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What makes Physical Education at Worcester special?

The degree is specifically designed to meet the changing needs of the Physical Education profession and has a broad range of modules that will prepare you for a career in teaching or supporting the delivery of Physical Education and extra-curricular activities.

The innovative and flexible approach to the curriculum design enables you to explore a range of different subjects throughout your degree. The content will ensure that you graduate with key knowledge of the delivery of all areas of the Physical Education National Curriculum, including Outdoor Adventure Activities, Athletics, and Dance.

During your first year (level 4) you will study fundamental modules common across PE, coaching and development. The broad based start to your degree provides opportunity for you to be confident in your choice as you gain more knowledge and learn about your degree subject. The course design however facilitates the flexibility for you to progress onto one of the related degrees at the end of level the first year.

The innovative design of the degree also enables you to specialise, if you wish, at level 6. You will have the opportunity to study and research modules in Adapted PE, resulting in your final award of BSc (Hons) Physical Education (Adapted PE) as your named degree.

The course is delivered by a team of highly experienced and enthusiastic Physical Education practitioners, committed to ensuring a quality experience that will provide you with the tools to become an effective and employable graduates. Throughout the course, you will take part in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and work placements, gaining valuable experience in primary and secondary schools and other community settings. The application of pedagogical practice is a key part of the course.

Progressing from this course, you will be in a strong position to apply for a Qualified Teacher Status course such as the Post Graduate Certificate of Education, or to move onto one of our Master's courses.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • First year modules common across PE, Coaching, Development pathways offering flexibility on completion of level 4
  • Opportunities to teach children from all key stages and ability levels
  • Opportunities to specialise in Adapted PE
  • Excellent facilities including state of the art inclusive University Arena, 3G AstroTurf, dance studio, outdoor educational site including lake and outdoor activity centre, S&C suite and gymnasium
  • Opportunity to gain additional qualifications, such as a variety coaching awards.
  • Sports-related volunteering and Earn as You Learn opportunities
  • The opportunity to study abroad for one semester
  • If you choose to train to teach, you’ll be guaranteed an interview for University of Worcester PGCE Secondary PE or PGCE Primary courses, in your final year of study.

One of the best things about studying PE at Worcester was that the lecturers are kind and encouraging, they are always happy to answer questions and guide you if needs be, it’s clear that each lecturer wants you to do well.

Isobel Banks, PE student, Class of 2023

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Top 25% satisfaction

Our Sports courses are ranked in the top 25% of UK universities for overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)

100% satisfaction logo

This course received 100% overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)

In addition to subject content, the course has given me many skills that I can use in life and career ahead. It has provided a variety of opportunities that have supported my learning ready to train as a PE teacher.

Bradley Willmott, PE student, Class of 2023

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

112 UCAS Tariff points (for example, BBC at A Level)

A Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this course

Other information

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from the UCAS website.

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Physical Education student outdoors doing water based activity

Olivia Shacklock

"I chose Worcester because on the open day I was so impressed by the facilities and the amazing welcome I got from the potential lecturers. It felt a supportive environment the minute I arrived. I valued the experiences provide by the university with multiple opportunities to go into schools.”

“I am now a full-time outdoor education instructor at an outdoor and adventure company and was supported in my degree with the OAA module which opened my eyes to the opportunity of this job and the benefits of OAA on its students."

Olivia gained a first class honours degree In Physical Education.

A student holding a rugby ball wearing a rugby kit

Tabitha Simmonds

“I chose Worcester because of the course. They offer Single honours Physical Education, and many other universities mix it with coaching. The course matched exactly what I wanted with a broad range of modules offered.

Throughout my three years the support from staff has been amazing, and has really helped me achieve my degree. Modules provided me with the opportunity to work in schools and deliver practically with loads of feedback and support. This cemented my thinking and want to go on to teaching to continue my development.

I’m moving onto completing a PGCE in Secondary PE and the links continually made from the end of second year towards the PGCE course, putting us in contact with the lecturers and providing an information day have been really helpful.”

Tabitha gained a first class honours degree in Physical Education

"When looking into higher education, Worcester for me was the perfect fit! It offered the course I was interested in and had been attended by colleagues of mine who gave it a glowing recommendation. The support I have been given to manage my career and studies has been first class with all staff members going above and beyond to ensure I get the most out of my time at the University of Worcester".

Adam Finch, PE student, Class of 2023

Course content

Course content

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Year 1

Mandatory

  • Principles of Sports Coaching and PE
  • Physical Activity, Health, Wellbeing
  • Scientific Principles in Teaching and Coaching
  • Adapted Physical Activity, Sport and Disability

Optional

Year 2

Mandatory

  • Learning and Teaching through Games
  • Advanced Scientific Principles in Teaching and Coaching
  • Creating Successful Research

Optional

  • Teaching Special Education Needs and Disability PE in Schools 
  • Contemporary Issues in Sport
  • Teaching and Coaching Athletics 
  • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities in the Curriculum
  • Teaching Gymnastics and Dance in Schools 
  • Teaching Swimming in School
  • Optional modules offered by the Centre for Academic English and Skills/School of Education 

Year 3

Mandatory

  • Independent Research Project in Physical Education 

Optional

  • Professional Placement
  • School Based Placement
  • Contemporary Issues in Disability PE 
  • 14-19 PE and Sport
  • Leading and Developing PE in Primary School  
  • Engaging Young People in Physical Activity  
  • The Developing Child
Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.

A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the Personal Academic Tutoring system, enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and coaching practicals. These approaches enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered, through discussion and small group activities, Seminars enable the discussion of topics covered in lectures and coaching practicals are focused on developing subject-specific and applied individual and group project work. There is an opportunity to undertake a 100-hour placement in the third year of the course, with agreed placements supervised by a work-based mentor and a university supervisor. You will also be required to complete an Independent Research Project (IRP) normally in the third year of the course. 

Contact time

In a typical week, you will have around 12-16 contact hours of teaching. The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year you will normally have slightly less contact time to do more independent study. Typically contact time will be structured around:

  • Practical sessions
  • Theoretical lectures
  • Seminars (in small study groups)
  • Module specific tutorials

Independent self study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 24-28 hours of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assignments and assessments.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Duration

  • 3 year full-time
  • 4-6 years part-time
  • 4 years full-time including one year placement

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, and professional practitioners with both breadth and depth of industry experience.

On occasion, Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training, may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Teaching is informed by research and consultancy, and majority of School of Sport and Exercise Science lecturers have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practical or 'formative' assignments.

Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performances, presentations and a final year independent studies project.

The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:

Year 1

  • 4 Essay/Written assessment  
  • 4 Presentations
  • 1 Practical Delivery  
  • 1 Portfolio 

Year 2

  • 1 Teaching episodes
  • 2-3 Presentations and practical performances
  • 4 essays / written tasks 
  • 1 Mock PGCE interview  

Year 3

  • Major Independent Research Study 4000-6000 words
  • 2-3 Individual or group presentations
  • 3-4 Written assessment
  • 1 Placement portfolio
  • 1 Lesson observation analysis

Feedback

You will receive feedback on all summative assessment pieces and on some formative assessment tasks. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with your Personal Academic Tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on submitted summative assessment work within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme Specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes academics as well as professional practitioners with educational experience from primary, secondary and special schools. Guest speakers are also invited in for lectures and seminars in at least once per module.

Teaching is informed by research and the majority of permanent lecturers have a higher education qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. 

Richard Pepperell 2024

Richard Pepperell

Richard is an experienced PE teacher and sports lecturer and joined the University of Worcester in 2017. He has been working in education since 2002 and is the Course Leader for PE and Sports Coaching at Worcester since 2018.

He continues to work in rugby coaching, as a standards verifier for Pearson’s suite of PE and Sport BTEC programmes, an external examiner at two other institutions and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

helen-hope

Helen Hope

Head of Department for Sport Development, Management and Therapy.

Helen Hope is a Principal Lecturer in Physical Education. Before joining the University in 2005 she had taught in secondary schools for ten years and was Head of a PE department for five years. She has previously led the PGCE PE teacher training programme for three years before moving into teaching on the Undergraduate Modular Scheme (UMS) course. She became a Head of Department in September 2015 and leads on Student Retention for the School.

Helen prides herself in demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning and has won and been nominated for various Student Choice Awards. Helen has a keen interest in transformational learning, blended teaching approaches and the use of authentic assessments, ensuring that students are able to apply their learning in real-life situations. As Retention lead she has developed new processes and systems to ensure that students are supported in their personal learning journeys.

Charlotte Beaman-Evans 2024

Charlotte Beaman-Evans

When lecturing, Charlotte encourages students to think divergently to help change the narrative of children’s school-based experience of Physical Education.

When working alongside talented athletes, Charlotte allows athletes to recognise the road may be bumpy in their quest to achieve their goal, but never to lose sight of it.

Karen Broughton 2024

Karen Broughton

Karen prides herself on her quality of teaching and learning and has been nominated and short listed for various Student Choice Awards.

She has written, developed and taught a variety of new modules that reflect the changing PE environment to better prepare students for the varying roles that they may enter following University.

“As an aspiring teacher myself, Karen has been a great role model and has shown me the importance of creating good relationships and a positive environment for students. Her door is always open, and she will make the time of day for anyone."  Student quote, 2023.

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Rebecca Foster MBE

Interested in including disabled people in sport? Then come and have a chat with me!

Careers

Careers

In 2018, 95% of Physical Education Graduates were in full time employment or further study 6 months after completing their degree.

A high number of graduates go on to study a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) either for secondary Physical Education teaching or Primary teaching. However the content of the course develops a wide range of employability skills, enabling Graduates to enter into a broad range of different professions including, Sports Administration Development, Sports Activity Leader, Social Media Marketing Co-ordinator; Sports and Disability Inclusion Coach; Recruitment Consultant Specialist and many more.

If you choose to train to teach, you’ll be guaranteed an interview for University of Worcester PGCE Secondary PE or PGCE Primary courses, in your final year of study.

Two students are walking next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential
Costs

Fees and funding

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £1,190.83 per 15-credit module, £1,587.77 per 20-credit module, £2,381.66 per 30-credit module, £3,175.55 per 40-credit module, £3,572.50 per 45-credit module and £4,763.32 per 60 credit module.

For more details on course pages, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

All Physical Education and Sports Coaching students are expected to wear School of Sport and Exercise Science branded sports kit. This includes a polo top, t-shirt and a hooded sweatshirt and costs approximately £85.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Halls' at £131 per week to 'Ensuite Premium Halls' at £228 per week (2025/26 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Sports Scholarships

At Worcester we are committed to supporting elite and talented sports performers who are dedicated to both sporting and academic success. Our sports scholarships are available for a range of team and individual sports. For further information, visit our sports scholarships pages.
How to apply

How to apply

Applying through UCAS

Physical Education BSc (Hons) - XC36

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application.

UCAS Code

XC36

Apply Via UCAS

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Admissions Office

admissions@worc.ac.uk
01905 855111

Karen Broughton

Course leader
k.broughton@worc.ac.uk
01905 855450

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