HD Sport Development and Coaching

Entry year:
2026/27
Start date:
September, March
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
2 years
Campus:
City

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Delivered by Everton Football College at Everton Blue Mile Campus and accredited by Liverpool John Moores University
  • Study a range of modules, covering the disciplines of sport coaching, sport development, research and introductory sport business
  • Features a mixture of practical and theory elements, enabling you to develop the knowledge and skills needed to become informed practitioners and coaches
  • Gain experience with a range of providers, including Everton in the Community, local school schemes, Everything is Possible, local authorities and football in the community schemes — in the UK and abroad
  • The course is taught at Everton Football College, Blue Mile Campus

About your course

This foundation degree provides a perfect platform to enhance your coaching experience and develop knowledge of current sport development initiatives through a mix of academic study and practical learning experiences in partnership with Everton Football College.

The Foundation Degree provides a perfect platform to enhance coaching experience and develop knowledge of current sport development initiatives, through a mix of academic study and practical learning experiences in partnership with Everton Football Club. The club's motto of Nil Satis Nisi Optimium 'Nothing but the best is good enough' has shaped the course and Everton Football College's approach to your education.

You will have the opportunity to enhance your coaching skills through a range of Everton in the Community programmes, along with chances to bring learning to life with access to Premier League opportunities.

On successful completion of the Foundation Degree, there is the option to progress onto the BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development top-up at Everton Football College.

Your course fees include your Everton Football Club sport kit for work experience and the opportunity to access and apply for funding for a range of additional coaching courses to enhance your employability.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Engineering Mathematics
20 credits

This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the mathematics underpinning engineering, and helps you to apply these techniques within an engineering context.

Civil Engineering Technology
10 credits

This module aims to introduce modern civil engineering, construction technology, forms of civil engineering structures and demonstrate understanding of methods and techniques used to create civil engineering structures and to develop the skills needed to solve problems associated with civil engineering activities. This module focuses on a wide range of civil engineering structures such as roads, tunnels, bridges, hydraulic structures and maritime designs. This module has a strong theoretical underpinning and learners will develop an understanding of the technical requirements for the construction of substructures and superstructures. It will help develop your self-awareness skills and introduce you to CPD and personal development planning. It introduces infrastructure and explains the interlinking between the various forms of infrastructure improvement for zero carbon world and comply with the UNSDG’s.

Geotechnics
20 credits

This module will help you gain a basic understanding of soil and rock mechanics and their engineering applications.

Civil Engineering Materials
20 credits

This module will provide an introduction to different civil engineering materials in terms of their source and properties. It will also help to provide understanding of the mechanics of materials behaviour. This includes exploring the relationship between stresses and strains and hence provide a sound rationale for the selection and use of materials in civil engineering.

Structural Analysis and Design
20 credits

This module introduces structural mechanics and will help to provide an understanding of the basic concepts and techniques, with emphasis on the application of these to the solution of statically determinate structures. This module aims to apply mathematical and geometrical calculations to the determination of structural properties of sections. You will also learn to design and detail simple structural elements in compliance with current codes of practice and standards with due consideration for sustainability.

Site Surveying and CAD
20 credits

This module will provide an introduction to basic techniques for land surveying and setting out. It includes methods of obtaining field measurements for the purpose of producing site drawings, and setting out points using line-of sight. It will also help to develop an understanding of the use and application of Computer Aided Design in the Built Environment and the development of 2-dimensional drafting techniques and conventions

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
10 credits

This module will introduce fundamental fluid properties and then consolidate your knowledge to the concepts, theory and application of fluid mechanics and establish their relevance in civil engineering. It will also help to demonstrate and explore key hydraulic phenomena through experimentation and laboratory activities. You will also be introduced to key principles of the analysis of pipelines for fluid transport.

Core modules

Advanced Engineering Mathematics
10 credits

This module will help develop student's knowledge and understanding of the probability theory and statistics underpinning engineering, and will demonstrate how to apply these techniques within an engineering context. It will further develop knowledge and understanding of relevant mathematical techniques underpinning engineering, and how to apply these within an engineering context.

Surveying and Transportation
20 credits

This module will introduce you to the methods of infrastructure route planning, highway geometry, design & construction, geodetic and satellite surveying. It will help you demonstrate how total stations and GNSS receivers can capture data for use in software packages to produce contoured plans and sections. You will also develop practical surveying skills.

Advanced Geotechnics
10 credits

This module will help you gain an advanced understanding of soil behaviour in shear, consolidation, induced and you will learn how to apply this to the design of earth structures.

Water and Environmental Engineering
20 credits

This module will introduce and then consolidate your knowledge of the fundamental principles of engineering hydrology applied to civil engineering problems. It will provide you with an understanding of some of the key environmental and social problems with which you must deal within the context of global change and sustainable engineering. It will also present open channel flow concepts and provide you with the ability to perform and assess a range of hydraulic computations relating to open channel flow commonly used in civil engineering.

Advanced Structural Analysis and Design
20 credits

This module will provide with an introduction to the analysis of statically indeterminate structures and the analysis of the plastic behaviour of steel structures. It will enable you to design and detail structural elements in reinforced concrete and structural steelwork using Eurocode 2 and 3. You will also be introduced to the use of software for the analysis and design of structures.

Multidisciplinary Project
20 credits

In this module you will develop skills necessary to deliver a complex, group research project that fits within a sustainable civil engineering context. This module will enable you to develop the academic and digital literacy skills necessary to perform effectively in a Higher Education context. It will enhance your understanding of the professional subject area, and your skills in team work in a collaborative environment using industry standard collaborative CAD and design tools. It will also develop your understanding of Risk Management, Health and Safety and sustainability.

Individual Student Project
20 credits

Students will be supported in their learning, to achieve the above learning outcomes, in the following ways: By a series of lectures and through participation within supervised research project.

A recommended resource list - indicating key reading, internet support and physical learning assistance, is provided to help enable students to undertake self-directed study.

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

The course teaching includes lectures, seminars, workshops, online activities and case studies to help you develop your theoretical learning, plus practical learning including work experience to boost your employability.

As an Everton Football College student, you will also have access to Premier League facilities at Finch Farm and Goodison Park, plus guest speakers to help bring learning to life.

Study hours are full-time, two days per week. Typically, each module has 40 hours directed or timetabled time, plus 160 hours of independent study. Independent study includes time spent reading, researching, doing project work or completing assessments.

Work-related learning

As sport development and coaching are about improving performance and making a difference to peoples lives, a key feature of the course is the work-related learning links that are embedded throughout the two years of study. By applying the theoretical knowledge from the course to a range of practical situations, you will develop your skills, professional network and identify essential work skills to enable you to make informed career choices. At Everton Football College, we will help you to gain experience with a range of providers including Everton in the Community, local school schemes, Everything is Possible, local authorities and football in the community schemes - both at home and abroad.

You will also be able to use your existing coaching experience to contribute valuable assessment experience to complete your studies.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

Another key benefit of the programme is that you will have access to a range of academic resources at Liverpool John Moores University, along with specialist help to support you during your time on the course.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

To ensure you develop both practically as a coach and practitioner, you will be typically assessed through a range of methods including:

  • Practical and work experience
  • Portfolio evidence
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Exam and essay work

Course tutors

Studying this degree through Everton Football College has been a life changing opportunity for me. I have really enjoyed the degree. The tutors have been really supportive and I have been able to combine theory work with practical experience and assessment.

Career paths

On completion of the two-year foundation degree students have adaptable and flexible career options available to them.

The career pathway for a sport development practitioner and coach is varied. There are over 10,000 related posts in the UK, with organisations such as national governing bodies, local authorities, private organisations, education providers and local and national charities.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.

Financial Support

The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
  • Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.

Fees

Fees per year: £8,200

A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications:

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

Alternative qualifications considered

English language proficiency Grade C or above in GCSE Ordinary Level. 

OR 

IELTS 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date 

OR 

ICBT Higher Diploma in English 

International requirements

Other international requirements

The HD suite of programmes at ICBT provides an excellent example of widening participation in a country where there is not enough University supply to fill the demand for higher education. Students can enter the HD programmes after studying for 13 years in the formal education sector through either having studied for A levels, or having undertaken the Foundation programme after studying for O levels. Other level 3 qualifications will also be considered for suitability for entry to the programmes. For the engineering programmes, students must have studied maths, biosciences and/or technology whereas for Quantity Surveying, any subjects will suffice. Students have been entering these programmes with these qualifications for many years and have been successful in achieving the qualifications. 

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

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The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
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