Sport Foundation Year

How will I learn during this Sport foundation year course?

Through links with Northumbria Sport, you have the opportunity to undertake volunteering and to experience a range of practical sports. The programme allows you to gain knowledge and competence in key themes within sport to support you in vocational roles, and to help you to decide which undergraduate degree is best for you.

The programme is also in line with the University’s mission to offer opportunity, relevance and enhanced employability in sport through innovative and challenging learning and teaching.

This year-long course comprises two semesters (September - December and January – May) and six modules. Modules, which are varied in content and teaching style, include ‘Essential Skills for Studying Sport’ and ‘Volunteering in Sport’.

Whilst the majority of the course content will be taught in a traditional classroom setting, students will receive around 30 hours of practical teaching in a variety of settings, including the state-of-the-art Sports Central.

We also invite guest speakers who currently work in industry to pass on their knowledge, advice and wisdom to you. They’ll also give you a real-life case study, which you’ll need to resolve in real-time, giving you a taste of your future career in sport.

Who teaches the Sport foundation year course?

The programme is delivered by an experienced team of research active and practitioner based academics who come from diverse professional backgrounds.  You will therefore benefit from cutting-edge teaching and research alongside tutors who are able to support you in making links with ‘real-world’ practice in a range of settings.   

The International Federation for Gymnastics, the Rugby Football Union, Sport England, British Gymnastics, the Youth Sport Trust, the English Federation for Disability Sport, British Tennis, British Equestrian Federation, British Rowing and Football League Education have all benefited from the expertise of Northumbria staff.

This experience means that you’re never just getting theory. Our staff have tested what they teach you at the highest possible level.

View all staff profiles.

Where will I learn during my foundation year?

Our campus sport facilities have been described as being some of the best in the country. We boast facilities for teaching and learning that rival any in the World, predominantly housed in Sport Central, a £30 million pound purpose-built sports building.

Facilities at Sport Central include an indoor 40-metre sprint track, a range of state-of-the-art sport science laboratories and an environmental chamber. 

And all this is happening in one of the UK’s great sporting cities, where you’re surrounded by nationally and internationally recognised sports organisations. We involve the sporting community of Newcastle and the North East wherever we can in your learning experience.

How is research applied to teaching throughout my course?

Northumbria has an unrivalled reputation for sport and exercise science research power in the North East. You’ll learn from sport science experts who are internationally acknowledged for their research.

A research rich culture is a strong philosophy of this programme and teaching on the modules promotes a ‘research rich’ learning approach, which encourages you to become an active inquirer and problem solver.

Research active staff share their knowledge and expertise, and students are encouraged to become involved in research projects throughout their three years.

Discover More about our research strengths.

How will my degree provide me with the skills needed for my career?

Experience has taught us that foundation students become successful graduates. The extra year of study and exposure to industry experts and first class facilities often gives this group of students a career edge.

Once you graduate with a sports degree, you will join our successful alumni, such as Chris Cook - an English former competitive swimmer who swam for Great Britain in the Olympics, world championships and European championships, and competed for England in the Commonwealth Games. Chris studied a sport degree at Northumbria before becoming a well decorated sports star!

We also have current students who are competing in national and international events - these students could be your course mates or even you!

After successful completion of the foundation year, you will have the option to automatically progress onto one of our full time sport undergraduate degrees. This provides you with the opportunity to continue your learning and take advantage of industry links, placement opportunities or a study abroad year. After this, the world is your oyster! The future could hold a career in football management at Newcastle United or in the development of outdoor tennis facilities throughout Tyne & Wear. You could work with schools to encourage children to get active, or coach within elite sport. You could become a sport and exercise scientist helping to optimise performance in Olympic athletes or improving health in the community. Whichever path you choose, our reputation for sport degrees at Northumbria precedes us.

Studying sport with us will help to open doors and give you the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed for a lifelong career in this sector.