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What makes the PGCert in Sports Coaching at Worcester special?

Our Sports Coaching PG Cert creates a community of dedicated postgraduate students who are passionate about being better coaches. The mix of full-time and part-time students means that you will be welcomed into an established and thriving group of like-minded developing coaches and practitioners drawn from a wide range of sports. We spend a great deal of time discussing our coaching, digesting the latest research in the field and critically reflecting on our own practice. We offer a supportive, yet challenging, coaching environment and our students regularly tell us that this course has revolutionised their approach to coaching.

Every member of staff teaching on this course publishes several research articles a year focusing on pertinent issues in coach learning and development. They are also active coaches with decades of cumulative experience at local, national, and international levels. Whether your focus is on grassroots sport, talent development, or performance – we can enhance your skills as a postgraduate student.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Part-time study option allows you to continue working in your current environment whilst studying at a postgraduate level
  • A modular structure allows you to study at your own pace visiting one module at a time
  • Provides access to further courses: Postgraduate Diploma or Master's Degree
  • Choice of assessment topic, so you can tailor your assignments to your personal and professional interests
  • An extensive Professional Placement element which enables you to develop your practice in an applied environment – either of your own choosing or facilitated through our extensive network of providers including our own professional sport franchises (Worcester Wolves Basketball and Severn Stars netball).

“A massive thank you once again for the PGCert – it has been truly career-changing... for many of us.”

Jack, graduate

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Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Mature Students

We value diversity in our student body and applications from mature students are very welcome. Students with few or no formal qualifications should contact the Admissions Office. Please provide Admissions with details of your age, any work undertaken, including caring or organised voluntary work, and any other relevant experience.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Candidates with an acceptable academic background and/or relevant work experience may apply for Accreditation of prior learning (APL) and experience (APEL). It is advisable for candidates to discuss this with the Course Leader initially. The programmes follow our Policy for Accreditation of Prior Learning.

Recently Graduated Students

Students will normally have a 2:1 classification in a sport related degree.

Students who hold a sport-related degree classification of either 2:2 (or below), or, a non-sport related degree will be considered on a case by case basis and may be required to submit a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate coaching experience.

The IELTS score for international applicants is 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component). Other English Language qualifications will be considered. More information.

Admissions procedures

All applicants will be interviewed.

Due to the nature of the programme, all students must complete a criminal records disclosure check prior to the start of the course.

“On a personal level can I thank both you for the way you presented and the assistance you gave to someone like myself who had not had any sort of formal education for nearly 39 years. The course itself has changed me as a coach and the way I now look at the way things are done. I am now confident in asking appropriate questions to gain more understanding as to why things are now done the way they are. Once again thanks for everything and even though I found it really challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.”

Keith, graduate

Course content

Course content

All of our Sports Coaching Courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline as well as 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. 

Modules
  • Athlete and Coach Learning (30 credits)
  • Leading People in Sport (30 credits)
  •  Contemporary Issues in Sports Coaching
  • Professional Placement (30-credits)

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and I have benefited greatly from the experience and thanks to both you for your excellent professional guidance.”

Darren, graduate

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

The ‘heart’ of the PG Cert in Sport Coaching concerns the coach primarily as an educator. Therefore, the course focus explores the latest research and practice concerning how to help our athletes learn and develop. On the course you will explore different perspectives on how athletes learn and critique the underpinning evidence relating to these competing perspectives. We also explore how coaches learn and analyse the ways in which National Governing Bodies, education institutions and non-governmental organisations (e.g. UK Sport and UK Coaching) currently structure learning opportunities for coaches.

Every element of the course will be related to your coaching practice, so the content of the programme evolves with every cohort.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of workshops, seminars and practical sessions. In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are throughout the academic year.

Contact Time

This PG Certificate will be delivered via monthly contact. Typically, learners are required for a face to face session at the University of Worcester. Delivery mechanisms can be adopted to suit the particular group of coaches.

Duration

  • 1 year part time

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings. Given the importance of planning ahead, indicative timings of intensive teaching blocks are normally available at time of application / interview.

Teaching Staff

Students 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 with research and applied experience, and postgraduate students.

In addition, you can expect to receive sessions with guest lecturers who are currently engaged in Sport Coaching activities outside of the university. Teaching is informed by research and consultancy, and the majority of lecturers on the course hold a PhD and have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. 

You can learn more about the staff by visiting our sports staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice 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 and presentations. The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to each coach learner.

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.

"Having been involved in formal learning in some capacity for the past 29 years as either a recipient or deliverer, I can honestly say that my time on this course has been the best educational experience of my life. The way that the tutors have paced and tailored the work personally to me has been first class and it has inspired me to carry on my education to a higher level."

Sally, graduate

Careers

Careers

A PG Cert in Sports Coaching will provide students with opportunities in many areas of sport and/or coaching, and other areas of employment as well.

This postgraduate award is useful for a wide range of occupations, such as:

  • Professional sports coach 
  • Sports coach
  • Coach development officer
  • Sport development officer
  • Sports coaching lecturer
  • Recreation officer
  • Self-employed coaching consultant
  • Researcher

“It has been an enjoyable, challenging and thought-provoking learning experience. The tutoring and interactions from you have been first class."

Mark, graduate

Costs

Fees and funding

Part-time tuition fees

UK students

The standard tuition fees for part-time home students enrolling on PGCert courses in the academic year 2025/26 are £788 per 15-credit module, £1,575 per 30-credit module, £2,363 per 45-credit module, and £3,150 per 60-credit module.

For more details, 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.

“Many thanks once again for your support and guidance, it has been far in excess of what I expected or could clearly articulate to you, so thank you does seem a very understated response.”

Steve, graduate

How to apply

How to apply

If you have any questions about applying, please contact the Admissions office on 01905 855111 or admissions@worc.ac.uk.

Please make your application via our online application form.

Apply part-time

Get in touch

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

Postgraduate Admissions Office

admissions@worc.ac.uk
01905 855111

Professor Don Vinson

Principal Lecturer
d.vinson@worc.ac.uk
01905 542470

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