Faculty of Education, English & Sport
School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
Welcome to the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity at the University of Bedfordshire.
I am delighted that you will be studying with us in September. Our campus has a rich heritage in physical training that dates back to 1903, something we are very proud of. Today, Bedford is a modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant academic and student community.
We have developed strong relationships with sporting organisations across the county and beyond that benefit all our students. I believe our placement opportunities with these partners are a key factor in our high graduate employment rates.
We know how important it is to give you the best possible start to academic life. That’s why we have created this booklet which provides you with important information to prepare for your course and your first few weeks and months at University.
I look forward to meeting you during Welcome Week.
Dr Martyn Morris Head of SchoolHello, my name is Dr Alex Stewart and I am the Course Leader. I’m looking forward to meeting you for your induction during Welcome Week, which will focus on introducing you to your course, the academic team and your fellow students. You will have a personal tutor who is there to support you throughout your course. They run weekly office hours so you can always book an appointment if you need to chat to them. Remember that we are all here to support you every step of the way as you begin your academic journey. If you have any questions, just ask.
Dr Alex Stewart Course Leader
Course Leader
Dr Alex Stewart alex.stewart@beds.ac.uk
Student Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport
BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk help@bedssu.co.uk
It is very important to start your course well. Welcome Week is an essential part of navigating student life and your studies, and it’s a brilliant way of getting to know staff and students. It includes a cross-School activity, key information, course activities and, of course, a lot of fun!
The following is a typical Welcome Week schedule (the exact schedule will be available to you prior to starting).
am Welcome to your course with our Head of School, Dr Martyn Morris
Day 1
Welcome from the Students’ Union pm
Welcome to BA (Hons) Sports Coaching and Development with Dr Alex Stewart and the course team
Ice breaker and social integration with your fellow students
Day 2 am A day in the life – what to expect
Getting the most from BREO, our virtual learning environment
Q&A with current students
Campus and sports facilities tour pm First meeting with your personal academic tutor
Introduction to student support services
Day 3 & 4
Attend the sports and societies fair Library tour
Here is an example of what your programme in your first year might look like:
Introduction to Sport Development and Management
Foundations in Sports Coaching Pedagogy
Sport, Physical Activity and Social Inclusion
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Working in Sport
Introduction to Research Methods for Sport and Physical Education
Academic Writing Skills
You will have the opportunity to gain significant professional experience during your studies. We have extensive networks across the sport and physical activity sector including Luton Town Football Club, Bedford Blues RFC/Blues Foundation, Ampthill Town RFC and Bedfordshire School Partnerships to name a few.
How one of our students helped prepare Luton Town FC for premiership promotion final Meet Jake Scott!
Jake is in the final year of his PhD with the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity and works part time as a sports science assistant at Luton Town FC.
He has been working at Luton Town FC since September 2022. His day-to-day responsibilities include supplementing the sport science team with nutritional and hydration strategies for the players, generating individual physical performance plans, and monitoring external and internal training and match load throughout the Hatters’ successful 2022/23 campaign. In May, his expertise was required for Luton’s Championship play-off final against Coventry City, which saw temperatures soaring higher than average for the time of year. This meant Luton’s sports science team needed to ensure the players were prepared for the environment they were going to face, by implementing cooling techniques and strategies. Here’s what Jake had to say about his experience:
To be able to apply my practices and evidence-based research to elite athletes while travelling up and down the country has made me grow and develop tremendously as a practitioner and person this season. It has been great seeing the hard work pay off, which is a credit to the players and the staff who exude humility, desire and hunger to better themselves every day. It feels amazing to be amongst the country’s elite and we thoroughly deserve to be in the Premier League next season.
The University has a long-standing partnership with Luton Town FC and is the club’s official Academy sponsor. Our strong partnership with them means there are opportunities for our students to get involved in work experience with the club.
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:
• Have an immediate relevance to practice
• Draw on expertise by experience
• Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach
A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks, including those that allow you to undertake workplace relevant assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and increases your confidence.
These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:
Essays and reports
Leaflets and posters
Case studies
Portfolios
Presentations
In-class tests
Practical assessments
Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.
Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!
Every year, our students have the opportunity to organise and run the annual Volcano International Triathlon at the Club La Santa resort in Lanazarote.
• Here’s a link to La Santa video to get you inspired!
• Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus
Find out more about how our partnership with Blues Foundation is helping our students to gain valuable skills to boost their career development opportunities:
• Prospering partnership with University of Bedfordshire extended — Blues Foundation
Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.
• Bedford campus
• Eating and drinking on-campus
The timetable shown below is a sample, and does not necessarily reflect the exact times or days we expect you to be committed to your course. As a first year student, you will typically have scheduled taught sessions over four days every week, with one day free for reading and research. We work towards timetabling to enable sports students to engage with sport and other placement opportunities on Wednesdays. Your timetable will be available online prior to arriving on campus, or you can contact your course coordinator to ask them to let you know when it is available. To find out how to access your timetable go to beds.ac.uk/timetable
Sample timetable for semester one:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 9am
Introduction to Sport Development & Management (lecture)
Foundations in Sport Coaching Pedagogy (practical)
10am Academic Writing Skills (workshop) 11am 12pm
Introduction to Sport Development & Management (practical) Beds SU Sports
1pm Foundations in Sport Coaching Pedagogy (practical)
2pm Foundations in Sport Coaching Pedagogy (practical) 3pm 4pm 5pm
Study day
What happens if I miss class due to illness or have difficulties with childcare or travel?
We understand that everyone will face some difficulties nowand again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit coordinator.
Who can help me with my assessments?
The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit coordinator or tutor. If you need more time to complete an assignment due to specific circumstances, illness or additional learning needs, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with extensions for assessments. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk
What support do you provide for learning differences such as dyslexia?
There is plenty of help available. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. There is also help available for practice based learning, so please make us aware in advance.
Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?
Yes! The Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk
Are there opportunities to gain sport coaching and physical activity qualifications?
Yes! You will be encouraged to gain recognised National Governing Body (NGB) coaching and activity instructor certificates as you progress through the course. The cost of these varies depending on the scale and level of the qualification you choose.
Are there opportunities to develop the skill sets and knowledge valued by employers within the sport sector?
Absolutely! There will be opportunities for you to work alongside a range of industry organisations and organise and deliver ‘real world’ sport-related projects. Make sure you read the article on page 14 about how our brilliant partnership with Blues Foundation is helping to boost our students’ career opportunities.
Do I need to wear specific clothing for practical sessions?
You will need suitable clothing for class practical sessions and if you go on an external placement. Buying university branded kit is not compulsory but you can view our sports range on the Akuma Shop website. You’ll need to use the password ‘Beds-2020’ to view items.
We are ranked 3 rd in the UK for graduate prospects in the 2024 Complete University Guide. Our courses focus on building your employability: 97% of our graduates are in work or study six months after finishing.
Always remember, our team is here for you!
We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.
We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.
Our facilities include six BASES-accredited sport and exercise science laboratories; our Human Performance Centre; a nutrition research kitchen; two molecular and cellular physiology labs; and a sports therapy and rehabilitation centre with a sports injury clinic.
Our placement programme will set you up for becoming a change activator in the community, improving people’s health and wellbeing and promoting social justice.
Our Human Performance Centre helps train professional athletes including triathlete Lucy Charles Barclay and Team GB.
Our courses are accredited or endorsed by the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT); the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES); the Association for Nutrition; and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
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