4 years with the foundation
This year will prepare you for the rest of your course. We’ll focus on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. But we’ll also start to look at sports psychology, and scientific disciplines including biology, chemistry and physics. Plus, there’s a focus on using maths to understand and manipulate data.
Introduction
Develop a critical and practical understanding of sport coaching, physical education, sport management and development and work towards a career in sport in an immersive, inspiring environment in the heart of Cambridge.
Do you dream of being the great coach behind a great athlete? Or to inspire children through engagement with sport and physical activity? Or maybe you would like to have your say in the policing of sport and in the development of athletes? Work towards all these and even more careers at our Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences.
We're proud to be ranked number 1 in the country for sports science courses in the Guardian League Table 2021.
As a Sport Coaching and Physical Education student at ARU, you'll have access to amazing opportunities: you can use specialist labs accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), gain safeguarding and coaching qualifications, and get first-hand experience working with schools and sports clubs.
We know that you want to learn from professionals, so our staff members include elite athletes and coaches who will be teaching you not just based on their academic knowledge, but also from their hands-on experience.
Our Sport Coaching and Physical Education degree course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and has membership of the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE), so you'll graduate ready to work in the UK’s burgeoning sport and fitness industry or to continue your learning journey to postgraduate study. Find out more about our approved and accredited courses.
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By choosing to study BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching and Physical Education at ARU, you’ll be choosing an applied course that is embedded in real-life experiences and focused on getting you career-ready.
Our degree course is packed with opportunities to complete work placements in local schools and sports clubs. Moreover, you'll have the chance to gain unique work experience with organisations such as Living Sport and Cambridge City Council, who run community sports projects for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. You can also apply to internship programmes with professional sports teams.
In the final year of your Sport Coaching and Physical Education degree, you'll be offered a unique opportunity to complete a real-life research and development project immersed in industry.
All this is supported by what you learn in the lecture theatre.
Together, we’ll explore sport development, applied coaching pedagogy (how people teach and learn), athlete development, sport physiology and the psychology of sport coaching. You’ll learn how to use your knowledge as a leader, teacher and a sports coach – and to work safely, ethically and confidently on your own, or as part of a team. To do this, you’ll use fantastic facilities including exercise testing and human movement labs, and a strength and conditioning suite.
Specialist equipment
At ARU you’ll be based in our Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science. Its specialist exercise testing and human movement labs feature:
- notational analysis software
- heart-rate monitors
- GPS monitoring equipment
- breath-by-breath oxygen-analysis systems
- accelerometers
- a strength and conditioning suite.
Learn outside the classroom
All our Sport Coaching and Physical Education students can:
- access work placements in local schools and sports clubs
- apply to internship programmes with professional sports clubs and other organisations
- gain work experience with sport development teams such as Living Sport and Cambridge City Council
- join student-led sports clubs and societies
- learn from and engage with guest speakers at our Excellence in Sport seminars
- join an optional training programme to improve strength and conditioning coaching
- take an optional placement year as part of this course, and gain additional work experience.
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), meaning employers will view you as 'job ready' for roles in sport and physical activity.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
You’ll be based in the Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, using specialist facilities accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
Careers
Sport coaches and physical education professionals work in a wide range of careers.
As a graduate, you can consider teaching roles in schools and colleges, coaching at community or performance level, and performance (notation) analysis for sport teams or athletes. There is the opportunity to move towards the area of sport development where there are a broad range of themes to focus on (e.g. mental health, physical activity, and minority groups). Through studying with us you can also shape your learning experiences by taking opportunities in the wider health, fitness and leisure industry.
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector, and the sector's only chartered professional body, meaning employers will view you as "job ready" for roles in sport and physical activity.
Whichever path interests you most, you can be sure that you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities that industry needs. We work with employers, and they help us review what we teach and how we teach it – offering hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through research projects, internships and placements. It’s a great chance to make professional connections.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study a postgraduate degree such as our MSc Sport Coaching or MSc Sport and Exercise Science. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
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