BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education Information Evening Highlights

If you're considering studying sports coaching and physical education, you may be wondering what career opportunities are available, whether a degree can support a pathway into PE teaching, and how practical experience is integrated into an academic programme.

At Portobello Institute’s recent Information Evening, prospective students learned how the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education prepares graduates for careers in sports coaching, physical education, community sport development, and sports leadership, while also offering progression routes towards PE teaching and further study.

Ultimately, the goal was to support learners weighing up their next step with the clarity and confidence to make an informed decision.

Meet the Panel

The Microsoft Teams webinar was led by Programme Lead Anthony Sheriff, alongside current student ambassador and rugby player Leah Tarpey and Career Pathway Consultant Niall Downey, who shared insights into student life, career opportunities, and progression routes.

What Can You Do with a Sports Coaching and Physical Education Degree?

Sport and physical education continue to grow as professional sectors in Ireland and internationally, with increasing recognition of their role in education, community development, health, wellbeing, and high-performance sport.

As Anthony explains: "The teams behind the teams nowadays are bigger than the teams themselves. There are loads of options and opportunities for employment in sport, with increasing demand for skilled coaches, educators, sport development officers, and youth sport professionals.”

What Makes the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education Degree Different?

The BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education at Portobello Institute is a modern, career-focused honours degree that combines sports coaching, physical education, sport science, and pedagogy – the theory and practice of teaching.

Awarded by the University of Essex and equivalent to Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications, the programme is designed to prepare confident, reflective, and employable graduates for careers in sport, education, and community settings, while also supporting progression to further study and PE teaching pathways.

"I think a huge strength of this programme is that it's quite broad, and it leaves you with a really strong breadth of options at the end of the programme,” says Anthony.

"You might come across an area that really piques your interest and think, 'I didn't realise I had such an interest in sports psychology or sports nutrition.' It's a really strong foundation to move on to further study in those areas."

Who is a Degree in Sports Coaching & Physical Education For?

Information Evening attendees included Leaving Certificate students, mature learners, career changers, coaches, athletes, and those considering a future in PE teaching.

Reflecting that diversity, Anthony emphasises that the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education offers a pathway for anyone with a passion for sport, coaching, physical education, and athlete development.

Study Options and Course Delivery

The BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education is available through both blended learning and in-person delivery modes, giving students flexibility to choose the study format that suits their lifestyle and commitments.

Learning includes lectures, workshops, seminars, practical sessions, and independent study, with a strong focus on practical relevance and employability.

Anthony highlights small class sizes as a key advantage of studying at Portobello Institute, explaining that lecturers get to know students individually, understand their strengths, and support their development throughout the programme.

Delivery dates and times are structured to support students balancing study with work, family, sporting commitments, or other responsibilities, while ensuring regular engagement with tutors, classmates, and practical learning opportunities.

What Will Students Study as Part of a Sports Coaching & Physical Education Degree?

During the Information Evening, Anthony explained how the programme develops students' knowledge, practical coaching skills, and professional experience over three years.

Students begin with the foundations of sports coaching and physical education before progressing to placements, advanced practice, and independent research.

Throughout the programme, students combine academic study with practical learning, including professional placements in Years 2 and 3 that help prepare them for careers in sport, education, and related fields.

You can find more information about specific modules in the ‘What will I study?’ section of the course page.

What Skills Will Students Develop During the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education?

Alongside academic knowledge, the programme develops the practical and professional skills needed to work across sport, education, and community settings.

Anthony explains: "What you're learning in the classroom, you've got a chance to develop that and implement it in a real-life setting as well."

Through coaching, teaching, and placement experiences, students build confidence in communication, leadership, coaching delivery, session planning, and reflective practice – evaluating their experiences, learning from challenges, and continually improving their coaching and teaching approaches.

What Careers Can a Sports Coaching and Physical Education Degree Lead To?

Graduates can apply their knowledge and skills across a wide range of roles. Career opportunities may include:

• Sports coach
• PE teacher (following progression to a Professional Master of Education (PME))
• Sport development officer
• Community sports coordinator
• Youth development officer
• Strength and conditioning coach
• Performance analyst
• Health and wellbeing programme coordinator

“The broad nature of this programme means that anything around health and wellbeing, anything around the sports sector, you will have a good chance of applying for jobs in those areas because there’s so much covered within this degree,” says Anthony.

Can You Become a PE Teacher with a Sports Coaching and Physical Education Degree?

For learners aspiring to become PE teachers, the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education can provide the first step on that pathway.

The programme has been designed specifically to meet the Teaching Council's Physical Education subject knowledge requirements, helping students progress towards a Professional Master of Education (PME) and a career in PE teaching.

While graduates are not qualified PE teachers at the end of the undergraduate degree, they will have the academic foundation needed to apply for a PME and continue towards a teaching career.

What Is It Like to Study Sports Coaching and Physical Education at Portobello Institute?

For the second part of the Information Evening, current student ambassador and rugby player Leah Tarpey shared her experience of studying the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education through the blended learning pathway while balancing a busy sporting career.

Reflecting on her experience so far, Leah says the programme had transformed her confidence, both personally and professionally.

"From day one to now, how much I've grown is crazy. When I first started, I was terrified of coaching and speaking in front of people. Now I can say I'm a coach and I'm fully confident in myself."

Leah explains that the programme's flexibility has allowed her to continue playing rugby while working towards a degree and exploring future career opportunities.

"It's so flexible, and not a lot of people know about it. It's like a hidden gem. It has changed my life massively because it means I can get a degree the same as everyone else while continuing to play rugby.”

She also highlighted the breadth of opportunities available to graduates. Initially interested in PE teaching, Leah says the programme opened her eyes to a wider range of careers across sport, coaching, and health-related fields.

"One of the biggest things about this course is that it has such a broad amount of opportunities. You're not just tunnel visioned on one thing.

"The placement gives you that hands-on experience and being able to put what you learn into practice is invaluable."

Read Leah's story here.

Study Sports Coaching & Physical Education at Portobello Institute

Apply online or speak with Career Pathway Consultant Niall Downey to find out if the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching & Physical Education is the right fit for you.