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Sport Sciences

These statistics relate to graduates from a number of different pathways – Sport Sciences, Sport Sciences (Coaching), Sport Sciences (Exercise and Fitness), Sport Sciences (Human Performance), Sport Sciences (Administration and Development), Sport Sciences (Physical Education) and Sport Sciences (Physical Education and Youth Sport). 

Sport Sciences graduates tend to fall broadly into two groups – those who ultimately wish to progress into sport and fitness professions and those who use their degree as a route into another non-related career. In 2010/11, 60% of all employed Sport Sciences graduates were working in jobs classified as ‘managers and senior officials’, ‘professional’ and ‘associate professional and technical occupations’. With around 60% of graduate positions open to graduates from all disciplines Sport Sciences graduates have a range of employment options open to them.

In 2010/11, six months after graduating:

59.5% of graduates with a first degree were in employment

22.3% were in full-time further study

6.8% were combining work and study

Sports Sciences graduates enter a range of further study courses. This is because many of the occupational choices graduates from this degree make involve undertaking a professional or academic qualification. A popular career area is teaching and 22.5% of Sport Sciences graduates in further study were on PGCE Primary or Secondary Sport courses – the qualification required for a teaching career.

In 2010/11 Sport Sciences graduates were employed in the following positions:

• Athlete
• Cardiographer
• Community Development Coach
• Cricket Development Coach
• Fitness Instructor
• Football Coach
• Gym Manager
• Lifeguard
• Merchandiser
• Naval Officer
• PE Instructor
• PE Teacher
• Personal Trainer
• Sports Coach
• Sports and Trend PR Intern
• Sports Technologist
• Swimming Teacher
• Teaching Assistant

In 2010/11 Sport Sciences graduates entered further study courses such as:

• MOst Osteopathy
• MSc Nutrition
• MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine
• MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition
• MSc Sports Psychology
• MSc Sports Rehabilitation

The positive impact of a sandwich placement on graduate employment outcomes across Brunel is considerable. Those who have done placements are also much more likely to be in employment for which their degree was a formal requirement or where they believe their degree gave them a competitive advantage in recruitment.

Sandwich placements were only recently introduced in this subject and only one graduate from the 2010/11 leaver cohort participated. This is below the minimum reporting threshold and as result this data is not available.

The graduate labour market remains competitive and relevant experience is increasingly required for graduate level jobs. For those without related experience job search strategy is often about getting a ‘foot in the door’ in order to compete for graduate positions later.

A growing national trend is for many students to delay their job applications until completing their studies, preferring to focus on achieving the highest grade possible. This can result in some graduates initially continuing with their part-time job while they explore their options after graduating. As a result some graduates were working in non-graduate level positions such as customer service and sales, administrative and personal service occupations.

The DLHE survey provides a snapshot of a very short amount of time (six months) after graduating and while many have progressed into relevant graduate jobs others are taking time out, travelling, waiting to start a course or continuing with their part-time job while they explore their options after graduating. Many graduates have moved on in their careers since completing the questionnaire.