Sport Development
Award
BSc (Hons)
Duration & study mode
4 years full-time
School
Health & Life Sciences
Location
Lanarkshire
Ucas code
C600
Course starting dates
-
Lanarkshire: September
UWS’s BSc (Hons) Sport Development degree focuses on how to help people lead healthy, active lifestyles.
You'll learn about both the development of sport and development through sport by exploring sport’s contributions to health, communities, economies, and societies on global and local scales.
This degree is unique in Scotland. It was developed in consultation with partners from national sport organisations and governing bodies, NHS and the third sector, and senior sport development officers and expert coaches.
These strong links to industry are reflected in course design, work experience opportunities, and employment opportunities available to UWS students.
UWS offers opportunities for our students to study abroad via our exchange programmes.
Study abroad is extremely beneficial to personal and professional development. Research has shown that worldwide employers value graduates with intercultural awareness and global competences. Our BSc (Hons) Sport Development students have completed successful exchanges with universities in the USA and Spain.
There is a strong emphasis on placement learning and developing the modern sport development industry. We have excellent links with a number of clubs and organisations, including SPFL football clubs, Active Schools, and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, which provide work-based learning opportunities.
We also encourage our students to identify organisations that can provide appropriate placement opportunities and that they are interested in working with as part of the course.
UWS have worked with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to achieve endorsement against industry professional standards for its undergraduate degree programmes in sport.
UWS joined CIMSPA as a higher education partner in June 2022 to further enhance students' employability. This programme has been endorsed against several professional standards:
of students are in work or study 6 months after completing their degree
of students are satisfied with the teaching on the course (National Student Survey 2024)
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
During Clearing our entry requirements remain flexible, and we are committed to providing opportunities to study with us based on a range of qualifications. Please get in touch, and we can discuss your specific circumstances.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
For Life Science and Sport degrees, unless stated otherwise, suitable science subjects include: Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology, Sociology, and Geography, Modern Studies (Sports Coaching will also accept Politics as a Science).
* for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see our Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage
For Life Science and Sport degrees, unless stated otherwise, suitable science subjects include: Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology, Sociology, and Geography, Modern Studies (Sports Coaching will also accept Politics as a Science).
Successful applicants who gain a place on this course will need to register on the PVG Scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. An application form will be sent from the University once you have accepted your offer. The fee for joining the scheme is £59.
Visit the Disclosure Scotland website for more information on the PVG scheme.
All academic degrees/awards at UWS are taught in English. For applicants whose first language is not English*, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. All English language qualifications must have been gained within two years of the start of your UWS course.
* applicants who are exempt from english language requirements include:
In general terms, if you are applying to study a course at, or above, Year 1 (SCQF Level 7) bachelor’s degree level, then the UKVI’s minimum level of English proficiency is Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR) at B2 (Upper Intermediate).
At UWS, we define our general English language requirements using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) as follows:
These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission†.
† Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more information).
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, MSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc Midwifery and MSc Midwifery), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, which may lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council and applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
In additional to IELTS, we also accept a number of alternative English language for application and admission to our courses for both home/EU and international students at bachelor's degree study at Year 3 (SCQF Level 9), and above. From Cambridge to TOFEL iBT qualifications the number of these qualifications is extensive.
Find out about non-IELTS English Language Tests
UWS has also reviewed a range of High / Secondary School qualifications studied by non-EU applicants that can be used as a basis of entry to a UWS. These range from Botswana GCSEs to USA High School Graduation Diplomas, the number of these qualifications is extensive.
Find out more about international English Language high-hchool qualifications
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
The UWS BSc (Hons) Sport Development provides a broad understanding of the principles and application of sport development.
In Years 3 and 4, students will have the opportunity to tailor their learning to their interests and career options, and complete a dissertation in their own area of interest.
This provides an overview of the academic study of sport. You will be introduced to a range of interesting topics related to sport coaching, sport development, and sport & exercise science. You will also develop generic study skills that you will use throughout your time at UWS.
You will develop your understanding of sport policy, and consider psychosocial aspects related to sport and exercise. You will cover content related to sport event management and coaching theory and practice that you will utilise in your first industry partner placement.
You will begin to specialise in sport development, putting theory into practice. You will study modules including social issues in sport, learn more about sport provision in schools, and be introduced to sport management principles. You will also take part in your second placement with an industry partner and learn research skills that will prepare you for your Honours year.
You will consolidate the theory you have gained by completing modules covering global issues in sport development and sport business operations. You also undertake elective modules related to your career plan, with options covering interventions in sport & physical activity; exercise referral in special populations; mental health & physical activity; and developing outdoor sport. There is also the opportunity to undertake an applied international field trip. You will also complete a final year dissertation in a sport-related topic of your choice.
This degree will be taught through a combination of learning methods including tutor-led lectures, tutorials and seminars, practical workshops and exercises in a simulated work environment, small group teaching and group project work. Independent, online and peer-to-peer learning is an important element of this course.
Our BSc (Hons) Sport Development degree uses a variety of assessment methods. The below list provides a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:
Programme Specification and Module Descriptors for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are available to download (PDFs). These provide you with core information concerning your chosen subject.
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£18,000 per year of study
£305 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£3,000 per module (20 credits)
"The course provided me with a platform into the sport development industry. The variety of modules allowed me to explore where my passion lay within sports.”
Preeti Jassal, BSc (Hons) Sport Development graduate, now Programme Co-ordinator, Shell Twilight Basketball
The programme will prepare you for a successful career in sport development but also sport, leisure and education settings in general. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills to find opportunities in a wide range of roles, including:
Many of our graduates go on to postgraduate courses in PE teaching, including the PGDE (Secondary) Physical Education and Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Physical Education at UWS Ayr, or the MSc Sport Coaching at UWS Lanarkshire. Others take part in or lead funded research projects with partner organisations.
Graduates will be able to pursue opportunities such as UWS's MSc in Sport Coaching, Physical Education teaching, and PhDs.
Ready to apply? All UK & EU Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS. Further information for international, part-time and exchange applications can be found below.
Apply through UCASAll UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2025/26 entry is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2025. Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
You can find out more about applying for this undergraduate course on UCAS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.