Sport and Physical Education

Sport and physical education is a degree that combines the scientific study of sport and exercise with a focus on how physical activity is taught and promoted across different educational and community settings. Where sport science concentrates on the biology and biomechanics of performance, and physical education focuses on teaching, this degree brings the two together, developing graduates who understand the scientific basis of physical activity and the pedagogical skills needed to make it accessible and meaningful for diverse participants.

At the University of Bedfordshire, this full-time, three-year programme gives you the flexibility to choose a sociological or health pathway, allowing you to specialise in your final year of study in the direction most relevant to your interests and career goals. Your learning combines the theory of teaching with laboratory-based work and practical activities, including outdoor and adventure education experiences that develop your range as a physical educator. You will gain experience working with and teaching children through school visits and community placements, and there are opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills through partnership placements with professional sporting organisations, including Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC.

The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates from sport and physical education programmes work as PE teachers in schools (typically following the degree with PGCE or School Direct training), sports coaches, community sport and physical activity officers, health promotion practitioners, and sport development workers. The choice between a sociological and health pathway in the final year allows graduates to develop a more specific professional profile aligned with their intended career direction. Many graduates pursue postgraduate teacher training in physical education, while others move into health-related roles or continue with sport and exercise science at postgraduate level.