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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
A degree with West Ham United Foundation and the world-famous West Ham United Academy, will push you closer to your desired career in football, sport and coaching.
The University of East London and West Ham United (WHU) Foundation have partnered to create a unique collaborative degree programme in Sports Coaching & Performance, giving students an exclusive opportunity to work alongside one of the best youth academies in the world; WHU Academy, better known as 'The Academy of Football'.
The degree combines a mixture of practical, theory and work-based learning and has been uniquely designed to embed industry experts throughout the duration of the course, with WHU Academy and WHU Foundation delivering on half of the modules.
Students learn the principles underpinning high quality coaching and explore how to create an environment for high performance athletes to thrive.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Our lecturers are highly qualified, experienced and extremely committed to helping you succeed whilst you are studying with us and will continue to push you to excel in your subject area. We are proud that our staff have a background working in elite sport for multiple leading organisations such as Manchester City FC, Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Rugby Football Union, London Lions, Essex CC, the Premier League, English FA and London Marathon.
From the first term, you'll be introduced to the fundamentals of coaching and human performance as well as the skills needed for a successful career in sport and exercise. In years two and three the programme concentrates on a number of key areas to prepare you to work in the sports industry, including; sports coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, athlete management, talent identification and sport psychology.
You'll also be introduced to various research methods in preparation for your third-year project, which will be on a subject of specific interest to you. For instance, one of our students shadowed a leading coach and examined the role that natural instinct and gut feeling play in modern coaching.
Throughout the course you'll also be provided with the opportunity to complete funded FA Level 1 and 2 Coaching certificates to complement your degree which will help you to stand out from other graduates.
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
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.
Coaching Practice CloseCoaching Practice
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.
Talent and Performance CloseTalent and Performance
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
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.
Applied Sports Coaching CloseApplied Sports Coaching
Performance Analysis ClosePerformance Analysis
The purpose of this module is to enable you to apply and adapt scientific, coaching and sporting knowledge for the use and application of performance analysis techniques to a range of activities. This module develops the theoretical underpinnings of effective performance analysis and enables you to develop their performance analysis skills in practice. You will study key aspects of the performance analysis process related to knowledge of tactics, strategies and systems of play within individual and team sports.
Performance Training Programmes ClosePerformance Training Programmes
Applying Specialist Performance CloseApplying Specialist Performance
Athlete Management CloseAthlete Management
To develop an understanding and knowledge of managing an athlete in performance sport. This module will expose you to the multifaceted area of an academy manager and athlete development professional. The module will cover areas of athlete management such as outlined below.
- Core Modules
Advanced Performance Analysis CloseAdvanced Performance Analysis
Coaching in Performance Sport CloseCoaching in Performance Sport
Strength and Conditioning CloseStrength and Conditioning
You will be introduced to fundamental of fitness testing, periodisation, training load and injury prevention which are the key components of strength and conditioning programme. Also, you will be exposed to core lifting exercises.
Professional Development (Sport Specialism Placement) CloseProfessional Development (Sport Specialism Placement)
Optional ModulesApplied 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.
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Sport CloseEntrepreneurship and Enterprise in Sport
- To introduce the entrepreneurial mindset, and to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge vital for generating commercial or social value in sports' knowledge-based economy.
- To enable you to commodify your undergraduate skillset to identify opportunities within your profession and create a business plan to capitalise on your ideas.
- 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.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
The sports industry is fast-growing and requires specialists in a number of areas, including performance sport. Your modules will offer exciting opportunities to take part in practical coaching, theory sessions, and field trips to leading sports organisations, such as the West Ham United Academy. We want you to learn from the best, and so we try to give you as much access as possible to the expertise of leading sports coaches. We also offer opportunities to take part in study visits to live U23 football matches and West Ham United Women's games, helping you to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Alongside the academic programme you will be expected to take part in various work placements which help you to put your learning into practice. These opportunities allow students to not only learn from leaders in sport but provide excellent networking opportunities for future paid work. We also provide opportunities for you to work in the summer months, either on West Ham United Foundation's local programmes in East London and Essex, or on some of our international programmes. In the past three years our students have been provided with the opportunity to take part in fully funded foreign travel to Austria, Sweden, and Spain, working on a range of projects that greatly enhanced their employability skills.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
- Year 1 = Practical (20%), Portfolio (10%), Presentation (30%), Written (30%), Online Exam (10%).
- Year 2 = Practical (17%), Portfolio (17%), Presentation (33%), Written (33%).
- Year 3 = Practical (13%), Portfolio (37%), Presentation (25%), Written (25%)
Each year you will spend around 270 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate amount for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 270 hours; guided independent study - 930 hours.
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 270 hours; guided independent study - 930 hours.
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 270 hours; guided independent study - 930 hours.
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.
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Since I’ve been on this course with University of East London in collaboration with West Ham, I feel like it's opened a lot of doors for me and I feel like it's made me who I am to this day now. I'm finally getting the gist of what I can actually do and what I can actually gain in the future. The guidance I'm receiving now and the support that I'm getting from everyone, is the best that I can ask for as a student because I feel like it's giving me a clear mindset of where I want to go and how I can achieve it."
Mo Ali
Second Year Student

The facilities available for my course are world-class. Indeed, you should expect nothing less than the best from a university that helped the US team achieve their goals at the London Olympics by allowing them to use our facilities. It's why we have some of the best young, up-and-coming athletes on our scholarship programme. When I leave UEL I will have gained everything I wished to gain from attending university – a business, friends and knowledge, but one thing I didn't expect was the lifelong support I'd receive from the staff.
Sophie Newnes
Sports Coaching BSc (Hons)
University of East London & West Ham United Foundation
The University of East London are proud to partner with the West Ham United Foundation to provide world-class opportunities to its sports students.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
Since launching the course in 2019, the degree has become hugely popular and already provided a number of high calibre students part-time work in sport alongside their degree programme.
Our most recent graduates on our West Ham United Foundation courses have achieved full-time and part-time positions at incredible sports organisations such as; West Ham United FC, Manchester City FC in Abu Dhabi, Crystal Palace FC, Arsenal FC, London Sport, the FA, Essex Cricket Club, London Lions, London Basketball Association and more. A recent graduate completed an internship with the Foundation and is now an Associate Lecturer on the West Ham United Foundation degrees. After graduating, our graduates remain a part of the West Ham United family, regularly visiting our current students to discuss their journey, sharing helpful advice and the key skills that have made them successful.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.