Sport & Physical Education BSc (Hons) (with Foundation Year)
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UCAS Code: C603|Duration: 4 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Our Sport and Physical Education degree helps you gain in-depth knowledge about the effect of sport, physical education and activity on individuals and society as a whole. The degree will allow you to explore the impact of sport at the individual, team, organisational and wider community level, from grass roots through to the elite sport. You will examine these issues using applied and theoretical approaches to sport psychology, performance and technique, sport analysis, sport management, sociology and history, and coaching science and development.
Studying Sport and Physical Education at Liverpool Hope University gives you a skills-based theoretical, practical and applied experience which is underpinned by a foundation in subject knowledge and research skills. Based on cutting edge research, you will have the opportunity to explore in detail a wide variety of principles and practices in different sports. The degree focuses on core disciplines in the field. These include applied and theoretical approaches to sport psychology, performance and technique, sport analysis, sport management, sociology and history, and coaching science and development.
Within all disciplines you will approach the effect of sport, physical education and activity on individuals and society as a whole, emphasising the ethical issues relating to competition, participation and also the issues relating to health and wellbeing. You will be taught by a team of lecturers who are all experts in their field and widely published academics. You also have full access to the multi-million pound, state-of-the-art Health Science Building and Sports Complex, incorporating a running track, dedicated research space and new teaching laboratories.
Hear from one of our Sport & Physical Education students
Course structure
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where are students are taught together, seminars of smaller groups of around 15-20 students, and tutorials which typically have no more than 10 students. You will also have practical sessions both on campus and at Plas Caerdeon, the University’s Field Centre in Snowdonia National Park, Wales. You will also have the opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with your tutor each week.
If you are studying Sport and Physical Education as a Single Honours degree, in your first year of study there are approximately 12 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 10 teaching hours in your second and third years. If you are studying Sport and Physical Education as a Combined Honours degree, in your first year of study there are approximately 6 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 5 teaching hours in your second and third years.
On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend a number of hours studying independently each week, as well as studying in groups to prepare for any group assessments that you may have.
Assessment and feedback
Assessment on the course is varied, allowing each learner the greatest opportunity for success. This is predominantly through coursework pieces, comprising of essays, reports, laboratory logs/diaries, portfolios, literature reviews, case studies, and presentations.
In your final year you will complete a research dissertation, providing the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in a topic area of your choosing.
Combined honours students have the opportunity to complete two smaller projects (one in each area of study) or a combined project spanning both degree subjects and co-supervised across departments.
Taught sessions are offered to outline the requirements and marking criteria of all assessments. These are supplemented by dedicated drop-in sessions to ensure that the highest level of support is offered to students. Following submission, written feedback will be provided on all assessments and students will have the opportunity to discuss their feedback in more detail with a tutor to ensure understanding and provide support for future assessments.
Curriculum overview
The course is structured in a manner that allows the subdisciplines of sport to be studied in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary manner. Single honours students will study ‘Core Studies in Sport and Physical Education’ alongside ‘Human Science for Sport’. Combined honours students will study ‘Core Studies in Sport and Physical Education’ alongside core studies in their other academic discipline. The single honours course comprises of two 60-credit elements
Foundation Year
Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree.
Year One
Foundations in Sport and Physical Education
Your first year provides you with the knowledge of the key sub disciplines that underpin Sport and Physical Education. You will study the psychology of sport, sport sociology, coaching and teaching, motor behaviour and sport management.
Within coaching and teaching, you will explore the four main principles of coaching: talent ID, development, children and young people, and community. This will be approached from both a coaching and teaching perspective and differing approaches to learning, such as Teaching Games for Understanding will be examined.
The sport sociology and history element will focus on the codification and history of sport, and the development of sport in the community. This will include work on differing ideologies of sport, as well as the impact of sport on local and national identity.
Within sport psychology, key theories such as motivation, confidence and personality will be assessed in relation to their impact on participation and performance. You will also explore motor control and explore how skilled movement is produced, learned and developed.
Seminar work will take the form of study skills and practical sessions. Here, you will have the opportunity to explore and gain experience in a variety of sport types which are present on the National Curriculum. An additional block of practical sessions focussing on disability sport is incorporated.
If you study Sport and Physical Education as a Single Honours degree, you will also study the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology and movement science. This will take a systems approach, covering the lungs and gas exchange, the heart and cardiac function and muscle physiology. Further, physical (in)activity and indicators of health, such as body composition will be examined.
Year Two
Explorations in Sport and Physical Education
In your second year, you will broaden your knowledge of sport and physical education using the same sub disciplines.
In sport sociology, the key contemporary issues of globalisation and commercialisation of sport are assessed. Additionally, there is a focus on the role of outside agencies, such as the media, and the management and governance of sport.
In coaching and teaching, guidelines and strategies for physical activity are investigated, with specific focus on the National Curriculum and school sport. The coaching element supplements this and begins to look at approaches to training for specific sports.
Sport Psychology covers themes centred on health and wellbeing and their impact on sport performance, participation and well being. These include theories of exercise behavior, body image and motivation/barriers to exercise. The motor control unit centres on attention and its effect on both performance and learning.
The seminar activities will be largely focused on developing research skills. Furthermore, the practical activities from Year 1 will be enhanced to cover further sporting activities, such as athletics and health and fitness training.
In addition to the above, Single Honours students study notational analysis, exercise physiology and training and testing methods. In addition to this, epidemiology of disease and exercise psychology are also covered.
Year Three
Advanced Studies in Sport and Physical Education
In your final year, you hone your subject-specific research interests by completing a dissertation in one of the sub discipline areas. This is closely supervised by an expert and research active member of the team.
In the taught component of the course, there is an increased focus on critical analysis. In sport psychology, you learn about psychological skills training, and how this can enhance preparation and sport performance. This will be supplemented later in the year with a block of psychology focused on mental health and well being, including social support, effective career transitions and perfectionism.
The sociology element highlights contemporary issues in sport, such as anti-doping in the context of sporting and government agendas and policies. Furthermore, and key events in sport, such as the hosting and impact of mega events are assessed.
The coaching block examines diverse populations and the roles of the coach in supporting athletes, clubs and sport governing bodies. Specific teaching based content is also covered, including behavior management, and the impact of effective progression, continuity and differentiation on classroom practice.
Single Honours students also study applied coaching science, including recovery and injury rehabilitation. Furthermore, focus is placed on the physiology of health, exercise testing and prescription and advanced motor control.
Entry requirements
There may be some flexibility for mature students offering non-tariff qualifications and students meeting particular widening participation criteria.
Careers
Graduates have gone on to achieve success in many different roles such as teaching (both primary and secondary), coaching, and sport science support. Each of these options paves the way for an exciting career, supported by the knowledge and skills gained from the degree.
The interdisciplinary nature of the course exposes students to the varied sub-disciplines of sport. As such, a large number of graduates go on to complete specialised postgraduate study such as Masters or PhD in sport psychology, sport sociology or coaching science, paving the way for accelerated employment opportunities or careers in academia.
You are supported throughout your degree through tutor and self-directed learning, allowing you to become self-aware, proactive and motivated in your academic and life goals. The Sport and Physical Education degree offers many opportunities for the development of personal and professional skills including such skills as communication, organisation, time management, analysis and reflection. The skills developed through the course will be transferable to many professions and areas of future employment and equip students for careers in business and management, with many graduates going on to carve very successful careers in these sectors.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
You will have the opportunity to work with staff and partners of the University in a variety of sport and exercise settings with local and/or national organisations to develop their skills. Extra curricular opportunities include placement opportunities at primary or secondary schools. Students who have demonstrated a particular interest in elite sport have also previously been offered internships at local football and sports clubs.
Previous students reported that engaging in these authentic opportunities enhanced their employability and assisted in developing teacher training applications.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
For the Foundation Year element of your degree, tuition fees for the 2023/24 academic year are £9,250.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
For the remaining 3 years of your degree, taught at Hope Park, you will be charged the full Undergraduate fee each year.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Additional costs
On top of your tuition fees, you will need approximately £200 to cover the cost of any fieldtrips and to buy core textbooks for the degree.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2024/25 are £12,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available with Foundation Year as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: