Course Overview
Manchester Cycling Academy is proud to work in partnership with British Cycling to deliver the Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE).
DiSE is aimed at riders who have recently taken GCSE’s and who are, or expect to be, in the British Cycling Talent pathway and who are resident in and qualify for England. It combines bike riding and full-time education so participants have the skills, knowledge and competence to pursue sporting excellence alongside education and a future career.
Using a holistic approach, this unique and bespoke government funded programme, overseen by SportsAid, is worth 64 UCAS points and runs alongside existing academic qualifications such as A levels or BTECs and is designed to make you a better rider.
Sign up below for the September 2024 Intake.
The course lasts 18 months and starts in September each year with the application period opening each March.
Successful applicants can participate in DiSE alongside A levels and will study modules such as diet and nutrition, sports psychology, anti doping and sports science, all designed to make you a better rider.
You will be required to submit pieces of work to demonstrate you meet the criteria set out by the qualification. This includes race plans, nutrition diaries and analysis, career plans, lifestyle plans, goal setting and reviews.
During the 18 month course you will become a qualified British Cycling Coach and Ride Leader and get the opportunity to travel to the Costa Blanca to volunteer on the Costa Blanca Cyclocross World Cup and take part in our annual training camp.
The education delivery takes place through online seminars and monthly training camps, meaning that you can combine the DiSE programme with studying at your chosen school or college and participate from home.
It is a programme that many other Olympic sports have offered over recent years and 2022 was the first time that cycling had been included.
Olympic legends such as Adam Peaty, Rebecca Adlington and Katarina Johnson Thompson have all graduated from the programme.
Applications are made via British Cycling and the application period closes on 30th April 2024. Click HERE to apply.
How Does it Work?
The DiSE programme is delivered by Manchester Cycling Academy in partnership with British Cycling and SGS College. The programme is specially designed to run alongside, and complement, A Levels or a BTEC qualification, as well as a riders’ training programme.
The DiSE 2023 programme will run over two academic years from September 2023 to April 2025. Each athlete will be allocated an experienced assessor who is there to support the athlete through every step of the programme. Delivery will take place through training camps, workshops, club visits and online one-to-one reviews, supported by professional coaches, specialist practitioners, talent staff and DiSE assessors.
The workshops are tailored around the qualification specification and focus on the skills, knowledge and competence to achieve sporting excellence. Each workshop has an accompanying workbook which athletes will complete with the support of their allocated DiSE assessor. Athletes will need to submit evidence or pieces of work, to demonstrate they meet the criteria set out by the qualification.
This includes race plans, nutrition diaries and analysis, career plans, lifestyle plans, goal-setting, reviews, professional discussions and training and competition hour logbooks. Each workbook will count towards their overall assessment and result.
Course Content
- Technical, tactical and physical skills
- Sports psychology
- Nutrition
- Anti doping
- Lifestyle and career planning and advice
- Sports injuries
- Communications and media skills
Course Detail
- Starts in September annually and lasts for 18 months
- For riders who are, or who expect to be, in the England talent pathway
- A combination of face to face and online learning with training camps every two months
- Overseas training camp in late winter each year
- Assessments are via a portfolio of learning that the rider will complete throughout the course
What you need to know
When does the course start?
- September 2023
How long is the course?
- 18 months
How many UCAS Points?
- Up to 64 UCAS Points
Course Progression
Whether you want to be a professional cyclist, move onto be a performance coach or study sports science at University, this course aims to challenge and support your development to be the best you can be. Some examples of routes you can take once you have graduated from Manchester Cycling Academy are below.
- Professional Cycling
- Bike Mechanic
- Sports Coach
- University
- Sports Science
- Physiotherapy
- PE Teaching
- Sports Marketing
- Sports Coaching
- Sports Management
- Sports Development