Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £16,655 per year -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
C6X3
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When do I start?
September 2024
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Placement year available?
Yes
Employability
100% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating, with 83% in highly skilled employment or further study (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Student satisfaction
This course scored 92% for teaching satisfaction in the 2023 National Student Survey.
Course summary
- Think differently and learn to create solutions to sport-related challenges
- Work with world-class athletes, coaches and the latest research in the field
- Explore the interplay between the UK and global sport development
- Study complementary topics such as sociology, event management, strategy and policy development
- Apply your practical skills and knowledge to real-life situations with work placements
Prepare for a successful career in the industry by acquiring the skills and knowledge in the sporting areas you’re most interested in. By understanding the needs of others, you will be able to provide pathways for successful sporting experiences that support health, wellbeing, community and inclusion.
Sheffield is the perfect location to do this – a buzzing city with world-class facilities, from our University Sports Park to the English Institute for Sport and the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre.
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.
We know that developing outstanding skills requires hands-on learning – at Hallam you get to learn through teaching, working and doing. You will have numerous opportunities to gain practical experience, working with sports clubs and organisations and honing your abilities at various levels.
You’re taught by experts who are active in research and consulting for elite athletes and organisations, from governing bodies to the Premier League. You will get to work with their expertise, connections, and unmatched networking opportunities with leading sports organisations, as well as engaging in research and consultancy projects.
You learn through:
- Lectures, seminars and workshop
- A virtual learning environment (VLE)
- Work-based learning
- Placements
- Field trips
- Practical activities in both simulated and in-situ environments
- Independent study
- Research opportunities
Key themes
The course covers theoretical, philosophical and practical aspects of sport development and coaching – across sports, physical activity and the wider professional realm. Not only will you enhance your understanding of coaching and physical activity – you will also study topics like sociology, event management, strategy and policy development.
You will delve into the significance of coaching in sport at all levels – through both classroom learning and practical applied learning. While understanding what it takes to become an effective coach, you will also know where we stand on the global stage, looking at the fusion of UK coaching and international standards.
Course support
The course is designed to help you demonstrate your learning outcomes – with authentic assessment activities relating to real-world scenarios, your specific goals and your skills development. Throughout your studies, various individuals will support your learning and target setting – guiding you towards resources for academic, professional and personal development.
These support roles include:
- Course and Module Leaders
- Your Academic Adviser
- Your Student Support Adviser
- Your Employability Adviser
- Central services like counselling, Library and IT
Course leaders and tutors
Christopher Cutforth
Senior LecturerChris joined the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity in 2008. His specialist areas include sport policy, development and management and he leads the Academy's wor … Read more
Applied learning
Work placements
You will have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements between your second and final years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
There’s also a mandatory short placement (minimum of 120 hours) at the end of your second year – further reinforcing the critical role of work-based learning and preparing you for a successful transition into full-time employment after you graduate.
Your course is designed to give you the knowledge, skills, confidence, and readiness to secure and succeed on your placements – supported by our careers and employability teams.
Past students have taken the chance to visit Fiji, working alongside Fijian communities and Fijian youths as part of Think Pacific.
Field trips
On field trips you will be able to understand how your learning is applied first-hand to real-world situations, gaining valuable insight into working practice.
Past examples of field trips include visits to Thornbridge Outdoors, which gives students a great chance to get outdoors in the heart of the Peak District.
Guest lectures
You will hear from specialist industry experts who share context-specific examples of the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will need for your career ahead. Previous speakers have included guests from:
- Women in Sport
- Yorkshire Sport Foundation
- British Gymnastics
- Youth Sport Trust
- LTA
- Yorkshire Cricket
Networking opportunities
Your employability is enhanced by the involvement of employers and industry partners – from the real-world projects you complete to the opportunities to build networks at career fairs and workshops. Our ties to various sporting organisations and facilities – both locally and nationally – will give you superb opportunities to gain connections as you prepare for your career.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- School sport development
- Charity work
- Disability sport development
- Sport event management
- Community sport
- Sport-specific coaching
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- Governing bodies and federations of sport
- Local authorities and charities
- Sport England
- School sport partnerships
- Schools and further education colleges
- Private sector sport, health and fitness organisations
- Themselves, through self-employment
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
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Find out about the Sports and Physical Activity subject area at Sheffield Hallam University.
Equipment and facilities
You will have access to world-class facilities and equipment to explore physical activity, sport and health while developing your practical skills. Our sport-specific training facilities and research laboratories include:
- The UK Sports Institute
- The Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park
- The Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre
- Physiology and biomechanics labs for movement and performance analysis
- Strength and conditioning teaching lab
- A physical activity suite
- A performance analysis suite, video analysis and motion capture
- An environmental chamber
- Sport psychology consultation rooms
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112-120
From at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We do not accept General Studies. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level including relevant subject(s).
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit overall from T level qualification.
- A combination of qualifications including relevant subject(s) which may include AS levels or EPQ.
GCSE
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
- An approved Access to HE Diploma in a sport related subject. Normally we require 15 of the level 3 credits to be graded at merit.
You also need to demonstrate an ability to
- study academic subjects at degree level
- debate topics and issues
- draw on conclusions from written material
- study independently as well as a member of a group
- use computers and technology associated with contemporary teaching, learning and assessment methods
- successfully complete a range of assignments including researched essays and practical examinations
This is normally achieved by completing academic study at level three or above in the last four years.
* GCSE English and mathematics equivalent
- equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions or disabilities you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the course requirements and take part without disadvantage. You can contact our University student support staff on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom) and explore any issues you may have.
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.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues In Sport And Society
Foundations Of Coaching And Teaching
Introduction To Sport Development
Sport And Physical Activity Landscape
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Professional Practice In Sport Development
Project Management For Sport Development
Sport For Development
Elective modules
Alternative Physical Activities
Analysis Of Sport And Games
Exercise Prescription For The Prevention Of Disease
Sports Club Development
Sports Facility Management Simulation
Technology For Sport And Physical Activity
Testing And Analysis In Sport And Physical Activity
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Independent Project In Sport And Physical Activity
Sport Development Policy And Practice
Elective modules
Approaches To Talent Development
Coach Education And Development
Economics And Finance Of Sport
Entrepreneurship And Innovation For Sport And Physical Activity
Exercise Prescription For Long Term Conditions
Health Promotion
Innovative Practical Pedagogy
Major Sport Events
Nutrition For Sport And Physical Activity
Performance Analysis Of Sport
Programming And Prescription Of Training In Sport And Physical Activity
Psychology Of Sport And Exercise
Sport And The Media
Sport, Brands And Culture
Sport Data Analytics
Sport Injury
Sport Journalism
Teaching As A Profession
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 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 2024/25 is £16,655 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, 432.5KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
