Sport careers
Sports Therapist
Sports Therapists treat sporting injuries and provide advice to sport participants. Sports therapists can be employed or self-employed in, for example, a sports injury clinic, a sports club, or with a professional team.
Job profile of a Sports Therapist from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Sports Therapist from the Target Jobs website
The Society of Sports Therapists
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Strength and Conditioning Coaches work with individuals and teams to improve their performance in a particular field of sport.
The UK Strength and Conditioning Association
Teacher
There are opportunities to teach PE/sport in secondary schools, further education colleges and primary schools.Graduate jobs in teaching and education from the Prospects website
Get Into Teaching website from the Department for Education - explains the various routes into teaching
Education and training jobs from the National Careers Service website
Higher Education Lecturer
Higher Education Lecturers work in colleges and universities, usually with students aged 18 and above.
Job profile of a Higher Education Lecturer from the Prospects website
Sports Coach
Sports Coaches support sports players to improve their performance.
Job profile of a Sports Coach from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Sports Coach from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Sports Coach from the Target Jobs website
Job profile of a Football Coach from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Swimming Coach from the National Careers Service website
Sports Development Officer
Sports Development Officers seek to develop sporting opportunities in a community and encourage participation.
Job profile of a Sports Development Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Sports Development Officer from the Target Jobs website
Job profile of a Sports Development Officer from the National Careers Service website
Sport and Exercise Psychologist
Psychologists in this discipline support those involved in sport or exercise with the mental aspects of performance.
Job profile of a Sport and Exercise Psychologist from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Sport and Exercise Psychologist from the National Careers Service website
Fitness/Leisure Centre Manager
Managing a leisure centre or gym including the staff, health and safety, finance and marketing.
Job profile of a Fitness Centre Manager from the Prospects website Job profile of a Fitness Centre Manager from the Target Jobs websiteJob profile of a Leisure Centre Manager from the Target Jobs websiteJob profile of a Leisure Centre Manager from the National Careers Service website
Nutritional Therapist
Nutritional Therapists work with patients and help to develop special diets to aid the individual’s health and wellbeing.
Job profile of a Nutritional Therapist from the Prospects website
Outdoor Pursuits Manager
Managing an outdoor activities centre. Activities could include pursuits such as climbing, orienteering and water sports.
Job profile for an Outdoor Pursuits Manager from the Prospects website
Job profile of an Outdoor Pursuits Manager from the Target Jobs website
Job Profile of a Riding Holiday Centre Manager from the National Careers Service website
Instructors
Delivering exercise programmes or classes to groups/individuals or teaching a particular activity.
Job profile of a Fitness Instructor from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Horse Riding Instructor from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Martial Arts Instructor from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of an Outdoors Activities Instructor from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Pilates Teacher from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Riding Holiday Leader from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Sailing Instructor from the National Careers Website
Sports Professional
People with exceptional sporting talent who are paid to compete.
Job profile of a Sports Professional from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Footballer from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Jockey from the National Careers Service website
Sports Official
Refereeing or umpiring for sport matches.
Job profile for a Football Referee from the National Careers Service website
Health Trainer
Encouraging healthy lifestyles in the community.
Job profile of a Health Trainer from the National Careers Service website
Job profile of a Health Promotion Specialist from the Prospects website
Personal Trainer
Working with people to help them achieve their health and fitness goals.
Job profile of a Personal Trainer from the National Careers Service website
Sport and Exercise Scientist
Using scientific knowledge to help people improve their sporting performance.
Job profile of a Sport and Exercise Scientist from the National Careers Service website
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Physiotherapist
Providing treatment to people with physical difficulties using techniques such as exercise therapy and massage.
Job profile of a Physiotherapist from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Physiotherapist from the National Careers Service website
Sports Journalist
Reporting on sport stories using a variety of media including newspapers, websites, blogs, magazines, television and radio programmes and apps.
Job profile of a Broadcast Journalist from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Newspaper Journalist from the Prospects websiteSports Journalists’ AssociationAdvice on sports journalism from the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists)
Please note that some of these careers may require further study.
For further information on these careers, see also:
- I Want To Work In
- Information on types of jobs from Prospects
- Information on career sectors from TargetJobs
People in some Sport roles may be self-employed.
Other careers
A Sport degree may be useful in the following career areas:
- Armed Forces
- Events management
- Hospitality management
- Police and other emergency services
- Youth and community work
You may be interested in graduate roles outside of sport. There are many employers who are looking for graduates with good degrees but that don’t have a preference for the subject studied. To explore different career options see:
Skills Gained
As well as subject-specific knowledge and skills, a graduate in sport will typically:
- Have the ability to solve problems
- Be able to analyse, interpret and show critical judgement
- Be able to self-appraise and reflect on practice
- Recognise and respond to moral, legal, ethical and safety issues
- Have communication, presentation, numeracy and IT skills
- Have interactive and group-work skills
- Know how to plan and manage their own learning.
This is not an exhaustive list of skills - you will develop many skills from your course, extra-curricular activities and work experience. You can find out more about the skills employers look for and how you can develop them here.
Find a Job
The Careers and Employability Service provides information and advice on job searching to University of Kent students and recent graduates. This includes a vacancy database advertising a range of graduate jobs, sandwich placements and vacation work/internships and online resources. The websites listed below may also be useful when searching for a job and when looking for further information on this sector.
- Access Sport enhances the life prospects of disadvantaged children by providing opportunities to experience and enjoy the power of sport.
- British Wheelchair Athletic Association
- Kent Sport is an integrated team of Kent County Council and Sport England funded staff, working together as the County Sports Partnership for Kent.
- Special Olympics Great Britain uses sport to empower children and adults with an intellectual disability.
- Sportradar provides sport data and technology
- The Little Foxes Club provides sporting activities for children.
- UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability
- WheelPowerprovide opportunities in sport for people with physical impairments.ATASS Sports Statistical research consultancy for the sport industry.
- BBC Kick Off has been used to recruit trainee sport reporters in the past.
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
- British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT)
- BDS Sponsorship Ltd is a sponsorship consultancy.
- British Horseracing Authority runs an annual graduate training scheme
- British Olympic Association
- Careers in Sport Careers information and job opportunities.
- CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity)
- Godolphin Flying Start thoroughbred training leadership programme
- Department for Culture, Media & Sport
- English Institute of Sport The EIS helps elite athletes to improve performance through the delivery of science, medicine, technology and engineering.
- Jobs in Football
- GLL is the largest leisure provider in the UK.
- Global Sports Jobs Jobs, Education and Training in Sports
- Jobs in Football dedicated to football
- Jobs.ac.uk for roles within Higher Education
- Keith Prowse is a sport hospitality provider.
- Leisure Jobs
- Leisure Vacancies
- Leisure Opportunities
- Octagon sport marketing.
- SkillsActive provides information on careers in the sport, fitness and outdoor activities sectors.
- Society of Sports Therapists
- SportBusiness Supplier of information, media and marketing services to the sport industry.
- Sportcal provides business information for organisations involved in sport.
- Sports Coach UK
- Sport England aims to increase participation in sport.
- Sport Industry Group provides information and news on the sport industry.
- Sport Lived aims to help people to experience the world through playing or coaching sport abroad on their gap year.
- Sport Scotland provide high performance expertise to sport and athletes in Scotland.
- Sport Wales are the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales.
- Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme Government-funded programme to support young athletes.
- Total Sport Promotions is a sport management agency for elite professionals.
- UKactive aims to improve the health of the nation through promoting active lifestyles.
- Wasserman Media Group Talent management and marketing agency.
- Women in Sport
More websites offering graduate jobs, internships and placement years
You may also find useful reviews and application/interview tips for specific organisations on the following websites:
Glassdoor
The Job Crowd
Further Study
21% of Sport graduates graduating in 2016 went on to further study, with 7.5% working and studying (source). Some Sport graduates do professional qualifications to train for a particular career area e.g. teacher training, physiotherapy, sport psychology. Others go on to postgraduate courses to specialise in a particular area of their undergraduate study or so that they can move into research or academia. There are also a range of postgraduate courses open to graduates of any degree subject. More information on postgraduate study
Some students and graduates do personal training or exercise instructor courses that are accredited by the Register of Exercise Professionals or other relevant professional bodies. There are a multitude of providers that offer these courses e.g. Organic Training, TRAINFITNESS, and Parallel Coaching. Please note that we do not endorse providers. You should research multiple providers in depth, checking accreditation, costs, locations, methods of study, reviews etc.
Remember that you can also gain further qualifications to boost your CV whilst at the University of Kent. These include qualifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, first aid and level 2 and 3 gym instructor qualifications. Please speak to your academic adviser if you would like any further information.