Page 2 | Sports degrees-which uni??

123rd · 2021-05-03T16:43:14+00:00

Dc is looking to apply for 2022. So need to start thinking about checking places out -virtually ! Any suggestions as to which unis are good for sports/sports & nutrition type degrees. I don't think DC is 100% set on a particular course but is interested in the above. They are quite a social being(!) and would enjoy clubs and societies at uni I think. Is also quite keen on being more northern as opposed to London/south coast. Any ideas gratefully received.

AuntieStella · 05/05/2021 17:05

The sports science graduates who I know who have made careers in sport and events are all graduates of Loughborough or Bath (realise the latter is poor fit for your geographic preferences!)

Original poster

123rd · 05/05/2021 17:31

DC isnt desperate to participate in their sport at uni. I just mentioned it as I had half an idea it would stand them in a slightly better position for offers etc??
Funny how location is so important. I would prefer a campus site for DC but their choice I guess.
Lots of open events coming up in June, buts obvs most are online so you won't get a feel for the area.
A levels subjects are PE, Bio and Photography.

We are pretty centrally located just DC preference to head north. I think anything under 2hrs away would feel like moving away to them!

OP posts:

Original poster

123rd · 05/05/2021 17:36

wouldnt feel like moving away!

OP posts:

poppycat10 · 05/05/2021 17:40

Loughborough is the obvious choice but there are others that spring to mind:

Cardiff Met
Birmingham
Leeds/Leeds Beckett
Hull

My son is national level in his sport and is on a governing body pathway but it made no difference to his offers. Well I say that but perhaps it did at a couple, as one uni said AAA-AAB and he was offered AAB and another said AAB-ABB and he was offered ABB.

If you told us the sport, we might be able to help more. For example, Cardiff Met, Birmingham and Leeds (Beckett) are great for athletics. Bath I think is good for swimming.

poppycat10 · 05/05/2021 17:44

Forgotten a couple - I think University of Kent too but that may not be of interest as in the south.

Original poster

123rd · 05/05/2021 18:38

X country, but like I said, I'm not sure that participation is going to be a key factor!!

OP posts:

clary · 05/05/2021 19:18

@allmycats I've seen that before about Loughborough but it can't be true. There can't be 50-60 international level footballers there, for example.

In fact I know it's not true. I officiated last year at BUCS athletics and yes, Holly Bradshaw competed for lboro, but the rest of the team was not all of Olympic standard! They were good and there were lots of them but the sprinters weren't all running sub-10 sec 100m.
Thank goodness as ds hasn't been called up for England yet!

merryMuppet · 01/06/2021 19:15

My eldest is currently studying Sports Science and we toured the country looking at courses. They varied a lot from the ones delivered by medical schools such as Lancaster (the course there is quite new) but the person who gave our presentation I think was teaching at Exeter previously and was involved with research for a big brand for their nutrition bars. It has very few students on the course so great staff to student ratio - they won't take anything below BBB.

Then we looked at Exeter (loved - friendly, welcoming - close links to medical school - interesting nutrition research going on there), Nottingham(great too), Essex (hated - and daughter left half way through presentation), Portsmouth(really amazing research facilities and great research being carried out there but daughter preferred campus based uni), Swansea (amazing campus, good teaching, interesting research - they're developing a device to help people recover better from covid who have had long term breathing difficulties, campus has direct access to beach, very friendly). She dismissed Loughborough just from friends who had gone there.

Her first choice was Exeter but she got hit by the algorithm and by the time it was sorted, her place was gone and she didn't want to defer a year so went to her insurance which was Swansea which is rated pretty highly for Sports Science and engineering and sports science is attached to the school of engineering. She's loving it. There are loads of societies and they've tried really hard even through lock down. The uni has put a lot of extra money into mental health and they tried to put as much safe socialising on as possible with outside bars with table service etc. She's been lucky with her flat mates who have been friendly and fun but sensible. She did a virtual cheerleading try out and got on the squad and they have managed to do some training although no events. They have continued with in person teaching where possible and she did VR anatomy sessions and exam. She's made friends and has a flat sorted for next year and has been getting great results so far so has ended up really happy despite the disappointment last year at missing out on Exeter.

orangecinnamon · 01/06/2021 21:49

Further north than Midlands, Leeds Beckett has a great rep for Sports Sciences. Also is headquarters of BASES.

The lab facilities are really important for Sports Scientists ...might be great for a Uni to.have a super duper heat acclimatisation chamber...not so much if only ever used by postgrads. Dedicated labs for Physiology/Psych/Biomechanics Therapy rooms etc used for everyday teaching is what adds to the student experience. Also look at work placement opportunities and masters provision.

orangecinnamon · 01/06/2021 21:52

@merryMuppet

My eldest is currently studying Sports Science and we toured the country looking at courses. They varied a lot from the ones delivered by medical schools such as Lancaster (the course there is quite new) but the person who gave our presentation I think was teaching at Exeter previously and was involved with research for a big brand for their nutrition bars. It has very few students on the course so great staff to student ratio - they won't take anything below BBB.

Then we looked at Exeter (loved - friendly, welcoming - close links to medical school - interesting nutrition research going on there), Nottingham(great too), Essex (hated - and daughter left half way through presentation), Portsmouth(really amazing research facilities and great research being carried out there but daughter preferred campus based uni), Swansea (amazing campus, good teaching, interesting research - they're developing a device to help people recover better from covid who have had long term breathing difficulties, campus has direct access to beach, very friendly). She dismissed Loughborough just from friends who had gone there.

Her first choice was Exeter but she got hit by the algorithm and by the time it was sorted, her place was gone and she didn't want to defer a year so went to her insurance which was Swansea which is rated pretty highly for Sports Science and engineering and sports science is attached to the school of engineering. She's loving it. There are loads of societies and they've tried really hard even through lock down. The uni has put a lot of extra money into mental health and they tried to put as much safe socialising on as possible with outside bars with table service etc. She's been lucky with her flat mates who have been friendly and fun but sensible. She did a virtual cheerleading try out and got on the squad and they have managed to do some training although no events. They have continued with in person teaching where possible and she did VR anatomy sessions and exam. She's made friends and has a flat sorted for next year and has been getting great results so far so has ended up really happy despite the disappointment last year at missing out on Exeter.

Swansea looks so fab...to be right on the beach like that must be so much fun for them.

Mytholmroyd · 02/06/2021 23:00

One of my daughters did Sports Science at Leeds University - tough course, done in collaboration with the medical school. She got a job straight after graduation with British Swimming. The other did it at Bath - a 4 year course with a placement year which was excellent. Went into sports nutrition afterwards - very successful career!

Their choices were guided to some degree by where was the best place to continue competing/coaching their main sport - both turned down offers at Loughborough, Durham, Exeter, Sheffield

nokidshere · 04/06/2021 12:00

My son is doing a sports conditioning and rehabilitation degree at Northampton. Not sure what other sports related courses they do but as a university they have been excellent. It's bright, clean, modern, safe and they have had excellent communication all through the pandemic.

Original poster

123rd · 09/06/2021 14:39

Thanks so much for all of the replies.

OP posts:

idontlikealdi · 09/06/2021 14:40

What was their aim with PE, Bio and photography, that might help with choices. It's a bit random.

Original poster

123rd · 09/06/2021 15:41

Very much interested in all three subjects and is keen on sports/ nutrition as a career
. DC achieved 9 in Food prep & Nutrition at GCSE
I thought they were quite well suited as complimentary subjects

OP posts:

Watermelon222 · 09/06/2021 16:04

@poppycat10

Loughborough is the obvious choice but there are others that spring to mind:

Cardiff Met
Birmingham
Leeds/Leeds Beckett
Hull

My son is national level in his sport and is on a governing body pathway but it made no difference to his offers. Well I say that but perhaps it did at a couple, as one uni said AAA-AAB and he was offered AAB and another said AAB-ABB and he was offered ABB.

If you told us the sport, we might be able to help more. For example, Cardiff Met, Birmingham and Leeds (Beckett) are great for athletics. Bath I think is good for swimming.

Hi @poppycat10

Can you please tell me more about a governing body pathway and how you access it? (Ie is it before or after application and for certain subjects only or certain sports?)

My dc will be looking for similar and does their sport to a national level too.

Are there any particular unis that offer this? Thanks