BA (Hons) Sports Coaching with Business

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Studying this course with us, you’ll have the opportunity to look at athlete development and performance analysis while spending time in our state-of-the-art Human Performance Laboratory.

You’ll be given the opportunity to gain externally recognised coaching qualifications in a variety of sports as well as gain work experience within local schools, colleges, sports clubs and societies, subject to a successful DBS check.

We always encourage you to get as much industry experience as possible. Our strong links with industry partners will enable you to seek volunteering and paid work opportunities. This, along with our practical approach to the course, will give you a deeper understanding of the professional environment and type of career that awaits you beyond graduation.

We also pride ourselves on the opportunities we offer our students to start forming their own networks within industry. Not only will you have access to first-hand accounts from those in the professional world while you study but you’ll also make priceless connections for when the time comes to apply to your first job.

We work with some incredible partners like the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey which is home to several governing bodies in sport, Leap (County Sports Partnership), Stoke Mandeville Hospital (the famous birthplace of the Paralympics), Reading Women’s Football Club and the National League basketball team, London United, to name just a few.

We also have a fantastic and lively student community for you to join, Our Students' Union offers a way to get involved in free societies, trips, social events, sports competitions and guest visits. We are only 45 minutes from London so perfect if you are planning to commute from home.

Our specialisms

We believe in giving you the freedom to make your career your own. That's why we introduce you to various different subjects in your first year, and then allow you to choose a course after you've got a taste of them all, if your goals change. You can stay on BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching with Business or choose between BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching with Physical Education, BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching with Community Health and Physical Activity, and BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching with Performance Sport.

These specialisms are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme and are available if you didn't meet the entry requirements.

What will I study?

If you dream of being in the thick of the action, coaching and managing elite athletes, look no further than our hands-on exciting sports coaching with business course. 

This course is designed to help you learn the fundamentals of business operations and develop the skills needed to manage and lead people. If you see yourself in management, administration, board or corporate positions within a sports team, or sports organisation, this course is the perfect start to your career.

Over the course of the degree, you will be able to study both coaching, sports psychology and research in sport, this will give you a solid background in coaching. In the second year of study you will take up the sports management module, which will introduce you to the concept of managing a sports team, athlete or organisation. 

All our course content is designed to provide you with the knowledge gained from our industry experiences and partnerships with external organisations. 

Our sports coaching programme at BNU is unique to us and offers you the chance to gain exciting career opportunities both locally and nationally. We make full use of combined industry and academic knowledge and the experience of our dedicated staff and partnerships within the public and private contexts to give you a cutting-edge and future-ready learning experience.

What facilities can I use?

Our Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre includes our Human Performance Lab (HPL) and our Sports and Wellbeing Clinic.

Equipped for assessing the function and performance of a wide range of human physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters, the HPL gives you the tools you need to understand how research can help local communities and populations become more engaged in physical activity and sport. 

Learn to use cutting-edge tools for sport, exercise and therapy, which will empower you to master the skills required for a range of sport related roles. Our facilities include an indoor three-lane running track, incorporating 3D motion-capture technology as well as advanced body and performance measurement devices.

With the knowledge you need to enhance athletes’ performance through improved technique and assist with injury prevention and rehabilitation, we will give you a key understanding of what an athlete in the field expects in their training, recovery and competition phases.

We also have our Gateway gym, on our High Wycombe Campus, where you can benefit from great student rates. You’ll be able to get personalised help and advice from gym trainers, use a range of fitness equipment and choose from a wide range of exercise classes.

How will I be taught and assessed?

Team working is incorporated into the course to help you engage in more complex projects, getting you familiar with how you’ll work with colleagues in your future career.

Assessments are a mix of coursework, including essays and reports, and practical and authentic modes of showing your knowledge, including presentations, portfolios, team projects, lab practical’s, and the production and delivery of coaching plans. 

Some of the ways you will be assessed include:

• essays
• reports
• case study analysis
• presentations
• reflective writing and portfolios
• team projects
• lab sessions
• production and delivery of coaching plans