Key Facts
About the course
We offer the unique opportunity to study for England’s first Integrated Master’s Degree in Physical Education with QTS! You can opt to study at one of two levels – BA (Hons) Physical Education (with QTS) or MPhysEd (Integrated Master’s) (with QTS)
Train for a career where you will inspire and influence young people - giving them the motivation, confidence, competence and understanding to lead a physically active life.
Develop your understanding of teaching and learning, and apply it in practice via placement in each year of study, supported by a mentor and university-based staff.
Become an outstanding teacher of Physical Education with recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), competent to teach a range of physical activities to children aged 11-16 (16-19 with enhancement).
This course is accredited by the Department for Education (DfE).
- Years 1, 2 and 3 are identical in both the BA (Hons) and MPhysEd programmes
- Year 4 offers study and assessment at BA (Hons) (level 6 undergraduate study) or MPhysEd (level 7 master’s study)
- Year 4 units are taught to all BA (Hons) and MPhysEd students, with the assessment requirements differentiating the final degree award achieved
- Year 4 units have the same assessments in terms of content and word length, but the submitted work will be graded using either level 6 (BA) or level 7 (Integrated Master’s) criteria. Tutor support provides flexibility in achievement of either the BA (Hons) or MPhysEd qualification
- Study for MPhysEd is subject to achieving at least a 2:1 (>60%) in Year 3 units
- Completion of the MPhysEd requires a deeper knowledge in your chosen specialism(s) and differentiates yourself in the teaching profession. The course also allows you to access undergraduate funding to gain two-thirds of a Master’s degree, avoiding an unnecessary Postgraduate Master’s Loan
- Our research suggests that the Integrated Master’s qualification will further enhance our graduate’s already excellent employability and career progression opportunities
- Completion of the MPhysEd qualification provides 120 credits at Master’s level, two-thirds of the credits required for a full Master’s degree. There will be future potential, following graduation, to complete an additional 60 credit dissertation to achieve a full Master’s Degree (dissertation unit under development).
Accreditations
- Department for Education (DfE)
Why choose this course?
- Learn through classroom experience, applying theory to your teaching practice to develop the skills to teach young people in the secondary education phase
- Study the scientific principles of physical education and sport, with applied practical activities (eg athletics, dance, games, gymnastics, health, swimming, outdoor and adventurous activities)
- Develop your expertise in the classroom with the support of a strong partnership between the University and your placement school
- Gain a qualification that includes recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Explore issues in teaching, learning and assessment
- Benefit from an experienced University teaching team
- 95% of recent graduates were in employment or further study within 6 months of graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2018)
- The course has achieved 100% overall student satisfaction for 4 consecutive years (National Student Survey, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018).
Unit Information - What will I learn?
Units
- Developing Physical Literacy Through Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics And Swimming (PBA007-1) Compulsory
- Developing Physical Literacy Through Games, Oaa And Health (PBA006-1) Compulsory
- Foundations For Learning Teaching And Inclusion (PBA004-1) Compulsory
- Scientific Foundations Of Physical Education (PBA005-1) Compulsory
- Applied Physical Literacy Through Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics And Swimming (PBA008-2) Compulsory
- Applied Physical Literacy Through Health, Games And Oaa (PBA007-2) Compulsory
- Teaching For Learning (PBA005-2) Compulsory
- Theoretical Frameworks For Physical Education (PBA006-2) Compulsory
- Cultural Perspectives On Teaching Physical Education (PBA036-3) Compulsory
- Developing Pedagogy In Athletics And Games Activities (PBA021-3) Compulsory
- Movement Replication In Gymnastics And Swimming (PBA020-3) Compulsory
- Pedagogies For Practical And Classroom Contexts (PBA032-3) Compulsory
- Processes And Products - Reflections On Practice In Dance And Oaa (PBA019-3) Compulsory
- Promoting Health And Wellbeing In Schools (PBA034-3) Compulsory
- Reflecting On Teaching (PSA012-3) Compulsory
- Teachers And The Pastoral Curriculum (PSA007-3) Compulsory
- The Action Research Project (PSA009-3) Compulsory
- The Reflective Practitioner (PSA011-3) Compulsory
How will I be assessed?
The assessment strategy is based upon the premise that critical evaluation of theoretical perspectives as they apply to your own teaching is an intrinsic element of best teaching practice. Throughout the course, therefore, you will continually be encouraged to explore what is known about teaching and learning, and to demonstrate independence and creativity in evaluating the relevance of that knowledge in your own context. Assessed work will be directly applicable to your future role as a teacher and predominantly include essays, reflective writing, reports, presentations and portfolio. During your placements you will be assessed directly against the Teachers Standards. In years one and two you will complete in-class tests to assess your developing knowledge and understanding. Sound subject knowledge is a fundamental quality of an effective teacher and you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to ongoing development of that knowledge throughout the course. Also key to the course is a focus on the development of research informed teaching, culminating in an extended systematic study of your own practice (action research project/dissertation). By embedding the professional requirements for Qualified Teacher Status within the academic requirements of the degree, the course supports you in developing the qualities which define the University of Bedfordshire Graduate Teacher: an independent, reflective, creative, innovative, collaborative and resilient professional who is committed to ongoing personal and professional development. The assessment for this course seeks to support you in developing your understanding of the interplay between theoretical perspectives and practice based experience. You will be developing your skills of research and evaluation, critical thinking, creativity and independence. The themes for your reflective writing are developed from local and national priorities and, therefore, allow you to develop the evidence of your understanding of values and principles underpinning the Teachers Standards as they apply to your working context. (Superficial statements of performance against the standards oppose the principles which underpin this course and are not accepted). By building your reflections around these themes, you will generate rich evidence which can contribute to the assessment of your professional performance. Hence, the assessment items are intrinsically connected and, in combination, allow you to demonstrate your achievement of all learning outcomes. The Profile Review Point is the process by which the mentor reviews your progress in your teaching practice. The Teachers Standards (2012) provide the framework by which this progress is judged and are supplemented with descriptors which support you in understanding the qualities which define the level at which you meet the standards. The Teachers Standards Descriptors are included in School Experience documentation. Formative use of assessment is embedded throughout the course and is a principle which we would expect you to adopt in your own teaching. You will be supported to become familiar with self- and peer-assessment approaches and to make effective use of feedback on both academic and practice-based aspects of the course, to identify targets for your ongoing development and plan actions to address them. Engagement with published research is a fundamental aspect of the course and you will be supported in developing skills of critical analysis of the literature. Rigorous attention to referencing conventions is, therefore, essential and you will be required to adopt the Harvard system. You will be supported in developing your understanding of plagiarism and poor academic practice to ensure that your work meets the highest standards of ethics.
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 104 points which should include three A levels at C or above
- At least 104 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction* Distinction* in the BTEC Diploma or Distinction Merit Merit in a BTEC Extended Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
Entry Requirements
UK
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 104 points which should include three A levels at C or above
- At least 104 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction* Distinction* in the BTEC Diploma or Distinction Merit Merit in a BTEC Extended Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
EU
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications. See your country page for more details
International
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
Special entry requirements
- A standard equivalent to a grade 4 (or GCSE A to C) in the GCSE examinations in English and mathematics.
- To have IELTS with an average score of at least 6.0 if your first language is not English and you do not have GCSE grade C in English
- Meet all safeguarding requirements including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check, Fitness to Practice, Suitability to Train to Teach, and all other safeguarding checks required at the time of application
All candidates are interviewed and this process consists of: an individual verbal interview and a practical test for games, gymnastics and dance.
How will this course improve my career prospects?
Local and national demand for University of Bedfordshire graduate teachers is high. Recent annual destinations surveys show that typically 95-100% of graduate teachers will have secured full-time teaching posts to begin in the year of graduation.
For those who wish to gain promotion within schools, evidence shows that this is highly likely, with many graduates securing a variety of leadership responsibilities. Recent graduates are now in roles such as Head of Department, Head of Year, Head of House, Assistant Head, Deputy Head and even Head Teacher. Other graduates who wanted to work in education internationally are now in teaching and leadership positions around the world.
If you decide that school teaching is not for you there are opportunities for you to use the skills that you have gained in other areas of training, coaching and adult education as well as more broadly in sports or education organisations. Occasionally, other graduates use their transferable knowledge, skills and understanding in unrelated fields and industries.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2020/21 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees by no more than inflation.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2020/21 is £9,250 per year.
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees by no more than inflation.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2020/21 is £12,350 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees by no more than inflation.
Fees and Funding
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2020/21 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees by no more than inflation.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
EU
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2020/21 is £9,250 per year.
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees by no more than inflation.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2020/21 is £12,350 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees by no more than inflation.
Extra costs for this course
You will need to pay £44 for the initial Disclosure and Barring Service check plus an annual update charge of £13.
For this course you need a tracksuit and PE kit. We estimate that the total spend would be around £100.
Travel costs
You need to budget for travel costs to your teaching placement. The cost can be from £30 up to £1000 depending on the location of your school placement.
*The information above is for guidance only. Exact costs may vary.
Find out more about additional costs while studying at Bedfordshire. Click here
Campus Library
The Bedford Campus Library set over four storeys offers students access to our extensive range of physical and digital resources with 300,000+ books & 80,000+ ebooks.
PCs are provided on each level for students to use offering access to a wide range of applications as well as access to group-work areas and presentation-practice rooms and a dedicated silent study floor.
BedsSU - The Hub
The Hub is home to BedsSU providing a great space for socialising with friends, catching up on some coursework or taking a well-deserved break.
The Hub is the place to go to take a break from your studies, play table tennis, socialise and watch live sport on the big screen.By night the venue becomes the place to be, with a variety of student events such as pub quizzes, live music and various themed club nights. Evening food includes delicious freshly made pizzas as well as a range of other beverages and snacks.
Bedford 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.
Dance Studios
At the centre of our campus is four fully sprung dance studios equipped with ballet barres, mirrored walls, audio playback and projection for our dance and performing arts students.
Our two campus theatres also provide the ideal performance space for students with regular events held that are open audiences of students, staff and the wider community.
Campus Theatres
Set within the Campus Centre is a 260 seat professional theatre on the ground floor with industry-standard lighting, media desk, roll-down screen, full backstage comms system and large dressing rooms with en suite showers. On the first floor there's also a well-equipped 80 seat studio theatre.
Our theatres welcome new and existing audiences to see a range of student work including contemporary dance, theatre and performing arts; holding regular events that are open to students, staff and the wider community.
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.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate 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
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate 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
