MSc / Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate

Sports Coaching

Typical offer: 2:1 honours degree (2:2 applicants considered individually)

Duration: 1-3 years; full-time and part-time options

Awarding body: Hartpury University

Apply for this course here: https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/university/courses/postgraduate/msc-sports-coaching-msc-postgraduate-diploma-and-postgraduate-certificate/msc-sports-coaching-msc-postgraduate-diploma-and-postgraduate-certificate-2023/

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Overview

Course overview

This programme will support you to take your coaching to the next level by becoming a theoretically informed and evidence-based coaching practitioner.

You’ll benefit from a range of academically stimulating and industry-relevant modules, delivered by lecturers and professors who are also coaching practitioners for international, national and local clubs, as well as our own performance Sports Academy teams.

The course is ideal for recent graduates, as well as coaching practitioners in high-performance sport and those in development coaching roles, who want to develop in an academic environment, whilst applying theory to practice in real-world employment or extra-curricular settings.

As an MSc student, you’ll undertake a significant piece of research in your final year, contributing new knowledge to an area of your own work or wider coaching environment.

With both full and part-time learning options, you could study alongside existing employment or other commitments.

Apply now Contact us: +44 (0)1452 702244

What you'll study

MSc degree

The course has been designed to engage you in the process of applying theoretical principles to your practice, enabling you to develop as an academically informed reflective practitioner.

Industry-informed and relevant modules will support you to develop a deeper understanding of coaching, coach education and high-performing coaching environments, focusing on the practical nature of the discipline.

You’ll be encouraged to focus on your existing coaching context, with opportunities to tailor your assessments to help meet the demands of your professional role.

Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma

These qualifications form part of and are at the same level as the full master’s degree. They provide the ideal opportunity for you to develop your professional expertise via shorter part-time qualifications to fit around commitments, whilst allowing flexibility to progress each qualification through to the next level, including the full master’s degree.

Postgraduate Certificate

The Postgraduate Certificate includes the initial group of core modules.

Postgraduate Diploma

The Postgraduate Diploma includes these core modules alongside focused research in a coaching context that could reflect your current role or future ambitions.

MSc degree

The full MSc includes all of the above plus your dissertation.

Modules

Below you’ll find the compulsory modules for this course. You’ll also be able to choose from a range of optional modules to suit your interests and career goals.

Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands.

Compulsory modules

Students will develop and undertake a research project of their choosing.

You’ll reflect your personal learning needs, potential future mentors and peak coach experiences to date.

Understand coaching philosophy and coaching behaviours and decision-making.

Developing reflective practices and their use in coaching.

Prepares students to review current research and conduct their own research projects in the area of coaching.

Optional modules

Students will consider current knowledge on how to develop coaches, through a range of coach education strategies.

This module allows postgraduate students to complete a work-based project defined by a learning contract and negotiated between the learner themselves, a university tutor-facilitator and often the student’s employer.

Students will develop a critical understanding and appreciation of how to work effectively within industry and multi-disciplinary/inter-disciplinary teams.

This module focuses on the use of learning theories and pedagogic principles as a conceptual lens through which to view practice. It provides practitioners with an opportunity to increase their understanding of the field of pedagogy in order to develop a conceptual base from which to refine and critique their practice. Students enrolled on this module will be required to write a report as well as design and deliver a presentation to provide practitioners with underpinning knowledge that will allow them to develop more pedagogically aware practice.

You will undertake an extended literature review in an area of your choice, supported by an academic supervisor.

This module will bridge the gap between the student’s academic preparation and the real world environment. Students are required to source and complete 200 hours of industry- based placement in a pre-approved environment.

Please visit our document library for more module information.

Further module information

How you'll study

We're committed to supporting you to fulfil your unique potential while you're here so that you can achieve your personal and professional goals.

Your support network

You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one. This will range from your lecturers, supervisors and personal tutor to our specialist academic (Achievement and Success Centre), employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) and wellbeing teams.

Your learning experiences

You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your understanding of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions.

Further details

One year, full-time

You can study each of these qualifications full-time and subsequently complete each within one year.

Two-three years, part-time

Alternatively, we offer flexible part-time options to help students to manage their studies alongside other commitments. These options can be tailored to suit your own needs, enabling you to complete your qualification in two or three years. Please enquire for further details.

Upon successful completion of your modules you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain may contribute towards your final master’s degree differential award (pass, merit or distinction).

The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops, practical sessions and online delivery – alongside independent learning. Students are expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour.

The course is taught in English.

	Contact learning	Placement learning	Independent learning
MSc degree	11%	0%	89%
Postgraduate Diploma	15%	0%	85%
Postgraduate Certificate	14%	0%	86%

Teaching contact time and method will vary depending on the module that you are studying.

You'll be assessed through a mixture of practical exams and written assignments. Many of the modules will be marked based on a mixture of assessment types, whilst others will be based solely on one type of assessment.

Feedback will be given in written form, with the option to discuss all feedback with academic staff.

	Written exam	Practical exam	Coursework
MSc degree	0%	27%	73%
Postgraduate Diploma	0%	28%	72%
Postgraduate Certificate	0%	19%	81%

This master’s course is made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different topics.

Semesters normally consisting of 12 weeks of scheduled teaching and then assessment weeks, with an overview below:

Scheduled teaching generally takes place across block weekends (Friday – Sunday)
Delivery on the teaching weekends is normally scheduled between 9.00am – 5.00pm
Part-time students typically study for fewer block weekends across an academic year
Attendance dates and timetables are available before enrolment to support the arrangement of annual leave where required

View term dates

Employability

Your career

To support you to apply theory to practice, we recommend you to be working in a coaching role alongside your studies. Students sometimes secure voluntary roles with our own performance and development sports teams on campus to support their learning, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Career destinations for the degree include:

Professional sports coach
PhD study
School sport coach
University or college lecturer
Community or developmental coach

Facilities

World-class facilities

You’ll have access to a diverse range of facilities while you’re here, many of which are newly built and world-class. Alongside lectures halls and workshop spaces, these include:

Sports Academy

Our new world-leading Sports Academy provides students with the opportunity to utilise industry-relevant equipment and facilities. Our new performance analysis suite and IP cameras in both outdoor and indoor spaces support the capturing of coaching sessions followed by exploration and development of practice.

Female student in Hartpury library - the University Learning Centre

Study spaces

Our University Learning Centre has books, journals, ebooks, computers and breakout study spaces. In addition, we have a study Lounge - an informal space with sports equipment, study booths and chill-out spaces to support both studying and relaxation. Postgraduate students also have a specially designated study area with 24-hour access.

Entry requirements

Academic

2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject. Students with 2:2 and relevant experience will be considered on a case by case basis.

Non-academic

Students with non-relevant qualifications but with sufficient work experience or professional experience will be considered on an individual basis.

International

In addition to the academic qualification an IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required.

Please contact us for further information:

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Fees and funding

Tuition fees and financial support

Please visit our student finance page for information on tuition fees and student loans, as well as non-repayable grants, bursaries and scholarships, eligible to different groups, to support with study costs.

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Studentship scheme

Our Postgraduate Studentship Scheme provides a fantastic development opportunity, enabling you to complement your postgraduate study with important real-world research within a paid position at Hartpury.

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Performance Sports Academies

Find out costs and details for joining one of our Sports Academies.

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Gym

Find out costs and details for joining the Hartpury gym.

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Accommodation and living costs

Please visit our student accommodation page for details.

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World Leading

Our research has been recognised as ‘world-leading’ and international excellent’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Top 10

We’re in the top 10 UK universities for teaching quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023)

100%

100% of our Postgraduate Certificate Sports Coaching graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes, 2022)*

A high-quality environment

Develop your knowledge in a high-quality academic environment, whilst applying theory to practice in real-world employment or extra-curricular settings.

Combine academic and industry expertise

Learn from lecturers and professors who are also coaching practitioners for international, national and local clubs, as well as our own performance Sports Academy teams.

SUCCESS STORIES

Ryszard Chadwick

Hartpury graduate and Development Manager, Play Rugby USA

“Hartpury provides a great environment to get better and better – whether you’re competing in sport, coaching it, or learning.

I gained a lot of practical experience as part of the degree and was able to coach one of the Hartpury rugby teams alongside my studies. The lecturers are passionate about their subjects and helping people; it’s like being coached rather than taught, because of the specialist skill sets and real experiences they have.”

Ryszard Chadwick MSc Sports Coaching postgraduate and Development Manager for Play Rugby USA coaches students at Hartpury’s 360-hectare campus

Tim Bell

Hartpury graduate and Head of Performance Analysis, Cheltenham Town FC

“I combined my studies with coaching and eventually accepted a full-time role as Hartpury’s senior football coach and Elite Sport support officer.

The opportunity to study and coach in the elite sports programmes enabled me to learn from the best and I supported my development through coach education courses and networking. The invaluable experience and contacts I made undoubtedly led to me securing my current role.”

Tim Bell MSc Sports Coaching postgraduate student Head of Performance Analysis at Cheltenham Town FC working as the Takoradi head coach in Ghana

Justin Smith

Hartpury graduate and Performance Analyst and Team Manager, Hartpury Rugby Academy

“Hartpury University has helped me to grow as an individual both as a coach and person. I have also had opportunities to work with Gloucester Rugby and build contacts with other clubs, and to go and see how England Rugby train. All this has come from being involved in Hartpury and being able to put myself out there.

Going from undergraduate to postgraduate study and working as a coach shows how the opportunities at Hartpury University are endless and has allowed me to create a career, which hopefully will take me on an exciting journey in the future.”

Justin Smith MSc Sports Coaching postgraduate student and Performance Analyst and Team Manager for the Hartpury Rugby Academy

Dr. Martin Longworth

Programme Manager, MSc Sports Coaching

“My research focuses on the sociology of sports coaching and pedagogy, specifically examining the complexity of the inter-active coaching context, and how practitioners manage the power-ridden dilemmas that arise.

As a UEFA ‘A’ Licence coaching practitioner (Hartpury Uni FC Head Coach) and coach educator (FAW B Licence Tutor), I’m able to combine theoretical knowledge with applied experiences to enhance student learning.”

Dr Martin Longworth Programme Manager for MSc Sports Coaching postgraduate degree courses at Hartpury University

Dr Martin Longworth Programme Manager for MSc Sports Coaching postgraduate degree courses at Hartpury University teaching students

Get in touch

We would love to hear from you, so please get in touch. You can ask a specific question or simply pop your details in to be kept up-to-date with news and events.

Apply now

You can apply for the MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate in Sports Coaching via our website.

Apply now

Further course details

For further details about this course, including the programme specification and module descriptions, please visit our document library.

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Your journey

As a small and specialist university, we're ideally placed to support you on your journey into postgraduate study and beyond.

Postgraduate study is a valuable investment, made possible for many by the funding available.

Benefit from an academic support network to help you adjust to postgraduate study.

Enjoy a virtual tour of our 360-hectare campus and leading facilities.

Join a community of students from over 60 countries worldwide.

Important information

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are reviewed and developed regularly. Changes or cancellation of courses may be necessary to ensure alignment with emerging employment areas, to comply with accrediting body requirements, revisions to subject benchmark statements or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make necessary changes and will notify all offer-holders of changes as and when they occur.

*Reflects activities after 15 months for those who graduated in 2020.