BA (Hons) Sports Coaching with Physical Education
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three Years
- Start Date: September 2026
Do you want to inspire a generation to develop a passion for physical activity and sport? Our Sports coaching with physical education course is the perfect springboard for a range of career opportunities within teaching or a sport related coaching profession.
Whether you are helping elite athletes on their journey to superstardom or just getting people more active, you can do what you love to do every day and use your skills to teach people the value of physical activity and education.
This course serves as a springboard for various career opportunities within teaching or sports-related coaching professions. It focuses on preparing you to inspire individuals across different age groups to develop a passion for physical activity and sport. This means not only will you have access to first-hand accounts from those working while you study, you’ll also create helpful networks for your job search through our partnerships. As a Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme delivery site you will experience a vibrant and applied sports setting to enhance your employability skills.
Our links with industry partners will enable you to seek volunteering and work opportunities in local sports and related organisations. With our application focused courses and teaching we can give you increased knowledge of the exciting career that awaits you beyond graduation.
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), Wycombe Wanderers and Reading Rockets Basketball, to name just a few.
You can utilize state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Human Performance Laboratory, and gain support in externally recognized coaching qualifications in various sports. Additionally, the course offers work experience placements within local schools, colleges, and sports clubs, subject to a successful DBS check. We also have a lively student sport community for you to join while you are here with our Students' Union. Get involved in free societies, trips, social events, sports competitions and guest visits. We are also only 45 minutes from London so perfect if you are planning to commute from home.
What will I study?
This course combines both a theoretical, practical and tailored approach to suit your individual needs. We focus on the current school PE curriculum and various teaching styles you could use to deliver the curriculum. You'll be prepared with the subject knowledge and teaching skills needed to progress with confidence.
We can also offer support in getting external teacher training and sport coaching qualifications. We will teach you how to engage with the community and coaching industries in a variety of ways both in the community and in the school teaching environment.
Designed to meet the needs of a teaching institution this course is focused on helping you to become an educator and mentor in secondary, college or private school organisations. However, we also introduce you to mainstream coaching practices, relevant research, sport and exercise psychology, performance analysis with top level athletes and contemporary cultural issues.
You'll gain the opportunity to obtain externally recognised coaching qualifications in a variety of sports as well as explore work experience within local schools, colleges, sports clubs, and other community sport organisations subject to a successful DBS check.
Our sport coaching with physical education course shares its first year with the other sport courses. This means we can introduce you to various courses at the start, and if you want to study a different course you can choose to switch to another sport coaching course after your first year
Sport at Buckinghamshire New University
Whether you are aspiring to international level competition or simply want to keep physically active, sport at BNU is committed to providing outstanding and inclusive experiences for everyone. In partnership with our award winning student union we provide an extensive range of opportunities and aim to remove financial barriers though our subsidised and free provision and support.
Recreational Sport
The ‘Big Deal’ and Sport for Fun through our Student union provides a wide range of free opportunities from badminton and boxing, cycling, and snow sports.
Gateway Gym
At our modern and well equipped gym 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.
University sports teams
Our university teams play in competitive leagues and BUCs across fifteen different sports and physical activity. The teams are free to join and provide excellent coaching and social opportunities for our students.
Individual sports
Not everyone wants to join a team and our SU provides outstanding support to athletes at county level across a wide range of individual sports to compete in BUCs competitions. BUCS Individual competitions are host to the best student athletes in the country.
Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme
At BNU we are committed to supporting athletes on the England Talent Pathway and are proud to have been a TASS delivery site for over five years, supporting more than forty athletes with our local community. As a student athlete on TASS you will be able to access all of the support you need to achieve your sporting goals on site from our friendly team.
BNU Performance Sport academy and opportunities
If you do not qualify for TASS status we can still support you at BNU with an extensive package of services.
We are proud to support national level swimming and basketball through our performance centres. In partnership with Wycombe District Swimming Club and Reading Rockets Basketball we are able to offer athletes an opportunity to combine sports training with higher education.
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 aids you in understanding how a patient or athlete achieves their desired results.
You'll learn how to use cutting-edge body analysis and research tools for sport, exercise and therapy. Our facilities include an indoor three-lane running track, 3D motion-capture technology as well as advanced body and performance measurement technology.
With the knowledge you need to enhance athletes’ performance 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 regime, recovery and competition phases through the use of our unique facilities.
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 variety of exercise classes.
How will I be taught and assessed?
Assessment tasks are used as far as possible to link theory with practice, assessing knowledge and understanding alongside subject-specific skills as your modules are completed. Team working is incorporated into the programme 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
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £9,790 per year *
International
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £15,910 per year *
Please note all of the 2026/27 fees stated are subject to parliamentary procedure. Tuition fees are expected to increase each academic year in line with the maximum permitted value set by the Government for that academic year. The expected rise for Home undergraduate students (including those on a foundation year course), may impact both new and continuing students.
Additional costs
Your tuition fees cover most course costs, but you may need to budget for additional expenses. These can include specialist equipment, project materials, professional memberships, field trips or placements, as well as everyday student costs like printing, books and stationery.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our enquiries team by completing this form.
What are my career prospects?
Many of our graduates go on to have careers as a PE Teacher, work in education or sports coaching and contribute greatly to society using the skills they gained on this course. Some students also enter community work or pursue other sports-related careers after graduation, and your career prospects are exciting.
Our degree will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:
- community sports coaching
- performance sports coaching
- PE teaching
- sports development
You can also choose to study for a postgraduate course. In addition, our programme is structured in such a way that you will gain core skills that are transferable to a wide range of different teaching careers, giving you the confidence to succeed in whatever career you pursue.
Course leader
