BSc Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science
“The practical element to the course has been for me the most exciting and beneficial, in assisting me to develop my practical skills for my potential future career as a PE teacher or coach.”
Why I chose Birmingham
Visiting the University of Birmingham campus on one of their open days immediately secured my decision to apply to study here. Firstly, the fact that it is a ‘Campus’ university appealed to me straight away, with everything close by and compact, creating a ‘community’ vibe. Also, as the University is situated so close to the City centre of Birmingham, I was surprised to see how green the campus was and how there was such a communal University atmosphere.
Why my course stood out to me
The Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science (SPECS) degree course at the University of Birmingham has enabled me to develop both my coaching and teaching skills, by consistently applying theory to practice throughout the three years. The teaching methods are a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions. The practical element to the course has been for me the most exciting and beneficial, in assisting me to develop my practical skills for my potential future career as a PE teacher or coach. There is also the opportunity to coach swimming lessons for children as part of a third year module, which also offers the prospect to gain a level 2 swimming coaching qualification. The practical element of the course is also what creates the bond between all of the students; being part of such a small, integrated course has been a true highlight for me at University as I have met some amazing people who I will be friends with for life.
My personal highlight
The SPECS course has a well-established reputation and is known for its highly social nature. You feel integrated within the course alongside your course friends; creating these relationships has been one of my personal highlights at University. Another personal highlight for me of my time at University was being a member of Birmingham University’s cheerleading squad, which gave me the exciting opportunity to perform with my team at the half-time point of Xplosion, one of the biggest sporting events of the year on campus.
Living in Birmingham
Living in halls in first year meant that I met so many new people, some of which I still live with now in my final year. Selly Oak is a great student village set in the perfect location, right next to campus.
Clubs or societies I've been involved in
I have been a member of the Birmingham Pussycats, a competitive cheerleading squad at the University which engages in many National level competitions. In my second year with the club we won University Nationals, which was another highlight of my time at University.
My aspirations for the future
To eventually do a PGCE which will lead into a career as a high school PE teacher.
My top tips for prospective Birmingham students
To join a sports team or society, as this gives you the opportunity to try something new, but also to network with a different group of people and make many new friends.