If you dream of being in the thick of the sporting action, through coaching and managing elite athletes then look no further than our hands-on, exciting BA (Hons) Sports Business and Coaching degree.

Dive into the world of sport and discover how you can launch your career. This degree is specifically designed to allow you to learn the fundamentals of business whilst developing the skills needed to effectively manage and lead people. You will explore topics including, sport business, financial decision making, performance analysis and strategic sports management.



Why study this subject?

Sport is a universal and lucrative industry with Sport England estimating that as a whole it contributes £39 billion to the UK economy. Whatever your interest there is always an opportunity to get involved and make your mark and our sports business and coaching degree is the ideal way to gain the practical and theoretical skills needed to thrive in this fast-paced and unpredictable sector.

Studying a degree dedicated to sports business and coaching allows you to graduate with confidence knowing you have the knowledge and experience of the sport industry needed to make an impression on employers.

With a theoretical and practical approach to understanding the sport management and coaching industry you will develop a robust transferrable and applied skillset, from critical thinking to research.

BNU ensure you are well-placed to be noticed as you enter a modern and growing sector with the ability to deliver sport and coaching in various ways, from coaching and managing athletes themselves, to overseeing aspects of commercial sports enterprises.

Standing out from the crowd is a benefit in a competitive industry and studying a degree with a coaching and business component is the best way to gain the experience and understanding in people management whilst having the commercial and operational knowledge needed to succeed.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

For over 15 years BNU has been a leader in developing sport-related degrees and they are proud of their first-class reputation with industry groups. By studying with them you will be able to benefit from their connections and partnerships with public and private sector sport organisations. Tyey are passionate about ensuring you are fully prepared to make your mark once you graduate.

It is not just about learning in the lecture theatre, BNU believe there is no substitute for practical, industry experience. There is plenty of opportunity to jump right in thanks to their strong relationships with the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey, Stoke Mandeville Hospital (the birthplace of the Paralympics), pro basketball team - London United, and Reading Ladies Football Club. They are especially proud to be one of the only universities in the UK to focus on disability sport, an area of increasing performance.

Being so close to the business hub in London means there are opportunities for you to complete placements and work experience during your time at BNU. In addition to this we welcome guest speakers from the industry, including alumni, so you can get a real feel for the doors that will be open to you when you graduate, meaning you’ll interact with lots of different people within the sports and business industries.

What facilities can you use?

BNU have a state-of-the-art gym and their human performance laboratory is home to an indoor, three-lane running track that has 3D motion-capture technology.

This facility helps to enhance athletes’ performance through improved technique, and also assists with injury prevention and rehabilitation.

The lab is also equipped for assessing a range of physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters meaning you’ll always have lots of choice when it comes to designing a research experiment.

What will you study?

BNU's course is the perfect way to equip yourself with a detailed understanding of how different organisations in sport are structured and what drives consumer behaviour within the industry. This will help you to form your own ‘coaches toolkit’, an invaluable set of skills that will give you a solid foundation throughout your career.

You’ll learn the different techniques used for analysing performance and sharpen your athlete development and business skills. What’s more, many coaches in the industry are self-employed so we’ll set you up for success as a business-savvy and innovative entrepreneur.

In your first year, you’ll be learning the fundamentals of sport and business. Topics ranging from financial decision making to sport marketing principles will develop your business mind and areas examining sport and society and sport business will ensure you begin to understand how sport and business work together.

In Year Two, you will gain a more strategic understanding of business operations and begin to work with real clients to put your knowledge into action. You will expand on your familiarity with concepts, such as digital business and new technologies, financial performance in sport business, coaching and athlete development, performance analysis and strategic marketing.

In your final year, you will delve into learning about subjects including entrepreneurship, management, funding and professional development. You will also work closely with your personal tutor on a research dissertation project, meaning you can dive more deeply into an area that you’re really passionate about.

How will you be taught and assessed?

At Buckinghamshire New University they like to foster an interactive and student-focused teaching style where they blend lectures, workshops, group work, independent study, case studies, coaching sessions and guest speakers to enhance the learning experience.

The coaching modules across all three years include practical opportunities for you to develop and practice key coaching skills like preparation and planning, hands-on coaching and practice evaluation.

They aim to provide you with a balance of industry knowledge and experience as well as the underpinning academic theory, meaning you will have important transferable skills making you into a culturally aware, prepared and confident graduate.

BNU's assessments reflect their employer-led course philosophy, they are real world centric with live briefs from businesses and cases that challenge students to produce a tangible result and not simply demonstrate knowledge of a subject. We set a variety of assessments across the three years of the degree; these include:

• coursework
• essays
• individual presentations
• reflective assignments
• timed assessments

What are your career prospects?

Buckinghamshier New University want you to succeed at university and beyond and are committed to supporting you to carve out the route to your chosen career. They’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good business leaders. They could also help you find employment after graduation. 

BNU's BA (Hons) Sports Business and Coaching course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities. You’ll be qualified to work in a range of career pathways:

• Sports events management
• Sports Coach
• Sport facility management
• Sports entrepreneur
• Sports marketing and media
• Health and fitness industry
• Self-employment in sports business

Marketing, advertising and sponsorship positions in agencies and commercial sports businesses will be a natural fit for you too.

You might also think about a career in community sports trusts and professional sports clubs – the opportunities are endless.

Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course like our PGCert Business Leadership or IMBA.