Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport

Want to combine your interest in sport with a career in education? Covering practical and academic skills, this course offers a smooth transition to teacher training and roles in sport environments.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE:

RANKINGS: 100% of students on our Sport and Education course agreed that staff are good at explaining things in the National Student Survey 2025. Our Sport and Exercise subject area was also ranked in the Top 15 for learning resources and in the Top 25 for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2025.


- INDUSTRY APPROVED: We have developed this course in consultation with key stakeholders from both the sports industry and the education sector so that it matches employers’ needs. You’ll engage with our extensive professional networks, including opportunities for work experience, coaching practice and industry-backed research.


- PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE: Our links with sports clubs, schools, colleges, and local authorities will open doors for you to undertake work placements, coaching practice and research. You’ll also get involved in delivering sport sessions to groups of different ages and abilities; an experience that will help you stand out in the job market.


- ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Enhance your skills portfolio and take part in additional training to add further professional qualifications to your CV, including coaching badges and other awards given by the national governing bodies for specific sports.


- COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING: Discover vital insights into the importance of the sport coach as an educator, drawing on disciplines such as educational psychology and human development.


- HEAR FROM THE PROFESSIONALS: We regularly invite professional coaches, elite athletes and education specialists to deliver guest lectures and share their remarkable experiences with you.


- EXPERT TEACHING: You’ll learn from highly qualified experts who boast a wealth of professional experience – tutors who themselves combine education and sport every day in their work.


WHAT YOU'LL COVER:
• You’ll study core modules in Sport and Education, to provide you with a fundamental understanding and the practical skills and experiences to work within a sport and education environment. You’ll then go on to advance your knowledge of the principles of training and have the opportunity to apply this within community initiatives. In your final year, learning how to be adaptive and manage behaviour will prepare you for a dynamic, hands-on career in sport education.


HOW YOU'RE ASSESSED:


• A variety of assessment methods are used during the course, which include essays, written and practical exams, reports, portfolios, and presentations. In addition to final module assessments, you will receive feedback on your performance throughout the course enabling learning and progression.



YOUR CAREER:


• Discover a wide range of career opportunities when you graduate from this course – you can opt to take one of the many routes into teaching sport and physical education by completing the PGCE relevant to the age group you’d like to teach, or you may choose to work in sport development or coaching environments.



STUDY OPTIONS:


• This course is available with a Foundation Year option.



• This course is also available with an Industrial Placement Year.

Based solely on more than 24,000 student reviews, we were named Uni Compare's University of the Year 2027, and voted 1st in the UK for employability and 2nd in the UK for course quality. Not only that, but 97% of students would recommend the University of Derby*, which we can offer you industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, multi-award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

*Uni Compare 2027