Sport Foundation Year - i2i International Soccer Academy
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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 that’s right for you. Upon successful completion of the Sport Foundation Year (i2i), student-athletes can progress onto any of the following courses:
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.
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 years full-time study
Department
Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Merging soccer development with a year of academic study
Introducing the Department of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation
Mythbusting and understand how Foundation Year programmes work
Discover more about life in Newcastle and studying at Northumbria
This year-long course comprises two semesters and six core modules, all of which are varied in content and teaching style. Whilst the majority of the course content will be taught in a traditional classroom setting, students will receive around 30 hours of practical teaching in a variety of settings, including the state-of-the-art Sports Central. We also invite guest speakers who currently work in the industry to pass on their knowledge, advice and wisdom to you. They will also give you a real-life case study, which you need to resolve in real time, giving you a taste of your future career in sports.
Through links with Northumbria Sport, you will have the opportunity to volunteer and experience a range of practical sports. The programme allows you to gain knowledge and competence in key themes within sports to support you in vocational roles, and to help you to decide which of our undergraduate (i2i) degrees.
Virtual, self-directed learning technologies support you 24/7, including extensive, carefully curated resources from the world’s leading management researchers and practitioners. Our eLearning Portal also enables you to contact your tutors in real time and to submit the formative and summative assessments that support your learning. Discover more about each of our core modules in:
Teaching is backed by a well-designed support system that will underpin your learning journey. You will have a Guidance Tutor with whom you can discuss academic or personal issues and we ensure extensive feedback - from tutors and student peers - is built into the course wherever possible.
The Sport Foundation Year is delivered by an experienced team of research-active and practitioner-based academics who come from diverse professional backgrounds. You will therefore benefit from cutting-edge teaching and research alongside tutors who support you in making links with ‘real-world’ practice in a range of settings.
Holding internationally recognised UEFA Pro and A coaching licenses, the i2i Coaches work closely with each player to help maximise their soccer abilities and support them to pursue various career options, inside and outside of the sports industry. Discover more information below, including contact details for i2i's recruiters as well as Northumbria's Recruitment and International Projects Manager - Chris Bunten - who will help guide you on your journey to us.
Expect a first-class education in a world-class environment, from our social spaces and hub areas to lecture theatres and exhibition spaces - our facilities are exceptional. For example, the 24/7 university library achieves some of the highest levels of student satisfaction in the UK and has held the Cabinet Office accreditation for Customer Service Excellence since 2010.
The equipment within our labs is state-of-the-art meaning you will be taught vocationally relevant skills in an exciting and stimulating setting. Some of the facilities you will have access to are specialist physiology, biomechanics and nutrition laboratories, strength and conditioning suites, indoor sprint tracks, an environmental chamber and the DXA bone scanner. Explore your learning spaces virtually here.
We are committed to helping you make the most of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) by embedding it throughout the course. Tools such as the ‘Blackboard’ eLearning Portal and electronic reading lists are there to help you efficiently and thoroughly prepare for seminars and independent research. Lecture capture software means you can revise previously lectured material online in your time, as well as at your speed.
Outside of the classroom, we have a wide range of socialisation and study spaces for students to utilise from our award-winning Student Central and Library to your dedicated Students' Union.
Our sporting facilities comprise a City Campus facility - Sport Central - which was a £30 million investment made in 2010. Sport Central comprises a fitness centre, swimming pool, sauna and steam room, squash courts, four full-sized basketball court sports halls, indoor track, meeting rooms/performance analysis pods and strength and conditioning suites, the latter of which is only accessible by our scholar and i2i student-athletes.
We also have our Coach Lane Sport Centre which is the focus of all our outdoor sports and the home of our soccer and i2i programme. Coach Lane Sport Centre is 3 miles away from our City Campus and Sport Central. At Coach Lane, we have four full-sized grass soccer pitches and two full-sized 3G pitches, with one pitch recently built in September 2022. There is also an indoor sports hall, player lounge, performance analysis rooms and a strength and conditioning suite.
Along with access to our strength and conditioning suites with our qualified coaches, i2i student-athletes receive a free commercial gym membership where they can access a swimming pool, sauna and steam room. as well as an extensive timetable of exercise classes.
As part of our offer to all i2i student-athletes, we have a great support services package. This includes:
We offer strength and conditioning support to our performance athletes, which i2i student-athletes are, to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury. Our qualified Strength and Conditioning (S&C) Coaches work closely with i2i’s team Physiotherapist and Sport Science Experts to make sure athletes are getting the best out of their training programme. We aim to improve our athletes' understanding of strength and conditioning by supporting them to develop their training skills and knowledge in order to increase their capacity for training. Improvement in these factors will result in the development of physical abilities such as:
Our programme includes:
We offer a treatment and rehabilitation service for selected i2i student-athletes, based at Coach Lane. Our expert Sports Physiotherapist works closely with our S&C Coaches to understand the causes of injuries to ensure they are able to identify, treat and eliminate sport-related injuries. Our programme includes:
25 hours of physiotherapy support offered weekly (Hours may be subject to depending on entry year)
Discover the state-of-the-art sport facilities available at our Newcastle Campus
Providing a range of study spaces and technology to suit every learning style
Whether you're at City Campus or Coach Lane, there's plenty to see and do
Northumbria's research ethos underpins the problem-based, experiential learning approaches embedded within our research-rich curriculum. This approach will equip you to apply and develop knowledge in ‘real world’ situations, mindful of the cultural context and able to act ethically with integrity.
During your time on the course, you will have the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research projects, benefit from expert knowledge and get first-hand insight into some of the latest developments in sports science. You will also develop your ability to analyse and review studies and data while learning the techniques to measure and evaluate performance in our state-of-the-art sports science labs.
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.
We receive a high number of applications with qualifications from the United States. These applicants require a High School Graduation Diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.4.
80 UCAS Tariff points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Subject Requirements:
There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK or the US, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: TBC
* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Students complete a module on volunteering which involves completing some volunteering work. If students choose to travel further than Newcastle for their volunteering work, then they will bear these travel costs: however all activities can be completed locally. Costs can vary between approximately £25-£800.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
SP3008 -
Essential Skills for Studying Sport (Core,20 Credits)
This module will aim to introduce you to the importance of personal and academic development skills that are essential for your programme of study. The skills developed in this module will help you to succeed in all modules on the programme. Topics such as searching for and understanding literature, learning how to be an independent student, essay writing, referencing, and presentation skills will be covered.
For the assessment, you will complete a workbook. The workbook will be aligned to seminar and lecture activities. You will complete tasks linked to study skills that will facilitate your personal and academic development. You will be expected to draw upon current theory and consider the impact of this issue within a sport context.
SP3009 -
Sport Foundation Year Project (Core,20 Credits)
This module is designed to build on the academic skills you developed in the Essential Skills for Studying Sport module. In particular, this module provides you with the opportunity to further enhance your writing, logical thinking and research skills. You will use this module to identify and explore key areas linked to sport and your future undergraduate sport programme of study using an evidence-based learning approach. This module will be centred on real-world examples, where you will examine an existing sport related project/case study. The project will be examined from a multi-disciplinary perspective (i.e., aligned to sports coaching, sport science and sport management,) allowing you to understand the complex and integrated nature of sport.
More informationSP3010 -
Innovations in Sport (Core,20 Credits)
The quest for the elusive edge, global reach and market competitiveness is increasingly driving innovations in the sporting industry. The Innovations in Sport module enables you to explore the development and role of innovations in transforming contemporary sports and the sporting industry. You will cover a number of innovations across this module aligned to sports coaching, sport science, sport management, sport nutrition, sport development and many more. In doing so, you will also consider some of the contemporary issues and ethical dilemmas related to the use of various innovations in sport and their implications for different stakeholders (e.g., athletes, coaches, referees, sport scientists, etc). This interdisciplinary approach allows the module to have global reach and engages you in thinking around the ethical implications of adopting and using various innovations within their professional context.
More informationSP3011 -
Volunteering in Sport (Core,20 Credits)
In the sport industry the recruitment, management and retention of volunteers is a key human resource management concern for sport events, clubs and increasingly, facilities. Research points to the importance of satisfying volunteers. Whilst there is a considerable societal and economic value to sport volunteering activity, there can be personal benefits to the volunteer. There is an increasing interest in ensuring that volunteers have an enjoyable and meaningful experience, that the volunteering population grows and that people from more diverse backgrounds are encouraged into sport volunteering.
This module is therefore designed for you to explore the theoretical and applied aspects of volunteering in sport. You will be provided with the knowledge and understanding of how sport volunteering is conceptualised in the United Kingdom. This will include the meaning and understanding of sport volunteering, who volunteers and why, the patterns of volunteering and changes over time in the U.K. You will also be provided with some contrasting perspective with how sport volunteering operates in other countries. The module will focus on the concept of the volunteer, volunteer work and the volunteer experience in sport. However, we will briefly touch on the recruitment and management of volunteers and the legacy and impact of particular types of sport volunteering i.e., for events.
SP3012 -
Sport, Exercise and Performance (Core,20 Credits)
Sport and exercise scientists use their wide-ranging knowledge and expertise to support individuals participating in sport and exercise settings. ‘Sport, Exercise and Performance’ will give you an insight into the real-world application of sport and exercise science. You will learn about the core disciplines of physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and psychology, and how sport and exercise scientists use the combination of these approaches in their work. On this module, you will gain theoretical knowledge as well as developing your practical laboratory skills in Northumbria’s state of the art, BASES accredited laboratories, an exciting and stimulating place to learn.
More informationSP3013 -
Contemporary Issues in Sport (Core,20 Credits)
This module is designed for you to explore contemporary and relevant issues that exist in today’s sporting domains. You will be taught about pertinent issues using a multi-disciplinary, case study approach. Therefore, each issue will be examined from various discipline perspectives (i.e., from a sport coaching, sport management, and/or a sport science perspective) allowing you to understand the complex nature of sport and consider issues using multiple lenses. This module will also develop your awareness and understanding of how sport continually develops and evolves over time.
More informationModule information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
SP3008 -
Essential Skills for Studying Sport (Core,20 Credits)
This module will aim to introduce you to the importance of personal and academic development skills that are essential for your programme of study. The skills developed in this module will help you to succeed in all modules on the programme. Topics such as searching for and understanding literature, learning how to be an independent student, essay writing, referencing, and presentation skills will be covered.
For the assessment, you will complete a workbook. The workbook will be aligned to seminar and lecture activities. You will complete tasks linked to study skills that will facilitate your personal and academic development. You will be expected to draw upon current theory and consider the impact of this issue within a sport context.
SP3009 -
Sport Foundation Year Project (Core,20 Credits)
This module is designed to build on the academic skills you developed in the Essential Skills for Studying Sport module. In particular, this module provides you with the opportunity to further enhance your writing, logical thinking and research skills. You will use this module to identify and explore key areas linked to sport and your future undergraduate sport programme of study using an evidence-based learning approach. This module will be centred on real-world examples, where you will examine an existing sport related project/case study. The project will be examined from a multi-disciplinary perspective (i.e., aligned to sports coaching, sport science and sport management,) allowing you to understand the complex and integrated nature of sport.
More informationSP3010 -
Innovations in Sport (Core,20 Credits)
The quest for the elusive edge, global reach and market competitiveness is increasingly driving innovations in the sporting industry. The Innovations in Sport module enables you to explore the development and role of innovations in transforming contemporary sports and the sporting industry. You will cover a number of innovations across this module aligned to sports coaching, sport science, sport management, sport nutrition, sport development and many more. In doing so, you will also consider some of the contemporary issues and ethical dilemmas related to the use of various innovations in sport and their implications for different stakeholders (e.g., athletes, coaches, referees, sport scientists, etc). This interdisciplinary approach allows the module to have global reach and engages you in thinking around the ethical implications of adopting and using various innovations within their professional context.
More informationSP3011 -
Volunteering in Sport (Core,20 Credits)
In the sport industry the recruitment, management and retention of volunteers is a key human resource management concern for sport events, clubs and increasingly, facilities. Research points to the importance of satisfying volunteers. Whilst there is a considerable societal and economic value to sport volunteering activity, there can be personal benefits to the volunteer. There is an increasing interest in ensuring that volunteers have an enjoyable and meaningful experience, that the volunteering population grows and that people from more diverse backgrounds are encouraged into sport volunteering.
This module is therefore designed for you to explore the theoretical and applied aspects of volunteering in sport. You will be provided with the knowledge and understanding of how sport volunteering is conceptualised in the United Kingdom. This will include the meaning and understanding of sport volunteering, who volunteers and why, the patterns of volunteering and changes over time in the U.K. You will also be provided with some contrasting perspective with how sport volunteering operates in other countries. The module will focus on the concept of the volunteer, volunteer work and the volunteer experience in sport. However, we will briefly touch on the recruitment and management of volunteers and the legacy and impact of particular types of sport volunteering i.e., for events.
SP3012 -
Sport, Exercise and Performance (Core,20 Credits)
Sport and exercise scientists use their wide-ranging knowledge and expertise to support individuals participating in sport and exercise settings. ‘Sport, Exercise and Performance’ will give you an insight into the real-world application of sport and exercise science. You will learn about the core disciplines of physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and psychology, and how sport and exercise scientists use the combination of these approaches in their work. On this module, you will gain theoretical knowledge as well as developing your practical laboratory skills in Northumbria’s state of the art, BASES accredited laboratories, an exciting and stimulating place to learn.
More informationSP3013 -
Contemporary Issues in Sport (Core,20 Credits)
This module is designed for you to explore contemporary and relevant issues that exist in today’s sporting domains. You will be taught about pertinent issues using a multi-disciplinary, case study approach. Therefore, each issue will be examined from various discipline perspectives (i.e., from a sport coaching, sport management, and/or a sport science perspective) allowing you to understand the complex nature of sport and consider issues using multiple lenses. This module will also develop your awareness and understanding of how sport continually develops and evolves over time.
More informationTo start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
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