Overview
What is physical education like at UEL?
It's an exciting time to be involved in the fields of sport and physical education. Throughout your time on this course, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of PE and a variety of sports. You will also learn the key skills for a wide range of sport-related careers.
You will:
- explore an inclusive approach to sport and physical education in one of the UK’s most diverse areas
- learn how to encourage as many people as possible to engage in sport and physical exercise, including through sport coaching
- have the opportunity to put your studies to the test through real-world opportunities, including local schools and national organisations such as Panathlon Challenge.
This course is in Clearing
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Course modules
The Sports, Physical Education and Development Foundation year gives you a grounding in academic skills and sports expertise. This comprehensive sports course develops your understanding of human anatomy. It covers the psychological aspects of sport, along with critical communication skills. It will set you up for future academic and professional success.
This first year provides a comprehensive foundation in sport, physical education and development. You’ll get to grips with the basics of the human body. You learn how it works by studying human performance and sports psychology. You'll investigate how sport has developed today and develop essential coaching principles.
The sports, physical education and development in the second year focuses on developing your knowledge and skills in relation to being an effective teacher/coach. You'll look at working with a wide range of people. You will explore policy and sports leadership. Practical experience will be provided in how to adapt physical activity in the field of teaching and coaching.
By year three of the Sport, Physical Education and Development programme, you'll concentrate on your independent research project. You'll get the chance to do a work placement. We've developed many excellent placement opportunities with partners like West Ham United, Leyton Orient and activeNewham, as well as primary and secondary schools.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Entry requirements
Degree:
112 UCAS pointsThis is the standard advertised entry requirement for most students applying to this course.
Degree with contextual offer:
96 UCAS pointsYou may be eligible for a reduced offer based on your personal, educational or socioeconomic background.
Degree with foundation year:
64 UCAS pointsIf you do not meet the standard entry requirements, you can apply for a foundation year. This additional year prepares you with the academic skills needed to progress to the full undergraduate degree.
Pre-entry programmes
If you lack formal or current qualifications, there are routes available to help you achieve your goal.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Your previous qualifications, uncompleted study or industry experience may mean you can start your studies at a later point in the course and influence your eligibility for entry
What makes this course different

Highly rated by our students
96 per cent of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “The Teaching on my Course” in the 2025 National Student Survey. (National Student Survey 2025, Results published 9 July 2025)

Scholarships
Our high-performance sport programme gives elite athletes the chance to balance study with their sporting ambitions by offering world-class facilities, support and bursaries.

Hands-on experience with real-life projects
Students gain impactful experience working on projects such as Panathlon and National Goalball as well as our own in-house schools programme, Sport in your Futures delivered with East London Sport.
Panathlon Challenge 2024
Panathlon is a national charity and the Panathlon Challenge consists of many events taking place locally and nationally to include disabled students in different competitions.
Students with special needs and students without any disability have come together to learn and compete in a variety of activities at SportsDock.
Watch this video to learn about the event.
Your future career
There are many exciting career options in sports, sport coaching, exercise, and health – including, of course, shaping the future as a physical education teacher. We make sure you experience these opportunities while learning. Every sport and exercise science student can do work placements – paid or voluntary – and make connections with sports groups and schools before graduating.
Industry links
A host of exciting careers in the sport coaching and teaching worlds will open up to you once you graduate, but the great thing about our course is that you may find they open up to you even while you're studying. That's because our work placements and the relationships we have built with sports organisations and schools are so strong.

Graduate employers
Our graduates have gone on to work for employers such as local schools and colleges as physical education teachers, sports organisations, charities, not-for-profits, and roles in research, policy and advocacy. Specific organisations our alumni work at are Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation, Kent Cricket, Everyone Active, Deaf Kids Connect and Adidas.
Job roles
Sport, physical education and development graduates have gone on to careers as sports coaches, sports coordinators, support workers, researchers, development officers and teaching assistants.
Further study
Graduates may choose to move on to one of our postgraduate courses in: Strength and Conditioning, Sports Psychology, Sport Analytics or Sport & Exercise Physiology.
Some of our graduates also go on to a career in teaching via our PGCE Physical Education course with our School of Childhood and Social Care.

Having a support system at UEL helped me to realise the importance of asking for help. Sometimes, you cannot do it alone, but with help, your goals can become a reality. This is the mindset I use in my career too."Romell Glave
Sport, Physical Education and Development BSc (Hons)
How you'll learn
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Guided independent study
Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers.
Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).
Academic support
Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisors (you’ll have an academic advisor from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us), and university central support services.
You'll be taught by specialists in different areas. Specialists such as Nadia Grubnic, a PE expert who has researched the London 2012 legacy.
Dedicated personal tutor
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, academic tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks.
UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars, and individual and group physical education tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate hours for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Class sizes
The approx size of classes on this course is 20 to 22.
How you'll be assessed
We'll assess you through a variety of coursework methods, including essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations, and a final-year project. In your first year, assessments are a mix of coursework, practical coaching sessions and portfolios, and we’ll provide you with as much feedback as possible to support your learning. As we move into the second and third year of the programme, we incorporate authentic practical teaching and coaching scenarios, working with peers and schools within the local community to help you develop real-world skills and experience.
Campus and facilities
Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.
Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.
Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.
The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and Canary Wharf, with London City Airport just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our students and staff say

We’re learning about coaching and teaching through practical learning and theory. It’s giving me the experience to become a better coach and is vital for me to become a great teacher."
Khalid Yacoob
Sport, Physical Education and Development student

The lecturers provided exceptional guidance, equipping me with the insight and expertise needed to step into the working world with confidence.
Juan Jimenez
Development Officer at Kent Cricket












