FdSc Sports Coaching and Exercise Foundation degree at Hartlepool College of Further Education
FdSc Sports Coaching and Exercise at HCFE is nationally recognised through a UK degree-awarding body. You'll develop knowledge across core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills, preparing you…
About this course
FdSc Sports Coaching and Exercise is a Foundation degree (FdSc) at HCFE, based in Hartlepool 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.
Year 1 5 modules
- Coaching in a Practical EnvironmentCore
Module details
This innovative module is work based and offers the learners the opportunity to develop their skills in conjunction with their work based experience. Learners will use a reflective cycle to justify and explain issues encountered in the working environment. Through Personal Development Programmes, individuals will not only enhance learning but will improve their employability. The content of this module includes: Teaching methods, planning, monitoring and evaluation, action plans, coaching perfor
Assessment: Portfolio (3000 word, 70%) and a reflective report on an observation (1500 words, 30%)
- Fundamentals of Sport and ExerciseCore
Module details
The aim of this module is to provide learners with an understanding of the history of sport, the relationship between sport, government and politics. The role of the media and national frameworks will also be explored. The content also includes: The fitness industry, benefits of exercise, gender, disability, disadvantaged groups, race, young children, globalisation, future perspectives, professionalism, commercialisation and Nationalism.
Assessment: Report (1500 words, 70%) and a 15 minute individual presentation (30%)
- Human Body in ActionCore
Module details
This module aims to provide learners with an understanding of the role of biomechanics and physiology in the coaching of sport and exercise. It will cover the fundamentals of sport science and the application of these principles to performance analysis and fitness testing. The initial focus will be on the theoretical knowledge underpinning both disciplines; physiology will cover the body systems and biomechanics will look at linear and angular kinetics and kinematics. This knowledge will then be
Assessment: Group practical laboratory session which will provide data for an individual laboratory report (1500 word, 70%) and a 15 minute presentation (30%)
- Introduction to Sports Coaching and ExerciseCore
Module details
Throughout this module, learners will develop an understanding of a coach/practitioners role in a sport and exercise environment. Learners will get the opportunity to complete a number of relevant sport and exercise qualifications which they will need to work in the industry. This module will provide learners with the underpinning knowledge of what is expected in the coaching/exercise environment. It will explore roles, responsibilities and skills of a coach. Learners will develop their knowledg
Assessment: 15 minute group presentation (30%) and a personal reflection (1000 words, 70%)
- Mind and MovementCore
Module details
This module is aimed at the learner working in the sports and exercise industry in either an employed or voluntary capacity. It gives the learners knowledge of the key psychological and motor behaviour factors that influence performance and participation in the sports industry. The module develops a sound theoretical base by examining motor behaviour and psychological factors such as stress, anxiety personality, social learning, motivation, arousal, concentration, group dynamics, psychological i
Assessment: Report (2000 words, 50%) and a multiple choice exam (50%)
Year 2 5 modules
- Analysis of PerformanceCore
Module details
This module aims to develop the coaches' ability to evaluate sportsm performance using different forms of anaylsis. Data is obtained through a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods and statistically analysed to inform the coaching process. The module content includes: performance analysis, coaching implications, performance profiling, fitness components, gym tests, principles and methods of training, fitness requirements and training programmes.
Assessment: Individual report based on a group practical investigation (1500 word, 60%) and a literature review (1500 word, 40%)
- Coaching in an Alternative EnvironmentCore
Module details
This Module will provide learners with the opportunity to coach in an alternative environment and adapt their coaching to suit. Learners will enhance their coaching knowledge and skills equipping them to meet the ever changing needs of the sports industry. Through reflection learners' will be encouraged to refine their approach to deal with unorthodox circumstances which may arise in this environment. The module content includes: delivery of continuous sessions, adapting sessions, problem solvin
Assessment: Journal (2000 words, 60%) and an Essay (1000 words, 40%)
- Development of Sport and ExerciseCore
Module details
This module will help learners develop an understanding of the government's role in sport. It will provide learners with the tools to be able to write relevant policies and understand the funding process. This will enable the learner to be able to develop their own sports club. The module content includes: government roles in sport, partnership work, NGB's, quality systems, effectiveness, aims and objectives of programmes, funding opportunities, child protection and first aid legislation and fes
Assessment: Presentation (50%) and a critical review (1500 words, 50%)
- Nutrition for the Exercise PractitionerCore
Module details
This module will assess the role of the diet in physical performance, specific individuals and health promotion. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills relevant to nutritional assessment and selectively employ this information in the development of nutritional education aimed at optimising an individuals or group of individuals' diet within a working environment. The module content includes: digestive system, fundamentals of nutrition, RDA's, food labelling, energy balance, weight manage
Assessment: Logbook (2000 words, 50%) and an Essay (1500 words, 50%)
- Work-based ProjectCore
Module details
This module will provide learner with the opportunity to further enhance their learning. It will develop the learners' personal needs by attending courses which are suited to them. Learners will be encouraged to explore both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Through investigation and research the learners' will determine a topic to be explored for their research proposal. The content of this module includes effective literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, experiments, l
Assessment: Essay (1,500 words, 30%) and a work-based research project (3,000 words, 70%)
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 focuses on the theory and practice of sports coaching and exercise, combining scientific study with hands-on coaching experience. You'll usually begin with core foundations in anatomy and exercise physiology, sport psychology and practical coaching skills, learning how the body adapts to training and how to apply these principles in coaching settings. As you progress, a course like this normally moves into more detailed study of biomechanics, training physiology and research methods. In the later stages, you'll pursue specialisations such as strength & conditioning, sport psychology, nutrition, rehabilitation, coaching or PE teaching routes, alongside applied placements and independent research projects.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking practical, work-focused qualification in sports coaching and exercise whilst balancing other commitments, given its part-time structure. It's designed for learners ready to combine theoretical understanding with applied professional practice in the sport and exercise sector.
Careers & job market
Across Sport and Exercise Science courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing their degree, with 62% in highly skilled work or further study. Starting salaries typically range from £22,000 to £30,000 (15 months post-graduation); after five years, this rises to £23,375–£33,000. These are national Graduate Outcomes and LEO figures, not university-specific guarantees.
University & format
This Foundation degree (FdSc) is studied part-time at Hartlepool College of Further Education, a higher education college founded in 1969 and located in Hartlepool. The course is taught in English. As a nationally recognised degree from a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your qualification will be accepted across the country.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
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
The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at HCFE →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
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.
Who 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 Hartlepool College
2,052 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 HCFE from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by HCFE; 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 HCFE’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 HCFE and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at HCFE
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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