Did anyone's dc do a Sport and Exercise Science degree?

[Thepleasureofyourcompany]

Where did they go and what they are doing now? Did they enjoy it? I'd be grateful to hear as dd is thinking about it. Currently doing PE, RS and Psychology A levels and working at AAB currently. Thanks!

I think often the successful
people offer their sport expertise at a high level as well as sports science. Hence some grads doing better than others. Also physio is a separate degree. So presumably further qualifications are needed to be a physio? Or is it not regulated?

Further qualifications needed but a good degree in sports science forms an entry requirement for pre reg Physio masters.

Not my DC but my coach!

He went on to a Masters in Dietetics after his Bsc Sports and Exercise Science, and is now working as a registered dietitian and PT / strength coach and seems to be doing really well!

I also know plenty who tried going down the PT route and ended up changing careers as they weren't very successful. It is a very tough job, knowledge and experience aren't sufficient you also need to be good at marketing your services, especially in the current era of online coaching, and have great interpersonal skills (listening skills, be able to explain the same thing in different ways, be responsive and organised, etc.)

They have decided they want to do sports psychology so just dithering between a pure psychology degree then a masters in sports psychology, or a sports science degree with a strong psychology module then a masters in sports psychology.

The manager of my gym did one, he's also a PT and also teaches people on muscularskeleto type courses.

You won't get a huge amount of helpful answers, OP. Sports science draws out by far the sniffiest answers as if there's no English Lit grads working in cafés and call centres, or becoming English teachers. But, FWIW, I have a sports degree and earn the mythical MN 6 figure salary in Pharma and I have plenty of uni friends with interesting jobs.

Thanks. It certainly brings out the degree snobs. I do know from relations who have done sports science that there are really good jobs out there. I don't believe some of these belittling posts are even true tbh.

That sounds like a very interesting choice! I have no insight into the best route, or the career options available but in my experience there is definitely an increased interest in sports psychology at the moment, particularly mental preparation prior to competitions or while overcoming injury, etc.
I compete at amateur level and I hear it talked about more and more, so it seems like sports psychology has wider applications now than just in elite/ pro environments

That’s exactly what my DS is going to do. He was also dithering over pure Sports Psychology but decided that doing a Sports Science degree would give him more grounding for working in the sports industry than just Sports Psychology. He is then hopefully going to do a Masters in Sports Psychology.

Great! Where is he applying?

He is going to Birmingham in September hopefully. He wanted Loughborough but predicted AAA and they want A star AA so got rejected.

My stepson is head of PE at local school and did it at st Mary's in twickenham.

I know so many young adults that have done this. They are all either PE teachers or personal trainers at gyms.

Lots end up doing physio (after a further 2 year course). Not sure why they didn't do a physio degree to begin with to be honest. But then they all seem to want to do MSK and don't seem to enjoy the NHS setting.

Less than those who did a physiotherapy undergraduate degree? I know my niece is currently working in respiratory and absolutely loves her job (nhs)

Sounds like just another snipe at sports graduates. Sigh.

I think it's St George's who have a rep for only taking Sports Science/therapy grads or did about five years ago.

Not a snipe no. Their interest is obviously more in MSK than care of the elderly physio for example. A lot tend to start in the NHS and then go private / get static MSK jobs within the NHS. I'm pleased your niece is enjoying respiratory. For physio to be effective in the NHS setting we needs physios who are interested in specialties other than MSK is the point I'm trying to make I guess.

If your DC is certain they want to work in sport @Thepleasureofyourcompany then the second option is much the better one. The first route won't give your DC sufficient grounding in sports science specifically. Also while PPs are right to say that sports psychology is a growth area, bear in mind that these roles usually go to vastly experienced practitioners – entry-level jobs are few and far between because no one is going to put professional sportsmen and women in the hands of the newly qualified psychologists, for obvious reasons. So be realistic that it might take some years to get into that field in particular.

But don't let that put your DC off, of course you are right when you say it's a valuable degree. If a Premiership football club, or the LTA, or World Rugby (all of which DH has worked for) are looking to employ a sports scientist, then they want someone with a sports science degree(s) – they're not going to be employing a maths or engineering graduate, even one who went to Cambridge or Imperial and whose degree would, in general, be considered better.

DH and DS both work in sport, albeit in totally different capacities, so this post comes with their input. Good luck to your DC.

Can I ask which unis he is looking at for this? My DC is starting to move towards Sports Psychology rather than Sports Science so wondering which unis to look at.

I think they'll apply for straight sports science
Exeter,Loughborough, Swansea as insurance, two more in between not decided yet.

I'm still not convinced it will be the best degree for her but she is!

My DS is doing sports science at Exeter, I was worried about where it would lead. However, my very highly paid HR director (£250k before bonuses) did exactly the same course at the same Uni, so who knows. I think as long as it’s a good Uni and they get a good grade I don’t think it matters.

DD went to Birmingham and got a first in sports and exercise science.

Took a year out and worked as an HCA and then did grad medicine at Warwick. Currently an F2 at our local hospital

Watching with interest. Ds2 falls into this group of young boys who want to do something sporty and I'm worried that this is totally unrealistic job wise. This thread confirms this that 1000's of 15 year old boys ideally want to work for PL football clubs, but end up with no such job.

Physio or health related field seems like a logical career.

Wow that's amazing!