Career opportunities Sport and Fitness
In the UK many graduates enter employment where a degree in any subject would be acceptable. In this instance what they offer the employer is evidence of the range of competencies which have been developed through their academic study, rather than the specific subject content of their degree.
Given the competition for graduate positions, it is important to consider a range of occupational areas. Bear in mind that many careers in sport, fitness and coaching require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree. For example, you may decide postgraduate study will offer you greater specialisation in one or more areas relating to sport. However, a sport, fitness and coaching degree provides a great foundation on which to build a career in the sports and fitness industry, as well as giving you highly transferable skills.
We advise you to research your career choices thoroughly and as early as possible, particularly in relation to the experience required, differences that relate to where you live, or where choice of courses may affect future opportunities.
Remember that some careers below will require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree. Graduates in sport and fitness can be found working in:
- Diet and nutrition
- Fitness, training, strength and conditioning
- Performance analysis
- Professional coaching
- Research
- Sport development
- Sport management
- Sport media
- Sport owner
- Sport psychology
- Teaching and education.
Careers directly related to this degree include sports club manager, sports coach, fitness instructor, recreational group leader, personal trainer, fitness centre manager, outdoor activities/education manager, secondary school PE teacher, sports development officer, event organiser, sports administrator, strength and conditioning coach, diet and nutritionist, performance analyst, sport therapist, sport psychologist and exercise physiologist.
Planning your sport and fitness career
A good starting point to your career planning is to research potential career paths in sport, fitness and coaching. The BASES Guide to Careers in Sport and Exercise Sciences has information on popular career paths whilst Careers in Sport has a vast range of career profiles of people working in industry and advice on how to get ahead.
Each year in March, the OU Sport and Fitness academic team run a sport and fitness careers forum where you can ask questions and find out about careers and postgraduate education options in sport.
Open University Sport and Fitness lecturers Jessica Pinchbeck and Karen Howells, along with Careers and Employability Consultant Ros Johnston, shared lots of useful information about careers in sport and fitness and our sport and fitness qualifications in the Student Hub Live Careers showcase.
If you’re considering teaching, download the latest teaching guides.
It’s vital you develop your work experience during your degree and volunteering is one way to achieve this. You’ll also find opportunities at these web sites:
Postgraduate study
There are many reasons why you may want to undertake further study. You may want to explore an aspect of your studies in more depth or to develop or change your career. Or you may need a specific postgraduate qualification for a particular career or that it would be an advantage if entry is competitive.
For example, if you wanted to become a Sport and Exercise Psychologist you would need to hold the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status and then complete a BPS accredited MSc and stage 2 study. Whilst for roles in coaching, qualifications recognised by NGB are often required.
For teaching you would need to complete an initial teacher training programme. The BASES guide to careers in sport and exercise has useful advice on postgraduate study, professional qualifications and further training for various graduate roles within sport. Whilst Masters (taught and research based) or PhD level study will open up teaching and research opportunities within higher education, consultancy roles and governing bodies.
The OU provides a free course on OpenLearn called Succeeding in Postgraduate Study. The course has been designed to help prepare graduates for Masters level study.
