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Sports Coaching and Development - FdSc

Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.

The course content is designed to ensure graduates develop the pedagogical practice required to coach participants across a range of ages and abilities, as well as the delivery across all Aston Villa Foundation delivery areas in both School and Community settings....

  • School School of Health Sciences
  • Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences

This course is:

Overview

The course content is designed to ensure graduates develop the pedagogical practice required to coach participants across a range of ages and abilities, as well as the delivery across all Aston Villa Foundation delivery areas in both School and Community settings. Following graduation, you will be in a position to gain employment within a sports coaching and other community-based development opportunities. You will also be able to continue your undergraduate studies, including complementary BSc (Hons) sports courses through Birmingham City University.

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

We will help you develop a keen understanding of your own coaching philosophy and provide you with industry and socio-cultural factors that influence the wider context of sport and the work of the Aston Villa Foundation. You will gain practical application of the theoretical underpinnings of coaching and have access to hands-on experiences across various community settings. Furthermore, you will learn about sport development principles and how they align to community work by addressing both societal and contemporary issues.

The course will give you the opportunity to understand the work of Football Foundations across primary school and alternative education settings, focusing on the work that community sport plays in complimenting the national curriculum. You will learn about the contemporary information that educators within this sector require. In addition, the course will explore health and wellbeing environments, which will help you to embed both mental and physical attributes in your coaching practice. This is also an opportunity for you to gain the knowledge and skills needed to negotiate different challenges in your future profession. To help build these skills, you will go on placements, working face-to-face and gaining first-hand experience in a coaching, community or school environment, which will enhance your future employability and personal network.

The course will allow you to study at Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa Football Club, as well as the recently extended Birmingham City University campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham. These facilities will expose you to state-of-the-art sport and development environments, as well as access to cutting-edge resources and designated sport areas.

Delivered with:

Why Choose Us?

  • This course is delivered with the Aston Villa Foundation, with opportunities for hands-on experience in a range of community settings.
  • On completion of the degree, you will have the opportunity to progress on to one of BCU’s BSc degrees in Sport.
  • You will study at both Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa Football Club, and our City South Campus in Edgbaston, which contains a range of cutting-edge sporting facilities, including a state-of-the-art sport and exercise laboratory and sports therapy rooms.

Open Days

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Open Day: 23 March 2024

Register your interest

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.

Essential

64 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level

Applicants must normally have evidence of formal study within the last five years. However, we are sometimes able to waive this requirement if a candidate has a significant amount of professional experience in a relevant field, for example healthcare, social care, or education.

Successful candidates will be required to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance via the Faculty prior to enrolling onto this course.

Level 2 qualifications

GCSE

GCSE English Language or Literature, GCSE Maths and GCSE Science at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests.

Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level)

See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details.

Scottish National 5

English Language or Literature, Maths and Science at grade C or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests.

Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) qualifications

A level and Advanced VCE

  • DDE / 64 UCAS tariff points
  • Excluding General Studies, Critical Thinking and Extended Project
  • A maximum of 3 subjects are considered. These can be other A-levels or Level 3 equivalents

Access to HE Diploma

  • Science
  • If applying with an Access course you only need GCSE Mathematics and English Language at grade C/4 or above or accepted equivalent. You are not required to hold five GCSEs in total and GCSE Science is not required

British bachelor's degree

  • Minimum 2.2 at full honours
  • Considered on an individual basis
  • Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma
    (2016 – present)
  • Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
    (2010 - 2016)
  • BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (2002 – 2010)
  • MMP - Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) (2010 - 2016)
  • MPP - Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma (2016 – present)
  • MM - BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (2002 – 2010)
  • Must be in either Sport and Physical Activity, Applied Science or Health and Social Care
  • Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma
    (2016 – present)
  • Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
    (2010 – 2016)
  • BTEC Level 3 National Certificate
    (2002 – 2010)
  • 64 UCAS points minimum
  • Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification

International Baccalaureate Diploma

  • Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall with grade 4 or above in at least one Higher Level subject from Group 4 (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
  • For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above, we will accept grade 5 in Maths (Standard Level) from the IB Diploma
  • For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at Grade C/4 or above, we will accept Standard Level English Language (not literature) English A - Grade 4 or above or English B - Grade 5 from the IB

Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)

  • Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 64 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects.
  • Must include Sport, Health or a Science subject related subject at Higher level

Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher

  • Achieve a minimum of 64 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers or from a combination of two Advanced Highers plus two Highers
  • Where a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers have been taken you must achieve (grades of CD in two Advanced Highers plus grades of CC in two Highers)
  • Must include a Sport, Health or Science subject at Higher level or above

T-Levels

  • 64 UCAS points (Pass overall)
Other qualifications

If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS.

Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: FdSc

Starting: Sep 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.

Personal statement

Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

Course choice

Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?

Career plans

If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.

Work experience

Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.

School or college experience

Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.

Non-accredited skills or achievement

eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Get more information on writing personal statements.

Course in Depth

Year One

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Orientation to Higher Education & Research in Sport 20 credits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Sport 20 credits

Coaching in the Community 20 credits

Sports Development & Interventions 20 credits

Year Two

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Sports Coaching & Development: Professional Practice 40 credits

Elite Coaching Practice 20 credits

Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching & Development 20 credits

Download course specification

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This new course, delivered with the Aston Villa Foundation, will develop your skills in coaching participants across a range of ages and abilities. You will have opportunities to work with the Aston Villa Foundation across all areas in both school and community settings. Following graduation, you will be in a position to gain employment within sports coaching and other community-based sports development activities. You will also have the opportunity to continue your studies and progress onto BSc sports courses with Birmingham City University.

The course will give you the opportunity to understand the work of Football Foundations across primary school and alternative education settings, focusing on the work that community sport plays in complimenting the national curriculum. You will also explore health and wellbeing environments, which will help you to support both mental and physical needs in your coaching practice.

Placement experiences will help you to build your skills, gaining first-hand experience in a coaching and/or school environment, which will enhance your future employability and personal network.

Employability

Facilities & Staff

Aston Villa Foundation

This course will mainly be taught at the Aston Villa Foundation: 

Trinity Road
Birmingham
B6 6HE

Aston Villa Foundation