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The University of Cumbria · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Outdoor Leadership Bachelor's degree at the University of Cumbria
BA (Hons) Outdoor Leadership at University of Cumbria. Outdoor Leadership at Cumbria draws on the university's setting in Ambleside to blend practical fieldwork with grounded theory.
BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
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BA (Hons) Outdoor Leadership is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Cumbria, based in In Ambleside. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Biological and sport sciences graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sport & Exercise Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
7.8
/ 10
Strong
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong69
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent85
Moderate evidence Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent80
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Outdoor Adventure Skills and Learning (Water)Core
Module details
This module will provide you with a foundational understanding of and capability in, a range of key water activities areas that underpin the wider programme. You will also explore the nature of adventure and adventurous experiences both conceptually and in practice.
- Outdoor Adventure Skills and Learning (Land)Core
Module details
You will experience and reflect upon a range of contrasting approaches designed to develop skill across a number of land-based activity contexts. Theoretical teaching will introduce you to some core principles of skill development that underpin the approaches used in practical sessions.
- Living and Working in Groups OutdoorsCore
Module details
Develop a range of outdoor activities (e.g. overnight journeys, participating in an environmental task, urban exploration, solo) where the students will have the opportunity to reflect on their part in working with others. Students will share their own experiences to develop broader perspective.
- Outdoor Professional DevelopmentCore
Module details
Explores concepts of outdoor learning and examples in practice within historical and contemporary work-based settings. Students will visit a variety of outdoor professionals in order to learn what are necessary fundamental skills and knowledge expected by employers across a range of contexts.
- Physiology and Psychology for the Outdoor LeaderCore
Module details
Gain fundamental skills and knowledge of human performance that underpin a healthy lifestyle and safe optimal performance in the outdoor environment. Students will be encouraged to consider the implications of physical and psychological fitness for themselves and those they lead or manage.
- Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice 1Core
Module details
History and philosophy of the outdoor sector, particularly as it relates to the role of outdoor leadership. Students will understand the contemporary outdoor sector and occupations within it, whilst developing their own abilities in leadership to design, implement and evaluate an outdoor session.
Year 2 8 modules
- Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice 2Core
Module details
Prepare and evaluate a self-organised research expedition to mainland Europe. The module will enable students to evaluate and apply sustainable travel options and relate them to expedition organisation and climate smart outdoor adventures. Leadership models for outdoor activity are incorporated.
- Psychological Applications in Outdoor ContextsCore
Module details
The aim of this module is to develop understanding of the key concepts drawn from contemporary psychological theories and to enable students to apply these to the leadership of individuals and groups in a range of potentially challenging outdoor environments.
- Coaching Individuals and GroupsCore
Module details
Provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the current theoretical basis of coaching. This relates to work with both individuals and groups and specifically to the coaching of outdoor skills and the management of groups in practical skill and development training settings.
- Evaluating Outdoor LeadershipCore
Module details
Leadership has been a central topic in UK Outdoor Education since its origins. This module prepares students to develop critical thinking skills within the theme of outdoor leadership and to develop understanding of contemporary views of outdoor leadership.
- Research DesignCore
Module details
This module will enable you to explore the process of designing, executing and reporting an independent research project, and develops from your understanding of techniques developed earlier into developing methodologies and the research method. Culminates in student-led fieldwork.
- Traditional and Innovative Approaches to Outdoor EducationOptional
Module details
Considers the nature and value of different approaches to outdoor learning. A range of educational approaches will be experienced and examined with reference to pedagogies such as adventurous learning, place-based, expedition based or environmental contexts in outdoor learning.
- Sustainable Outdoor Event ManagementOptional
Module details
Practical experience in sustainable outdoor event management. Enables students to design, research, plan, deliver, and evaluate an original event project. The planning, organisation, and delivery of the event will be led by the students, mentored by a tutor and delivered to external clients.
- Health, Wellbeing and Environmental HealthOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to enable students to explore and examine relationships between ecological, social and personal health and well-being in varied environmental settings. Extent they add to people's personal stories of health and well-being will be examined using different approaches.
Year 3 6 modules
- DissertationCore
Module details
An opportunity to undertake an independent piece of in-depth research into a topic of your choice that is related to the fields of outdoor learning, leading and coaching. You'll develop your research skills and gain valuable experience in project management and research dissemination.
- Coaching and Facilitation in Outdoor EnvironmentsCore
Module details
Students will develop the ability to develop and facilitate other learners acquiring skill at different rates and levels showing differentiation in a range of adventure based outdoor activities.
- Outdoor Leadership Theory and Practice 3Core
Module details
The module will critique the emphasis given to the various outcomes of different outdoor programmes and the role of the outdoor leader as the facilitator of learning, development, reflection and experience.
- Commerce and Employment in the Outdoor SectorOptional
Module details
The aims of the module are to develop students' understanding of the outdoor sector in terms of the range of employment opportunities and to foster the relevant skills, knowledge and insights required to progress within it whilst being able to adapt to change.
- Outdoor and Environmental EducationOptional
Module details
To develop a critical understanding of outdoor and environmental education theory and practice in formal and non-formal educational settings.
- Therapeutic OpportunitiesOptional
Module details
Students will experience a range of nature-based interventions and will be encouraged to reflect on their own personal therapeutic relationship with nature, as well as design outdoor experience for others with specific therapeutic intentions.
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.
Who it's for
You're drawn to outdoor environments and genuinely interested in understanding how people develop through challenge and nature-based activity. You combine practical curiosity with a willingness to engage seriously with research and leadership theory. You'll thrive on a mix of hands-on expeditions, seminar discussion, and independent inquiry. This course suits those aiming for work in outdoor education, youth development, environmental leadership, or related fields where you'll need both reflective thinking and authentic fieldcraft.
Careers & job market
Across Sport and Exercise Science courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months; 62% are in highly skilled roles or ongoing study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries of £22,000–£30,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £23,375–£33,000 after five years. Career paths vary widely depending on your specialist interests and employer sector. The university's careers team can advise on specific outdoor education, youth work, conservation, and adventure tourism roles.
University & format
The University of Cumbria is a UK university based in Ambleside. The BA (Hons) Outdoor Leadership is a full-time, 3-year degree taught in English. The University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so the degree is nationally recognised. It holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. Check the university's funding pages for information on bursaries and scholarships.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent65% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 160 - 175 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Cumbria's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 65% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| Other | 20% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Competitive entry
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*A-level equivalent admitted students held
- 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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Cumbria whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£25,000 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Cumbria →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
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.
Funding matched to this course
All University of Cumbria funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Sport & Exercise Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £22,000 – £27,000 | 30 |
| 3 years after | £21,000 | £16,500 – £25,000 | 75 |
| 5 years after | £26,500 | £21,000 – £31,500 | 85 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
85%
in work or further study 15 months on
70%
in highly skilled work or study
80%
continue past their first year
75%
find their work meaningful
60%
say work fits their future plans
- 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
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000
£22,000 – £30,000After 3 years LEO
£21,000
£19,125 – £27,000After 5 years LEO
£26,500
£23,375 – £33,000national rangethis course’s medianaxis £18,000 – £34,000
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.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
85 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
90% working0% working and studying0% in further study70% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Sport & Exercise Science courses at the same study level.
This course £26,500Peer median £27,500Middle 50% £26,000–£30,000
33rd percentile
Compared with 915 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Planning Officers, Surveyors and Construction ProfessionalsSOC 2020 245 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £45,972
- Sports and fitness occupationsSOC 2020 343 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £13,819
- Therapy professionalsSOC 2020 222 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £37,338
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 55; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Sport & Exercise Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Sport & Exercise Science courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes62%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled80%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow 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 & WorcestershireLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
📈
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.8 out of 10: NSS 69.4% · in work or study 85% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Cumbria
All students9,065
International2.6%
Aged 25+63.7%
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
Students111,380
Aged 25+16.5%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around In Ambleside
64 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 27Public Order 10Criminal Damage Arson 9Shoplifting 7Vehicle Crime 3
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 University of Cumbria from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £25,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 University of Cumbria’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 University of Cumbria and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Cumbria
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Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 160 - 175 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by the University of Cumbria. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Biological and sport sciences graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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