BSc (Hons)
Sports Development
Get involved in sports development in the local community
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Sport increasingly impacts on people’s lives, whether in terms of health, fitness, participation, excellence or just for enjoyment. We strongly believe that sports professionals should study their subject to the highest level in order to flourish in the global sports community and business environment.
This course will help you develop knowledge, understanding and skills associated with the sports development sector.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Go on an international field trip to enhance your learning
- Have the opportunity to gain coaching awards which can lead to volunteering placements or even paid work
- Organise a sports event in the local community
What opportunities might it lead to?
The course was one of the first in the country to receive endorsement from SkillsActive, is a government-backed partnership between the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and Sports Coach UK. This achievement shows that we aim to always be a step in front and ensures that you will be studying to national standards.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- sports development/management/promotion
- coaching
- events management
- marketing
- teaching
- various roles in the health and fitness industry
We ran a sports festival for local schools and even worked with the London Irish Rugby team. The experience at Portsmouth has been brilliant.
Sindre Grodem, BSc (Hons) Sports Development student
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- N280
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Entry
320 points to include 180 points from 2 A levels or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science
Subject:
Sports Science
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Looking at the theory then putting it into practice
- The challenging yet supportive environment in which to study
- Use of some of the best facilities in the country that are not just for research purposes
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
The course begins by providing you with a firm foundation in the key theoretical and research principles that will underpin the following years.
Core units in this year include:
- Sports Development Principles
- Coaching Principles
- Sports Event Organisation
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Introduction to Fitness Training and Assessment
- Research Methods 1
Year two
Core units in this year include:
- Research Methods 2
- Sport and Business Management
- Sports Politics and Society
- Sports Development Practice
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- Psychology of Skill Development and Performance
- Application of Coaching
- Managing People in Sport Organisations
- Foreign Language
Year three
In your final year, there are more core topics to study and you will also undertake your own self-led project.
Core units in this year include:
- Comparative International Sports Provision
- Event Management in Sport
- Strategic Planning in Sport
- Project
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Professional Practice in Sports Psychology
- Professional Practice in Sports Marketing
- Professional Practice in Sports Education
- Professional Development
Teaching and Assessment
We take a varied approach to teaching and we work closely with local partners, such as the Portsmouth School Sport Partnership and Portsmouth City Council Leisure Services, to ensure that the work you undertake is current and relevant.
The format of teaching will consist of formal lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and practical experiences.
How are you assessed?
This varied approach is also reflected in the way we assess you. Here’s how:
- examinations
- essays and reports
- projects, portfolios and case studies
- practical demonstrations
- oral assessments through presentations or discussion groups
Tutor's view
Kieren McEwan
Sports Development
This course gives you the opportunity to build a fundamental understanding of the promotion of sport within society. Utilising areas such as sports sociology, psychology, business and event management as well as practical sports coaching, this course aims to give you the tools to work within the sports development industry.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Learning Environments
We offer many facilities including sports halls and a 100-station gym
UP for Sport
Take on volunteer coaching opportunities
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books
Learning Environments
You will also benefit from plenty of indoor space for practical activities. Along with our many specialist labs, dedicated seminar spaces and interview rooms, the Department is located next to the University’s Nuffield Sports Centre and very near to the University’s St Paul’s Sports Centre. These two centres offer many facilities including sports halls, a 100-station gym, squash courts and fitness studios, all located at the heart of the University.
UP for Sport
Share your sporting skills through our UP for Sport scheme. Take on a volunteer coaching opportunity in the local community to boost your CV and gain formal qualifications.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
We cover a broad range of issues, such as sports policy and society, event management, sports business, coaching and the application of sports development, that lead to a range of possible careers. As sport is increasingly playing an important part in areas such as health, education and social inclusion, it’s not just sports-based organisations that will be your main potential employers.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- PE teacher
- fitness instructor
- NVQ coordinator
- sports development officer
- sports and exercise scientist
- sports therapist and physiotherapist
- cardiac rehabilitation technician
Work experience
Outside the curriculum you are encouraged to gain National Governing Body (NGB) coaching awards, which can lead to opportunities for both voluntary and paid work within the community.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
I have taken various coaching qualifications to enhance my CV.
George Milburn, BSc (Hons) Sports Development student
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more