BSc (Hons) Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education

Overview

OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS SOON (SUBJECT TO VALIDATION).

The tertiary BSc (Hons) Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education programme prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience required to work in sports coaching, performance development, and athlete support settings both in Ireland and internationally. This full-time, four-year undergraduate degree integrates academic theory with applied practice through further education, university-based learning, and work placement opportunities. Successful completion of the programme leads to an honours degree qualification, equipping graduates to pursue careers in coaching, sports development, and performance analysis, as well as progression to postgraduate study.

Incorporating the Level 5 Certificate in Sports Coaching and Athletic Performance within the Further Education and Training (FET) sector provides learners with a clear pathway into the degree, offering direct progression to University College Cork (UCC). Students will spend their first year in a College of Further Education, developing foundational knowledge and practical coaching skills, alongside selected engagement with university-based learning. The remaining years university-based, delivered across semesterised modules, combining lectures, laboratory work, and field-based learning. In the final year, students will further develop their expertise through advanced study and applied practice, including a significant work placement or project in a real-world sports performance or coaching environment.

As a professional and practice-oriented programme, students are expected to actively engage in all elements of their training, including practical sessions and placement experiences. High levels of attendance and participation are required to ensure the development of the competencies necessary for effective and responsible practice within the sport and coaching sector.

3. Provider Locations and Structure

Students will spend the first year of this programme at the College of Further Education, Tramore Road Campus, in Cork City as well as taking weekly lectures in UCC. Year 2 of the course is fully university-based, and lectures take place over two 13-week semesters. In Years 3 and 4, students undertake one semester in the University and another on a 14-week professional placement.

Year 1 – Cork College of Further Education, Tramore Road Campus & University College Cork.

Years 2-4 – University College Cork

Course Content – For All Years

Year 1: Level 5 Award – Further Education - Certificate in Sports Coaching and Athletic Performance (PG26619).

Anatomy and Physiology for Sport and Exercise

Athletic Development for Young Athletes

Industry Experience for Sport and Wellness

Performance Training and Testing

Psychology for Sport and Wellness

Introduction to Performance Analysis in Sport

Coach Education

Year 1 – UCC 

ED1200 Introduction to Exercise Physiology (5 credits)

Year 2

Core Modules

AN1063 Anatomy of Exercise (5 credits)

DH1001 Introduction to the Digital Humanities (5 credits)

NT2013 Fundamental of Nutrition Part 1 (5 credits)

ED2200 Applied Coaching Practice and Placement I (15 credits)

ED2201 Performance Analysis: Methods and Applications (5 credits)

ED2202 Exercise Prescription and Physical Fitness Assessment (5 credits)

ED2203 Motor Development for Learning and Skill Competence (5 credits)

ED2204 Applied Coaching Pedagogy (15 credits)

Year 3

ED3307 Coaching Science (5 credits)

ED3308 Health and Wellbeing (5 credits)

ED3200 Applied Coaching Practice and Placement II (15 credits)

ED3201 Using Data Analytics in Sport and Exercise Settings (5 credits)

ED3202 Visual Analytics in Sport and Exercise (5 credits)

ED3203 Sports Performance Technologies and Performance Analysis (10 credits)

EC3219 The Economics of Sport (5 credits)

ED3204 Research Methods in Coaching and Performance (5 credits)

ED3328 Community-Based Physical Activity (5 credits)

Year 4

ED4200 Applied Coaching Practice and Placement III (20 credits)

ED4201 Research Project in Coaching and Sports Performance (10 credits)

ED4202 Sports Medicine (5 credits)

ED4203 Coaching Excellence Voices from the Field (5 credits)

ED4204 Innovation and Technology in Human Performance (5 credits)

ED4205 Coach and Athlete Wellbeing (5 credits)

ED4206 Career Readiness in Sport Coaching (10 credits)

Accreditation and Embedded Awards

This tertiary degree is a comprehensive 4-year programme. The programme is designed to support academic success despite challenges that may arise. If a student must leave the programme before completing the final year, tertiary degrees include embedded awards. Embedded awards formally recognise learning achieved during time in the programme. For this degree, the embedded awards are:

After successfully completing Year 1: NFQ level 5 PG26619 Certificate in Sports Coaching and Athletic Performance

The final NFQ level 8 BSc Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education is awarded by UCC.

Planned intake (number of places)

24 places

Entry requirements and eligibility

The minimum entry requirements for the tertiary the BSc Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education will align with UCC’s standards:

Leaving Certificate (or equivalent):

Six subjects required.
Minimum grade H4
Minimum grade H5 in another subject.
Minimum grade O3 in Maths.
Minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects including English.

Mature Students:

Must be 23 years old by January 1st of the application year.

Applicants from the United Kingdom and overseas would need to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the minimum entry requirements above in a General Certificate in Education (GCE), such as the GCE A Level.

Candidates who are non-native speakers of the English language must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language, as follows:

English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language, as follows:

Irish Leaving Certificate English: Ordinary Level Grade D3/O6/H7
GCE A-Level English Language: Grade D

All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must demonstrate CEFR proficiency at B2 for access. Evidence of English Language Proficiency must be provided through one of the following mechanisms:

English language proficiency assessment conducted by relevant ETB during the enrolment process. Minimum B2 in all skills on entry.
A valid certificate in English language from one of the institutions listed below:

International Examinations: Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), Minimum Grade – Grade B or higher
International Examinations: Cambridge Advanced (CAE), Minimum Grade – Borderline Fail Min 170 points
International Examinations: Cambridge Proficiency (CPE), Minimum Grade- Unsuccessful With min. 170 points
International Examinations, IELTS, Minimum Grade 6
Duolingo English Test DET 120 with a minimum score of 110 in each individual section

Note: IELTS certificates are only valid two years from the date of assessment. It is recommended that the same validity duration is applied to all other examinations.

Onward pathways

Potential Postgraduate Masters and Doctoral Pathways of Study may stem from the successful completion of this Level 8 BSc in Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education programme.

Special features (optional)

Student Garda Vetting

All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and will assume positions of trust through performance training, and community placement activities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to uphold trust and confidence in the sports and coaching profession, all registered students are required to undergo National Vetting Bureau procedures. Vetting is carried out by the Cork College of FET, Tramore Road Campus once a student has accepted their place on the programme, and by the Admissions Office in UCC in year two, under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Acts).

Progression to Second Year

To progress to Second Year, candidates on the BSc Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education must pass the full QQI Level 5 award (7 modules to the value of 120 QQI credits) with an overall merit profile outcome across Year 1.

Students must also receive a pass judgement in the UCC module ED1200.