Studying a degree in sport will open you up to a world of exciting career opportunities, including work with professional athletes and clubs that might lead to being involved in major sporting events, such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
Other careers in sport could include fitness instructing, coaching, or joining the armed services/police force/fire brigade.
All of our sports courses have strong links with industry, including organisations such as Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Kidderminster Harriers FC and The Priory, so you can rest assured that when studying here you will be provided with the very best opportunities to get the career you want at the end of your degree.
Sports Coach
This is one of the most common careers you could go into... and one of the most varied too! Sports coaches are required across a range of different sports and ages, which means you could specialise in a sport you love and work in a variety of organisations too such as schools, nurseries, sports teams, travel operators, or leisure centres.
You would enjoy this role if you are a health conscious and positive individual who is excited about sports, enjoy motivating and developing others to perform their best, a clear communicator and aspiring leader. Plus, you're guaranteed to feel job satisfaction in this role – working with a range of different people with different abilities to help them to achieve their best, thanks to your skills and expertise.
Typically to qualify for a career as a sports coach you could study a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, or Sports Coaching and Physical Education – depending on whether you wanted to coach sports teams or work in a school environment.
Teaching
After studying a degree in sport you might decide to study a PGCE in order to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to work in primary or secondary schools, usually as a P.E teacher.
There are some fantastic opportunities with this career choice, as it allows for great progression to become more senior as you develop your experience. Normally, after studying a PGCE you will start as a teacher and can work your way up to head of year and head of department.
This is a highly rewarding job that will allow you to influence and motivate your students to instil them with a passion and enthusiasm for sport.
Sports Nutritionist
Sports Nutritionists work with either elite athletes and professional sports teams (and should be SENr-registered) or with the general public to help them achieve their individual performance or health goals.
Whether you choose to work with athletes or the public, your role will be highly varied and could include creating, delivering and evaluating diet plans; assessing body composition; or undertaking nutritional analyses to encourage your client to make healthier food choices to benefit their performance and long-term goals.
You must be highly motivated and tailor your skills and service to each individual, and be able to provide specialist advice, resources and plans to encourage change.
This role is typically based at professional sports clubs, educational institutions and the health sector, but it is also a great role to set up privately and become self-employed.
Our MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition is a great next step to becoming a Sports Nutritionist.
Sport at BCU
Interested in Sport? Take a look at our courses and apply for the right course for you!
Sports Therapist
Upon successful completion of a degree in Sports Therapy, as a Graduate Sports Therapist, you will have the knowledge and clinical skills to be confident and effective in preventing, assessing, treating and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries. You may choose to work in professional, semi-professional, or amateur sport. Alternatively, you may wish to work in a private practice, treating a wide variety of individuals in a sports injury clinic. There are lots of opportunities in this profession - Peter Thain, our Sports Therapy course leader, works with the England Basketball team and has been part of their success at the Commonwealth Games.
Hopefully you will want to work in the Sports Therapy industry after graduation, but if not you will leave with a fantastic science degree, which will set you up for a range of different careers and postgraduate study should you wish.
Personal Trainer or Strength and Conditioning Coach
Many sports students develop a passion for helping people achieve their health-related goals, coaching young performers or contributing towards optimising the performance of high-level athletes.
The role of a Sports Scientist or Strength and Conditioning Coach is often very varied, and can include monitoring athletes, fitness testing, and implementing recovery protocols and assisting with rehabilitation of injured athletes. When working with members of the public to address health-related outcomes, knowledge relating to nutritional interventions, safe exercise prescription, assessment of body composition and exercise psychology is crucial. Our degree in Sport and Exercise Science will enable you to pursue a career in these fields.