Overview
From grassroots level to elite professional competition, sport plays a huge role in people’s lives.
The global sports coaching market is expected to grow by £7 billion by 2035 (Business Research Insights, 2025). This growth reflects an increased understanding of how sport can be a force for good across all society.
Our degree in sports coaching and development gives you the skills to help make a difference through sport. You’ll understand how sport can enhance health and wellbeing, bring communities together, increase confidence and much more.
You’ll also learn how to support athletes at all levels as a coach. From young people at local clubs, to elite athletes, you’ll gain the tools to unlock the best in people’s performance.
Topics covered on the course include:
- the importance of sport to individuals and communities;
- the physiology, biomechanics and psychology of sport;
- how to manage sport organisations and understand the sports industry;
- how to develop as a coach and get the best from athletes.
Gain practical skills for your future career
Our Sport Development and Coaching course prepares you for a career in sport. You'll gain important experience at your work placement. This might include running a sports tournament for charity, delivering a series of webinars, or a sport initiative in schools. It can be in a current coaching role, within in a University team or in an external organisation. Former students have completed placements with organisations including:
- Rangers Football Club
- Glasgow Warriors
- Scottish Hockey
- Commonwealth Games Scotland
- Active Schools
These experiences help you build confidence, leadership and real‑world coaching capability.
You’ll also complete a major project on a sports topic that you’re passionate about. Your finished work could take the form of an education resource, a research report or an article.
Everything you study on our Sport Development and Coaching course will help deepen your understanding of the impact of sport and the part you can play in supporting its development at all levels.
Why study sport at Stirling?
We have been Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence since 2008. We drive sports participation and prepare world-class athletes. Our staff are shaping best practice in sports development and coaching world-wide. You’ll be taught by these expert coaches and researchers. The University has partnerships with leading sporting organisations such as:
- sportscotland
- British Rowing
- British Equestrian Foundation
- UK Coaching
Our coaching students benefit from guest lectures and insights from experts working at the highest levels of sport. Previous guest lecturers have included Alan Lynn, Head of Performance Coach Development at Aquatics GB, Laurie Marsden, Coaching Advisor at UK Sport, and Stuart Ferrier, Talent and Pathways Manager at Scottish Institute of Sport. These connections ensure our teaching reflects real coaching practice and current industry standards. Our campus is also home to elite athletes competing in multiple disciplines worldwide.
Top reasons to study with us
Faculty Facilities
Take a tour of our Sport and Exercise teaching facilities
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
Highers
AABB
A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
28 points
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
Advanced Higher
ABB
A-level
ABB
IB Diploma
32 points
Essential subjects
Physical Education
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
Essential subjects
Physical Education
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
Other qualifications
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@stir.ac.uk.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the routes available.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 80 overall with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking.
- TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4 overall with no less than 4 in any band.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
The BA (Hons) Sport Development and Coaching is a four-year course that is delivered across eight semesters. The overarching aim is to give you a multi-disciplinary social science-oriented appreciation of sport and the sport sector. This includes critically reflecting on the health, social, cultural, political, educational, and economic contribution of sport, sport development, and sport coaching.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
The Sport Development and Coaching course will be delivered using a blended learning approach of face-to-face and online learning. Modules will be delivered through lectures, small group seminars, and guest lectures. Materials posted online through our virtual learning environment, Canvas, will support this contact time. Additional learning materials will take the form of podcasts, video lectures, and additional reading material.
Assessment
The course uses a wide range of assessment approaches, including formative and summative assessment. The assessments are designed to improve and assess your attainment of the learning outcomes, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication, and group working skills.
Assessments make use of coursework and exams. Coursework assessments can take the form of online tests, essays , digi-essays, reports, podcasts, and presentations. These include individual and group submissions. Exams include multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, essay-based questions or a combination of question types. The assessments and marking criteria are aligned to the appropriate level on the SCQF Framework.
Throughout the course you will be provided with learning and teaching sessions and resources designed to help prepare you to undertake different types of assessment.
Work placement opportunities
The Professional Practice module is designed to improve students’ awareness of the skills and attributes needed to be successful in the sport sector. It aims to develop these skills and attributes through practical engagement in a work-related placement experience in the sport sector and engaging in a programme of work-related development activities.
Specifically, the work-related experience opportunity can be:
- A role you are currently in (e.g. as a sports coach) which you can reflect upon, demonstrate key learning, and utilise for the purpose of the course.
- A placement opportunity from within the University (e.g. University sports teams).
- Running an event within the University with fellow students. In this option, you may be tasked with, for instance, running a sport and exercise science event series, putting on a school sport event, running a webinar series around sports topics of interest, running a sports tournament for charity, or running an academic conference.
Study abroad
You’ll have the opportunity to study abroad through our well-established connections with several universities in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
Contact
Course Director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000-£20,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
Sports Scholarships
See details of our International Sports Scholarship Programme.
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will receive our Stirling Success Scholarship which is worth £5,000.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000-£20,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
Students with related degrees have successfully pursued jobs in the public, private and voluntary sectors across the spectrum of active lifestyles and exercise, community sports clubs and elite sports development. Our course will prepare you for work in various sport organisations. Sport Development Officer roles are available throughout the UK in local authorities and sports clubs employ coaches and coordinators.
Students from the BA (Hons) Sport Development and Coaching may also wish to further their education in sport. The course provides a suitable background for entry into our sport Masters courses including MSc Sport Management, MSc Sport Performance Coaching and MSc Psychology of Sport. Furthermore, students wishing to undertake research into sport development or coaching, or pursue an academic career, may wish to pursue studies at PhD level. The course may also provide a foundation for students wishing to become physical education teachers, through completing a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Physical Education) at other institutions.
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