The Sport Foundation Year is a preparatory year of study that builds your skills, knowledge, and confidence so you feel empowered to study a full undergraduate degree with Northumbria. Successful completion of the Sport Foundation Year allows for progression onto any of our i2i undergraduate degrees.

A common Foundation Year myth is they are for students who haven't met the standard entry requirements of their desired degree. While they are ideal for developing your academic skills, they are also a fantastic way to gain varied insight into your desired subject field before deciding on a final degree to pursue, especially if you're not sure about the career path you'd like to pursue. They are also a great way to build your confidence in terms of academia, especially if you are unfamiliar with the UK education system.

Through the Sport Foundation Year, you will learn about the different facets of sport, covering a range of core modules such as Contemporary Issues in Sport and Sport, Exercise and Performance, helping you to realise your ultimate career goal, and choose the next step thats right for you. Upon successful completion of the Sport Foundation Year (i2i), student-athletes can progress onto any of the following courses:

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (i2i)

BSc (Hons) Sport, Exercise and Nutrition (i2i)

BSc (Hons) Sport Coaching (i2i)

BSc (Hons) Sport Management (i2i)

The formal progression route from Sport Foundation Year (i2i) is to one of our Sport (i2i) undergraduate programmes, however there is scope for students to progress onto Business Management (i2i). Students who opt for this route will have a different process to follow but guidance on how to do so will be provided where needed.

We appreciate the demands of combining study and soccer development so, where possible, we ensure our student-athletes benefit from maximised time in both the classroom and on the pitch. Timetabling is done in such a manner that means academic study will typically be taught in the morning with soccer activities taking place in the afternoon.

Experience has taught us that Foundation Year students become successful graduates. The extra year of study and exposure to industry experts and first-class facilities often gives this group of students a career edge, with employability capabilities at the heart of all module learning experiences and assessments.

We make your personal-professional development and career planning a priority across all years of the programme you will develop your knowledge and understanding of the graduate labour market and current trends in graduate recruitment and selection, applying this to your career planning.

Upon successful completion of the foundation year, you will have the option to automatically progress onto one of our full-time i2i undergraduate degrees where you will be able to further your expertise in sport or business, whilst continuing with i2i's Soccer Development Programme. The formal progression route from Sport Foundation Year (i2i) is to one of our Sport (i2i) undergraduate programmes, however there is scope for students to progress onto Business Management (i2i). Students who opt for this route will have a different process to follow but guidance on how to do so will be provided where needed.

After this, the world is your oyster! The future could hold a career in football management at Newcastle United or in the development of outdoor tennis facilities throughout Tyne & Wear. You could work with schools to encourage children to get active, or coach within elite sports. You could become a sport and exercise scientist helping to optimise performance in Olympic athletes or improving health in the community. Whichever path you choose, our reputation for sports degrees at Northumbria precedes us.

Mode of Study

1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 years full-time study