Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year
Course summary
- Think differently to find and apply solutions to sport-related issues.
- Work with a variety of external organisations – developing your leadership skills and knowledge of sport in real-life settings.
- Understand what it is to think globally in the world of sport, expanding your employability prospects as a result.
- Have the opportunity to work or study abroad, with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.
Sport development means the ability to understand the needs of others – and to develop a creative, logical mindset that helps you provide opportunities for sport to be successful. On this course you’ll gain vital knowledge and the skills you’ll need for a professional career in sport or the wider employment sector.
The foundation year is suitable for applicants who do not meet the entry requirements for an honours degree or who wish to have further preparation before starting a degree course. You will undertake study in relevant areas of science or social science to provide you with a grounding knowledge and prepare you for progression onto your chosen degree pathway.

Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
In your foundation year, you will study 4 modules that have been specially designed to prepare you for the degree pathway in your chosen area. The assessments for the course have also been designed with flexibility in mind and allow you to complete assessments on topics that you are interested in and relate closely to your chosen degree pathway.
You’ll be encouraged to be a confident and creative communicator – developing and applying your leadership, business and research skills within sport development settings.
We’re eager to provide additional opportunities for you to obtain complementary awards to support your future goals. Previous students have completed the Level 2 Multi-Skills Award – enabling them to offer coaching to one of our many partner organisations.
You learn through
- blended learning – face-to-face and online
- lectures and seminars
- practical classes
- project supervision
- professional conferences
- field trips
- external speakers
Applied learning
Work placements and professional development
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a six-week placement with major local and national partner organisations. These can be national governing bodies of sport, local school PE departments, local authority sport development units and Active Partnerships. You’re also encouraged to apply for overseas programmes in a variety of countries, many of which are self-funded.
We’ll make sure you can develop your employability skills during the time you’re with us. Our staff and employability advisors will support you to develop a professional profile – enabling you to apply for work while you’re at university and once you graduate.
Networking opportunities
You’ll have the opportunity to take part in our annual professional development week – where you meet and talk with a range of sport industry professionals. Many of these are our graduates who return to advise you on how they got their first job and what you can do to develop yourself professionally.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- community development
- physical activity development
- primary schools (PE specialism)
- secondary schools (PE teacher)
- teaching
- sport-specific coaching
- sport law and roles within national governing bodies of sport
- disability sport development
- sport event management
- sport business management
- talent development
- sport charity development
- school sport development
- careers abroad
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- excellent facilities both on campus and at external venues – such as the English Institute of Sport
- digital and online resources to support your learning
Learn more about your department
Find out about the Sports and Physical Activity subject area at Sheffield Hallam University.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
This must include at least 24 (Grade D) from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- DDE at A Level.
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent
- Science at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in a science based subject. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 or above, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill.
If you do not have any of the qualifications above but have relevant experience you are welcome to discuss potential opportunities with the admissions tutor.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Year 1
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Contemporary Issues In Health, Sport And Social Care | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: Foundation Project In Health, Sport And Social Care | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Personal And Professional Skills For Health, Sport And Social Care | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Applied Science For Health, Sport And Social Care | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: Introduction To Social Science For Health, Sport And Social Care | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Year 2
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Developing Physical Literacy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Practical |
Module: Marketing For Sport Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Professional Skills For Sport Development And Coaching | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Sport Coaching And Leadership | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Sport And Physical Activity Environment | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Practical |
Module: Understanding Sport And Physical Activity | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Applied Professional Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Event Management | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: Research Methods In Sport | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Sport And Society | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Strategic Planning | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Coaching In The Sport And Physical Activity Environment | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Practical |
Module: Developing Sport In Education | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Final year
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Project In Sport | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Sport Development And Enterprise | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Sport Policy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Coaching Adult Communities | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: Coaching Children And Young People | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Contemporary Issues In Sport | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: International Sport Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Language And Specialist Cultural Studies | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Media And Major Sport Events | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Sport and physical activity courses (PDF, 233.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.