BA Hons Special Educational Needs and Sport & Physical Education

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Liverpool Hope University

Program Overview

This BA (Hons) combines Special Educational Needs (SEN) with Sport & Physical Education, giving you a strong understanding of disability, inclusion, coaching, and the role of sport in society. It suits students who care about working with diverse communities and want a career that blends education, wellbeing, and sport.

Curriculum structure

Year 1

You’ll start with core SEN themes such as Disability and History, Disability and Culture, or Disability and Society, helping you understand how different perspectives shape modern approaches to inclusion. On the Sport & PE side, you’ll explore the foundations of sport, physical activity and coaching, learning how movement and participation support individual and community wellbeing.

Year 2

Your SEN studies deepen with topics exploring the life-course, lived experiences of disability, and how society and culture influence inclusion and accessibility. Alongside this, you’ll study applied and theoretical areas of sport psychology, performance and technique analysis, coaching science, sport management, and the sociology of sport — preparing you for sport, education, or community-based roles.

Year 3

You’ll focus on advanced understanding of inclusion, disability, and culture, preparing for professional settings across education, advocacy, and social care. On the Sport & PE side, your final year develops expertise in advanced coaching, sport analysis/management, and the broader societal issues surrounding participation, equality, health and wellbeing.

Focus areas

Inclusive education; disability studies; disability culture and society; sport and physical education; sport psychology; coaching science; sport management; wellbeing and community inclusion.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop the ability to critically understand disability, inclusion and culture, apply this knowledge in real educational or community environments, and design and deliver effective sport and physical education programmes. You will be able to support diverse learners and promote equality and wellbeing through inclusive sport and education practices.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The degree draws on expertise from Liverpool Hope’s internationally recognised Centre for Culture and Disability Studies — the only UK centre dedicated specifically to disability and culture. This strong academic and professional foundation aligns the programme with the needs of education, social care, health, and community sport sectors.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Students on this degree report strong satisfaction with teaching quality, learning opportunities and academic support, with recent data showing high positive responses across these areas. Graduates benefit from Liverpool Hope’s supportive environment and strong reputation for producing well-rounded, employable professionals in both education and sport.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Liverpool Hope University, the BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs and Sport & Physical Education is built around hands-on learning. You won’t just study theories — you’ll apply them in real coaching environments, specialist laboratories, and learning spaces that mirror the professional world. The university’s Health Sciences Building and Sports Complex give you access to modern research facilities, teaching labs, sport-performance technology and professional-grade training spaces. This means you graduate with practical experience, confidence and industry-ready skills.

Here’s how that experience takes shape:

Practical and theoretical training in areas such as sport psychology, performance techniques, sport analysis, sport management and coaching science.
In-depth study of disability, inclusion and advocacy through the SEN component, helping you develop strong understanding of social, historical and cultural perspectives on disability.
Access to specialist facilities: sport and exercise science laboratories, biomechanics equipment (including motion-capture technology and sprint track), physiology labs, psychology labs, and testing suites.
Use of full Sports Complex facilities: strength and conditioning suite, fitness centre, indoor sports hall, rehabilitation spaces and outdoor pitches.
Opportunities for work placements in teaching or coaching environments, helping you build practical experience and strengthen future teacher-training or coaching applications.
Engagement with guest speakers and partner organisations in disability support, education, care services, community sport and inclusion.
Exposure to research through the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies — the UK’s only research centre focused specifically on disability and culture.

What you’ll study & experience

As a combined honours student, you’ll divide your studies between Special Educational Needs and Sport & Physical Education. Your academic and practical training includes:

Disability studies and inclusion: examining disability across historical, social and cultural contexts, while learning how to support individuals with diverse needs.
Sport and Physical Education: sport psychology, performance analysis, coaching science, sociological and historical approaches to sport, and specialist sport-science training.
Applied learning in laboratories and sport environments, helping you connect theoretical knowledge with physical application.
Placement opportunities offering real-world experience in coaching, teaching or community-based sport roles.

Career preparation

This degree equips you for a range of people-focused and sport-based careers, including:

SEN support roles in education, social care, community support or disability services.
Coaching, PE teaching, community sport education and physical-activity promotion.
Roles within organisations, charities or NGOs focusing on disability rights, inclusion, wellbeing and community engagement.
Broader opportunities across education, health, social care and sports management.

Why Liverpool Hope stands out

The SEN component is supported by the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies — a nationally unique research centre.
Modern, purpose-built sport and health-science facilities support advanced teaching, research and practical training.
Experienced academic staff and industry guest speakers bring real-world insight directly into the classroom and labs.
The combined honours format gives you a versatile, employer-friendly skillset: inclusive-education knowledge paired with sport and coaching expertise.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this combined degree are well positioned for meaningful careers in education, disability support, social care, coaching, and community sport. Many go into roles where they directly support young people, promote inclusion, or deliver physical activity programmes. Typical job roles include:

Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or Inclusion Support Coordinator
Learning Mentor or Disability Support Worker
PE / Sports Coach or Physical Education Teacher
Community Sport & Disability Programme Officer or Youth Worker

Because the course brings together disability studies with sport and physical education, you gain a rare mix of skills that employers value: insight into inclusive practice, understanding of diverse learning needs, and the ability to promote physical wellbeing through sport and activity.

What supports your employability:

Specialist academic environment: The Special Educational Needs component is taught by academics with deep expertise in disability studies, including contributions from both disabled and non-disabled scholars.
Strong practical preparation: The Sport & PE side gives you hands-on experience in performance, coaching, physiology, and sport management, helping you build the confidence to work directly with individuals and groups.
Excellent facilities: You train in a modern sports complex, complete with fitness suites, laboratories, and coaching spaces — the kind of environment that mirrors professional practice.
Placement opportunities: Students gain practical experience in real settings such as schools, community groups, and sport organisations, strengthening employability straight after graduation.
Positive graduate outcomes: Related combined degrees at the university report high levels of graduates securing work or further study within 15 months of finishing, alongside a steady increase in earnings within the first five years.
Industry and community connections: The sport and education departments maintain partnerships with schools, charities, and community sport organisations, which help students access placements and build professional networks.
Long-term value: Graduates are recognised for their understanding of inclusion and physical development — a combination that continues to be in demand in education, youth work, social care, and sport sectors.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this BA, students often continue their professional development through:

Postgraduate study in special educational needs, inclusion, disability studies, or education leadership
A teacher-training pathway (such as a PGCE or equivalent route) to become a qualified teacher in mainstream or specialist settings
Master’s programmes in sport, coaching, community development, wellbeing, education policy, or social sciences
Professional qualifications in areas such as youth work, sport development, or health and community practice