Sport Science and Coaching (with foundation year)

Your foundation year is the start of your journey where you’ll be introduced to scientific aspects of sport, exercise, and physical activity for health. You’ll take part in lots of practical sessions to apply your theory, developing skills sought by employers and preparing you for potential postgraduate study.

You can’t become a great coach without doing it for real. At NTU, we’ll give you lots of opportunities to do just that. Thanks to our fantastic links with NTU sports clubs, junior teams and local sport organisations, you’ll get to experience coaching at every level.

You’ll be exploring why coaching is as important for professional sport as it is at grassroots level; and you will develop an understanding of what makes an effective coach. This will all be backed up with developing your core knowledge of sport science.

The course provides opportunities to get involved in a research and consultancy project, all benefiting from our strong connections with a host of leading sport and leisure organisations. These include Nottingham Rugby Club, England Hockey and Nottingham Forest Football Club.

This degree combines study of the rapidly expanding field of sport and exercise science, along with the more vocational area of coaching. You will approach coaching using scientific, evidence-based techniques. This will enable you to apply scientific sports principles to improve sports performance while developing vocational expertise.

Sport and Wellbeing Academy
Each year a number of our Sport Science students get the chance to work in our Sport and Wellbeing Academy. This exciting opportunity allows you to apply some of the theory you've learned in a real-world environment and develop the skills needed for working in industry. Working alongside our experienced Senior Exercise Practitioners you'll have the opportunity to deliver exercise programmes to help improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.

You can also work with local schools to implement 'The Daily Mile' which improves the fitness and concentration of their pupils. NTU's sports teams are currently in the top ten in the BUCS league (British Universities and Colleges Sport). Our aim is to reach the top and working in the Academy gives you the opportunity to work with our teams on their training, performance and nutrition to make this dream a reality.

Chartered institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)
You’ll have the opportunity to take your CIMSPA Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer qualification alongside your degree. By becoming part of CIMSPA, which is the largest community of qualified exercise professionals, you not only boost your graduate employability but also create a foundation for ongoing career growth. It's a fantastic way to start your journey in the world of sport science and fitness.

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is recognised as one of the UK's top three universities, ranking 1st for Course Quality and top five for Student Life and Employability (University Compare 2027).

Nottingham is one of the UK's top student cities and is located in one of England's most affordable regions. With more than 15,000 student rooms within walking distance of campus, there's accommodation to suit every budget. NTU also guarantees first-year accommodation for students studying in Nottingham (T&Cs apply).

Across five campuses in Nottingham and London, students benefit from world-class facilities, innovative learning spaces and a vibrant community. Whether you live on campus or commute, NTU offers an accessible and supportive student experience.

At NTU, you'll graduate with experience, not just a degree. Every course includes at least eight weeks of professional experience, backed by strong employer links, placement opportunities and long-term career support. NTU also offers Gold-rated teaching (TEF 2023) and is recognised for its high-quality teaching, excellent learning resources and student support.

Join NTU this September for academic excellence, career-focused learning and a thriving student community.