Access to HN Sports Coaching and Development (Level 6) (January)

Location: Langside Campus
SCQF Level: 6
Start Date: 26 Jan 2026
Qualification Type: NQ
Course Type: Short Full-Time
Duration: 18 Weeks (January to June)

Applications open Monday 20th October 2025

Ready to turn your passion for sports into something bigger? This course is perfect if you want to take sports coaching and development to the next level, or hope to pursue further study. During the course you'll learn a range of basic coaching techniques, gain national governing body awards and study theory like human physiology and sports psychology.

If you've a genuine interest in taking part in sport and promoting it to others, are motivated and have great teamworking skills, then this could be the course for you.

Whether you're dreaming of coaching professionally, working in sports development or heading to university, we'll help you get there.

What will I learn?

During Access to HN Sports Coaching and Development you'll learn a broad range of practical and theoretical units such as:

Human physiology
Basic sports coaching techniques
Developing volunteers
Leading sporting activities
Playing and competing in indoor and outdoor sports and games
Circuit training
Sports development
Work / coaching placements
Working with others
Planning personal fitness
Swimming pool lifeguarding award
Scouting and talent identification

In addition, you’ll take part in a structured programme of team building and leadership development, while working towards National Governing Body Awards where relevant.

Please note: To take part in coaching placements or work experience opportunities, a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check will be required.

Entry requirements (minimum)

Three relevant subjects at National Level 5 with C pass or above; OR
NQ Fitness, Physical Activity and Health (Level 5) or Fundamentals of Sports Coaching and Fitness (Level 5), or equivalent, including a pass at Level 5 Communications
You must have an active interest in sport or fitness and should demonstrate this in the application.
We will consider your application if you can demonstrate an active interest in fitness or sport but have no formal qualifications.

If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.

Employer and industry links

The sport and fitness department has links with a range of employers and industry including:

National Governing Bodies
Glasgow Life Sport
Local authorities including primary and secondary schools
Active School co-ordinators
United Sports
Challenger Sports
Various fitness facilities

Jobs and further study

If you're successful on this course you could progress to HND coaching and Developing Sport starting in August at Glasgow Clyde College.

What's the best that could happen? You could change lives through sport – starting with your own.

Take a look at the course progression map for coaching and developing sport courses.

I've applied — what happens next?

When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).

Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:

Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
Invited to book an interview session
Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.

If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:

Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.

Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.

Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in December / January.