

Year	Contact learning	Placement learning	Independent learning
Level three (year one)	24%	7%	69%
Level four (year two)	24%	0%	76%
Level five (year three)	22%	3%	75%
Level six (final year)	18%	7%	75%

You will be assessed through a mixture of written exams, practical exams and written assignments. Many of the modules will be marked based on a mixture of assessment types, whilst others will be based solely on one type of assessment. Feedback will be given via a mixture of written bullet point-style feedback and/or oral feedback.

Year	Written exam	Practical exam	Coursework
Level three (year one)	15%	35%	50%
Level four (year two)	13%	34%	53%
Level five (year three)	0%	25%	75%
Level six (final year)	12%	34%	53%

Each year of this course is taught over two semesters, normally consisting of 12 weeks of scheduled teaching and then assessment weeks, with an overview below:

Scheduled teaching takes place between 8:30 to 20:30 Monday to Friday
Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities
Work placements may entail different days and hours
Part-time students may need to attend learning activities five days each week, depending on modules selected
Timetables are available during enrolment week

View term dates

Please visit our student finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.

Hartpury University may host various extra-curricular activities and courses. Prices vary from free to approximately £150. This is dependent on the nature and duration of the course and external provider, but these are not compulsory.

Below, you'll find extra costs associated with studying this course.

Clothing and footwear (circa £100)

You’ll need to purchase appropriate clothing and footwear before you enrol, or during enrolment week. We’ll let you know exactly what you need to purchase in your enrolment guide.

Optional field trips (up to circa £150)

Many of the additional learning opportunities are included in the course fees. However, there are some modules where additional cost will be occurred.

Year 2 optional study trip: this trip looks at the safe planning and delivery of school trips. We visit and take part in several outdoor adventures activities such as coasteering and SUPing (subject to module choice availability for the academic year).

Performance Sports Academy membership

Find out costs and details for joining one of our performance Sports Academy teams.

Hartpury gym

Find out about costs and details for joining the Hartpury gym.

Accommodation and living costs

Please visit our student accommodation page for details.

Fees & finance

Our Resource Library is where you'll find all the essential details about Hartpury University's courses. It includes Programme and Module Specifications, along with Course Information Sheets for every course. You can easily download a complete revision history for each of these, clearly showing the dates changes were made.

Course Information Sheets: These are PDF versions of the course webpages. They provide an overview of the course, what to expect during your studies, and the topics covered.

Programme Specifications: These are detailed, validated documents containing academic specifics for each programme. They include descriptions of the programme, its aims, learning outcomes, year and module structure, as well as teaching, learning, and assessment strategies.

Module Specifications: Each Programme consists of several Modules. Our Module Specifications outline the topics covered and the expected outcomes for students studying each Module.

Resource library

Academies

If you’re playing sport competitively, or you have the talent and drive to do so, you may want to join one of our Sports Academies. Over 200 international athletes have developed their talents with us over the past 10 years. You could be our next success story. We're a semi-professional sports environment offering world-class facilities and professional coaching and support services.

Accommodation

Settle into an accommodation option to suit your taste and budget – at Hartpury University, undergraduate students can choose to live on-campus surrounded by Gloucestershire’s beautiful countryside or off-campus in the heart of Gloucester City centre. Enjoy the best of both worlds.

Finance

We can help you understand how it all works, and what you need to do next. Find out everything you need to know about tuition fees, student loans and bursaries and scholarships. In 2021/22, we provided assistance to over 1/3 of our students through bursaries, scholarships and grants, totalling a little under £1million.

TEF Gold

Our undergraduate provision has been awarded Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold in all aspects - Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes.

Teaching quality

Ranked in the top 10 universities for teaching quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).

Graduate employability

97% of our graduates are in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes, 2024).

Academic support

We’re a top 10 university for academic support (NSS 2024, UK universities).

Become a game changer

World-class sports facilities

Sport facilities

Success stories

George's story

Success Stories

George's story

“I’ve already been at Millbrook Academy getting teaching experience, which gives me the chance to put everything I learn in the classroom into practice. I’ve been responsible for planning and delivering high quality PE and extra-curricular activities across all key stages and I’ll be doing even more placement hours there in my second year.”

George Miller

BSc (Hons) Physical Education and School Sport

Dan Holloway Bsc Sports Coaching Graduate

"Being immersed in a high performance environment at Hartpury, both academically and practically, you develop a mindset that allows you to push yourself to perform at a higher level. That ethos and culture has helped me to take the path that I'm on now."

Dan Holloway, Nike Football UK Head Coach

Sport matters

When you have passion, you're far more likely to achieve your goals – especially when you study that passion in a place that shares it.

We're home to top-level coaches, sport and exercise scientists, nutritionists, conditioners, medics and athletes, across our Sports Academy programmes and student-led teams. Our students graduate with valuable skills to succeed in a range of different careers.

Watch via YouTube

Get in touch

Get to know our dedicated and passionate teaching staff who’ll help you achieve your very best. We’re proud to have been awarded Gold in all three areas of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF): Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes. This places Hartpury University in the top 15% of published institutions in England. Plus, we're ranked sixth in the UK for Teaching Quality, in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Important information

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are reviewed and developed regularly. Changes or cancellation of courses may be necessary to ensure alignment with emerging employment areas, to comply with accrediting body requirements, revisions to subject benchmark statements or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make necessary changes and will notify all offer-holders of changes as and when they occur.

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Foundation Year Degrees

Physical Education and School Sport (with Foundation Year)

BSc (Hons)

Key Information

Course information

Your career

Work placements and experience

Field trips and guest lecturers

Graduate destinations

Your support network

Academic support

Your learning experiences

Your career

Course information

Overview

Entry requirements

Employability

Your career

Work placements and experience

Field trips and guest lecturers

Graduate destinations

How you'll study

Your support network

Academic support

Your learning experiences

Your career

Modules

What you'll study

Module credits

Compulsory Modules

Compulsory Modules

Compulsory Modules

Optional modules

Compulsory Modules

Optional modules

Modules

Overview

What you'll study

Module credits

Level three foundation year (year one)

Compulsory Modules

Level four (year two)

Compulsory Modules

Level five (year three)

Compulsory Modules

Optional modules

Level Six (final year)

Compulsory Modules

Optional modules

Teaching modes

Assessment and Feedback

Timetables

Fees and funding

Further course details

Academies

Accommodation

Finance

TEF Gold

Teaching quality

Graduate employability

Academic support

Become a game changer

World-class sports facilities

Success stories

George's story

Sport matters

Get in touch

Meet our academic team

Important information

Related courses

BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning (with Foundation Year)

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Nutrition (with Foundation Year)

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Sciences (with Foundation Year)

Our partners & accreditations