Take your passion for the outdoors to new heights!
The HND Adventure Sports Coaching and Development at Glasgow Kelvin College is designed for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to turn that passion into a career. Whether it’s kayaking through white water, climbing crags, or leading mountain expeditions, this course gives you the skills, qualifications, and confidence to work in the adventure sports industry.
Adventure sports coaching is one of the UK’s fastest-growing areas of sport. You’ll gain an industry-recognised PDA in Sports Coaching, jointly certificated with sportscotland and CIMSPA, enhancing both your credentials and employability.
Learning takes place across a mix of venues — our Springburn Campus, Pinkston Watersports Centre, and a variety of off-campus locations in Scotland and Europe. You’ll develop hands-on experience in activities such as paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, hill walking, skiing, and snowboarding.
This course is about more than learning — it’s about experiencing, coaching, and leading. With opportunities to gain National Governing Body (NGB) awards and complete a mandatory work placement, you’ll graduate with the qualifications and experience to launch your outdoor coaching career.
A PVG check is required before beginning your placement.
This course is ideal if you:
This course is all about learning by doing. You’ll combine classroom theory with outdoor coaching and leadership experiences across Scotland and beyond. Expect to challenge yourself physically and mentally while building the confidence to lead others in dynamic environments.
You’ll:
Year 1
Year 2
By the end, you’ll have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to coach and lead in a wide range of adventure sports environments.
To apply for the HND Adventure Sports Coaching and Development, you should have one of the following:
✅ Two Highers at Grade C or above (one in an English-based subject such as English, Modern Studies, History, Geography, or Media Studies), OR
✅ An NQ/NC qualification at SCQF Level 5/6 in a sports-related subject, OR
✅ Relevant coaching or outdoor experience that demonstrates your ability and enthusiasm.
Mature learners with relevant experience but no formal qualifications are welcome to apply and will be considered on merit.
All applicants will take part in a recruitment process to assess suitability and readiness for the course.
ℹ️ Applicants must be at least 16 years old at the start of the course.
ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language
All candidates will participate in a recruitment process
Graduates can pursue a wide range of roles across sport, education, and outdoor recreation, including:
🧗♂️ Adventure Sports Coach / Instructor
🚣♀️ Outdoor Education Leader
🏞 Sports Development Officer
🎿 Adventure Tourism or Expedition Guide
🧑🏫 Sports or Outdoor Education Lecturer
Your skills and qualifications are transferable across the UK and internationally, opening exciting opportunities to work in outdoor centres, schools, and adventure tourism.
Successful students can progress directly to third-year entry at universities including:
Graduates may also move into employment across adventure coaching, sports development, or the outdoor education sector, both in the UK and overseas
Our experienced Sports and Adventure team have worked across the UK and international adventure sports industry, bringing real-world expertise into every class.
We maintain strong partnerships with sportscotland, Pinkston Watersports, the Scottish Canoe Association, Glasgow Life Cycle, and other leading organisations — giving students unrivalled access to professional networks, guest speakers, and hands-on learning experiences.
