Sport and exercise graduates: What job could you get?

Considering a sport and exercise degree? These courses provide a foundation for understanding how to improve health, performance and participation.

The field offers a variety of career paths, well-suited for those with an interest in sport, exercise and science. 

Let's look at the potential jobs available to sports and exercise graduates, so we can see how this degree can lead to fulfilling roles after you graduate.

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Here's 10 popular sport and exercise graduate jobs

Sports Coach

Combining sport and business: A path to sports management 

Intrigued by the prospect of working in the sports industry? A sport and exercise degree combining sport and business studies might be the right course for you, perhaps leading to a career as an athlete manager.

This combination allows you to grasp business intricacies and apply to the global sports sector.

You could manage major sports events, handle the business operations of sports teams, or lead marketing initiatives for sports brands. This path is ideal for those who aspire to become a sports-related business professional. 

Sports marketing manager 

Role overview

These managers devise campaigns to promote sports teams, events, or products, focusing on enhancing fan involvement and driving revenue growth. 

Skills required

Marketing expertise, creativity, effective communication skills, and a thorough understanding of the sports section and industry. 

Sports facility manager 

Role overview

Facility managers oversee the operations of a sports centre or sports facilities, ensuring the needs of staff, spectators, athletes, and sports personnel are met. 

Skills required

Operational management, facility maintenance know-how, budgeting, and organisational skills. 

Health and wellbeing coaching: A growing field 

The growing focus on holistic health and wellness creates a vibrant landscape for sport science graduates. As a health and wellbeing coach, you can play a crucial role in guiding individuals to lead healthier lives and improve their health. 

This field allows you to apply your knowledge of physical fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being to help others achieve their personal health goals.

It's a rewarding career path where you can see the direct impact of your work on improving the quality of people's lives. Whether working one-on-one or leading group sessions, you'll be at the forefront of fostering healthier communities. 

Health and Wellbeing Coach

Health and wellbeing coach 

Role overview

Health and Wellbeing coaches work with individuals to improve their overall health and wellbeing, focusing on aspects like physical activity, nutrition, and stress management. 

Skills required

Understanding the causes, prevention and treatment of acute and chronic disease and injury, holistic health principles, excellent people skills, and the ability to create exercise advice and customised wellbeing plans. 

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Facilities that help you prepare for your career

Sport coaching: Wide ranging career options  

Sport coaches collaborate with individual athletes and sports teams using their knowledge to enhance performance, skills, and overall development within in a particular sport.

The primary goal of your work as a sports coach is to help athletes reach their full potential, both individually and as a team. Coaches play a crucial role in providing guidance, instruction, and motivation to athletes, as well as organising and planning training sessions. 

student lifting weights

Strength and conditioning coach 

Role overview

Strength and conditioning coaches specialise in designing and implementing training programs to improve physical performance such as strength, power, speed, endurance, agility, and flexibility. 

Skills required

Knowledge of exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition and anatomy, data and performance analysis, coaching skills, and sport-specific knowledge. 

Professional sports coach 

Role overview

Sport coaches are involved in a wide range of activities including skill development, game planning, strategy and analysis, team building, physical evaluation and performance.  

Skills required

Sport-specific knowledge, ability to coaching principles in a range of settings, knowledge of physiology, psychology and biomechanics, and data analysis skills. 

School and community sport: Bringing people together through activity

Working in school or community sport is a rewarding career path. Opportunities exist with schools, NGOs, professional sport clubs, charities and more.  

It isn't just about teaching skills, it's about promoting values, creating enriching and inclusive experiences, and helping to build strong and lasting connections. You'll get to use your knowledge and passion for sport and know that you are making a difference to those you work with.     

PE Teacher: Inspire the next generation

Role overview

As a PE teacher you'll teach the National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE). You'll plan lessons and coach a range of sports and activities ensuring that they are inclusive for students with a range of abilities. 

Skills required

A combination of teaching skills, knowledge of various sports and activities, motivational and interpersonal skills, a passion for physical fitness skills and be adaptable and flexible. You'll need to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in schools – there are undergraduate and postgraduate routes to achieving this. 

Smiling student gym teacher holding football in gym with children running around them

Sports development officer: help foster a culture of participation

Role overview

As a sports development officer you’ll use your skills to plan and run engaging activities. It’s a wide-ranging role that could be helping to bring communities together, improving health and fitness or contributing to the growth and development of sports at local, regional, and national levels.

Skills required

You’ll need to have a good knowledge of different sports and a combination of communication, leadership, organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Skills and knowledge of marketing, finance, and the ability to network is also invaluable.  

 

Football 4 Peace team

Sport science in the digital age: Technology and innovation 

There are key differences between sport science and exercise science, still both are being transformed by the digital revolution which is expanding the realm of possibilities for graduates. You can be at the forefront of this change, using technology to enhance athletic performance, improve injury prevention strategies, and revolutionise health and fitness monitoring. 

This field is perfect for those who are not only passionate about sports but also excited by the prospect of integrating technology into sports. You could be involved in developing wearable tech, analysing performance data, or creating innovative fitness apps.

It's a dynamic, fast-evolving field that merges the excitement of sports with the thrill of technological innovation. 

Student Sports Technologist

Sports technologist 

Role overview

Sports technologists develop and implement technology solutions in sports, ranging from performance tracking systems to injury prevention tools. 

Skills required

Technical expertise, innovation, understanding of sports science principles, and proficiency in data analysis. 

Student being fitted with a weighted vest

Sport and exercise internships: gaining further practical experience 

For sport and exercise graduates, internships can be invaluable and help you to gain additional experience in your field of interest. Opportunities exist with professional sport clubs, charitable organisations, and sport and health departments of organisations. 

Whether you're working with professional sports teams, in health-based settings or in fitness instruction and pool management, internships can be pivotal in helping you gain work valuable experience, understand field operations, and build professional networks. You could also try youth sports volunteering alongside your studies.

Sport and exercise intern

Role overview

Internships can range from working with professional sports teams to assisting in health and wellness centres or research laboratories. 

Skills gained

Practical experience in chosen field, networking opportunities, application of theoretical knowledge, industry insight and opportunities to build your skill-set and confidence. 

Pilates Coach

The role of research in sport and exercise science careers 

Research underpins sport and exercise science, fostering innovation and evidence-based practices. It's crucial for those considering a career as a sports psychologist or an exercise scientist. Engaging in research, in public health teams or focusing on chronic diseases, sharpens analytical and critical thinking skills. 

Exercise or sports science researcher 

Role overview

Contributes to knowledge, in areas such as chronic diseases or sports psychology. Researchers in exercise and sports science contribute to the advancement of knowledge in areas like biomechanics, kinesiology, and sports psychology. 

Skills required

Strong research skills, expertise in a specific area of sports science, ability to conduct experiments and analyse data, and proficiency in presenting findings. 

 

Brighton Uni strength and conditioning students researching using gym equipment

Questions about careers for sports and exercise graduates

The range of jobs available to a sports and exercise science graduate is both varied and significant.

Graduates find opportunities in areas like sports management, health and wellbeing coaching, and roles that involve working directly with athletes. 

Here's some useful questions about these careers.