Undergraduate Course
Sport Foundation Year
Build your confidence, learn new skills, and prepare yourself for your degree in sport.
Take your first step in preparing for an exciting career in sport with a foundation year. This 1 year course will help you refine your academic and professional skills, while also gaining essential knowledge across all of the key areas of sport studies.
15th York St John University was ranked 15th, out of 94 institutions, for Sport in the Guardian University Guide 2025
York campus
- Duration – 1 year full time, 2 years part time then a part time or full time undergraduate degree
- Start date – September 2025
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
Minimum entry requirements
48 UCAS Tariff points
1 GCSE in English Language at grade C/4 or above
Tuition fees
UK 2025 entry £9,250 per year full time
International 2025 entry £14,000 per year full time
Made by You & Us
Course overview
This foundation year in sport is an opportunity to put yourself in the best possible position when you start your degree with us. It lets you add an extra level of preparatory work and broad knowledge to your degree. This option is ideal if you do not yet meet the entry requirements for your chosen degree, you have been out of education for a while, or you just don’t feel ready yet to start studying at degree level.
The modules you will study on this course all cover important areas of sport which are relevant to whichever of our courses you choose to progress onto. This includes:
- Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Psychology
- Sociology
There is also a strong focus on managing your transition to independent study and university level learning. We will introduce you to the different types of assessment you may experience at degree level (including presentations, exams, essays and practical assessments). You will also gain the essential practical skills needed for laboratory and field work.
Sport BSc (Hons) courses available with Foundation Year:
Physical Education and Sport Coaching BSc (Hons) with Foundation Year
UCAS Code: C7C2
Sport and Exercise Therapy with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: C7C3
Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: C7C6
Sport MSci courses available with Foundation Year:
Physical Education and Sport Coaching MSci with Foundation Year
UCAS Code: C6C8
Sport and Exercise Science MSci with Foundation Year
UCAS Code: C5C7
Course structure
Year 1
Our academic year is split into 2 semesters. You will study:
- 2 compulsory modules in semester 1
- 2 compulsory modules in semester 2
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
This module will help you to build the academic skills needed to succeed when studying sport. You will learn about the common types of assessment used at degree level. We will relate these skills to the specific requirements of sport and physical education, and to our value led approach to the subject. Some of the key study skills you will develop are:
- Effective note taking
- Academic writing style
- Researching and using secondary sources
- Revision strategies
- Teamwork
- Effective verbal communication
- Goal setting
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Laboratory and field-based testing are essential for monitoring and evaluating human performance in sport and exercise sciences. On this module we will introduce you to anatomical, physiological and mechanical testing in both the laboratory and the field. For both of these settings you will:
- Become familiar with the equipment used
- Build an understanding of safe practice and professional standards
- Learn to conduct basic tests with limited supervision
Building these skills will mean you are in the best possible position to confidently and competently carry out testing in your future modules.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
On this module you will learn about basic human anatomy, and how the body moves. These are both essential for the study of sport and exercise and will provide a good background for modules you will study when you move onto the next level of your degree. You will build on the knowledge and skills you gained from the Laboratory and Field-based Testing in Sport and Exercise module, as you learn about measurement in the context of human movement.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Social science has a long and rich history of informing knowledge and practice in sport and exercise science. On this module you will explore why this is the case. You will learn about some of the most important social scientific perspectives and principles which we can usefully apply to the study of sport. This will prepare you for modules later in your degree which focus on the social and psychological aspects of sport and exercise.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
You will be taught through a combination of classroom, laboratory and field-based settings.
Each module includes 4 hours of contact per week. Overall you will have 8 hours of contact time per week across 2 afternoons. This makes things more convenient if you commute to campus or have other commitments to fit around your study.
You will learn alongside others who are going onto different degree courses, and the content will be relevant to all of your chosen routes.
You will be assigned an academic tutor who will support you throughout your foundation year.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Placements
You can take part in work-related learning as part of your course. This can be through short term volunteering or placement opportunities which your academic tutors and the careers team can help you to secure.
Assessment
All modules include both assessments which will count towards your final grades, and formative assessments which do not. These formative assessments will help you to identify areas for improvement and develop your assessment skills before completing final assessments. We will introduce you to all of the different types of assessment you might face, so you will be well prepared to take these on.
Progression onto degree course
Passing this foundation year guarantees your progression onto one of our Sport BSc (Hons) degrees. Your grades from this year will not be carried forward and will not count towards your final degree results.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
48 UCAS Tariff points
1 GCSE in English Language at grade C/4 or above
International students
If you're an international student, you will need to show that your qualifications are equivalent to those above.
Detailed qualification equivalence can be found in our 2020 International Prospectus (PDF18.08MB).
If your first language is not English you must show evidence of English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
Fees and funding
To study a Foundation Year with us, you will need to pay tuition fees for your course. How much you pay depends on whether you live inside the UK, or internationally (outside the UK). Tuition fees may be subject to inflation in future years.
UK 2024 entry
The tuition fee for 2024 entry onto this Foundation Year course is:
- £9,250 for your Foundation Year
- Then £9,250 per year of your undergraduate degree
This price applies to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
You can apply for the Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan for the full duration of your course, including the Foundation Year and then your undergraduate degree.
You can find out more about funding your degree by visiting our funding opportunities page.
Tuition fees
UK 2025 entry £9,250 per year full time
International 2025 entry £14,000 per year full time
International 2024 entry
As an international student, the fee you pay for your foundation year will depend on the degree course you progress onto afterwards. £14,000 is the maximum amount you could pay. The international fee listed on your specific degree course is the fee you will pay for all 4 years.
This price applies to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a Student Visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your degree.
Additional costs and financial support
There may also be some additional costs to take into account throughout your studies, including the cost of accommodation.
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Study Abroad
For more information on tuition fee reductions and additional costs for studying abroad, please visit our study abroad pages.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Financial help and support
Our Funding Advice team are here to help you with your finances throughout your degree. They offer a personal service that can help you with funding your studies and budgeting for living expenses.
For advice on everything from applying for scholarships to finding additional financial support email fundingadvice@yorksj.ac.uk.