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Higher education

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Original poster

Sports Science degree - have anyone's dcs done this?

59 replies

Fredoraly · 26/02/2023 08:20

Dd is studying PE, Psychology and RS A levels and doing an EPQ. She's keen to study sports science. Any experiences? She mentioned Loughborough and Bath who both require A star AA, which may be a stretch. 🤔 She plays sport to a high level but doesn't want to be a teacher...

OP posts:
Truckinghell · 26/02/2023 15:11

I did a Sports Science non-degree (🤨) and am a fabled MN six-figure high earner. I enjoyed it and as a teenager who had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, it was perfect.

Original poster
Fredoraly · 26/02/2023 15:38

Truckinghell · 26/02/2023 15:11

I did a Sports Science non-degree (🤨) and am a fabled MN six-figure high earner. I enjoyed it and as a teenager who had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, it was perfect.

Good to know!

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 26/02/2023 18:39

I forgot to say the official Team GB partner is Hull!
digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/9078cdcc-f330-424c-a51e-193f2b0073f4?academicYearId=2022

PerkyBlinder · 26/02/2023 22:43

I know a few sports science grads from Loughborough (recent and years ago) and some from Exeter, some Bath and some from Swansea. One went into finance, a couple are physios, another designs interventions working for a local council (a job involving creativity, data analysis and presenting skills). Another is employed helping with dietary advice for an elite sports team. Another did graduate entry medicine (although I think this is rare and was at the uni they were studying at and I think was Swansea). Another went into research. None are PE teachers and none are personal training instructors although I’m sure a few go onto this.

Research in the area of sports science is interesting and varied. My eldest is studying sports science currently out in California and chose it because she wasn’t sure where she wanted to specialise and it’s so broad and crosses over with psychology, nutrition and biomedical science. Her dissertation will be basically biomedical - it’s a systematic review starting to develop research for a masters in an area of particular interest to her (don’t want to put here as so specific and specialised that it’s outing) and she’s reached out to a professor who has agreed to mentor her.

It’s important to make sure the course is science focussed and rigorous as not all are. Some are more vocational and focussed on personal training and gym management and some are very science based sharing modules with the medical and dentistry students.

Original poster
Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 07:50

PerkyBlinder · 26/02/2023 22:43

I know a few sports science grads from Loughborough (recent and years ago) and some from Exeter, some Bath and some from Swansea. One went into finance, a couple are physios, another designs interventions working for a local council (a job involving creativity, data analysis and presenting skills). Another is employed helping with dietary advice for an elite sports team. Another did graduate entry medicine (although I think this is rare and was at the uni they were studying at and I think was Swansea). Another went into research. None are PE teachers and none are personal training instructors although I’m sure a few go onto this.

Research in the area of sports science is interesting and varied. My eldest is studying sports science currently out in California and chose it because she wasn’t sure where she wanted to specialise and it’s so broad and crosses over with psychology, nutrition and biomedical science. Her dissertation will be basically biomedical - it’s a systematic review starting to develop research for a masters in an area of particular interest to her (don’t want to put here as so specific and specialised that it’s outing) and she’s reached out to a professor who has agreed to mentor her.

It’s important to make sure the course is science focussed and rigorous as not all are. Some are more vocational and focussed on personal training and gym management and some are very science based sharing modules with the medical and dentistry students.

That's really interesting. The only person I know who did it went on to do physio.

I see there's a sports science and psychology degree at Newcastle which she's interested in and has slightly lower grades AAA/AAB

OP posts:
SkiingIsHeaven · 27/02/2023 08:41

My friend did sport science. Now works in IT. Said it was fun but a total waste of time.

FuckingHateRats · 27/02/2023 08:44

My husband did sports science at uni. Enjoyed the course.

He moved into leisure management which is notoriously low-paid. Unless she has a strong idea of how she'll use it to earn money, I'd steer my children clear of it. They'd have been better working their way up.

Original poster
Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 08:55

SkiingIsHeaven · 27/02/2023 08:41

My friend did sport science. Now works in IT. Said it was fun but a total waste of time.

The course actually looks really science heavy - biomechanics and psychology. Friends dd learnt how to evaluate scientific research and give injections and I know she said it was quite maths heavy.

I know there are sports management/coaching degrees which I agree probably aren't worth doing in a financial sense.

OP posts:
TheTeenageYears · 27/02/2023 09:13

Is it worth looking at the best uni option for DC's sport and then at what courses they offer. If they play sport at a high level the uni might be more flexible on grades/gives them more of an edge amongst others with the same predicted grades.

Africa2go · 27/02/2023 10:40

OP, know a SS graduate from one of those unis who is the head of SS / performance coach at a top professional sports team. Earns well into six figures and then some.

imagemini · 27/02/2023 10:54

TheTeenageYears · 27/02/2023 09:13

Is it worth looking at the best uni option for DC's sport and then at what courses they offer. If they play sport at a high level the uni might be more flexible on grades/gives them more of an edge amongst others with the same predicted grades.

I don't think it works like that in the UK.

gldd · 27/02/2023 11:03

I have a friend who was / is strongly academic and excelled at sports and chose to read Sports Science at a top-ranked university. He was keen to go into high-level coaching, physiology, sports analysis but everywhere he looked he was told that a Sports Science degree was not the route into these. He regrets taking the course and wishes he done something medical, biomedical, or a another straight science. He was a sports teacher for while and now does something entirely different.

I would think very carefully about Sports Science as a degree option. There are some who move into professional role directly from this degree, but it doesn't seem to be many, and there are many much more useful degrees. I can see that a very sporty child who wants to go to University would consider it, but they need to think very carefully...

Original poster
Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 11:45

imagemini · 27/02/2023 10:54

I don't think it works like that in the UK.

Show quote history

It can do.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 11:46

"He was keen to go into high-level coaching, physiology, sports analysis but everywhere he looked he was told that a Sports Science degree was not the route into these"

Huh? It absolutely is! Was this 20 years ago?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 11:52

I'm sorry @gldd but your post is totally incorrect (just in case anyone else is interested in sports science). High level coaching - of course Sports Science is relevant. I've just googled physiology masters at UCL and sports analysis and both accept Sports science first degrees.

I do wish people wouldn't post out of date anecdotal stuff to rubbish a degree they know little about.

OP posts:
Africa2go · 27/02/2023 11:54

OP I think you need to ask people to comment on the timings of some of the poster's "someone I know" / "relative". As you've said, the sports performance industry is a completely different place than it was 20/30 yrs ago. I think some of these views that its a "non degree" are outdated to say the least.

Africa2go · 27/02/2023 11:55

cross posts!!

Ethelswith · 27/02/2023 11:58

Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 11:45

It can do.

Show quote history

Do you know which universities have done this in the last few years?

blobby10 · 27/02/2023 11:58

My DD did Sports Therapy at Hartpury after doing a BTEC there instead of A levels. She's now working for a couple of years as a therapist to save enough to study a Masters in Physiotherapy (2 years).

PilarPalabundar · 27/02/2023 11:58

I did Sport Science at Bath then used it for officer entry to the RAF.
Exeter and Bangor also good for Sport Science

user15297345 · 27/02/2023 12:11

I know two people who completed Sports Sciences degrees about 25 years ago. One went to be a physio with a Formula 1 team and national-level track athletics, the other does something completely unrelated but which requires a degree to enter the profession. Certainly not a non-degree.

Original poster
Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 13:39

Ethelswith · 27/02/2023 11:58

Do you know which universities have done this in the last few years?

Show quote history

Bath.

OP posts:
mrsconradfisher · 27/02/2023 17:44

My DS has applied for Sports Science this year, he is doing PE, Psychology and Geography. We have done countless open days. Loughborough is amazing but high entry requirements, A star A A. It’s definitely his first choice, he hasn’t received an offer yet though. He also applied to Birmingham who offered ABB but we were very disappointed in course and staff there. They don’t do a placement year which in a course like Sports Science is incredibly important for job experience and the potential for employment after the degree. Apart from Loughborough, his favourite is Surrey who offered BBB. Lovely campus, great lecturers and a placement year with a majority of students getting direct employment after their degree with the placement provider.
Regardless of whether it’s considered a “waste of time” degree, I can’t imagine my DS doing anything else. He desperately wants to work in the Sports Industry. However he is also prepared to look into Secondary PE teaching as a back up if necessary after the degree. Please feel free to PM if I can help at all.

SoCrossAboutThis · 27/02/2023 17:56

Fredoraly · 26/02/2023 08:28

No she's not particularly interested in the NHS and I think you need Biology to do Physio, although she could possibly apply for a masters after a sports science degree if she changed her mind.

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If she is interested in physio some unis just say a science and will accept PE as a science. She doesn’t have to work for the nhs as a physio, she can work for herself. I have friends who are private physios and seem to be earning well.

TizerorFizz · 27/02/2023 18:42

So many universities and colleges offer this now, the truth is that some students will succeed in terms of their chosen job snd others won’t. It’s inevitable. So choosing the best academic degree is probably a better route to earnings. Also just because you can do a post grad means nothing. Still got to get a job! Countless students do not necessarily do better with a masters!

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