Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £17,155 per year -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
C603
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Prepare for a fulfilling career in education, school sport, physical activity, and health
- Learn teaching techniques from experts and find out how to make young people passionate about movement
- Access world-leading facilities such as Ponds Forge and the English Institute of Sport
- Apply your practical skills and knowledge in real-life situations with work placements
- Develop the skills to succeed in sport, health and educational environments
Are you driven by a love for sports and want to help people to embrace physical activity? On the Physical Education and School Sport course, you will explore a wide range of topics to prepare you for the world of physical education and school sports – from practical activities and developing professional practice to sport science, sociology, philosophy and research.
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
How you learn
At Sheffield Hallam we prioritise practical learning through teaching, working and doing. Our experienced staff have all worked in education – from primary to secondary and post-16. You’ll be learning from the best, and they’re here to guide you through your degree, developing your digital capabilities, critical thinking and inclusive approaches that value equality and diversity.
You’ll combine theory with hands-on projects in our exceptional sports facilities – giving you true-to-life experience and excellent preparation for a rewarding career in a range of roles. The course is also carefully designed and aligned with professional teaching standards. You’ll gain the professional expertise and knowledge to be well-positioned for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
You learn through:
- Lectures, seminars and workshops
- A virtual learning environment (VLE)
- Work-based learning experiences
- Placements
- Field trips
- Practical activities in both simulated and in-situ environments
- Independent study
- Research opportunities
Key themes
We’re dedicated to helping you develop your sports skills and knowledge – alongside the confidence to support children's physical activity and health in schools.
You’ll explore theoretical, philosophical and practical aspects of physical education and school pport – gaining insights into the roles of physical education graduates in sports, physical activity, and broader professional settings. Topics include teaching strategies, physical education delivery, education policy, reflective practice, sport and exercise science, philosophy, sociology, professional standards and safeguarding.
You’ll learn how to investigate contemporary issues that shape the broader context of PE and school sport by actively engaging in school-based work. In turn, you will enhance your comprehension of the National Curriculum in relation to sport and physical education across all education levels, gaining a holistic understanding of the field.
Course support
The course is designed to help you demonstrate your learning outcomes – with authentic assessment activities relating to real-world scenarios, your specific goals and your skills development.
Throughout your studies, various individuals will support your learning and target setting – guiding you towards resources for academic, professional and personal development.
These support roles include:
- Course and Module Leaders
- Your Academic Adviser
- Your Student Support Adviser
- Your Employability Adviser
- Central services like counselling, Library and IT
95% of students on this course were satisfied with academic support in the 2024 National Student Survey.
Course leaders and tutors
Julie Binney
Senior LecturerJulie has been a Senior Lecturer in the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity since 2002
Applied learning
Work placements
Often, students undertake their placements within school settings - secondary and primary. The course prepares students to apply for ITE.
There’s a mandatory short placement at the end of your second year. Over a minimum of 120 hours, you will be learning while you work and preparing to progress into employment after you graduate.
You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements between your second and final years. This gives you further valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
We connect students with schools and education facilities at all levels – in the UK and abroad. In the past, this has included short placements in Spain and Tanzania, plus opportunities to study abroad.
Field trips
On field trips you will be able to understand how your learning is applied first-hand to real-world situations, gaining valuable insight into working practice. These include away days and outdoor learning activities.
Past students have taken outdoor activity trips to Manvers Waterboat Centre and Whitely Woods, and there’s the chance to visit Fiji, working alongside Fijian communities and Fijian youths as part of Think Pacific. You’re also able to use the incredible facilities here in Sheffield – from Ponds Forge to the English Institute of Sport.
Guest lectures
You will get the chance to learn from external speakers, including members from The Art of Being Brilliant, which is an organisation focusing on 'Mental Wealth', confidence building and resilience in our student population. You’ll also learn from school-based staff and PGCE staff from within the university who will provide a realistic mock interview before you apply for teacher education courses.
You’ll hear from specialist industry experts who share context-specific examples of the knowledge, skills and behaviours you will need for your career ahead. Topics include mental health, confidence building and resilience – as well as mock interviewers from schools and PGCE courses at Hallam to help you get ready to apply for teacher education after you graduate.
Networking opportunities
Your employability is enhanced by the involvement of employers and industry partners – from the real-world projects you complete to the opportunities to make professional connections and build networks at careers fairs and workshops.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- School and college education
- Pastoral roles
- Special educational needs
- Teaching Assistant roles
- PE Technician roles
- Head of PE roles
- Departmental lead roles
- Activity-specific school sport – e.g. dance, gymnastics, swimming, outdoor and adventurous activities
- Leadership and management
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- PE Teaching roles in secondary education
- Teaching roles in primary education (non-specialist and specialist PE)
- The tertiary education sector
- Public service organisations
- National and global federations of sport
Equipment and facilities
You’ll have access to world-class facilities and equipment to develop your knowledge and skills in the delivery and analysis of physical education and school sport. Our sport-specific training facilities and research laboratories include:
- The UK Sports Institute
- The Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park
- Physiology and biomechanics labs for movement and physical activity analysis
- A strength and conditioning teaching lab
- A physical activity suite
- A performance analysis suite, video analysis and motion capture
- An environmental chamber
- Sport psychology consultation rooms
Media Gallery
Learn more about your department
Sports Facilities Tour
Take a look around Sheffield Hallam University's sports facilities with Wellbeing, Sport and Physical Activity Officer Ellie.
UNIPRO Football Coaching
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112-120
From at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We accept General Studies. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level.
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit overall from a T level qualification in Health or Science qualification.
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Distinction overall from a T level qualification in Health care Science.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ or general studies.
GCSE
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
• Access to HE Diploma. Normally we require 15 of the level 3 credits to be graded at distinction.
You also need to demonstrate an ability to
• study academic subjects at degree level
• debate topics and issues
• draw on conclusions from written material
• study independently as well as a member of a group
• use computers and technology associated with contemporary teaching, learning and assessment methods
• successfully complete a range of assignments including researched essays and practical examinations
This is normally achieved by completing academic study at level three or above in the last four years.
* GCSE English and mathematics equivalents accepted are:
• equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions or disabilities you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the course requirements and take part without disadvantage. You can contact our University student support staff and explore any issues you may have.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Foundations Of Coaching And Teaching
Foundations Of Professional Practice In P.E. And School Sport
The Nature And Purpose Of Physical Education And Sport Coaching
The Science Of Physical Education And Sport Coaching
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Developing Practical Pedagogy
Professional Practice In Pe And School Sport
Science And Health In Physical Education And School Sport
Elective modules
Alternative Physical Activities
Analysis Of Sport And Games
Event Management For Sport And Physical Activity
Exercise Prescription For The Prevention Of Disease
Sport As A Tool For Social Change
Sports Club Development
Sports Facility Management Simulation
Study Abroad - Sport And Physical Activity
Technology For Sport And Physical Activity
Testing And Analysis In Sport And Physical Activity
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Independent Project In Sport And Physical Activity
Pe Spaces And Social Change
Elective modules
Approaches To Talent Development
Coach Education And Development
Economics And Finance Of Sport
Entrepreneurship And Innovation For Sport And Physical Activity
Exercise Prescription For Long Term Conditions
Health Promotion
Innovative Practical Pedagogy
Major Sport Events
Nutrition For Sport And Physical Activity
Performance Analysis Of Sport
Programming And Prescription Of Training In Sport And Physical Activity
Psychology Of Sport And Exercise
Sport And The Media
Sport, Brands And Culture
Sport Data Analytics
Sport Injury
Sport Journalism
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sport and Physical Activity (PDF, 144.2KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Student success story
Our industry links provide superb opportunities for our students. Here, two undergraduates talk about how placements at Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday have brought them closer to their dream jobs.
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Find out about sports and physical activity at Sheffield Hallam University.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
