Support young people in sport with our hands-on Physical Education, Sport, and Youth Development degree
Kickstart a career in teaching, coaching, or sport development with our Physical Education, Sport, and Youth Development degree. You will develop a solid foundation in topics like teaching and coaching pedagogy, sociology, and the holistic development of young people.
Hands-on learning
Our Physical Education, Sport, and Youth Development course will blend theory and practical application, allowing you to learn hands-on. For example, you will take part in school-based lessons and applied activity sessions.
Support from experts
We have an excellent reputation for physical education and sport. You will learn from a team of lecturers with a wide range of expertise in:
- physical education (PE)
- sports coaching
- sport sociology
- adapted PE & disability sport
- dance.
Our academics are also devoted to your personal and professional growth. Our student, Sophy, tells us that their tutors “always offered support and encouraged us to push [our] boundaries”.
Work placements: build professional experience
You will complete a work placement to apply your learning to a professional environment. We have strong links with over 200 schools, as well as National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and sports clubs in elite and disability sport.
Postgraduate progression
Following your Physical Education, Sport, and Youth Development degree, any student meeting the entry requirements at
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Course content
Modules
These modules are the modules that were available to students in the 2024/25 academic year and are illustrative of what may be offered for 2025/26.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
How the degree is taught
Teaching methods
You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.
Teaching approaches reflect the educational nature of the degree and embrace a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars, study groups, workshops, practical tutor-led sessions, applied (student-led) practical, and theoretical sessions.
School-based observation and applied activity sessions are mirrored by experiences in coaching and sport development contexts. Blended learning approaches include the use of technology and online teaching platforms to enhance the variety of skills, knowledge and understanding required to be successful in today’s modern job markets.
Class sizes vary depending on the modules undertaken. Typical class sizes range from 20 to 70 students in different teaching settings.
Assessment methods
Modules are assessed through a range of innovative methods including assessing practical skills - self and peer evaluations, examinations, essays, portfolios, case studies, seminar and ICT-based presentations, online assessments, video and oral presentations, work-based learning portfolio vivas and a Research Project/Dissertation.
Guidance and support are given in adopting an academic approach to your work. Tutorials are provided to give detailed feedback and target setting especially in the early years of study.
Feedback
We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
Entry requirements
2025 and 2026 entries
Start date
Standard offer
112 - undefined UCAS points
Contextual offer
96 UCAS points
About Contextual Offer:
Not sure about your grades? We consider all factors when reviewing your application, as we know not everyone has the same support to reach their potential. So we may make a contextual offer below the standard Tariff if you meet our criteria.
We understand that sometimes barriers you can't control get in the way of academic achievement. You are more than just your grades. We'll consider your application as a whole, taking into account things like:
- subjects studied at Level 3
- your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile
- non-academic achievements you mention in your personal statement
- your references and motivation.
GCSE
If you wish to go on to train as a teacher, you will also require GCSE Grade 4/C (or equivalent) in English, Mathematics and Science.
We offer GCSE equivalency tests for those who need to improve their GCSE grades.
International requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (or equivalent).
UCAS Personal statement support
Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please get in touch.
How many UCAS points my grades are worth
A levels
A*
56 pts
A
48 pts
B
40 pts
C
32 pts
D
24 pts
E
16 pts
My qualification isn't listed:
If you can't find your qualification in this list please check the full list of UCAS tariff tables.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees
Home
£9,535
International
£17,100
*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
For more information on foundation year fees for home students, please check the details on our tuition fee page.
Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.
Additional costs
Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.
Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.
Scholarships
Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students .
Living costs
A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.
Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.
Career opportunities
With our Physical Education, Sport, and Youth Development BA, you will build valuable essential skills, including communication, collaboration, and resilience.
You can also contact our Career Services at careers@stmarys.ac.uk for further information on work and postgraduate opportunities.
Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of Physical Education, Sport and Youth Development BA (Hons) include:
Apply now
If you're currently living in the United Kingdom and Ireland, you'll need to apply directly through UCAS. You can check our step-by-step application guide for detailed information.
If you are living outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland, you can submit an application directly or add St Mary's University as a choice on UCAS. Check our guideline for more information.
Transferring from another institution?
St Mary's is happy to consider applications from students who wish to transfer from another university. If this is you, please follow these instructions.
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