2025/26 entry
BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development Top Up
Why study Sport Coaching and Development Top Up at Liverpool John Moores University?
- A one-year, top-up course delivered by Everton Football College and accredited by Liverpool John Moores University
- Progression opportunity from the Sport Development and Coaching Foundation Degree offered by Everton Football College
- Focuses on current issues in sports coaching such as equality, diversity and inclusive practice
- Ideal for those who aspire to pursue a career within the sport coaching and development sector, whilst benefiting from excellent employer links and work project/placements with professional or amateur sports clubs and individuals
- Includes the opportunity to support live projects with the nationally recognised Everton in the Community (EitC) programme to provide work placement opportunities on EitCs sport development and football coaching initiatives
- The course is taught at Everton Football College, Blue Mile Campus
About your course
This is a level 6, one-year, top-up course provided by Everton Football College to support and extend the established Sport Development and Coaching Foundation Degree offered by the college.
The programme 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 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.
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.
"I did a placement with Everton in the Community and the Premier League Kicks programme. This gave me experience to develop and learn from the best and access to a network of professionals"
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
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.
Employability
On completion of the Top-Up, you will have adaptable and flexible career options available to you.
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.
The programme provides a mix of academic and practical experiences to enhance your understanding of sport coaching – from elite to community provision. During the year, you will have the opportunity to do applied coaching on work placements in a variety of settings, such as schools and clubs. Everton Football College works with a range of partners providing opportunities for hands-on placements. This includes a range of Everton in the Community programmes. This will help you to develop professional skills relevant to the field of coaching. Within your modules, you will also deliver and experience a range of practical coaching styles and sessions. These will be both student and staff led, and will include a range of sports so that you get to observe, learn and deliver the best coaching practices.
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. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
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.
Level 6
Core modules
Managing in the Sport Development Sector
20 credits
This module enables you to critically analyse, manage and evaluate current issues in strategic sport development and sport coaching.
Professional Practice and Community Engagement in Sport
20 credits
This module covers the encompassing role of the coach, coaching process models, practical coaching skill development, safeguarding in coaching, understanding reflective practice and developing employability skills. The module focuses on your future employment preparation to allow you to grow your independence through further CPD courses.
Major Research Project (Dissertation)
40 credits
This module aims to critically extend your understanding and deployment of the research process through the production of a piece of independent research.
Contemporary Issues in Sport Coaching and development
20 credits
This module enables you to identify contemporary issues in sport and society and critically appraise and explain them via the application of theories cognate to Sport Development and the Social Sciences.
Coaching Expertise and Effectiveness
20 credits
You will critically explore the socially constructed nature of coaching expertise and effectiveness. Specifically, you will consider how power is produced and reproduced through the coaching process and practice. Following this, you will critically consider the impact of coaching on performers.
Teaching and work-related learning
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 people’s 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.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
You will benefit from having a 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
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
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
The course is taught at Everton Football College, Blue Mile Campus. As an Everton Football College student, you will have access to Premier League facilities at Finch Farm and Goodison Park.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications:
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
- Is general studies acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Average A Level offer: CCD
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
BTECs
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma subjects / grades required: DD if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMM if studied on its own or to the total of 88 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
Access awards
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: Overall Pass Required
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 24 IB Diploma Points
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 88 UCAS points
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
NVQ
- Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
Alternative qualifications considered
Students completing successfully the Foundation Degree in Sport Development and Coaching (36273) can articulate to this degree programme.
Holders of a Higher National Diploma or Foundation Degree from the UK in Sport Development or Sport Coaching or other related subject will be considered.
Where an applicant can demonstrate that they have relevant experience in this area but do not have the necessary entry requirements, these will be considered on a case by case basis by the programme team.
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
Further information
- DBS, Occupational Health requirements
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Reduced offer scheme
As part of LJMU’s commitment to widening access we offer eligible students entry to their chosen course at a reduced threshold of up to 16/8 UCAS points. This applies if you are a student who has been in local authority care or if you have participated in one of LJMU’s sustained outreach initiatives, e.g. Summer University. Please contact the admission office for further details.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
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.
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.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.