Geraint Thomas, Gareth Bale and Sam Warburton were all coached by the same great PE teacher! If you find such coaching excellence as inspiring as we do, then this degree is for you. You’ll develop critical thinking and applied vocational skills and adopt evidence-based practice, cultivating your skills in a supportive environment. Taught by experts who currently contribute to national educational policy and coaching knowledge the degree covers contemporary teaching approaches within education and coaching.

This course is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wishing to develop their skills in teaching or coaching. To become an effective Physical Education teacher or coach, it is becoming more important to have a good grasp of an athlete or student’s ‘holistic’ development, e.g. via sports psychology, physiology, biomechanics, and strength and conditioning to support pedagogy. This course will provide you the knowledge and know-how to excel in this field and the practical skill set to excel as a coach and/or a PE teacher.

The staff involved in delivering the course have a wealth of experience working in physical education and coaching. There is a real emphasis on supporting you to take ownership for your personal professional development and practical skill base. These independent skills will remain with you for life, helping you realise your individual goals. You’ll also be supported to gain teaching and/or coaching experience as well as National Governing Body qualifications. North Wales offers a stunning natural environment for your studies, and our department, which was established in 1978, is proud to call itself one of the original and longest serving Sport and Exercise Science providers in the world.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• 100% Student Satisfaction (Sports, Health and Physical Education – NSS 2020).
• 5th for Research Quality (Complete University Guide 2021).
• Close links with high-profile bodies (e.g. NHS, military, UK Sport, Sport Wales, Premier League football teams, England and Wales Cricket Board) and with world-leading athletes.
• Ideal if you are interested in teaching, working in grassroots or elite coaching or working in any field aiming to improve sports performance through science.
• Support to gain vocational qualifications.

The course will cover contemporary sports science, physical education and coaching theory, with opportunities to apply this as the programme progresses and develop practical teaching and coaching skills. Students will typically have one - two hours of lectures per week for each module as well as practical sessions, laboratory time, seminars and tutorials. This direct contact time will be tied with student-centred learning such as reading, writing essays and reports, practicing vocational competencies, gathering information and data, working on group projects and preparing verbal and poster presentations. These activities form the basis of authentic assessment opportunities to help students prepare for future employability e.g., practical examinations, presentations, case studies, written reports and critiques of research.

25% of students’ time is spent in lectures, seminars and practicals. We keep our lectures, seminars and lab class sizes small:

• Lectures: 30-150
• Seminars: approx. 12
• Physical Education / Coaching / Laboratory practicals: approx. 25

This approach allows our students have closer contact with lecturers and tutors, and all our students have access to regular one-to-one meetings with staff.

Much of the practical teaching within this program will take place at the University sport centre Canolfan Brailsford. To integrate class-room and practical teaching there is a seminar room from which practical classes can break out into several practical teaching spaces including:

Sports Hall 1
This multiple use sports hall has a sprung floor and a balcony is available for spectators. It comprises space for Badminton courts, Volleyball courts, full & half size Basketball courts, Netball court, Indoor Hockey pitch & Five-a-side pitch.

Sports Hall 2
Another multiple use sports hall with viewing balcony. There is also provision for Indoor Bowls, Indoor Cricket and Trampolining.

Sports Dome
Covered dome, contains space for Netball and Indoor Tennis courts.

Platform 81 Performance Training Centre
The training centre is used by Welsh Weightlifting athletes' some of which have competed in Commonwealth and Olympic games. Comprises, integrated weightlifting platforms, stand-alone weightlifting platforms, a 20-metre track, a wall mounted rig, assault bikes, power racks and Olympic bars and weights, as well as a large range of dumbbells with cushioned flooring.

Normal Site Sports Hall
Multiple use sports hall

Outdoor practical facilities are also utilised at the University's Treborth Site. The Pavilion offers changing facilities, enclosed viewing area and facilities for delivering seminars. Outdoor facilities here include: World Rugby and FIFA standard 3G artificial pitch with viewing stand Grass pitches – 1 football, 2 rugby and 1 American Football Eight lane athletics track, built to the highest standards with facilities and equipment available for all events

This degree will equip you with the necessary knowledge and professional competencies to support your progression onto relevant postgraduate courses (e.g., Postgraduate Certificate in Education) in order to successfully pursue careers within the disciplines of sports science, physical education and coaching (e.g., Physical Education Teacher, Performance or Development Coach).

You’ll also be well prepared to work within other areas of sport (e.g., Applied Physiologist / Psychologist), health (e.g., physiotherapy or sports therapy, after postgraduate training), exercise (e.g., exercise trainer), or research (e.g., progress to PhD / Research Fellow careers). You may also utilise the transferable skills this degree will provide you with to pursue careers in the armed forces, emergency services, or in business.

Our research-led curriculum covers the core Sport, Health and Exercise Science topics of physiology, psychology, exercise, health and medicine, biomechanics and effective coaching. Our expertise and high calibre teaching will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need for a career in the expanding sport, health, exercise and adventure markets.