University College Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
OVERVIEW If you are keen on a career as a strength and conditioning coach or working in the field of sport and exercise science, this degree offers you a unique opportunity to combine the study of strength and conditioning with sports nutrition. Featuring a combination of theoretical and practical work, our course uses the latest up-to-date research on strength, conditioning and nutrition to ensure your practitioner skills are based on the latest evidence from the industry. Our Strength, Conditioning and Sports Nutrition degree is accredited by top industry bodies including the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), preparing you for long-term professional success after graduation. Supported by University College Birmingham’s cutting-edge sports facilities and equipment, along with a range of opportunities for you to gain practical experience, you will learn how to use a broad range of conditioning skills to optimise an athlete’s performance, as well as gaining an understanding of how nutrition can improve results. Alongside your strength and conditioning course, you will also have the chance to gain a wide variety of further industry-accredited qualifications during your studies. Options range from first aid to gym instruction and coaching weight lifting, while you will have the opportunity to gain the IUSCA's Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP) certification on graduation. WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
- Industry approved – Graduate with an IUSCA and NSCA-accredited strength and conditioning degree, as well as gaining NSCA student membership and access to additional industry resources and opportunities
- Work placement – Boost your hands-on experience through industry placement opportunities – past students have worked with a range of top sports clubs
- Practical application – Apply your training through practical strength and conditioning work in our state-of-the-art facilities, including our new Human Performance Centre and gym
- Enrichment – Study for additional qualifications including first aid training, Level 2 Gym Instructor and UKCC 1st4Sport Level 1/2 Award in Coaching Weight Lifting (British Weight Lifting)*
- Award-winning university – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Nutritionist
- Personal trainer
- Fitness centre manager
- Exercise physiologist (in the sports sector)
- Secondary school teacher (physical education)
- Please refer to our website www.ucb.ac.uk for the latest updates to this course
Modules
YEAR 1
- Academic Development
- Anatomy for Strength and Conditioning
- Exercise Physiology
- Practical Strength and Conditioning Principles I
- Practical Strength and Conditioning Principles II
- Principles of Nutrition
- Field-Based Conditioning
- Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
- Research for Sport
- Sports Biomechanics
- Sport and Exercise Nutrition
- Psychological Principles of Strength and Conditioning
- Applied Strength and Conditioning
- Nutrition for Performance
- Sport and Nutrition Project
Assessment method
Note: Indicative information only. Actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website: www.ucb.ac.uk TEACHING Example of a typical teaching week (up to 12-15 contact hours):
- Large group teaching – 4 hours
- Smaller group teaching – 9 hours
- Tutorials – 2 hours
- Field trips and sports events
- Work experience
- Coursework – 50%
- Practical assessment – 47%
- Written examinations – 3%
How to apply
31Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- C610
- Institution code:
- B35
- Campus name:
- University College Birmingham
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
Transferring from another university At University College Birmingham, we consider applications from students who have studied, or are currently studying, a Higher Education course and now wish to transfer universities. What do I need to do? To make an enquiry about studying at University College Birmingham, you will need to complete our online enquiry form -> https://portal.ucb.ac.uk/#/admissions/ucb-direct-apply Consideration for advanced entry will be dependent on the modules of your previous course, and how well this matches to the content of the course you wish to transfer to at University College Birmingham. Additionally, the process will be dependent on the number of credits achieved on your current course. Where similar study is apparent, it may be possible for us to award Recognition of Previous Learning (RPL) and, therefore, advanced entry onto a course at UCB will be permitted. Please note; due to the nature of this process, all applications are considered on an individual basis.
International applicants
All non-EU international students can apply directly via our online application forms: https://portal.ucb.ac.uk/#/admissions/direct-application/intro Undergraduate applicants can also apply via UCAS, if they wish to apply to more than one university. The International Admissions team aim to respond to any new application made directly via the online application form within 5 working days of receipt. However, this can vary during peak application periods (particularly January-March) or if the team require additional information to process your application. Applicants who apply to transfer to University College Birmingham on to a second year or final year of a course will have their previous course matched for entry. Each application is considered individually and careful consideration is given to all information on your application form. We may also need to contact you regarding your immigration status or previous studies in the UK.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 96 - 104 points
A level - BCC - CCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM - MMM
Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits
Scottish Higher
HNC (BTEC)
HND (BTEC)
T Level - P
Year 1 Entry: Students who are studying a combination of different qualification types will receive an offer that will be inclusive of all Level 3 qualifications. Advanced Entry: If you are unsure if your previous higher education qualification is suitable please contact us before completing an application, you can call us on 0121 604 1040 or email: [email protected]
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English Advanced | Level B2 | BA/BSc - Minimum 170 with no less than 160 in any skill FdA/FdSc - Minimum 160 with no less than 150 in any skill |
| IELTS (Academic) | BA/BSc - Overall score of 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component FdA/FdSc - Overall score of 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in each component | |
| Institution's Own Test | BA/BSc - Overall score of B2 with no less than B2- in in each component FdA/FdSc - Overall score of B2- with no less than B1+ in in each component |
To apply for all undergraduate degrees, if your first language is not English, you will need to sit an approved test in English.
UCB English Language Requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| EU | £13500 | Year 1 |
| International | £13500 | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
UK:
If you are a UK student enrolling on a Foundation Degree or a BA/BSc at University College Birmingham in 2021/22, your fee for this academic year will be £9,250. A half year tuition fee is £4625.
This is a yearly fee, and will increase with inflation in subsequent years (in line with the government’s permitted rise).
If you are an English student studying your first higher education qualification, you can apply for a tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company. You will not start repaying this loan until you leave the course and are earning over £25,000 a year.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you should apply to Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or SAAS. The loans and grants available to you will differ from those available from Student Finance England.
UCB does not charge for 24 or 48 week placements.
More information about UK Fees please go to our website here -
https://www.ucb.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/undergraduate-fees/
EU and International:
More information about International Fees please go to our website here - https://www.ucb.ac.uk/our-courses/international/tuition-fees-and-scholarships.aspx
Provider information
University College Birmingham
Summer Row
Birmingham
B3 1JB