Jobs are available within 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. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) is the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK. The BASES Careers Centre has resources with useful information about careers in sport and exercise science. You can download the free BASES Career Guide, which includes 17 career profiles, and search for the latest jobs and internships.
Further Study
Further study is often a pre-requisite for pursuing a career in sport science – often leading to a PhD. Sport science graduates also choose to undertake postgraduate study at Masters or PhD level in order to specialise in a particular area of interest within their discipline and open up opportunities in teaching and research in higher education.
The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey of 2017 graduates who studied Sports Science at the University of Birmingham, showed that 31.6% went into full time postgraduate study while 15% combined work and study.
For more information about postgraduate courses, funding and aspects of the application process, have a look at the Postgraduate Study Continuing Further Study section of the Careers Network website.
These external sites are also useful:
Developing a career in elite athlete support
- There are more opportunities across the health sector than in elite sport, with severe competition for all posts (even unpaid internships). A first degree is rarely enough, and a MSc is often preferred. There are many more opportunities for those who take a PhD route, combining research, university teaching and sports consultancy
- Practical coaching, fitness, and strength and conditioning (S&C) qualifications are very desirable
- Experience can be difficult to get but can really make a difference to your chances of progression, with networking essential to make contacts, gain advice and find out about opportunities.
How to improve your chances of getting into applied sports science
- Get networking – this is essential in order to find work experience opportunities. You could start by becoming a student member of The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) – this will enable you to subscribe to The Sport & Exercise Scientist, attend the student conference and provide other networking opportunities
- You can search Careers Network’s Careers Conncet vacancy database on Careers Connect for relevant work experience opportunities, and visit the Jobs, Skills and Volunteering department at the Guild for details of opportunities whilst you study.
- Use social media to build your network, join groups and get involved in online discussions, LinkedIn is very useful. Attend events such as our careers fairs in order to meet employers and watch out for opportunities to hear from UoB Alumni about their career pathways.
- Reading journals and attending conferences/short courses can help you to keep up to date with news in your discipline/sport
- Think about which career area interests you; Strength and Conditioning? Exercise Physiology? Sports Biomechanics? Bear in mind that not all sport scientists work in one sport, so developing experience in other sports can enable you to keep your options open. Research potential careers using the BASES guide to careers.
- Break down your career into short, medium and long term goals – this will help you to prioritise the experience and qualifications you need to get before getting that internship at the English Institute of Sport!
- Don’t give up! Sport science is a niche occupational area and you are unlikely to come across people falling over themselves to offer you work experience – be prepared for not getting responses to your speculative approaches. If this happens try not to get disheartened, be persistent (without being annoying!)
Starting point for vacancies
- The English Institute of Sport
A nationwide network of world class support services, designed to foster the talents of elite athletes. They are able to provide unpaid work placement opportunities for students and individuals who are interested in a career within high performance sport in sport science and sport medicine related disciplines. Placement candidates will have the opportunity to observe and work shadow world class practitioners within the high performance environment, gaining knowledge, skills and techniques needed to work within high level performance system. Placements will be advertised online when available
- Sport England
The government agency for community sport. The website is useful for finding out about policy, regional activities and county sport partnerships and other organisations and bodies. Has a section listing all the national governing bodies (NGBs), which is ideal for finding organisations that could offer work experience and future employment
- Jump in Sport
Recruitment site that has lots of sport internship opportunities in the UK and overseas
- Careers in Sport - sports careers profiles
For vacancies, events and a really useful section Careers Profiles where you can view interviews with a wide range of successful professionals in a variety of roles in the sports industry.
Further careers help
Find useful resources or book an appointment with a careers adviser through Careers Network.