Professional Golf BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Focus your sights on golf coaching and performance on our BA (Hons) Professional Golf, delivered from our UHI Centre for Golf campus and run as part of our partnership with the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA). 
 
Pursue your aspirations of a career in this thriving and varied field on this comprehensive course, unique in Scotland, with 82% of recent graduates employed in a range of roles within the golf industry. Access our dedicated, on-site specialist teaching facilities and equipment, including Trackman, Foresight, Zen, PuttView and SAM Puttlab. Benefit from a range of seasonal internships each year at prestigious UK and International venues, studying themes such as coaching, equipment technology, sports science, and business, with a particular focus on industry demands met by professional coaches. 

Enjoy the atmosphere and community of Dornoch, close to the world-renowned Royal Dornoch Golf Club, and benefit from our partnership with the PGA, including access to PGA engagement and support, guest lectures, and opportunities to join the association as a trainee, gain membership of the PGA when you graduate (subject to application), and gain PGA coaching awards through this route.

Special features

• Graduates can gain PGA membership (subject to application)
• You will benefit from our strong industry links including the PGA, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, and equipment manufacturers, as well as top clubs and facilities in the UK and abroad. Many of these will contribute to your learning via guest lectures and seminars
• Work placements can be arranged across the UK, and internationally, including international internship programmes
• Access to industry-focussed CPD, including required coaching qualifications, and support from governing bodies within the golf industry
• State of the art, world class indoor golf facilities on campus including Trackman, Foresight, Zen, PuttView, SAM Puttlab and full golf workshop
• Full-time members of staff are PGA professionals
• Enjoy a unique student experience and participate in activities such as running the student golf club, individual coaching, personalised training and development, regular play, and competition including Scottish Student Sport and British Universities and College Sport events
• The course is unique due to its proximity and close working relationship with Royal Dornoch Golf Club, rated top 5 in the world. The club is also supportive of our students' development, offering coaching opportunities, hosting golf events and providing placement opportunities
• Have institutional support for applications for individual R&A bursaries which financially support elite golfers in tertiary education

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation in Dornoch ideally suited to students on this course.

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade C or above
• There is also a current golf handicap requirement of 6.4 or lower for men, and 8.4 or lower for women
• You may be able to enter year two of the degree if you have an appropriate Higher Education qualification in a relevant subject
• Applicants with other qualifications or relevant experience are welcomed and will be considered on an individual basis
• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

For International students requiring Student Route sponsorship
Please note that international students with a Student Route visa can only take part in sports activities or as part of a work placement, as an amateur and not as a professional or semi-professional. You will not be allowed to become a member of a professional sports association while a student. This is due to ‘professional sportsperson’ restrictions imposed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as outlined in their Student Route Policy Guidance.

Year 1 - CertHE

In the first year you will be introduced to general concepts in the golf industry and professional sport.

Core modules are:

• Activity performance and skills acquisition
• Introduction to business
• Introduction to equipment technology for golf
• Introduction to sport and exercise science
• Introduction to sport coaching and leadership
• Professional practice and personal development for the golf industry

Year 2 - DipHE

You will continue to build on and develop the concepts from year one and begin to evaluate their application in practice. New topics will also be introduced.

Core modules are:

• Applied coaching and leadership 
• Event planning and organisation
• Golf club manager - functions and responsibilities
• Golf course maintenance and design
• Golf equipment and analysis 
• Work placement: team-working and communication

Year 3 - BA

In the third year, academic skills will be further developed alongside practical and industry-specific skill sets.

Core modules are:

• Design, manage and evaluate human fitness and physical performance
• Niche tourism
• Research skills
• Retailing
• Sports and exercise science: a critical analysis
• Work placement: industry-specific skills

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

The honours year is used to deepen your understanding and consolidate the themes carried throughout the programme. 

Core modules are:

• Advanced applications of coaching and instruction
• Niche professional: a business analysis
• Sports and exercise psychology
• Work placement: professional practice

You will also complete a dissertation (double-credits), or research and present a plan for a new business venture.

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

There is an additional cost of £349 for the NGB Coaching level 2 award.