Why study this course with LJMU?
- A one-year, top-up course delivered by Everton Football College and accredited by Liverpool John Moores University
- Progression opportunity from the Sport Development and Coaching Foundation Degree offered by Everton Football College
- Focuses on current issues in sports coaching such as equality, diversity and inclusive practice
- Ideal for those who aspire to pursue a career within the sport coaching and development sector, whilst benefiting from excellent employer links and work project/placements with professional or amateur sports clubs and individuals
- Includes the opportunity to support live projects with the nationally recognised Everton in the Community (EitC) programme to provide work placement opportunities on EitCs sport development and football coaching initiatives
- The course is taught at Everton Football College, Blue Mile Campus
About this course
This is a level 6, one-year, top-up course provided by Everton Football College to support and extend the established Sport Development and Coaching Foundation Degree offered by the college.
The programme provides a perfect platform to enhance your coaching experience and develop knowledge of current sport development initiatives, through a mix of academic study and practical learning experiences in partnership with Everton Football Club. The club's motto of Nil Satis Nisi Optimium 'Nothing but the best is good enough' has shaped the course and Everton Football College's approach to your education.
You will have the opportunity to enhance your coaching skills through a range of Everton in the Community programmes, along with chances to bring learning to life with access to Premier League opportunities.
Your course fees include your Everton Football Club sport kit for work experience and the opportunity to access and apply for funding for a range of additional coaching courses to enhance your employability.
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Dissertation in Physical Education
60 credits
60 credits
This module aims to enable students to reinforce the skills necessary to carry out a scientific programme requiring significant research. It will allow students to demonstrate the final development of their subject knowledge, skills and understanding through extended research based on educational settings and literature review. During this module, students will develop the skills necessary to plan, carry out, analyse, and report upon the results of an experimental or analytical programme on a scientific topic relating to physical education. The module gives students the opportunity to attain achievement of a high level of personal development by working independently with the necessary supervision. This research will lead to the oral presentation of a detailed written report.
History, Policy and International Development of Curriculum of PE
20 credits
20 credits
This module provides an opportunity to understand curriculum concepts and investigate the extent to which personal, cultural and societal orientations and philosophies impact on curriculum. Along with understanding of the physical education curriculum within the Irish school system, international and universal models of PE and curricula will be reviewed This module also develops the knowledge, understanding and skills required by teachers in secondary and assess Physical Education curricula and to use of PE curricular knowledge in an inter-disciplinary or cross-curricular way.
Physical Education as a Learning Process.
20 credits
20 credits
This module encourages continuing development as physical educators and adoption of attitudes, values, and practices that will positively affect growth as a teacher over the short and long term. Understanding of principles, concepts, and skills that promote best practices, professional leadership, and critical inquiry are pursued within this module.
Physical Education Teacher Education and Development
20 credits
20 credits
This module encourages continuing development as physical educators and adoption of attitudes, values, and practices that will positively affect growth as a teacher over the short and long term. Understanding of principles, concepts, and skills that promote best practices, professional leadership, and critical inquiry are pursued within this module
Physical Literacy and Universal Models in Physical Education
20 credits
20 credits
The purpose of this module is to develop a critical understanding of the importance of universal and international approaches to physical education. Physical Literacy is a universal model that has received traction in Australia and Canada as an evidence based approach to developing the physical and psychological concomitants required to maintain a physically active lifestyle outside of the structured or mandated physical education setting. The model aims to inspire forward thinking, passionate advocates for becoming physically literate and the importance of physical education remaining a protected, valued and resourced form of education in Government policy.
Research Methods and Physical Education Pedagogy
20 credits
20 credits
The module aims to provide students with the critical knowledge and skills to understand, discuss and evaluate physical education in Ireland and internationally. It will provide students with an advanced knowledge and understanding of current and innovative pedagogical practices as highlighted by the JCPE and LCPE and international equivalents. Students will have the opportunity to critically compare best-practice research evidence with current policy and practice nationally and internationally. Students will have the opportunity to develop evidence informed practice and needs based action research and intervention to inform their own professional development as reflective practitioners.
Teaching Efficacy and Teacher Development
20 credits
20 credits
This module encourages continuing development as physical educators and adoption of attitudes, values, and practices that will positively affect growth as a teacher over the short and long term. Understanding of principles, concepts, and skills that promote best practices, professional leadership, and critical inquiry are pursued within this module
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs. The course teaching includes lectures, seminars, workshops, online activities and case studies to help you develop your theoretical learning, plus practical learning – including work experience – to boost your employability.
As an Everton Football College student, you will also have access to Premier League facilities at Finch Farm and Goodison Park, plus guest speakers to help bring learning to life.
Study hours are full-time, two days per week. Typically, each module has 40 hours ‘directed’ or timetabled time, plus 160 hours of independent study. Independent study includes time spent reading, researching, doing project work or completing assessments.
Work-related learning
As sport development and coaching are about improving performance and making a difference to people’s lives, a key feature of the course is the work-related learning links that are embedded throughout the two years of study. By applying the theoretical knowledge from the course to a range of practical situations, you will develop your skills, professional network and identify essential work skills to enable you to make informed career choices. At Everton Football College, we will help you to gain experience with a range of providers including Everton in the Community, local school schemes, Everything is Possible, local authorities and football in the community schemes - both at home and abroad.
You will also be able to use your existing coaching experience to contribute valuable assessment experience to complete your studies.
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
To ensure you develop both practically as a coach and practitioner, you will be typically assessed through a range of methods including:
- Practical and work experience
- Portfolio evidence
- Presentations
- Reports
- Exam and essay work
Where you will study
The course is taught at Everton Football College, Blue Mile Campus. As an Everton Football College student, you will have access to Premier League facilities at Finch Farm and Goodison Park.
Course tutors
Cath is Link Tutor for the programme in partnership with Everton Football College. Her teaching areas include: sport policy, inclusive sport, community development, sport sociology and work-based learning. Cath has an MA in Sport Management, has published extensively and is currently completing her PhD investigating the third sector and its use of sport-based interventions for social and societal outcomes. Cath has over 25 years' experience working in local authority sport development, with national equity and a range of sport organisations.
I enjoy watching students' confidence grow as they progress through their studies
I did a placement with Everton in the Community and the Premier League Kicks programme. This gave me experience to develop and learn from the best and access to a network of professionals
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 97% of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2025). Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
The career pathway for a sport development practitioner and coach is varied. There are over 10,000 related posts in the UK, with organisations such as national governing bodies, local authorities, private organisations, education providers and local and national charities.
The programme provides a mix of academic and practical experiences to enhance your understanding of sport coaching – from elite to community provision. During the year, you will have the opportunity to do applied coaching on work placements in a variety of settings, such as schools and clubs. Everton Football College works with a range of partners providing opportunities for hands-on placements. This includes a range of Everton in the Community programmes. This will help you to develop professional skills relevant to the field of coaching. Within your modules, you will also deliver and experience a range of practical coaching styles and sessions. These will be both student and staff led, and will include a range of sports so that you get to observe, learn and deliver the best coaching practices.
Tuition fees and funding
A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.
Financial Support
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Undergraduate degree
Candidates would normally be expected to have a first degree (first class or upper second class [2:1]) from a Republic of Ireland or United Kingdom university or equivalent overseas qualification.
Further information
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Extra Requirements
For non-standard entry, applicants would need to be able to demonstrate a comparable academic standard through past studies and relevant work experience. A minimum of five years’ experience in a professional role in education/education-related practice is required, along with a genuine passion and interest in their professional development. It will also be necessary to explain in their application, how this programme will benefit their career progression.
All applicants must be in a current relevant role, or have access to an appropriate classroom or education setting.
Overseas students whose first language is not English will require an IELTS score overall 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component).
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
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The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.