Strength and Conditioning (With Foundation Year)

This innovative course is designed for those who want to train athletes to maximise their physical potential and improve their performance. You learn from leading professionals who teach you the skills you need to be a confident and well-informed strength and conditioning coach, while covering a wide range of sports science disciplines including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology and nutrition.

Foundation Year
In the Foundation year you will study three days per week. The focus will be on academic writing skills and numeracy, plus subject-specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree. This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will be required to pass the foundation year in order to progress to the first year of your degree. This course is ideal for those who do not meet our standard entry requirements or those with a non-standard educational background. It will allow you to graduate with a full undergraduate degree in your chosen subject in four years.

Course Accreditation/Industry Endorsement
- The course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), allowing you to gain additional qualifications in gym instructor; personal trainer; working with people with long-term conditions; S&C trainer; and graduate S&C coach.

- Once you complete your degree, you can apply for professional accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA).

Facilities and Specialist Equipment
- New purpose-built strength and conditioning facility with Olympic weight room.

- A fully supervised sports therapy and rehabilitation centre with sports injury clinic, open to staff, students and external athletes/clients.

- Six BASES-accredited laboratories including physiology and biomechanics laboratories with cutting-edge equipment such as an environmental chamber, Vald Performance light gates, force plates and a 3D motion-analysis system.

- Human Performance Centre, allowing students experience of working with athletes.

- State-of-the-art gym with membership for students.

- Sports arena; multi-use games areas; and 4G sports pitch.

Partnerships and Collaborations
- We are official education partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region, giving you opportunities to improve your employability through work placements.

- We are also a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Your Student Experience
- Learn from leading professionals in the field who have worked with elite sports people, including GB Olympians, national organisations (such as the RFU and the FA) and professional sports teams.

- Enhance your learning and build your experience through field trips to destinations such as St George’s Park, the home of England Football; Northampton Saints Rugby Club; and the dissection rooms at King’s College London.

- As well as placements with our official partners, you will have opportunities to gain experience with other sporting organisations such as Ampthill Rugby Club, Northampton Town Football Club, MK Dons Football Club and Girls Academy, and Oundle School.

- Collaborate with our partners to deliver school and community-based projects.

- Hear from guest speakers (who also teach on the course) and attend our ISPAR seminar series. Previous speakers have included Jack Wells (PGA); Tom Bromley (MK Dons); Akash Modhwadia (S&C coach at MK Dons); Mark Finney (former head of S&C at Northampton Saints); and Phil Pask (consultant physiotherapist for England Rugby).

- Benefit from the support of your own personal academic tutor who will guide and support you throughout your student journey.

- Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well.