Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences>Courses>Sport, Physical Education and Health - BSc (Hons) Degree

Sport, Physical Education and Health - BSc (Hons) Degree

Entry Year

The BSc (Hons) Sport, Physical Education and Health degree at Cardiff Met provides a practically based course focusing on current and future developments in the sector.

The degree in Sport, PE and Health values and challenges students within a supportive learning environment and provides opportunities to access, understand and apply research in the enhancement of innovative practice and to understand the future role of physical educators.

The Sport and PE and Health degree provides access to a research-informed contemporary curriculum that recognises the contribution sport plays within physical education in the development of lifelong health and wellbeing through activity.

You will be able to apply your theoretical knowledge using our on-site facilities, or through work-based learning; whether that be on a placement or through our Open Campus initiative.

The degree is delivered and managed by academics with a wealth of research, innovation and applied experience. It has been designed in an inspiring and progressive way, in which the curriculum becomes more focused and specialised across the three years of study.

Alongside the degree you will have the opportunity to complete professionally recognised qualifications and engage with further diverse learning experiences, all of which enhance and enrich the time you have with us at Cardiff Met.​

Foundation Year

This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence​.

​The foundation year will be relevant to​:

  1. Students who have not achieved the required A-level points (or equivalent) score to enter the first year of the degree programme.
  2. Mature students who have been out of the formal education system for some time.


Find out more about the foundation year​​.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

​​Course Content​

Year One

You will study six compulsory modules that will be the foundation of your ​pathway. These modules will provide the context and scope for understanding the fundamental aspects of physical education, coaching, sport and health upon various disparate population groups. This includes an understanding of theory into practice of pedagogical approaches, learning and social theories, and contemporary issues amongst sport and education communities. In addition, you will experience a broad base of knowledge related to the disciplines of psychology, physiology, biomechanics, and the research process. Finally, you will be given a chance to develop your portfolio by undertaking recognised vocational coaching and professional relevant qualifications.

Core modules:

  • Physical Education, Sports Coaching and Pedagogy*
  • Introducing Coaching and Teaching as Social and Relational Activities
  • Issues in Sport, Society, and Education*
  • Research and Scholarship*
  • Applied Sports Pedagogy
  • Foundations of Sport and Exercise Science


Year Two

You will complete two compulsory modules that are integral to develop core pedagogical skills that are key to the your academic and personal development. These will allow you to develop the theoretical knowledge in relation to teaching within physical education, health and wellbeing, whilst linking theory to practice by engaging with placement opportunities off campus and working with children on campus. Additionally, you will have two other compulsory modules that aim to develop a greater understanding of the research process, and to develop entrepreneurial skills and attributes within the industries aligned to SPEH. You will choose two optional modules to develop a degree pathway that is personalised and specific to your needs and interests.

Core modules:

  • Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing*
  • Physical Education and Health in Practice*
  • Research Design and Practice*
  • Applied Sports Pedagogy


Option modules:

  • Applied Development of Children's Physical Health and Wellbeing
  • Multidisciplinary Approaches to Sport and Health
  • Sport Development Principles into Practice
  • Sociologies of Sport, Exercise and Health
  • Sport Ethics*
  • Sport Performance Analysis


Year Three

A key priority is to develop you as an independent, driven learner who can take control of your learning and ensure that this aligns with your first steps into graduate employment or further study. For instance, you will complete a major project that can take different directions in your chosen field of study based on your individual interests and needs. In addition, you will have one compulsory programme specific module that explores the understanding, application, and reflection of teaching and learning in physical education, sport, health and wellbeing. Also, you will be able to undertake a work-based learning placement, and choose one additional optional module to allow a personal study pathway choice and enhance employability.​

Core modules:

  • Advanced Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing*
  • Final Project*


Option modules:

  • Industry Placement*
  • Independent Study in Physical Activity and Sport
  • Applied Sports Coaching and Performance Analysis problems
  • Contemporary Issues in Policy Development
  • Sociology of Sport and Physical Cultures
  • Ethical Issues in Sport


*The Sport, Physical Education and Health degree allows you to take these modules through the medium of Welsh.

Learning & Teaching

Effective learning, teaching and assessment methods underpin the educational aims and the learning outcomes of all of our programmes and modules. Learning and teaching methods may include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and practical sessions. Our Virtual Learning Environment is also an integral aspect of the learning package that supports the needs of our students.

Lead lectures introduce key topics and concepts, whilst seminars, tutorials, workshops and practical sessions focus on the application of key concepts with the aim of enhancing the student experience and engagement. You will also meet tutors on a one to one basis. As a school, we work hard to provide student-centred learning opportunities that deliver a high quality and flexible learning environment.

Learning and teaching methods emphasise and facilitate the development of your critical reasoning, and encourage the integration of practice and theory. Throughout your programme, you will experience both tutor-led learning and self-directed methods of learning, increasing independence and reflection and encouraging you to develop a positive attitude toward lifelong learning.

Our teaching and learning methods embed the Cardiff Met 'EDGE' (Ethical, Global, Digital & Entrepreneurial) skills and you will be well equipped to demonstrate graduate attributes expected of you in an increasingly competitive world of work. We aim to help you to develop into reflective professionals and critical scholars.

In your sport programme at Cardiff Met, you will encounter a learning experience from induction to graduation that is coherent and develops your identity within your programme of study.

Specific features of the learning experience on Sport, Physical Education and Health include:

  • Internationally renowned researchers, teachers and coaches that are integral to the learning package offered to our students.
  • World-class facilities to enhance the student learning experience.
  • All aspects of Learning and Teaching utilise the most recent research literature and National Occupational Standards (e.g., National Governing Body coaching qualifications).

Assessment

The assessment strategies for each module vary to ensure that most appropriate method is implemented for your area of study. Modes of assessment are designed to both enhance your learning experience and to acknowledge that you have fulfilled the learning outcomes linked to each module. Assessment also ensures that you have achieved the standard required to progress to the next stage or to qualify for an award (as articulated by the FHEQ and CQFW). Assessments support your learning experience by providing opportunities for you to engage in formative and summative assessments to test and develop your knowledge, ability, skill, and critical understanding. The undergraduate modules are assessed by a combination of assessment types. For example:

  • written coursework
  • poster presentations
  • oral presentations
  • portfolios
  • seen and unseen exams
  • practical skills
  • other activities designed to assess, develop, and enhance academic and employability skills.

You will be expected to complete a final project as part of the assessment of your honours degree. Final projects are major pieces of work that may be a research, innovation, consultancy or community project.

Employability & Careers

The Cardiff Met EDGE supports you to thrive in the modern world. Throughout your degree you will experience a range of opportunities to develop your ethical, digital, global and entrepreneurial competencies through problem-based learning, real-world case studies, integrated work experiences on campus and opportunities for work-based learning placements off campus. We will ensure that you get a range of opportunities to develop transferable skills such as communication, team work and leadership.

During your first year of study you will get the opportunity to undertake technical qualifications in a range of industry relevant areas. These opportunities will ensure that you have the appropriate qualifications and experience to apply for one of the many work placement opportunities on offer both on and off campus. We will also support you to seek opportunities to work or study abroad. Work placements can give you a critical EDGE in gaining professional employment on graduation. Students who have graduated from Sport, Physical Education and Health have gone on to work in careers both within and beyond the sport and educational context.

Recent graduates from Sport, Physical Education and Health are now working as PE teachers (secondary), primary school teachers, and teaching assistants. Past graduates have also followed careers in further and higher education, sport clubs, sport science, leisure industry, and local authority/community sport development. Other students have continued onto further study at master’s and doctoral level or to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. ​

Entry Requirements​ & How to Apply

Typical Offers

​​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year​ which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.

  • Tariff points: 104 - 112
  • Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
  • English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
  • A level subjects: Three A levels to include grade B. No specific subjects required. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject.
  • BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM
  • T Level: Merit.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma: 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. No specific subjects required.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: Higher level Grade 6. No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: 3 x H2. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered, with a minimum grade H4.
  • Scottish Advanced Highers: Grade C. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.


How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

Contact Us

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Support Team:
Email: CSSHSLTSE@cardiffmet.ac.uk

We endeavour to deliver courses as described and will not normally make changes to courses, such as course title, content, delivery, and teaching provision. However, it may be necessary for the university to make changes in the course provision before or after enrolment. It reserves the right to make variations to content or delivery methods, including discontinuation or merging courses if such action is considered necessary. Please read our Terms and Conditions for the full information.

Key Course Information

UCAS Codes:
C604 - 3-year degree
C64F - 4-year degree (including foundation year)

Place of Study:
Cyncoed Campus

School:
Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences

Course Length:
Three years full-time or four years full-time including Foundation year.

Also available part-time and can be up to eight years. The part-time students join the full-time students for all modules. Therefore most of the modules are completed between 9.00am and 6.00pm on weekdays.

Part-time fees:
Charges are per single module unless specified: undergraduate = 10 credits. Please contact the programme leader for further information on modules to be studied part-time and how this will affect fees.

COURSE OVERVIEW | DEGREE HIGHLIGHTS
Study Sport, Physical Education & Health at Cardiff Met

Hear from Senior Lecturer Jose and Students Audrey and Holly what it's like to study Sport, PE & Health at Cardiff Met.

Degree Highlights

In this short introduction video, Senior Lecturer Jose Castro tells us more about the degree in Sport, Physical Education & Health

MEET THE TEAM
Meet the Team: Lowri Edwards

Meet Dr Lowri Edwards, Lecturer on the Sport, Physical Education and Health degree at Cardiff Met, who shares her passion for the subject.

OUR FACILITIES
Sport Facilities

The University continues to invest in its world-class sporting facilities at the Cyncoed campus to enhance the performance and academic development of all our students.

STUDENT & GRADUATE EXPERIENCE
Blog
From Sport, PE & Health at Cardiff Met to my journey in becoming a PE teacher

“Through the SPEH programme at Cardiff Met, I am continuing to gain valuable experiences, growing professionally, enjoying and appreciating the career path that has enabled me to achieve my aspirations.”
Read more

Blog
Ready to start my career thanks to Sport and Physical Education at Cardiff Met

Read how graduate George used the experience gained on the degree to help with his career and what he aspires to achieve next.
Read more

Blog
Gaining practical Experience as part of my Sport, PE & Health lectures

Read how Audrey gains practical experiences on the degree which prepare her well to follow her dream career.
Read more

Blog
Studying Sport and PE opened up opportunities I didn't expect

Sport, PE and Health graduate Vicky blogs about the alternative career routes available thanks to the opportunitites at Cardiff Met.
Read more

Luke Witham

“Studying on the Sport, PE & Health programme at Cardiff Met has enabled me to reignite and follow my passion. The course is populated by lots of talented, highly skilled & caring lecturers, of whom have given me all the tools I need to succeed practically and academically. The course has such a broad spectrum of content areas and assessment tools, allowing me to experience different areas of learning & my field all at once. Cardiff Met has left the most influential positive impact in my life, encouraging me to chase opportunities that I wouldn't necessarily chase before.”

Luke Witham
BSc (Hons) Sport, PE and Health

Work Placement

Holly tells us how her work placement at Cardiff City Football Club Foundation has helped her to gain real world experience.

OPEN CAMPUS
Open Campus

Cardiff Met Open Campus is a collaborative way of working that delivers sport, physical activity, outdoor play, and health & wellbeing opportunities within the Cardiff City region and beyond. It sees University staff and students work collaboratively with the community for mutual benefit, which provides students with authentic learning opportunities as part of their studies.

In this video, Audrey shares her Open Campus experience and how it enabled her to gain practical experience as part of her lectures.