Sports Studies in the United Kingdom

Over the past few years, sports are becoming increasingly popular - more gyms are being opened, and at any time of day or night, you can watch a sports channel on TV. Moreover, many may argue that the salary of professional athletes is becoming absurdly high. Above all, however, people are becoming more aware of how important a healthy lifestyle is, in which sport plays a huge role. Taking these factors into account, it can be stated without hesitation that sports-related careers are a forward-looking choice.

Sports studies in the United Kingdom significantly differ from the many European academies of Physical Education. The lack of fitness tests means that one does not have to be an outstanding athlete to get in. The most important thing is an interest in any aspect related to physical effort on a more or less professional level or the sport itself. Regardless of whether you are interested in the functioning of the human body or treating it; motivation or the world of business associated with sports, sports courses in the United Kingdom will allow you to deepen your knowledge on the subject and gain the appropriate skills.

Most popular directions

Other available directions

Besides physiotherapy and sports therapy, British universities offer a plethora of other courses, so it can confidently be said that anyone who is interested in sports in any way will find something for themselves!

Sport (& Exercise) Science

This direction focuses on achieving maximum potential by athletes at various levels of advancement. Students of this course learn how the human mechanism works and how through proper exercises, diet, or behavior, one can do more with this mechanism.

Strength & Conditioning

Students of this field gain knowledge and skills in biomechanics, movement analysis, broadly defined physiology in sports, sports nutrition, strength, and conditioning. At selected universities, one can study a course named “personal training” – it is the perfect subject for people who are envisioning their future with the gym.

Sport Development/Performance & Coaching

A great option for anyone who dreams of working with people, while being constantly in a sports environment. This course will teach you how to be a good teacher/coach. You will also learn how to conduct both personal and group training sessions and how to properly promote a healthy lifestyle. You will also not miss modules on sociology and psychology, as well as analysis in sports or organization of sporting events.

Physical Education

In this program, you will gain all the skills necessary to conduct physical education classes for children and adolescents. The modules you can encounter include primarily: swimming, dancing, gymnastics, pedagogy, biomechanics of movement, performance analysis, sport psychology, strength and conditioning, fitness testing and training.

Sport Management/Marketing

One of the two sports directions not related to the human body. It focuses on the management and organization of sporting events and aspects such as globalization or corruption in sports. This course will allow you to develop your knowledge and skills also in the area of media, PR, advertising, economics, psychology - all of course in the context of sport.

Sports Psychology

Students of this course learn about how psychological factors, behavior, and environment affect an athlete and their results. This course focuses on maximizing sports achievements and preparing athletes for a more or less professional career, starts, and the pressure associated with them through understanding the workings of the human mind.

Possibilities for further education

British universities offer a multitude of courses at the second-degree level, and the most popular among them are:

For all majors (except Physiotherapy)

Fields of study usually have similar names to those that can be found in bachelor's degree programs. However, this doesn't mean that you can only study field A at the master's level if you've completed the identical field at the bachelor's level. You can easily change your specialization, for example, from Sport Development to Sport Physiology, etc. Here are the most popular fields of study at the master's level:

• MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
• MSc Sport Psychology
• MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology
• Master of Science in Sport Biomechanics,
• Master of Science in Physical Education,
• MSc Sport & Exercise Physiology.

Physiotherapy

Even though physiotherapy is quite a specific field, there are really many opportunities for further education. Most graduates decide to work for several years in healthcare before pursuing master's studies. This makes it easier to decide on a specialization for second-degree studies. The most popular specializations include:

• specialization in sports,
• specialization in musculoskeletal physiotherapy
• specialization in neurological physiotherapy,
• specialization in pediatrics,
• for animal lovers, a quite interesting option is animal physiotherapy.

Due to the nature of the physiotherapist profession, they must constantly improve their skills. In addition to master's studies, there are also many courses enabling the acquisition of additional qualifications, such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, or therapy using trampolines.

Career paths after sports studies

After studying sports disciplines, there are plenty of job opportunities. Here are the most popular ones:

Physiotherapist (in the field of Physiotherapy)

After physiotherapy studies, about 95% of students are employed in the profession about 6 months after graduation.The physiotherapist takes care of the examination and treatment. The work is available in many sectors, starting from the most popular ones such as working in healthcare or a private clinic, but physiotherapists can also work in the armed forces or care centers.
A physiotherapist primarily rehabilitates people so that they can feel comfortable on a daily basis. In the United Kingdom, they fall under the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). And to become a certified physiotherapist, one also needs to belong to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

Sports therapist (about Sports Therapy)

A sports therapist focuses on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, therefore they are the perfect person to work in a sports environment.
In contrast to physiotherapists, the regulating institution for sports therapists/rehabilitators is The Society of Sports Therapists (SST).

Personal trainer

A personal trainer's responsibilities include creating 1-on-1 fitness programs for clients, guiding them towards the right goals, and motivating them on their journey to achieving those goals - all depending on whether the individual wants to lose weight, gain weight, and build muscle mass. The work of a personal trainer usually takes place in a gym, however, it can also be expected to occur outdoors.

Sports coach

The above profession focuses on conducting sports activities for groups (also in schools), motivating them, setting goals for them, and monitoring progress. It also requires seeking sponsors and suitable competition for their group.

Exercise physiologist

A person assessing the sports potential of an individual, as well as how they respond to various muscular activities. This knowledge, in turn, is essential for preparing an appropriate fitness program to help increase human sports potential, improve performance, and reduce the risk of diseases and injuries as much as possible.

Sports administrator

A sports administrator is primarily concerned with the proper progress of sports events as well as their promotion and the management of funds for them. The job is also related to politics, economy, and ethics.

Fitness centre manager

A fitness centre manager usually works at swimming pools, gyms, sports halls, courts, spas, saunas, and various types of recreational facilities. They are responsible for marketing, complying with health and safety regulations at their workplace, and managing employees as well as the entire facility to meet client expectations.

Sports development officer

The person responsible for ensuring that everyone in a given community has equal access to sports activities and is aware of how and in what they can participate. They also organize sports activities for people of different ages at various levels - both local and national or international. The work of a sports development officer is usually associated with charitable organizations, the NHS (the British equivalent of NFZ), and schools.

Health promotion/education specialist

The primary duty of the person in the above profession is to help people improve their health and maintain control over it. Therefore, the work focuses on one-to-one interactions with people as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle and conducting government campaigns related to public health.

Sports and exercise psychologist

A sports psychologist cares about the mental and psychological well-being of athletes – from those who engage in sports amateurly to professionals participating in the Olympics and world-level matches. The main task of a person working in this profession is to ensure that a given athlete or team copes excellently psychologically with the demands posed by sports.

Event manager of sports

An event manager focusing on the sports industry is involved in organizing events and all kinds of sports initiatives - from the very idea, through the realization of the event, to the "post-event evaluation". The work of an event manager mainly involves teamwork.

Earnings after graduation

Earnings after sports studies are very diverse:

• in the casephysiotherapy, when choosing a job in the National Health Service (NHS), the minimum wage for a newly graduated bachelor's degree holder is £22,128 annually. After gaining additional qualifications, specializations, or experience, this number increases and can even reach £40,000 or more;
• if it concernsrehabilitation/sports therapy, the rate at the clinic starts from £17,000 annually, and with experience, it can reach up to £28,000 annually. Of course, in the case of working in a professional sports club, this number is higher, and by how much, depends on its prestige;
• sports psychologiststarts work with earnings of around £20,000-£22,000 annually, eventually moving up to even £37,000 annually. The so-called Senior Psychologist can earn even £50,000 upwards;
• individual participating in the preparation of sports events can initially expect earnings in the range of £15,000-£17,000 annually. However, over time and with increasing experience, earnings increase. Experiencedevent managerearns even £50,000 annually upwards;
• the biggest discrepancy is however visible in the case of graduates of fields such assport science, strength & conditioning, sport development, coaching, PEetc. Depending on the experience, the salary ranges from £18,000 to £60,000 per year or more.

Requirements for sports courses

The application for physiotherapy is slightly different from applications for other fields. You will read all about it below:

Matriculation requirements

The only specific subject (for all majors except Sport Management/Marketing and sometimes Sports Psychology) required for the matura exam is one of the science subjects (biology, chemistry, or physics), although some universities (especially in the case of physiotherapy) specifically require biology. An example offer is an average matura score of 75%, including at least 2 advanced level subjects, one of which must be biology.

Language requirements

Many universities require an IELTS language exam. However, some accept based on a good result from advanced English (60-70%).

Personal statement

In the case of subjects like physiotherapy or sport therapy/rehabilitation, having experience is very important. It doesn't have to be strictly related to the field of study, but it must demonstrate that one possesses the necessary traits for the profession of a physiotherapist or sports rehabilitator. Thus, it's not sufficient in the personal statement to merely list where one has been or what they have done, but one needs to mention what it taught us or what intrigued us as well as what skills or traits it revealed in us. One must show the committee their interest in the subject and explain what prompted us to study this particular direction. For physiotherapy and rehabilitation/sport therapy, universities choose the best of the best.
If, on the other hand, it comes to other sports disciplines, experience and, above all, visible interest are welcome, but not mandatory.

Interview on Physiotherapy

Interview, which means the preliminary conversation after sending the UCAS application, usually takes place only at physiotherapy.
There are several versions of the interview. One of them looks a bit like speed-dating. Several lecturers ask one question and the applicant has four minutes to answer it, then moves on to the next "station". Another form is about a 40-minute conversation with one or several lecturers. Group work is also often used, in which attention is paid to the ability to cooperate with others. Regardless of the version of the interview, the applicant is assessed on the basis of: "I would like to be treated by this person and I would like them to treat a member of my family."

Find your path - i.e. the right choice of direction

If anyone has ever been to a physiotherapist, they are certainly aware that the examination is conducted through touch and observation. That's why physiotherapy students are prepared for this from the very beginning of their studies. They work with as many people from the field as possible in order to identify differences and deviations from the standards. It often happens that students must work with someone with whom they do not feel comfortable. However, this teaches distance and openness towards other people. What's more, because of the nature of such studies, students in fields such as physiotherapy or sports rehabilitation are usually a very cohesive group.

What distinguishes physiotherapy or sports rehabilitation students? They are usually kinesthetics who really enjoy making connections with other people. However, not everyone who started these studies was self-confident and very talkative. These characteristics develop greatly during the course. A physiotherapist is someone who often spends more time with patients than any other professional. A visit to the physiotherapist does not last 15 minutes; moreover, it usually does not end with one visit. Fully diagnosing what is happening with the patient requires time, observation, and conversation. Very often, they are people to whom patients confide.

If it comes to fields other than physiotherapy and sports therapy / development / management, it's important to remember that the most important thing is to be interested in sports and enjoy what you do. On the other hand, for Sports Psychology, universities are looking for individuals interested in both psychology and sports.

Accreditations

When choosing a university, it is worth paying attention to whether the sports program it offers is accredited by the relevant organization.

• for sports rehabilitationSports Therapyone should look for accreditation from the Society of Sport Therapist (SST);
• Sport & Exercise Sciencesit is worth studying at a university accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES);
• to be sure thatPhysiotherapyis offered by the university at the highest level, it is worth applying to universities with accreditation from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

The lists of universities covered by these accreditations are found on the websites of respective institutions. Alternatively, on the subpage of the chosen field of study, one can check whether it is accredited.

Study Abroad

In the field of physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation, the opportunity to study abroad is very rare. However, when it comes to other fields, it is definitely more popular. Some universities offer a 4-year course instead of the standard 3-year one; then, the third year can be spent at a partner university of the given university outside the borders of the United Kingdom.

Placement Year, Internships

Similarly, it's the same case with internships. Placement year (also known as sandwich year) is offered in almost all courses except for Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy/Rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation have a very practical nature, which is why a lot of practice takes place during the 3-year education. When choosing a university, it's worth paying attention to the number of hours of practice organized by the university - the more, the better.

Sports studies in practice

Current students are probably the best source of information about chosen studies and courses. Find out what sports studies look like in practice - through the eyes of a student who once applied for her dream studies with the support of UniEdu:

In the first year of physiotherapy, my classes last between 16-18 hours a week: of this, theoretical classes are only about 4 or 5 hours, and the rest is practice. We largely have to assimilate theoretical knowledge on our own at home as part of our preparation for classes. Usually, at the beginning of the classes, we would write a short test in groups from the materials we were supposed to prepare at home, clarify unclear issues, and deepen our knowledge on the topic, supported by real-life stories. Then we went to practical classes where we had the opportunity to see what we learned on skeletons or our fellow students from the course. Practical classes proceed in a very relaxed atmosphere, often we would paint on our skin with colorful markers to learn anatomy, or use clay trying to predict the location where each ligament, tendon, or other elements are located. As for physiotherapy techniques, we practiced them only and exclusively on each other.

My course consisted of 3 modules, each concluded with an exam. I had one written exam, one essay to write, a group presentation, and two practical exams. The practical exams had a very interesting structure. At the beginning of the year, we received a list of scenarios that looked like a patient's history: “X trains basketball professionally, but 3 days ago, during a throw to the basket, sustained an injury, complains about Y and Z, upon observation A and B are visible”. Throughout the school year, we gain knowledge that helps us figure out what could be happening with a given patient, how we would check it, and how we would treat it further. At the exam, we receive two random scenarios and everything I wrote, we have to demonstrate in practice with an appropriate explanation for our model (who pretends to be the patient, so we need to use simple language) and the examiner (using professional terminology).

In Bradford, there is a clinic run by students, where every student has the opportunity to have their own patients, feel the responsibility, and if in doubt, ask for advice or opinion from lecturers who are on the premises at the time supervising the work of students.

If it comes to combining studies with work and entertainment, I can undoubtedly state that it is completely achievable. I worked about 20 hours a week, participated in many initiatives (for example, as a course representative), played in a sports team, and had time for parties.

In summary…

Sports studies are a great opportunity to combine passion with work – especially in the Isles. They provide a great deal of satisfaction because they significantly help in achieving the desired goal for people and are focused on practice. Moreover, these are studies that employ in a very rapidly developing sector. Graduates of these programs are therefore in high demand in the market. Therefore, if you are interested in sports, then sports studies in the United Kingdom are just for you!

With the professional and free support of UniEdu, you can take the first step on the path to a satisfying and profitable career! Start just like I once did - by creating an account on the app.uniedu.uk, logging in there and filling in your details. And if you have any questions or doubts, write to UnIEdu on messenger and join the thousands of students who have applied to British universities with them.