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LOCATION
Docklands Campus
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
The impact of the 2012 Olympics and the rise in childhood obesity and other health problems means there's probably never been a greater interest in the role that sport and exercise plays in people's lives.
So where better, then, to study the subject in depth than in London's Olympic heartland and at a university which takes sport and its role in the community so seriously?
It's an exciting time to be involved in the sports industry. It's growing and evolving as successive governments recognise the need for people to be active. Our course reflects this with its inclusive approach to sport and PE.
We'll ensure you're ready to deliver physical education or work in a community setting to improve people's lives, both during your degree and in your subsequent career.
You'll also explore ways of encouraging as many people as possible to throw themselves into sport and physical activity, particularly young people and those with disabilities.
The extended BSc (Hons) Sport, Physical Education and Development with Foundation Year is perfect if you want a degree but don't have the standard entry requirements.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
You'll share your first year on the course with your colleagues on the Sports Coaching and Sport and Exercise Science courses. The beauty of this is that you can keep your options open until the end of your first year in case you want to switch to one of the other courses.
In that first year, you'll investigate the way in which sport has developed to become the multi-billion pound industry that it is today. You'll also get to grips with the basics of the human body and how it works by studying human performance, along with sports psychology and essential coaching principles.
In year two, the focus will be on developing your knowledge and skills in relation to being an effective teacher/coach capable of working with a wide range of people. You'll also be able to take optional modules on anything from physiological and nutritional assessment to examining how to create and implement a specific training programme. It all depends on your own interests.
By year three, you'll be concentrating on your independent research project and you'll undertake a work placement. We've developed a number of excellent placement opportunities with partners including community providers such as West Ham United, Leyton Orient and activeNewham, as well as a number of primary and secondary schools.
MODULES
- Core Modules
Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology CloseIntroduction to Anatomy & Physiology
Physical Health & Wellbeing in Sport ClosePhysical Health & Wellbeing in Sport
Psychological Influences on Health & Wellbeing in Sport & Physical Activity ClosePsychological Influences on Health & Wellbeing in Sport & Physical Activity
Academic & Communication Skills in Sports CloseAcademic & Communication Skills in Sports
Career and Professional Development in Sports (Mental Wealth) CloseCareer and Professional Development in Sports (Mental Wealth)
Sports Development & Coaching CloseSports Development & Coaching
Optional ModulesWork Placement CloseWork Placement
- Core Modules
Essential Skills for Sport (Mental Wealth) CloseEssential Skills for Sport (Mental Wealth)
You will be able to develop the academic, interpersonal and communication skills necessary for effective learning and employment in the sport, exercise and physical activity industries. In addition, you will be introduced to professional, ethical and reflective practice skills specific to their discipline. You will then be able to recognise the importance of research and academic skills for university and working life.
Anatomy & Physiology for Sport CloseAnatomy & Physiology for Sport
This module will introduce you to the body systems and the basis of human performance. The module will also examine the physiological levels of organisation in the human body and their function in facilitating physical activity.
Coaching Principles CloseCoaching Principles
This module will introduce you to the fundamental academic and principle components underpinning sports coaching. A further aim of the module is to consider broader issues (e.g., health and safety, risk management, equality, inclusion) affecting the coach while operating in his/her sporting environment. The module will provide you with the opportunity to develop theoretical understanding of coaching in both a classroom and practical setting. At the end of this module you will be able to deliver a well-managed coaching session as part of a group, inclusive of all fundamental coaching principles.
Development of Sport CloseDevelopment of Sport
In this module you will develop an understanding of how sport has changed and evolved over time to create sport as we experience it in the modern world. This will be achieved by introducing you to the key historical, social and cultural processes that have underpinned the development of modern sport and which affect its consumption today. As part of this you will study topics such as media and sport, commercialisation, the evolution of the Olympic Games, social differences and ethical issues, such as doping in sport.
Sports Leadership & Management CloseSports Leadership & Management
This module aims to introduce structures, principles and processes underpinning leadership & management within sports-related organisations. You will also develop an understanding of management theory and how to effectively lead organisations, organise people and formulate groups within sports related settings.
Psychological Aspects of Sport ClosePsychological Aspects of Sport
This module will introduce you to psychological aspects of sport. This will involve focusing on a range of psychological theoretical frameworks and their application to the sport domains.
- Core Modules
Inclusion in Youth Sport & PE CloseInclusion in Youth Sport & PE
The module will be issues based and will build on some theoretical perspectives for the inclusion and exclusion of youth through sport. You will be involved in sociological analysis of issues of equity and social exclusion/ inclusion - e.g. 'race', gender, ethnicity, disability, body pedagogies and contemporary youth sport settings. Theoretical analysis will be used to further develop depth and breadth of understanding of these issues and implications for teachers and coaches.
Principles & Practice in Teaching & Coaching ClosePrinciples & Practice in Teaching & Coaching
This module aims to allow you to explore and gain a fuller understanding of both the similarities and fundamental differences between teaching and coaching in relation to children and young people. You will be encouraged to recognise and develop your understanding of what constitutes 'good practice' in relation to both professions as well as an appreciation of how this can be achieved and evaluated.
Disability, Sport and PE CloseDisability, Sport and PE
The main focus of this module will be to engage you in the process of being able to deliver inclusive and engaging practical sports sessions targeting people with different types and levels of impairment. As part of the module you will be involved in the delivery of an event for school-aged children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Along the way to this practical delivery, you will investigate and analyse the wider issues and processes involved in the development of an effective range of provision for disabled people within a sporting and/or physical education environment. The investigation will include an analysis of wider sociological issues relating to disabled people and how these have a major bearing on sporting/physical education provision.
Research Methods & Design (Mental Wealth) CloseResearch Methods & Design (Mental Wealth)
This module will support you to develop skills that enable you to conceptualise, plan, analyse and interpret experiments that answer real world problems. The focus will be on research methods as applied to professional practice through the monitoring of change that occurs in outcomes specific to your chosen career path. The module will also continue to develop your level of critical thinking through interpretation and synthesis of secondary data.
Sport & PE Policy CloseSport & PE Policy
In this module you will gain an insight into the political and policy-making processes and models that underlie sport and P.E. provision, and the governing structures that maintain it. Throughout this module you will examine the organisational requirements at national and local level for sport and PE delivery and development in light of current government policy.
Community Sport Development CloseCommunity Sport Development
The aim of this module is to prepare you for work in a sector emerging from Sports Development. The role of a Community Sports Development Officer is to plan, organise and deliver inclusive activities for all of the community. This module will also equip you with the skills and knowledge required to support these local initiatives from a community sports organisation's perspective. You will also gain an understanding of the community role that professional sports organisations can have in supporting a community and making a positive impact in some of society's inequalities. You will learn the historical details behind community sports development and will be introduced to intricate elements of community sports events and programmes including partnerships, funding, innovation, design, delivery and evaluation.
- Core Modules
Applied Research Project in Sport CloseApplied Research Project in Sport
To encourage you to work independently and under supervision with an academic member of staff to produce a project that demonstrates your ability to research and/or explore an applied topic in sport and exercise science/therapy. You will communicate your findings to a range of audiences such as coaches, clinicians, physical educators and sport scientists.
Students will choose between our Applied Research Project in Sport 20-credit module plus our Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Sport 20-credit module or the Independent Research Project 40-credit module.
Independent Research Project CloseIndependent Research Project
To encourage you to work independently and under supervision with an academic member of staff to produce a project that demonstrates your ability to research and/or explore an applied topic in sport and exercise science/therapy. You will communicate your findings to a range of audiences such as coaches, clinicians, physical educators and sport scientists.
Students will choose between our Applied Research Project in Sport 20-credit module plus our Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Sport 20-credit module or the Independent Research Project 40-credit module.
Developing the Healthy Child CloseDeveloping the Healthy Child
This module will allow you to explore holistically a wide range of issues related to the health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 3-18. From a policy perspective, you will be encouraged to evaluate the wide range of programmes and initiatives that exist in this area originating from government departments responsible for health and physical activity. Your knowledge and understanding of both strategic and practical contexts will be challenged in preparation potentially for work in this field.
Applied Teaching Practice CloseApplied Teaching Practice
This module will encourage you to evaluate the range of issues and processes involved in the development and delivery of Physical Education for children and young people aged 3+. You will undertake research tasks to help them understand and analyse the current thinking and action in this area. This will be underpinned by a review of the wider issues in society and the practical principles upon which they are based. The relationships between P.E in the curriculum, extra-curricular provision and provision in the community will be a particular focus for you. Your knowledge and understanding of both strategic and practical contexts will be challenged in preparation potentially for work in this field.
Education & Development in Sport (Employability) (Mental Wealth) CloseEducation & Development in Sport (Employability) (Mental Wealth)
This module seeks to prepare you for two crucial modules in the final term of their degree (Research Project and Work Placement (Practice)), as well as looking ahead to preparing you for entering further study or the work place post-graduation. The module will achieve this in two ways. Firstly, by focusing you on your career path options and identifying organisations in which you might potentially carry out your work placement and/or work in the future. You will analyse these options and then carry out a detailed study of one organisation. The second way will be by working with you as you develop your topic for the final research study, including the finalising and approval of any ethics application required. This will build on the proposal completed at level 5.
Disability, Sport & Society CloseDisability, Sport & Society
This module will help you to identify the nature of inequalities experienced by people with disabilities within sport and society. It will explore equity and examine theoretical perspectives used to articulate it within sport, leisure and society.
This module will introduce relevant sociological concepts and theories and will use these to develop your understanding of how sociocultural contexts shape participation, engagement and learning in lifelong sport. It will also engage you in a critical and academic justification of the position of disability within society.
Work Placement (Practice) CloseWork Placement (Practice)
This module aims to develop your experience and appreciation of the work environment related directly to your programme and future career aspirations. This will seek to develop effectively focused knowledge and skills in relation to subject-specific and contemporary issues in professional practice.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
You'll learn through a mixture of theory and applied practice, based at SportsDock. This superb facility at our Docklands campus symbolises the ambition and quality of all our sports courses. It's so good that the mighty Team USA chose it as their training base to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.
You'll be taught by specialists in different areas. Specialists such as Nadia Grubnic, a PE expert who has researched the London 2012 legacy.
Our extensive industry contacts mean we can set up exciting work placements for our third-year undergraduates. Some of our students have the opportunity to work at the West Ham United Foundation. They include Richard Robins, who's been helping to coach young goalkeepers at West Ham United's football academy.
Vinay Ladhani is working on the new 'Park Champions' volunteers project at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, developing opportunities for disabled people to make best use of the facilities on offer. Meanwhile, several of our other current students are involved in PE projects in local schools.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
We'll assess you with a mixture of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project. Most of the assessment in your first year is by coursework and we'll give you as much feedback as possible.
The balance of coursework and exams in year two will depend on your optional choices. In your third year, half of your assessment will be based on research coursework and a work placement.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

Docklands Campus, Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Related Courses
What we're researching
At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.
Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
Our sports courses have rapidly built up a reputation for producing independent self-starters. The feedback we receive from our work placement clients is invariably positive. Employers want UEL sports graduates.
First of all, we've been producing terrific PE teachers for years. They've come from a variety of backgrounds. Take Dave Rainford. As his football career was winding down, the Dagenham and Redbridge midfielder decided to tackle our course and is now a senior teacher at a top sports school in Barking.
If you want to pursue a professional academic teaching qualification, you could go on to do a year-long, full-time PGCE at UEL or take our Master's degree in Sports Management.
Several of our graduates are now working for activeNewham, the borough's sports arm. They include Nicole Napier, one of their team leaders, whose work in encouraging local girls to take part in sport led to her being nominated for a recent Sky Sports award.
As sport's importance in society is increasingly recognised, the opportunities open to you just grow and grow. You could move into sports coaching, become a community sports worker or end up managing a sports facility.
With good communication and presentation skills, you could work as a development officer for a sports governing body or a community organisation. The sporting world is your oyster.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.