About the Course
This research-informed, practice-based course is designed for recent graduates looking to develop their career in physical education teaching or youth sport coaching. It supports you to gain the knowledge and skills you need to open up a career in teacher education and/or progress to higher-level employment.
Our MA Physical Education and Sport (Pedagogy) offers a rigorously designed, intellectually demanding, professional education and development programme. Your studies deepen your critical understanding of the issues facing professionals in physical education and sport settings while offering the knowledge and practical skills needed to become an effective and reflective teacher or coach in school, club and other community settings.
Each unit is grounded in the most recent developments in research within physical education, sport pedagogy and youth sport, and draws on your work-related experience to link practice to theoretical learning. We use intensive, compressed teaching time combined with flexible, off-site guided learning to fit around your work in a school or youth sport setting.
Why choose this course?
- Develop the necessary personal competencies, applied practical skill-sets and subject expertise to become a theoretically informed and reflective practitioner
- Gain an advanced critical understanding of pedagogy and practice for social justice and youth voice; sport and education policy; action research; and public health concerns in physical education and youth sport environments
- Use your experience of working with young people, practitioners and employers to analyse real problems and develop innovative solutions
- Build your personal and professional network through our links with schools, Sport England, governing bodies and active partnerships
- Receive support from peer mentors studying on our MA Physical Education and Sport (Leadership) course
- Exchange knowledge in sport, physical activity and health through units that include students from our other MA/MSc courses
- Undertake a research project on a chosen topic, working in a physical education, sport or physical activity environment of your choice
- Learn from a team with a wide range of academic expertise and experience in specific subject areas including critical pedagogy; youth voice; models-based practice; policy; behavioural science; leadership; and the sociology of sport
- Gain insights from experts through the seminar series coordinated by the Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR)
Course Leader - Dr Joanne Hill
The MA Physical Education and Sport programme is research-driven and carefully designed to support beginning and experienced teachers of PE and sport coaches to build their theoretical and practical knowledge to support their teaching and career development. The programme is offered in a blended format with the option of hybrid classes.
The research experience of the Course Coordinator Dr Joanne Hill, and that of the rest of the course team, underpins each unit and the programme as a whole. Students can align their dissertations to the current research projects of the course team.
Units
- Advanced Pedagogy Through Models Based Practice (SPO071-6) Compulsory
- Behavioural Science And Public Health (SPO060-6) Compulsory
- Contemporary Sports Policy (SPO062-6) Compulsory
- Critical Issues In Sport And Physical Activity (SPO065-6) Compulsory
- Critical Perspectives In Pete (SPO073-6) Compulsory
- Innovative And Effective Pedagogies (SPO072-6) Compulsory
- Research Methods For Sport, Physical Activity And Education (SPO067-6) Compulsory
- Sport And Physical Activity Masters Dissertation (SPO070-6) Compulsory
- Participatory Action Research For The Development Of Sport And Physical Activity (SPO068-6) Optional
- Placement (Short) (SPO009-6) Optional
Formative assessment will be used to provide you with the opportunity for feedback that is both peer and teacher directed, to enable you to review and improve your work, before summative assessment wherever possible. There will be a range of summative assessment methods on the course that permit you to build on your strengths and address your weaknesses. Each unit will be assessed separately, using different mixes of assessment and modes of learning including: individual presentations and reports, essays, and projects. The details of these assessments are given in the individual UnitInformation Forms where the connections to the Course Learning Outcomes are made clear. Your ability to carry out independent research will be assessed through a research project reported in a dissertation. The dissertation provides you with the opportunity to use your growing and developing knowledge and skills.
Our students say our courses, teaching and support are a winning combination, that’s why we are 54th out of 122 for Sport in the Guardian University Guide 2023.
We’re 4th for employability in the Guardian League Table 2023 because our courses get you a degree-level job.
Sports Science ranked 5th for Graduate Prospects in the 2023 Times / Good University Guide league table.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.
To apply for a place on a postgraduate course (MA/MSc/MBA) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good first degree and the required English language qualification
Find out more about specific entry requirements for your country
To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.
We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.
You also need to have the required English language qualification
Contact your country’s International Admissions Team for more information.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.
To apply for a place on a postgraduate course (MA/MSc/MBA) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good first degree and the required English language qualification
Find out more about specific entry requirements for your country
To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.
We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.
You also need to have the required English language qualification
Contact your country’s International Admissions Team for more information.
How will this course improve my career prospects?
The skills, knowledge, theoretical concepts and applied practical experience you gain from the course will prepare you for a career within physical education and support you to progress within the sector. Previous students have taken up roles as primary and secondary PE teachers; PE coordinators; visiting lecturers; personal trainers; and SEN teaching professionals.
While the primary focus is to provide you with the opportunity to develop a career in physical education and sport, the course's research and applied focus provides numerous transferable skills that can be related to a variety of service industries.
This course will also provide the advanced knowledge and research training required for direct access to higher Degrees by Research (MPhil/PhD), and past students have gone on to pursue doctoral research.
Fees and funding
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £8,500 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is available at www.beds.ac.uk/intfees
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,350 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £14,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees and funding
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £8,500 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is available at www.beds.ac.uk/intfees
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,350 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £14,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Extra Costs
School of Sport Science and Physical Activity facilities
The School of Sport Science and Physical Activity houses a multi-million pound, state of the art teaching and research sport sciences laboratory facility.
Facilities include six purpose-built British Association of Sport & Exercise Science (BASES) accredited sport and exercise science laboratories, a nutrition research kitchen, and two molecular and cellular physiology labs, which promote excellence in both teaching and research.
Sports Science Labs
Our specialist sports science labs give students a fantastic environment to develop their research skills and expertise, where a student can explore the biology of an elite athlete who could be performing simultaneously within the sports hall.
The state-of-the-art laboratories are purpose built for research and teaching in the fields of exercise and nutrition science. This includes specialised equipment and facilities for assessing human health risk and delivering exercise and diet interventions for health promotion.
Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Centre
Our Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Centre includes three clinical teaching spaces, a sports injury clinic, a rehabilitation room, a community exercise clinic and a private room for consultations and treatments.
Environmental chamber
Our environmental chamber is used for teaching, research and by top-class athletes in training for competition in different climates.
International standard sports arena
Our sports facilities include a gym, strength and conditioning suite, AstroTurf, grass pitches, outdoor basketball, tennis and netball courts, in addition to the International standard sports arena, which seats up to 400 spectators.
Aspire Gym
The Aspire Gyms offer a range of affordable membership options giving students exclusive use of a convenient campus-based fitness facility.
The Bedford gym facilitates state of the art cardiovascular equipment with smartphone compatibility as well as an extensive range of fixed resistance machines and a small free weights area. Changing rooms with showers and lockers are available for members to use.
How to Apply
UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
