BTEC Higher Nationals in Sport

Sysco Business Skills Academy Ltd will expand its Higher Education provision from 2025/26 to offer Sport programmes to prospective HE students as well. This is a natural progression for us as a provider, given that our sister company Brighter Futures already delivers the Level 3 BTEC in Sport to a significant number of students across multiple campuses within the UK. The Higher National Certificate offering, and subsequently Higher National Diploma from September 2026, is an excellent pathway for Sport students to enhance their understanding and experience of the Sport industry, allowing them to develop the skills required to be able to forge a career within this sector.

The Higher National Certificate in Sport curriculum will be delivered by Sysco using a mixed delivery approach, incorporating blended learning to include practical application of skills as a key component of the timetable alongside theoretical lectures and seminars. Students will also be encouraged to develop their own independent study and research skills, recognising their progression as higher-level students and acknowledging the requirement for these skills to be in place in order to move into the industry post-study.

The purpose of BTEC Higher Nationals in Sport is to develop students as professional, self-reflecting individuals able to meet the demands of employers in the Sport sector and adapt to a constantly changing world. The qualifications aim to widen access to higher education and enhance the career prospects of those who undertake them.

The BTEC Higher National qualifications in Sport are aimed at students wanting to continue their education through applied learning. Higher Nationals provide a wide-ranging study of Sport and are designed for students who wish to pursue or advance their career in Sport. In addition to the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin the study of the Sport, Pearson BTEC Higher Nationals in Sport give students experience of the breadth and depth of the sector that will prepare them for further study or training.

Graduates successfully completing the Higher National Certificate will be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the basic concepts of Sport. They will be able to communicate accurately and appropriately and they will have the qualities needed for employment that requires some degree of personal responsibility. They will have developed a range of transferable skills to ensure effective team working, independent initiatives, organisational competence and problem-solving strategies. They will be adaptable and flexible in their approach to Sport, show resilience under pressure, and meet challenging targets within a given resource.

Entry requirements set by Sysco for students to be able to join the HNC in Sport programme are as below;

  • UCAS Points – Achieving a minimum of 64 UCAS points for the BTEC Vocational Programme you are currently studying. This is equivalent to an overall MM grade on the BTEC Diploma in Sport, or an overall MPP grade on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport.
  • Maths – A grade 4 or above, or a Pass in Functional Skill Level 2 Maths.
  • English – A grade 4 or above, or a Pass in Functional Skill Level 2 English.

If a HE applicant does not meet all of the conditions set above, we would look to invite them in for an interview with Sysco delivery staff at their campus, to discuss things such as previous qualifications, prior industry experience and attitude and assess suitability for the programme, before a final decision is made on an application. We will look to schedule this as early as possible should any applicant not meet the entry requirements set out above.

Students completing the Higher National Certificate in Sport qualification with Sysco will need to complete 8 Level 4 units over the course of the academic year, each equally weighted at 15 credits. These Level 4 units consist of the topics below;

  • Unit 1 – Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Health
  • Unit 2 – The Sport Landscape
  • Unit 3 – Project Management
  • Unit 6 – Activity Leadership
  • Unit 8 – Sport Marketing
  • Unit 10 – Nutrition
  • Unit 13 – Technology in Sport
  • Unit 43 – Coaching Practice & Skill Development (Except the Bradford Campus)
  • Unit 11 – Anatomy & Physiology (Bradford Campus Only)

Achieving 120 credits at Level 4 through the Higher National Certificate is a pre-requisite to be able to join the Level 5 Higher National Diploma in September 2026. During the course of the HND, 120 credits at Level 5 will be studied, split across 7 Units. 6 units will be at 15 credits each, alongside the double weighted mandatory Research Project unit. The units studied on the Higher National Diploma will be as below;

  • Unit 23 – Research Project (30 Credits)
  • Unit 24 – Entrepreneurs in Sport (15 Credits)
  • 5 Optional Units – To be confirmed in due course (Each 15 Credits)

The Tuition Fee for Sysco’s HNC in Sport programme in 2025/26 is £7,500. Further details around Loans and other financial support available can be found here.