Athlete Professional Development

Developed in collaboration with ProChance Football, this foundation degree will help you future-proof your career. As a promising sportsperson and/or sports official, you are focused on your performance on the pitch and pursuing your dreams to play/officiate professionally. Your life off the pitch is crucial too, and it’s important to plan for your future after sport.

This flexible and unique foundation degree allows you to do that, and receive a recognised qualification for doing so. You’ll be able to train and play full-time, while studying and working towards your degree.

The blocked on-campus delivery and remote study methods have been designed to support elite/professional players and officials.

The course places you at the core of the programme, focusing on your personal and professional development; you’ll explore:

• Your life so far and your future plans
• Your values, beliefs and motivations
• What you want from your life in and after sport
• How to be successful during your playing/officiating career and afterwards
• How self-reflection can help shape your future life and career choices

You will:

• Learn from our expert teaching team who are actively involved in research, high-performance sport and applied sport science consultancy. They are also members of leading professional bodies
• Use state-of-the-art equipment in our Sports Centre
• Put theory into practice through work-based learning in both years of your studies. You'll have the opportunity to apply the skills you learn within the modules to roles within the host organisation such as coaching, teaching, sports administration, event support and mentoring

Once you finish the course, you’ll not only have formal recognition of a foundation degree on your CV, but you’ll also be in a position where your next career step will be an extension of your current sporting life. It can also be a stepping stone to further development through a BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development Top-up.

Develop a wide skill set

In your first year you’ll explore how to develop personally and professionally and look after your physical and mental wellbeing. You’ll explore positive communication, including counselling skills and techniques, and learn about team working, which will help develop your confidence in leadership.

During your second year you’ll complete an independent project, reflecting on sporting communities and their place in your life and others. You’ll explore ethics on a personal and societal level and apply these to current issues. You’ll also develop and use your business skills to plan and implement products and services – a valuable preparation for the next stage in your career.

Sport and Exercise Science - your questions answered

In the below video, Head of School for Sport and Exercise Science, Andy Hooton, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Derby. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

This programme includes traditional academic study with practical application and work-based learning to offer a unique experience. This course is delivered in blocks and has been designed to meet your needs.

We use a range of assessment methods, including traditional formats such as written papers, presentations and portfolios. In addition to these we use less traditional methods such as blogs, vlogs and interviews to assess your progress. These reflect work-based elements of your course and will help you prepare for your future career.

Who you'll be taught by

You'll be taught by a range of academics with excellent expertise in the area, including:

• Jon Woodward: Jon has more than 25 years’ experience as a coach and coach educator at all levels. He has worked with football clubs including Derby County, Burton Albion and Middlesbrough, as well as with UK Coaching as a Coach Advisor and Lead Coach Educator.
• Andy Borrie: Andy has 30 years' experience of working in elite sports, coaching and education. As well as teaching he is also an independent consultant and executive coach working with clients in sport, business, education and the military both in the UK and abroad - these include the Premier League and NATO

Upon completion of the course, you will be given the opportunity to progress onto our BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Development.

You could also go on to pursue a career in football or other professional sports roles such as academy coach, performance analyst, sport scientist or strength and conditioning coach.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Additional entry requirements

• This course is only open to applicants from ProChance Football or Litchfield Football Club (in any role.)

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Apply directly to the University

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.