Do you want to learn how to train athletes and teams effectively to enhance performance?
Our BSc Sport Performance and Coaching course integrates world-leading coaching research with practical application to prepare you for a successful career in sport coaching and education. You will also have access to our specialist sport, research and teaching facilities.
Throughout your time with us, you will become employment-ready by expanding your knowledge and skills though studying applied topics such as:
socio-pedagogical principles of sport coaching
talent identification and development
techniques for analysing sport performance
strength and conditioning
technology-enhanced coaching
At Essex, your learning is enriched even further by our unique and valuable connections with several National Governing Bodies, including The Football Association, Volleyball England, Basketball England and Rugby Football Union. Our links to industry provide you with opportunities to gain real-world experience, access coach education courses, and work towards externally-accredited National Governing Body awards. You can also work with our on-campus Human Performance Unit for hands-on experience of helping athletes reach peak performance.
Why we're great.
94% of our Sports, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences undergraduate graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024).
Work with elite athletes and gain experience in our renowned Human Performance Unit.
You have the option to work towards the National Governing Body of Sport coaching awards.
Study abroad
Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.
Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.
If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university
Placement year
Alternatively, you can spend your third year on a placement year with an external sporting organisation. These yearly placements allow students to gain much needed hands on experience that will set them apart in the job market.
We have close associations with many sporting clubs, examples of placement opportunities include:
Essex Cricket. Our students have been involved in remote coding of the 2nd team and academy games from the ground at Chelmsford, live coding Women's XI and live coding some premier league cricket on Saturdays to assist the scouting department and identify local talent for the academy and EPP programme.
Tottenham Hotspur. Our students have worked with the club as part of its academy sports science staff. Tottenham's staff also provide invited lectures to our students.
Ipswich Town FC. Our students have had opportunities working with video analysis and GPS tracking data.
If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. Please check with the placement organiser as some of these placements can be arranged in 12 week blocks, allowing non-placement year students the same opportunities.
Our expert staff
We offer a lively, friendly and supportive environment with research-led study and high-quality teaching. We are 23rd in UK for research power in sport and exercise sciences (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021). Our course boasts a host of internationally recognised researchers and practitioners.
Dr Ben Jones is a qualified Rugby Football Union and Strength and Conditioning Specialist with over 20 years coaching experience in both the UK and the US. Ben's research areas are in competitive engineering for coaching practice and sport related concussion.
Dr Jason Moran is a qualified Strength and Conditioning coach with over 15 years' experience in training athletes across a range of sports. Jason's research areas are youth athletic development, resistance training, and exercise in older adults.
Dr Simon Quick is a qualified level 4 tennis coach and former secondary physical education teacher, Director of Sport and Deputy Headteacher. Simon is currently working with England Hockey to develop their coach education programme. His research explores the complex ethical realities of sport coaching employment.
Dr Alice Harkness-Armstrong has extensive experience in applied performance analysis, having previously worked for Huddersfield Town AFC, Sunderland AFC Ladies Centre of Excellence and Northern Ireland Volleyball senior women's team. Alice's research interests are within sports performance, particularly female football.
Dr Benedict Low is an AFC B qualified football coach with experience in different sport contexts and organisations. Benedict's research is in the analysis of tactical behaviours in football using player-tracking data.
Dr Callum Morgan is a level three qualified football coach with over 10 years of experience in youth grassroots, development and performance contexts. Callum's research critically examines the social processes within everyday coaching and coach education work, with an emphasis on interaction, collaboration and emotions.
Specialist facilities
Our specialist facilities include our Sport Arena, physiotherapy labs, six specialist sport and physiology labs, two dedicated sports therapy training labs, and an on-campus sports therapy clinic.
Our BSc Sports Performance and Coaching course includes a range of modules where both team, individual, and coaching performance is evaluated to identify strengths and weaknesses for feedback and talent identification purposes.
Crucial to this is our Sport Arena, allowing real-time analysis of training and competition with our specialist IP 4K cameras, with footage streamed onto our 6x4 metre electronic display screen. This not only provides an indispensable feedback tool for both university and external sports teams, but allows opportunities for our students to gain hands-on experience of performance analysis processes.
We also have a range of portable equipment to analyse performance away from the Sport Arena, including team and individual-level filming as well as quantifying workload via GPS technology. This proves invaluable for sports undertaken on our grass pitches as well as tennis courts situated around our campus. We also give you access to other technology, such as GoPro cameras, iPads and microphones, in order to develop your coaching communication and delivery, and to aid with feedback and assessment.
As a sports performance and coaching student, you will also:
work in an open and friendly department, with shared staff-student social spaces
gain valuable experience working with elite athletes in our Human Performance Unit
use state-of-the-art research facilities including cutting-edge treadmills, 7-camera biomechanics systems, and gas and blood analysis systems
take advantage of ourteaching facilities, including new undergraduate laboratories
benefit from our Colchester Campus's beautiful green parkland, acres of sports fields, and a specialist tennis facility
Human Performance Unit
The Human Performance Unit (HPU) has been used by professional athletes and sports persons from a range of disciplines, including Team GB athletes participating in the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and players from our local Colchester United Football Club.
The HPU supports student teaching and research across all degree types. Our undergraduates in sports therapy, sports performance and coaching, and sports and exercise science use the HPU for some of their modules, with both beginners and professional sports persons recruited to take part. This gives students experience in managing the practical physiological tests, as well helping them develop soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
Additionally the HPU supports a range of placement activities. Undergraduate students have the option to use the HPU during our optional Placement Year, while our Masters students can take a 12-week placement. Along with continuing the work with individual athletes, students who have a placement year as part of their course also assist with sports science workshops held at the HPU for local schools. These workshops are tailored to the National Curriculum for PE, and give our students experience of working with teachers and young people.
Your future
Our course enables you to pursue advanced study into sport coaching, forge a career in physical education through PGCE or SIGMA pathways, or immediately begin your sport-related career. Possible career paths include:
Youth Sport Coach
Community Sport Coach
Sport and Exercise Activator
Youth Development Officer
Physical Education Teacher
Talent scout or Identification Officer
Performance Analyst
Strength and Conditioning Coach
We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. Previous students have benefited from exciting opportunities at Essex Cricket, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United.
Sport scholarships
Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has been created for talented athletes playing at regional, national or international level, and offers a range of benefits. We want students competing in our focus sports - basketball, volleyball, tennis and football - as well as other team sports and as individual athletes to contribute to our performance sport programme.
Our scholarships can include fee discounts of up to 100%, offered to athletes who demonstrate sporting excellence. Athletes who are awarded the scholarship may also receive a host of other benefits, including:
free kit
access to state-of-the-art facilities
performance coaching
the option to live in our Athlete Village (accommodation fees may vary)
a support package valued up to £1,500
These benefits are designed to help athletes focus on their training and development, and to enable you to reach your full potential alongside your studies.
"I’ve always had an idea of what I wanted to do, but my degree has allowed me to specialise with the modules I’ve chosen. Whilst studying at Essex, I have had the opportunity to gain practical experience. I have been an Assistant Sports Scientist for the Human Performance Unit and an Assistant Coach and Performance Analyst for the Essex Rebels."
Callum Stevens, Sports Performance and Coaching student
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
GCSE: Mathematics C/4.
Plus one of the level 3 qualifications below:
A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels and a minimum grade C in a science subject or Mathematics. PE and Psychology are acceptable as science A-levels.
BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent including C in one science subject or Mathematics. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554. Either must include 5 in a Higher level science subject or Mathematics. Our GCSE Maths requirement can be met with either: 4 in Standard level Maths; 3 in Higher level Maths; or 4 in IB Middle Years Maths.
IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.
A-level Science or equivalent: If you have or are studying other level 3/A-level equivalent subjects in areas related to science or maths we may be able to consider you if you do not meet the requirements outlined above.
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. If you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer. Factors we consider:
Applicants from underrepresented groups
Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus
For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
English language shelf-life
Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Pending English language qualifications
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk
.
Requirements for second and final year entry
Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Structure
Course structure
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
The aim of this module is to develop your academic, scientific and professional abilities relevant to the study of and professions related to sport, rehabilitation and exercise sciences. There are four key focuses of this module: professional skills; research design and ethics; data analysis, presentation and interpretation; and employability.
This module will help you to understand the physical and mechanical principles that determine how we, and the objects with which we interact during exercise and in sporting events, move. You will learn the meaning of concepts such as force, mass, speed, velocity, acceleration, momentum and we will explore how they enable us to describe and understand movement in sport and exercise.
Students will gain a basic knowledge of nutrition and metabolism underpinning Sports Science. On completion of the module, students will be able to describe the flow of nutrient intake and energy production supporting not only training and performance but optimal health. This module will give students a firm foundation from which to study exercise physiology and the specific nutritional requirements of athletes including legal and illegal substances, in later modules.
Is it all in the mind? The margin between victory and defeat is thin, but can an athlete’s psychology really give them an edge? Why do some people find exercise difficult and other find exercise essential? Understanding how involvement in sport, exercise and physical activity affects a person's health and wellbeing is important in creating better interventions. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the fundamental principles underpinning the psychology of sport and exercise.
This module provides you with an introduction to the underpinning concepts and principles of sport coaching practice. Within the module, you will explore a variety of areas including coaching behaviours and communication skills, practice designs and coaching approaches, developing a coaching philosophy, in addition to ethics and inclusivity in coaching. Specifically, this module provides you with the opportunity to plan, deliver, and reflect upon coaching practice, while also having access to several guest lectures and further CPD workshops to enhance student-coach learning and future employability.
The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge on the fundamental concepts of human anatomy and physiology which underpin the biological sciences. The module will provide you with a sound knowledge of the mechanisms associated with the control and regulation of the major systems of the body. This module will enable you to complete an accredited Certificate in Fitness Instruction (GYM) and is at level 2 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework.
The aim of this module is to gain an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of performance analysis.
You will be introduced to a range of concepts and learn how to apply these to sport in order to provide effective performance analysis support.
Practical workshops are embedded throughout the module, to provide hands-on experience of software, processes and techniques employed in the field.
You will also gain an appreciation of the multi-disciplinary use of performance analysis, and develop the necessary skills to communicate effectively with athletes, coaches, and the wider sports science team.
Your biggest competition to date: the graduate job market. This module gives you a crucial head-start, ensuring you can both practically apply and effectively communicate your skills to the real-world and future employers.<br><br>During the Sports Science summer school you will identify and consequently investigate a chosen research question, working as part of a team to process, evaluate and analyse data. You will also have chance to prepare for life beyond graduation, developing a written strategy for optimising your employability, updating your skills e-portfolio and CV, and examining the job application process in detail.
This module will build upon your knowledge and skills to understand, appraise and plan research in sport and exercise. You will develop your understanding of different methodologies, research designs, and data analytical techniques, including their strengths, limitations and applications.
You will develop your skills in using library and online resources for scientific research, and your ability to critically appraise published work and how it can be used to inform applied practice in sport and exercise. You will also gain practical experience in participating in research, planning your own study, and analysing and interpreting data. Overall, the module will equip you with knowledge and skills required for your final year research project.
This module adopts an applied focus to examine how performance analysis and skill acquisition concepts can be integrated into and support the coaching process.
Employing a hybrid approach, you will be introduced to a range of performance analysis and skill acquisition principles, before applying these in practice to effectively quantify and analyse performance, and inform and reflect on coaching practice.
You are tasked with quantifying physical, technical, and tactical aspects of performance in order to facilitate athlete and team development.
You will also develop your skills to capture real-time data during performance and enhance your knowledge and understanding of how one might adjust the coaching practice accordingly depending on the desired output/aims for that session.
You will develop the necessary skills to feedback and communicate effectively with key stakeholders in the coaching process, from athletes and coaches to the wider sports science team.
This module aims to assist you in developing a theoretically informed understanding of sports coaching pedagogy. It will draw upon learning theories from pedagogy, psychology, and educational studies, while outlining contemporary research from the sports coaching literature. You will explore content areas related to learning theories and their implications for coaching practice, socio-cultural influences on coaching behaviours, in addition to conceptualising the coach as a pedagogical performer.
A good strength and conditioning (S&C) coach can take someone from where they are to where they want to be. This module aims to develop your understanding and application of how strength and conditioning can be used in the development process. You will explore different approaches to planning training over a season, look at how to vary and monitor training volume, as well as the indicators of and consequences of overtraining. In addition, you will explore the concept of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), administer and take part in a variety of hands on practical sessions.
In this module you will conduct an individual scientific investigation on a topic relating to your degree specialisation. You will either use the skills you have developed to identify a suitable research question and design an experimental approach to obtain data addressing this question, or use your research skills to better understand an existing project/ dataset. This module evaluates your analysis, presentation, understanding and interpretation of these data in a suitable scientific paper format report along with your critical writing skills. Your oral presentation skills and response to questions, the planning and management of your project work and your employability skills will also be part of the assessment.
On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Teaching
Undergraduate students in the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences typically attend a one-hour lecture and one-hour seminar for each module every week.
Practical work is prioritised in your first two years of study.
Learn through a combination of lectures, laboratory sessions, and coursework.
Gain experience collating and interpreting data, and reporting findings clearly and concisely.
Assessment
Degrees are awarded on the results of your written examinations and continual assessments of your practical work and coursework.
You can contribute towards real-world research projects in your final year of study.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,535 per year
International fee
£21,525 per year
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer.
You have the chance to:
tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.
The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are 'L' and 'S' respectively.
You can find further information on how to apply, including information on transferring from another university, applying if you are not currently at a school or college, and applying for readmission on our How to apply and entry requirements page.
Offer Holder Days
If you receive an undergraduate offer to study with us in October 2025 and live in the UK, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Offer Holder Days. Our Colchester Campus Offer Holder Days run from February to May 2025 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus events run in April and May. These events provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. To support your attendance, we are offering a travel bursary, allowing you to claim up to £150 as reimbursement for travel expenses. For further information about Offer Holder Days, including terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for our travel bursary, please visit our webpage.
If you are an overseas offer-holder, you will be invited to attend one of our virtual events. However, you are more than welcome to join us at one of our in-person Offer Holder Days if you are able to - we will let you know in your invite email how you can do this.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and
Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
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