Fitness, Health and Exercise: HND

Sports student training in gym
Qualification Qualifications Explained
HND
Study Mode
Full Time
Duration

2 Academic Years - 2.5 Days p/w

Start date
Aug 2025
Campus
Springburn
Applications open January 2025

Course overview

The fitness industry is rapidly expanding; this course will help you to pursue a career from grass roots to high level performance within fitness.

Your learning will take place in our one of our high-performance gyms and in a classroom. The focus on your learning is to develop your own fitness performance and coaching skills. We have excellent links with placement employers within the fitness industry and also with local authorities.

Your assessments on this programme take place throughout the year but at a time when you are ready to be assessed.

You will have the opportunity to work with organisations in the public, commercial or voluntary sector. There will also be an opportunity to gain additional industry recognised qualifications such as Metafit, Spin, Boxing and Kettlebells

A PVG will be required to undertake the mandatory placement which is embedded in the course.

CIMPSA approved Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer accreditation. Group Exercise Coach or an Exercise to Music Coach upon successful completion of this course.

What you will learn

Year 1:

  • Health Screening
  • Exercise Principles and Programming
  • Exercise Physiology & Anatomy
  • Nutrition for Fitness, Heath & Exercise
  • First Aid for Sport & Fitness
  • Exercise & Fitness: Health & Safety Management
  • Working Safely & Effectively with Clients
  • Plan, Teach & Evaluate a Gym Based Exercise Session
  • Fitness, Health & Exercise: Graded Unit 1
  • Plan Teach and Evaluate a Group Exercise Session
  • Psychology of Sports Coaching
  • Plan Teach and Evaluate Group Exercise with Music

Year 2:

  • Applied Exercise Prescription
  • Applied Fitness Assessment and Diagnostic Testing
  • Applied Nutrition and Health Assessment
  • Current Exercise Trends
  •  Getting Started in Business
  • Fitness, Health & Exercise: Graded Unit 2
  • Core Strength & Posture
  • Deliver Personal Training Sessions
  • Metabolic Considerations for Personal Trainers
  • Planning and Management of Personal Training.

Entry requirements

At least one of the following:

  • 2 Highers, one should be PE or English
  • A relevant National Certificate (NC) or National Qualification (NQ)

You should also have a passion for teaching and participating in fitness.

Mature learners with experience but no formal qualifications, will be considered on merit.

For this course, if English is not your first language

  • If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment  here at the College.

All candidates will participate in a recruitment process

Career Opportunities

  • Gym Instructor
  • Group Exercise Coach
  • Working in Sport Clubs on their fitness programme
  • Pursue careers in local and private fitness facilities.

Future prospects

Successful HND students can progress to 3rd year of the BSc Sports Studies course at The University of West of Scotland.

Real Industry Connections

The Fitness teaching team have worked across the fitness industry for many years, specialising in PT, gym management, Group Exercise. They have all worked for both the private and public sector.

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