Course information
Top-up your existing qualifications to a full BSc degree in one year. Top-up courses are equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree and allow you to 'top-up' an existing qualification into a full honours degree.
Students joining Hartpury via this route will undertake an undergraduate dissertation (research project), as well as choosing from further modules which include Strategic Management, Sponsorship and Brand Development, The Impact of Sports Events, People, Leadership and Change, Sport and Social Media and Project Management.
Academic requirements
- A pass at Foundation Degree or HND in a business or sport related subject or a recognised 3-year Ontario Sports Management Diploma
- We welcome students with equivalent qualifications; please contact us to discuss
Non-academic options
- We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you
- Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course
International students
- We welcome applications from international students and accept international qualifications at equivalent levels to the above
- You may also need to evidence proficiency in English language
Please contact us for further information.
Your career
Our course is strongly linked with the local sporting community, providing you with a broad range of opportunities to develop their coaching skills, gain valuable experiences, and developing connections needed for your graduate career.
Work experience
Our performance sports teams offer opportunities for students to gain industry experience ready for their careers. You could get involved with performance analysis, and coaching, as well as management roles. There are also opportunities for you to work with some of our partner sports clubs, schools and organisations. Many students go on to graduate roles with these employers.
Graduate destinations
Our sports coaching graduates work in a range of sport, exercise, and health and wellbeing areas in the performance, school and community sports sectors. Studying sports coaching also develops the skills needed for other graduate careers. Recent graduate destinations have included:
- Football Coach, Paris Saint Germain
- Rugby coach, Play Rugby USA
- Rowing coach, Canterbury Christchurch College
- Head of Sport, private school
- Sport Development lead, Young Gloucestershire
- Performance Analyst, Gloucester Rugby
- Lecturer, Hartpury College
We're committed to supporting you to fulfil your unique potential, which is why you'll receive a minimum of 15 hours of scheduled teaching time per week in your first year - this is 25% above the UK average.
Your support network
You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.
Academic support
You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.
Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.
Your learning experiences
You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.
Your career
Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.
Course information
Overview
Top-up your existing qualifications to a full BSc degree in one year. Top-up courses are equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree and allow you to 'top-up' an existing qualification into a full honours degree.
Students joining Hartpury via this route will undertake an undergraduate dissertation (research project), as well as choosing from further modules which include Strategic Management, Sponsorship and Brand Development, The Impact of Sports Events, People, Leadership and Change, Sport and Social Media and Project Management.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
- A pass at Foundation Degree or HND in a business or sport related subject or a recognised 3-year Ontario Sports Management Diploma
- We welcome students with equivalent qualifications; please contact us to discuss
Non-academic options
- We may interview mature applicants and those with non-traditional qualifications to ensure this is the right course for you
- Previous learning towards a university-level qualification or relevant work experience may count as credit for this course
International students
- We welcome applications from international students and accept international qualifications at equivalent levels to the above
- You may also need to evidence proficiency in English language
Please contact us for further information.
Employability
Your career
Our course is strongly linked with the local sporting community, providing you with a broad range of opportunities to develop their coaching skills, gain valuable experiences, and developing connections needed for your graduate career.
Work experience
Our performance sports teams offer opportunities for students to gain industry experience ready for their careers. You could get involved with performance analysis, and coaching, as well as management roles. There are also opportunities for you to work with some of our partner sports clubs, schools and organisations. Many students go on to graduate roles with these employers.
Graduate destinations
Our sports coaching graduates work in a range of sport, exercise, and health and wellbeing areas in the performance, school and community sports sectors. Studying sports coaching also develops the skills needed for other graduate careers. Recent graduate destinations have included:
- Football Coach, Paris Saint Germain
- Rugby coach, Play Rugby USA
- Rowing coach, Canterbury Christchurch College
- Head of Sport, private school
- Sport Development lead, Young Gloucestershire
- Performance Analyst, Gloucester Rugby
- Lecturer, Hartpury College
How you'll study
We're committed to supporting you to fulfil your unique potential, which is why you'll receive a minimum of 15 hours of scheduled teaching time per week in your first year - this is 25% above the UK average.
Your support network
You'll benefit from a strong support network from day one to be the best you can be. This will range from your personal tutor and specialist academic support team (our Achievement and Success Centre) to dedicated wellbeing and employability (Innovation, Careers and Enterprise) centres.
Academic support
You’ll have your own personal tutor while you’re here who will support you to succeed in your studies. You’ll also have access to our academic and wellbeing support teams who run regular workshops and one-to-one sessions on campus and online.
Alongside this, we have a comprehensive bank of online study skills resources to help you make the most of your qualification.
Your learning experiences
You'll experience a range of teaching methods to strengthen your digestion of topics, including lectures, workshops and practical sessions, as well as supported work placement learning as part of many courses.
Your career
Each year of your course will be made up of two semesters, within which you’ll study compulsory and optional modules on different industry-focused topics, enabling you to develop your own unique portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience, ready for your career. The course is taught in English.
Modules
What you'll study
This course is completed over one year and contains compulsory modules covering research and professional development, as well as a series of optional modules.
Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands - you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modules before deciding which ones to study.
Module credits
The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions. In support of this delivery you’ll be expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour.
You’ll improve your research and personal development skills through two compulsory modules. One requires you to undertake a research project of your choice, with the other focusing on improving your employability skills, ready for the sports industry.
A wide range of optional modules give you the chance to really focus on the areas that interest you most, and to best suit your career goals.
Compulsory Modules
Independent research and analysis in a related area of your choice.
Optional Modules
People, Leadership and Change
Exploring the structure, diversity and culture of organisations in relation to leadership and change management.
Strategic Management
This module allows students to explore the strategic practices and principles utilised by global companies. Through an appreciation key external and internal impact factors students will put theory into practice and create a new strategic direction for an allocated organisation.
The Impact of Sports Events
The impact of sports events module provides a range of event examples to illustrate the opportunities and challenges associated with hosting a large-scale sporting event. This module enables critical thinking about the bidding, planning, hosting and evaluation of events from the perspective of multiple stakeholders.
Study the impact of social media in relation to fan-generated content, as a complex communication tool for sports organisations.
Create a new sponsorship relationship that achieves brand-awareness or brand exposure for a business of your choice.
Develop an awareness of project management concepts and applications in readiness for one of many graduate roles in project management.
Modules
Overview
What you'll study
This course is completed over one year and contains compulsory modules covering research and professional development, as well as a series of optional modules.
Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands - you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modules before deciding which ones to study.
Module credits
The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions. In support of this delivery you’ll be expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour.
Level Six (year one)
You’ll improve your research and personal development skills through two compulsory modules. One requires you to undertake a research project of your choice, with the other focusing on improving your employability skills, ready for the sports industry.
A wide range of optional modules give you the chance to really focus on the areas that interest you most, and to best suit your career goals.
Compulsory Modules
Independent research and analysis in a related area of your choice.
Optional Modules
People, Leadership and Change
Exploring the structure, diversity and culture of organisations in relation to leadership and change management.
Strategic Management
This module allows students to explore the strategic practices and principles utilised by global companies. Through an appreciation key external and internal impact factors students will put theory into practice and create a new strategic direction for an allocated organisation.
The Impact of Sports Events
The impact of sports events module provides a range of event examples to illustrate the opportunities and challenges associated with hosting a large-scale sporting event. This module enables critical thinking about the bidding, planning, hosting and evaluation of events from the perspective of multiple stakeholders.
Study the impact of social media in relation to fan-generated content, as a complex communication tool for sports organisations.
Create a new sponsorship relationship that achieves brand-awareness or brand exposure for a business of your choice.
Develop an awareness of project management concepts and applications in readiness for one of many graduate roles in project management.
The modules contain a mixture of scheduled learning – lectures, workshops and practical sessions – alongside independent learning. Students are expected to dedicate at least two to three hours of independent study per contact hour.
| Year | Contact learning | Placement learning | Independent learning |
| Level six (year one) | 18% | 0% | 82% |
You’ll be assessed through a mixture of written exams, practical exams, written assignments and presentations. 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 using a mixture of verbal and written comments; these will be offered to help you achieve your goals as a student on this programme. In support of this, your personal tutor will be available to help you build upon feedback and develop skills that are necessary for a sports graduate.
| Year | Written exam | Practical exam | Coursework |
| Level six (year one) | 0% | 44% | 56% |
This programme is taught over two semesters, normally consisting of 12 weeks of scheduled teaching and then assessment weeks, with an overview below:
- Scheduled teaching takes place between 8:30 to 20:30 Monday to Friday
- Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities
- Work placements may entail different days and hours
- Part-time students may need to attend learning activities five days each week, depending on modules selected
- Timetables are available during enrolment week
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.
Below, you'll find extra costs associated with studying this course.
Clothing and footwear
Clothing and footwear will be dependent upon your option module choices; consequently, you’ll be advised of these requirements when you start your course.
Additional costs
In the final year of the degree, students are expected to source an external placement that meets the accredited criteria. This may have additional travel costs.
Hartpury University may host various extra-curricular activities and courses, prices may vary dependent on the nature and duration of the course and external provider, but these are not compulsory.
Work placements can require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, paid for by the student or placement provider.
The programme offers an optional study abroad programme that will incur additional costs for the student.
Performance Sports Academy membership
Find out costs and details for joining one of our performance Sports Academy teams.
Hartpury gym
Find out about costs and details for joining the Hartpury gym.
Association for Project Management (optional)
You’ll have the opportunity to complete the Association for Project Management (APM) - Project Fundamentals qualification.
Accommodation and living costs
Please visit our student accommodation page for details.
Our Resource Library is where you'll find all the essential details about Hartpury University's courses. It includes Programme and Module Specifications, along with Course Information Sheets for every course. You can easily download a complete revision history for each of these, clearly showing the dates changes were made.
Course Information Sheets: These are PDF versions of the course webpages. They provide an overview of the course, what to expect during your studies, and the topics covered.
Programme Specifications: These are detailed, validated documents containing academic specifics for each programme. They include descriptions of the programme, its aims, learning outcomes, year and module structure, as well as teaching, learning, and assessment strategies.
Module Specifications: Each Programme consists of several Modules. Our Module Specifications outline the topics covered and the expected outcomes for students studying each Module.
If you’re playing sport competitively, or you have the talent and drive to do so, you may want to join one of our Sports Academies. Over 200 international athletes have developed their talents with us over the past 10 years. You could be our next success story. We're a semi-professional sports environment offering world-class facilities and professional coaching and support services.
Settle into an accommodation option to suit your taste and budget – at Hartpury University, undergraduate students can choose to live on-campus surrounded by Gloucestershire’s beautiful countryside or off-campus in the heart of Gloucester City centre. Enjoy the best of both worlds.
We can help you understand how it all works, and what you need to do next. Find out everything you need to know about tuition fees, student loans and bursaries and scholarships. In 2021/22, we provided assistance to over 1/3 of our students through bursaries, scholarships and grants, totalling a little under £1million.
TEF Gold
Our undergraduate provision has been awarded Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold in all aspects - Overall, Student Experience, and Student Outcomes.
Teaching quality
Ranked in the top 10 universities for teaching quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
Graduate employability
97% of our graduates are in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes, 2024).
Academic support
We’re a top 10 university for academic support (NSS 2025, UK universities).
"Being immersed in a high performance environment at Hartpury, both academically and practically, you develop a mindset that allows you to push yourself to perform at a higher level. That ethos and culture has helped me to take the path that I'm on now."
Dan Holloway, Nike Football UK Head Coach
"Being immersed in a high performance environment at Hartpury, both academically and practically, you develop a mindset that allows you to push yourself to perform at a higher level. That ethos and culture has helped me to take the path that I'm on now."
Dan Holloway, Nike Football UK Head Coach
Get in touch
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.
Related courses
BSc (Hons) Sport Performance (Top-up Level 6)
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BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching
Develop your coaching expertise with a programme tailored to your career ambitions. In year two you’ll choose between Community Coaching or Performance Coaching, allowing you to specialise in the area that aligns with your goals.
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Sciences
Work with the next generation of student athletes, improving their performance through sports and exercise science. Learn in our dedicated Human Performance and Biomechanics Laboratories, which are kitted out with technology used by Premier League and NFL teams.
Our partners & accreditations
