UCAS Entry Points
A minimum of 64 UCAS points
What will I study?
Academic and practical programme that provides the knowledge, understanding and skills for those wishing to progress their career as an Adventure Sport professional.
Careers in the Outdoors are varied and diverse. This course is designed to give participants the opportunity to progress their practical skills and coaching qualifications, and to provide a theoretical underpinning to enable graduates to progress quickly into leadership and programme management responsibilities.
Students will experience a number of different learning environments designed to develop skills in adventure sports. There is a work placement in the outdoor industry between Year 1 and Year 2. Modules include:
Level 4
- Academic and Professional Development
- Principles of Adventure Education
- Practical Land and Water Based Adventure Sports
- Psychology for Adventure Sports
- Professional Development for Sports Coaches
- The Adventure Sports Performer
Level 5
- Research Skills for Sport and Physical Activity
- Philosophy of Adventure
- Pedagogy for Sports Coaches
- Positive Change Through Adventure
- Learning at Work II (Sports Coaching)
- Applied Performance in Adventure Sports
Teaching and Learning
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. Your actual contact hours may depend on which optional modules you select, but the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each year of the course:
Year 1: 35% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity
Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 420 hours
Independent Study: 780 hours
Year 2: 24% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity
Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 288 hours
Placement: 20 hours
Independent Study: 892 hours
Class sizes on practical sessions are limited by risk management and National Governing Body guidance.
Class sizes in Lectures can vary as some modules are common across Sport and Adventure Sport modules and are cohorts are combined.
Assessment and Feedback
Percentage of course assessed by coursework
The balance of assessment by examination and assessment by coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:
Year 1
85% Coursework
8% Practical
7% Written exams
Year 2
96% Coursework
4% Practical
Feedback is supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided four working weeks after the submission date. If for unforeseen reasons this is not possible, the reasons will be communicated to the students within 2 weeks and the feedback prioritised within the department.
Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.
Additional Qualifications
To offer graduates a leading position in the jobs market, students are given the opportunity to enhance their career prospects by taking additional qualifications during their course of study. Students will have the opportunity to work towards a number of National Governing Body Awards (NGBAs). These can broadly be divided into two categories:
Personal Proficiency Awards, such as:
- British Canoe Union: 1-3 Star Awards
- British Canoe Union: 4 Star Leadership Awards
- British Canoe Union: Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT)
- Royal Yachting Association Sailing Awards: Levels 1 & 2 & Seamanship
- Royal Yachting Association Powerboat Awards: Levels 1 & 2
- Royal Yachting Association Competent Crew
- Hill & Mountain Skills
- Immediate Temporary Care: 16hr. Outdoor First Aid Award
Coaching or Instructing Awards such as:
- British Canoe Union: UKCC Level 1 Paddlesport Coach Award
- British Canoe Union: UKCC Level 2 Paddlesport Coach Award
- Royal Yachting Association : Assistant Dinghy Instructor & Dinghy Instructor*
- Royal Yachting Association: Level 2 Sailing / Powerboat
- Mountain Training: Climbing Wall Instructor (training & assessment)
- Mountain Training: Rock Climbing Instructor (training & assessment)
- Mountain Training: Mountain Leader (training & assessment)
Many of these courses will be offered at little or no cost to students, with some of the higher level awards being offered well below market rates. It is important to note that the additional cost of qualification courses is not necessary for the completion of the Foundation Degree, however they will significantly enhance your future employment and career prospects.
*Courses subject to meeting NGB prerequisites
Timetable Information
Students will be able to access course timetables for that academic year from the start of their year in September.
In 2017-18 Level 5 students are expected to be in college for 3 ½ days with Monday and Friday afternoons free. Wednesdays will be a full day of practical activity.
Course Information
SS5211 – Learning at Work 2 (Sport Coaching) module requires 20 hours minimum work placement. It is envisaged that actual work experience will be considerably longer than this.
The management knowledge and practical experience I gained during my degree gave me the confidence to forge ahead in my career.
Conor Forshaw FdSc Adventure Sports Management
