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Course overview
-
L27 -
Headingley Campus Beckett Park -
Full-Time -
1 Year -
14 Sep 2026
As governing bodies of sport seek to balance the goals of athlete wellbeing, talent development and high-performance, the demand for highly qualified coaches has never been greater.
Informed by expert coaches and the latest research, this course will support you to develop your existing coaching skills and expertise and enhance your career as a professional sports coach.
As part of your course, you’ll:
- Plan, deliver and evaluate long-term coaching programmes that consider and prioritise the developmental needs of participants
- Draw on insights from contemporary practice and research to add depth to your existing knowledge and skills
- Direct your learning towards your own practice and career goals through flexible and applied assessments
Teaching expertise
With an established Centre for Sport Coaching, you'll be taught by top class coaching experts who are experienced practitioners and producers of world-renowned research on the topical issues of sports coaching.
Industry links
As well as working with course staff with excellent research and industry experience, you’ll have the opportunity to meet internationally renowned guest speakers, giving you a wider view on the industry.
Share knowledge and ideas
You’ll also have the option to work with fellow coaches on the ICOACHKIDS project. The project, a non-profit global movement, aims to create best-in-class digital resources for youth coaches. You’ll have access to an online community where you can exchange knowledge and ideas with your peers.
Fresh insights
You’ll graduate with new insights about what coaching strategies work for you and your participants and, crucially, with a knowledge of why.
Why study Sport Coaching at Leeds Beckett University
- Teaching expertise - You’ll be taught by internationally renowned coaching experts who are active practitioners, consultants and researchers in sports coaching
- Global reputation - we're recognised as one of the top 100 institutions in the world for Sports-Related Subjects*
- Direct your learning towards your own practice and career goals, with a range of flexible and applied assessments
- Meet world-class guest speakers and gain a wider view on the industry, and the direction in which it is heading
- Specialist facilities - take advantage of the university’s new state-of-the-art Carnegie School of Sport building
*2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject
Explore videos and blogs
MSc Sport Coaching | A course overview Find out more about what MSc Sport Coaching is all about, including module content, industry connections and career opportunities.
Why Leeds for Sport? Discover what the city of Leeds has to offer and why it’s a great choice for students studying sport.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subjects of Sports Science, Sport Coaching, Sport Development, Physical Education or Qualified Teacher Status, at least a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements.All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements. Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subjects of Sports Science, Sport Coaching, Sport Development, Physical Education or Qualified Teacher Status, at least a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements.All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements. Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages.
IELTS
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements. Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages.
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Modules, teaching and learning
Your learning on this course will be a blend of:
• Block-delivery face-to-face sessions on campus
• Regular online sessions
• Where necessary – for example, if you’re unable to attend campus due to work commitments – interactive livestreamed campus-based sessions
In addition to face-to-face and online contact, you’ll engage in significant self-directed study, supported by tutors and peer networks. An important feature of this course is that you’ll be expected to work in a relevant environment throughout your studies. This will provide an important context for your module assessments and help you to embed new skills and knowledge through ongoing professional practice.
If you start this course without a coaching role, for example if you are an international student, you’ll be offered support to find a coaching role within our networks. However, please be aware that it is your responsibility to take the lead in finding and confirming a role.
If you choose the 40-credit version of the Applied Coaching Project, you will be able to select one 20 credit option module in addition to the core modules. This is only recommended if you are studying part-time over two or three years with the option module to be taken in the second year of study.
What you'll learn
Building on Abraham, Collins, Muir and Morgan's (2010) Coach Decision Making Model, this module focuses on the 'who' aspect of coaching. You'll explore what it really means to understand your participants or performers – not just athletes, but as individuals shaped by physiological, psychological, and social factors. Throughout the module, you'll deepen your specialist knowledge and applied skills across these key disciplines. Every assessment is rooted in your coaching practice, challenging you to connect theory and application in meaningful, evidence-informed ways. You'll conduct a 'needs and wants' analysis of one of your participants or performers, using your findings to set bespoke bio-psycho-social objectives for their ongoing health, development, and performance. You'll then design methods for tracking progress – both in your participant's and in the impact of your own coaching decisions. By the end of the module, you'll have built a clearer picture of who you coach, why they develop the way they do, and how you can support their journey more effectively.
Drawing from your own coaching journey, this module challenges you to take an in-depth look at your sport — analysing its unique performance demands and how these change over time and with athlete development. You'll discover how to design a curriculum and build progressions that align with the evolving needs, wants, and motivations of your athletes or participants, helping you to plan and deliver impactful, evidence-informed coaching.
Explore different styles and approaches to designing research and analysis in the field of sport, exercise and physical activity. You'll develop a critical perspective on theory and evidence, providing the foundation for your own master's level research. Upon completion, you'll be able to analyse and synthesise the strengths and weaknesses of various quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as methods of data collection and analysis. You'll also have the know-how to propose and justify alternative solutions and modifications to address contemporary research questions and practical challenges.
In this module, you'll deepen your understanding of the principles that shape effective learning design and coach–athlete interactions. You'll critically explore key theories of skill acquisition and learning — examining those that both inform and challenge current coaching practice. By applying this knowledge, you'll learn to design and implement learning environments that support the achievement of short-, medium-, and long-term goals. You'll also develop caring, trusting, and respectful relationships with your participants and wider stakeholders, enabling you to create positive and impactful coaching settings.
This module enhances your capacity for autonomous professional judgement and practice through a focused piece of applied, independent research. You'll identify a relevant coaching problem or opportunity to serve as the stimulus for your project, grounding your work in a rigorous and current evaluation of existing theory, research, and professional practice. By the end of the module, you'll have designed, implemented, and critically evaluated an applied coaching project directly relevant to your own professional context.
In this module, you'll explore a range of theories, concepts, and frameworks as thinking tools to help you examine your coaching practice from two perspectives. First, you’ll take an 'out-to-in' view — evidence-based, benchmarked, and grounded in professional coaching theory. Second, you'll adopt an 'in-to-out' perspective, reflecting on your own personal coaching practice. You'll have the opportunity to capture and analyse your coaching, exploring the relationship between your planning, delivery, and reflective practice. Specifically, you'll examine how your coaching objectives, the structure of your learning activities, and the behavioural strategies you employ interact to support participant engagement and learning. This module also provides meaningful feedback and a platform for your ongoing professional development, enabling you to refine your practice and grow as a coach.
What you'll learn
This module gives you the opportunity to work alongside another coach in their professional setting. As you collaborate, you'll observe your fellow coach’s approaches and explore the relationship between their planning, delivery, and reflective practice. You'll examine how their coaching objectives, the structure of their learning activities, and the behavioural strategies they use to support participant engagement and learning. By the end of this module, you'll understand which strategies work best for you and the coach you’re supporting, in different contexts, and why.
Investigate the principles underpinning the function and operation of a range of biomechanical equipment. This module covers key aspects of kinematics, kinetics and other biomechanical techniques, such as electromyography. You'll grasp the core concepts of these techniques and evaluate how biomechanical methods can be used to study motion in a variety of contexts. Through data collection and analysis, you'll reflect on both traditional and contemporary approaches to research, theory and practice in sport and exercise biomechanics.
Engage with a range of emerging issues and trends shaping contemporary sport psychology. By critically evaluating key psychological theories, concepts, and principles, you'll deepen your understanding of human behaviour within sporting environments. You'll also develop the skills needed to critically review research literature and effectively communicate psychological insights to both academic and professional audiences.
In this module, you'll gain a critical and in-depth understanding of the metabolic processes that underpin training adaptations and performance. You'll develop laboratory and data evaluation skills, focusing on applying theory directly to practice. By exploring key metabolic pathways and energy production in muscle, you'll deepen your understanding of how energy is supplied during exercise. You'll also investigate the regulatory factors that influence substrate use during high-intensity, intermittent, and prolonged exercise. By the end of the module, you'll have a critical grasp of the mechanisms behind strength and endurance adaptations. You'll also be able to demonstrate detailed data interpretation and problem-solving skills that bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Gain an in-depth and critical understanding of the physiological principles underpinning strength and conditioning practice. You'll evaluate the physiological demands of sporting events, assess and measure key physiological capacities, and design training prescriptions to support athletic development. This module emphasises the importance of evidence-based practice and the acquisition of essential practical skills for strength and conditioning professionals.
Explore the key theories, strategies, frameworks, and concepts of entrepreneurship, considering the historical and economic significance of entrepreneurial business. You'll examine how an enterprise culture adds value to both the sporting industry and the wider economy. Using live case studies for context, you'll undertake an assignment investigating issues related to enterprise, entrepreneurial practice, and business planning within Leeds Rugby Club or an organisation of your choice. You'll look at key attributes of entrepreneurial activity in small businesses, as well as the concept of 'intrapreneurship' within larger organisations. With a strategic focus on vocational and real-world communications, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how these concepts can drive business growth and improve quality, while also considering the importance of risk management.
Delve into a range of diverse and challenging perspectives on leadership and its application across sport settings. You'll be encouraged to identify and critique your own personal leadership philosophy and style. Throughout the module, you'll examine the role of followership in building and sustaining high-performing teams. You'll also have the opportunity to develop advanced leadership and followership skills through practical activities and an intensive assessment centre.
Fees and funding
£9,830
UK
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £9830. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£18,440
International 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £18440. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees and funding
£9,830
For students entering in 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £9830. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Sports facilities and equipment linked to your studies.
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Essential Costs
- Real-life coaching activities in your place of work or through a placement; you'll need to pay any associated travel costs.
Optional Costs
- Course branded sportswear (prices start from £17.96).
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£18,440
For students entering in 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £18440. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- Sports facilities and equipment linked to your studies.
Essential Costs
- Real-life coaching activities in your place of work or through a placement; you'll need to pay any associated travel costs.
Optional Costs
- Course branded sportswear (prices start from £17.96).
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Funding support for your studies
Discover more about our range of postgraduate funding options including a Master's Loan of up to £12,858, and our 20% alumni discount*
*Terms apply
teaching & learning
Your learning on this course will be a blend of:
- Block-delivery face-to-face sessions on campus
- Regular online sessions
- Where necessary, for example if you’re unable to attend campus due to work commitments, interactive livestreamed campus-based sessions
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
I loved sport from a young age and my plan was always to study PE at university. However, I attended an inspirational sports coaching lecture during a visit to Leeds Beckett and decided to follow that route instead. After I finished my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to continue my learning so I stayed on for my masters. My studies encouraged me to become a reflective practitioner and helped my confidence to grow so that I was able to go out and get my dream job.
Grace Alsancak
Diving Development Officer Cambridge Dive Team
Career Prospects
Many graduates find the course helps them move on from their existing professional role and access higher management and leadership roles. You’ll be able to apply for jobs within a range of public and private sector organisations around the world. These could include senior coaching and coach development roles or coaching positions with sport clubs or governing bodies. Other roles our graduates have gone onto include:
- Academy phase lead coach
- High performance sport coach (for example, national age group coach)
- Assistant academy manager
- NGB coach education manager
- Head of coaching
I have always had a passion for physical development within sport and I am now able to combine a variety of roles as a lecturer, researcher and coach to help our students and youth athletes achieve their potential.
Kevin Till
Professor
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Student life
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed – whether that’s completing your current studies or joining our cutting-edge research teams.
Why Leeds?
With great music venues, culture, shopping and parks – we’ve got it all. Voted no.1 student city in the UK* and the Best Place to Live in the North and Northeast**.
*StudentCrowd, Best Student Cities UK, 2024
**The Sunday Times Best Place to Live guide, 2024.
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