Sport science : Career areas

Sport science graduates often work directly with athletes and sportspeople, for example as a sport scientist or performance analyst, but also undertake a range of other related careers using the skills developed during their degree. Popular career areas include research, coaching, teaching, general management, consultancy, sports development, youth work, health promotion and the health/fitness industry in general.

A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after finishing their course around 65% of sport science graduates went directly into paid work in the UK or overseas. An additional 8% were combining work with further study.

Of those employed, almost 20% were in sports-related professional roles, 10% were working in education, 8% were in management roles and the remainder worked in areas such as hospitality, healthcare and administration.

Many recent graduates will have taken a job they do not regard as permanent and will be planning to use it as a stepping stone to gain experience to support their longer-term career aspirations.

Where are the jobs?

Jobs are available with a wide range of organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Typical employers include:

• professional sports clubs;
• national sporting associations, governing bodies and other related sporting agencies;
• private health and fitness clubs, spas and public sports and recreation facilities;
• local authorities;
• schools, further education and higher education institutions;
• the health sector, including the National Health Service.

Sport science graduates may also go on to establish their own businesses and consultancies.

For an insight into potential employment areas see:

• sport and leisure - covers a wide range of sport and leisure providers, from private health and fitness clubs to local authority recreation centres;
• education - includes schools, further education and higher education.

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?