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Help shape a more inclusive and healthy society by understanding the wider social role of sport and developing sports programmes that create positive changes to meet the needs of the 21st century.
  • Gain professional experience through placements with a variety of sport development and community engagement organisations
  • Design, deliver and evaluate sports and social change initiatives throughout your degree
  • Taught online and on our historic London campus to allow flexibility with your learning
  • Innovative assessment that includes the use of different media and social networks, as well as project-based teaching and assessments

Why study Sport and Social Change?

Sport in the 21st century encompasses wider social roles beyond its traditional remit of elite performance.

Whether it be tackling discrimination and inequality, providing alternative education routes, or offering initiatives that promote health and tackle society's issues. Consequently, social change has arisen firmly in the agenda of sports governing bodies, employers and the community sector alike.

You'll have the opportunity to work alongside the organisations and individuals creating positive social change throughout your degree. This will give you insights skills and knowledge required for the discipline.

Professional placements will give you the opportunity to enhance your experience, while community innovation projects will offer the opportunity to create, develop, and evaluate initiatives that promote social change. Both placements and community innovation projects will help you build a network of industry contacts who can support you through your degree and into your career.

Why St Mary's?

This Sport and Social Change degree offers you a unique blend of professional and theoretical knowledge. This will give you an advantage as a graduate looking to work within sport governing bodies, sport development, community physical activity or in sport anti-discrimination projects.

Our reputation and location means that you’ll have access to opportunities to work with sport and social change organisations across London and the South East, as well as the opportunity to engage with international sport development organisations.

Teaching staff on the programme are leading academics with connections to industry. They’ll help you to develop the skills, experiences and knowledge desired by governing bodies and leading anti-discrimination organisations.

Useful information

Course lead

Michael Hobson headshotMichael Hobson
Course Lead - Sport and Social Change BA (Hons)

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Entry requirements

96-112UCAS points required

Check how many points your grades are worth

Calculate your total UCAS points

We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).

For undergraduate programmes we will take into account subjects studied at Level 3, your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile, relevant non-academic achievements outlined in your personal statement, references and your motivation for study.

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.

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Course content

Year one

  •  Core
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Year two

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Optional
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Year three

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional

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.

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Career opportunities

As a Sport and Social Change graduate, you will have the skills and knowledge sought after by employers in a globally developing market. Your degree and professional placement will help you build your skills, knowledge and experiences within the industry, enhancing your employability prospects.

Employment areas include working with governing bodies, community sport foundations and anti-discrimination organisations in the following roles:

  • Alternative education
  • Community sport coordinator
  • Disability sport coordinator
  • Social inclusion officer
  • Health and wellbeing officer
  • Project officer/manager
  • Equality and inclusion consultant

We work closely with national governing bodies and professional organisations to create a strong portfolio of opportunities from across the sports sector.

As a graduate you may also consider some of the following postgraduate academic routes:

The Careers Service has more information on careers and postgraduate study options available to Sport and Exercise Science students who have started their studies at St Mary’s.

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How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, while also attending placements and using virtual learning technologies for online sessions.

We are committed to providing the very best teaching and look to continually use innovative approaches alongside traditional methods to best support your needs.

Most modules will adhere to a three hours structure, which is common in the faculty of Sport, Allied Health and Performance Science: One hour lecture, one hour seminar and one hour applied practice.

However, this may adapt based upon the module content and will sometimes include other activities such as guest speakers, external visits to sport development and anti-discrimination organisations, and additional practical opportunities.

The applied nature of the degree means you will also be supported through an industry-specific placement and specialist symposium events hosted by key industry figures.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who you'll meet with on a regular basis to focus on your professional and academic development. This individualised approach looks to guide you towards your desired career in elite sport. Your personal tutor will also support you through visits whilst you're on your professional placement.

Teaching breakdown

Learning on the course is made up through a combination of:

  • Guided learning: 40%
  • Independent study: 60%

Independent study is a key feature of your degree and is crucial to furthering your knowledge.

You will receive your timetable a week before teaching is due to start at the latest.

Assessment methods

There is a large range of assessment methods tailored around industry-specific roles related to Sport and Social Change. These include:

  • Practical delivery of projects and campaigns
  • Professional portfolios
  • Blogging
  • Case studies
  • Oral presentations
  • Essays
  • Research project/dissertation

Guidance and support is given to help you take an academic approach to your work. Tutorials are provided to give detailed feedback and set targets (especially in the early years of study).

Feedback

We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within three weeks.

See how your final degree mark is calculated...

Compensated passes

Please refer to the information on compensated passes throughout your degree as outlined in the academic regulations.

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Facilities

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Fees and funding

2023/24 fees

  • Home: TBC
  • International: TBC

*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase in line with inflation each year subject to the Governments review of Higher Education Funding

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

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available to new undergraduate students. This includes:

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.

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Meet your lecturers

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Further information


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Visit the campus

Upcoming open days

Attending an open day is a fantastic opportunity to get an insight into what life is like as a St Mary's student. During the day you'll have the chance to:

  • Speak to current students to hear about their experiences so far
  • Meet your future academics to put a name and a face to who you'll be learning from
  • Take a tour of the University and the on-campus accommodation options
  • Get involved with activities going on across campus as you explore new surroundings

Book your place now

Campus tours

There are plenty of opportunities for you to explore the campus, even if you can't make it to an Open Day. We run campus tours every Wednesday at 12pm. If you'd like to join us for one of these tours please register your place for your preferred day.

Virtual tour

We know that for it's important to you to see where you'll be living and studying before you make your decision. However, we also know that for many people it's not always easy to make it to the campus.

That's why we've developed a virtual tour of campus, allowing you to explore that facilities and the beautiful views that we have to offer.

Launch the virtual tour

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UCAS Application Timeline

1

UCAS Apply Opens

You will be able to register and begin your application, but won't yet be able to submit it.

May (year before entry)

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2

Completed applications can be submitted to UCAS

From September you'll be able to submit your UCAS application. Universities will start making decisions on applications.

September (year before entry)

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3

UCAS application deadline

You will need to submit your application by this date.

January 26th

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4

UCAS Extra opens

If you've used all five choices, but are not holding any offers, you might be able to add another choice.

Late February

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5

Replying to offers

Your deadline for replying to your offers depends on when you received all your decisions by. If you miss your deadline, UCAS will automatically decline all your offers

Spring/Summer

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6

Late applications are entered into Clearing

If your application is received after 30th June, it will be entered into Clearing.

30th June

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7

UCAS Extra application deadline

If you've used all five choices, but are not holding any offers, this will be your last chance to add an Extra choice.

Early July

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8

Clearing Opens

Clearing vacancies will be displayed in the UCAS search tool.

Early July

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9

Clearing hotline opens

On A-Level results day, we open our Clearing hotline. If you're eligible to apply through Clearing, you'll be able to apply to us via phone.

Mid-August

Find out more about Clearing
10

Adjustment opens

If you've exceeded the conditions of your firm choice, you may be able to apply for an alternative course.

Mid-August

Find out more about the application process
11

Final application deadline

This is the final opportunity to apply for a course beginning in that year.

September

Find out more about Clearing
12

Clearing closes

This is your final chance to apply through Clearing. Please note: you will not be able to apply for Primary Education beyond mid-September.

October

Find out more about Clearing