BTEC Higher Nationals in Sport
Sysco Business Skills Academy Ltd now offers Sport programmes as part of its Higher Education provision 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 and Higher National Diploma offerings are 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 and Higher National Diploma in Sport curriculum is 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 the Sport industry. In addition to the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin the study of 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 and Higher National Diploma 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 80 UCAS points for the BTEC Vocational Programme you are currently studying. This is equivalent to an overall DM grade on the BTEC Diploma in Sport, or an overall MMP grade on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport.
- Maths – A grade 4 or above in GCSE Maths
- English – A grade 4 or above in GCSE English.
If a HE applicant does not meet all of the conditions set above, Sysco may consider additional, pertinent entry criteria for a student to be admitted onto the HNC programme. All students who pass the Higher National Certificate qualification will be eligible to progress onto the Higher National Diploma.
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 consist of 3 mandatory, and 5 out of the optional units from the table below;
| HNC Sport Mandatory Units | HNC Sport Optional Units (5 from the list below) |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 - Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Health | Unit 6 - Activity Leadership |
| Unit 8 - Sport Marketing | |
| Unit 10 – Nutrition | |
| Unit 2 - The Sport Landscape | Unit 11 - Anatomy & Physiology |
| Unit 13 - Technology in Sport | |
| Unit 3 - Project Management | Unit 16 – Work Exposure |
| Unit 43 - Coaching Practice & Skill Development |
Students progressing onto the Higher National Diploma in Sport qualification with Sysco will need to complete 7 Level 5 units over the course of the academic year, each equally weighted at 15 credits, apart from Unit 23 – Research Project which is double weighted at 30 credits. Alongside Unit 23, HND Sport students will complete one further mandatory unit as well as 5 out of the optional units in the table below;
| HND Sport Mandatory Units | HND Sport Optional Units (5 from the list below) |
|---|---|
| Unit 23 – Research Project | Unit 27 - Sport, Health & Society |
| Unit 28 - Coaching Special Populations | |
| Unit 36 – Personal & Professional Development | |
| Unit 37 – Work Experience | |
| Unit 44 – Sport Specific Nutrition | |
| Unit 24 – Entrepreneurism in Sport | Unit 31 – Event Management |
| Unit 32 – Performance Analysis | |
| Unit 34 - Advanced Coaching | |
| Unit 41 - Advanced Nutrition |
The Tuition Fee for Sysco’s HNC in Sport programme in 2026/27 is £7,550. Further details around Loans and other financial support available can be found here (hyperlink to Financial Support page of website).