FDA Sport Coaching, Physical Education and Health Foundation degree at Barnsley College
FDA Sport Coaching, Physical Education and Health at Barnsley College. You'll develop competence across core theory, research methods, applied practice and specialist options, culminating in an independent project where you apply what you've learned to a real challenge in sport, coaching or health.
About this course
While primarily in-person, online learning is an optional adjustment should your circumstances change, making it perfect for those balancing work and other commitments. From the provider’s course page.
FDA Sport Coaching, Physical Education and Health is a Foundation degree (FDA) at Barnsley College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sport & Exercise Science, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Fundamentals of High-Quality Sports Coaching
- Physical Education, School Sport, and Physical Activity
- Psychology for High Performance
- Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise
- Introduction to Academic Research Skills
- Developing Innovative Skills for Industry
- Innovative Sports Coaching Pedagogies
- Physical Education and Curriculum Studies
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Practical and Innovative Research Skills
- Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Creativity
- Outdoor Explorations for Health and Education
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course balances in-person practical work with optional online flexibility, suiting those juggling work and other commitments. You'll usually start with foundations in anatomy, exercise physiology and sport psychology, alongside practical coaching and training sessions. As you progress, you'll move into biomechanics, athlete testing and research methods. In the later stages, you'll typically choose specialisations such as strength & conditioning, nutrition, rehabilitation, sport psychology, coaching or PE teaching routes, and apply your learning through a placement with teams, clients or schools. You'll complete an independent research project to consolidate your understanding of how science informs sport practice.
Who it's for
You're someone who wants to work in sport, coaching or health promotion and needs genuine flexibility to get there. You might be working already, or balancing multiple commitments, this part-time format lets you learn alongside real life. You have practical curiosity: you want to understand how people move, improve and stay well, not just read about it. You're comfortable learning both in the classroom and, if needed, online. You see this qualification as a stepping stone: either into employment in a sport or health setting, or as a platform to study for a full degree later. You're serious about the subject, but realistic about fitting study around what else matters to you.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 90% of graduates from Sport & Exercise Science courses are in work or further study within 15 months. Of those working, 62% progress into highly skilled roles or continue studying. Starting salaries across the field typically fall between £22,000 and £30,000; after five years, this widens to £23,375–£33,000 (national Graduate Outcomes data). A Foundation Degree can lead directly into employment, coaching, fitness, health coordination, or education roles, or serve as a pathway into a bachelor's degree, keeping further study within reach.
University & format
This Foundation degree (FDA) is studied part-time at Barnsley College, a higher education college in Barnsley. Taught in English, the course combines in-person sessions with the option to study online if your circumstances change. Your degree is recognised by a UK degree-awarding body, giving you a nationally recognised qualification. The college holds a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Barnsley College →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sport & Exercise Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sport & exercise science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sport & Exercise Science nationally
National figures for Sport & Exercise Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Sport & Exercise Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sport & Exercise Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Sports clubs & NGBs
- Leisure providers
- Schools
- The NHS
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sport & Exercise Science graduates.
Sport CoachAspire PeopleSport Science LeadBiolyz FlexCoBTEC Tech Awards Sept 22 - Sport - ExaminerPearsonEquine Vet: Independent Clinic for Leisure & Sport HorsesBritish Veterinary LGBT+Learning Mentor (PE/Sport)Prospero TeachingCasual Youth Worker: Sport, Community Growth & BelongingActive Herefordshire & WorcestershireWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Barnsley College
1,493 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Sport & Exercise Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Barnsley College from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Barnsley College; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Barnsley College’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Barnsley College and gov.uk before you apply.
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Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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