{"id":3306,"date":"2026-07-13T07:43:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/?p=3306"},"modified":"2026-06-30T15:25:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:25:18","slug":"careers-in-sport-and-exercise-what-can-you-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/OU-Sport\/?p=3306","title":{"rendered":"Careers in sport and exercise: what can you do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Simon Rea<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay<\/p><\/div>\n

Introduction: careers in sport and exercise<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Careers in sport and exercise offer a wide range of varied and exciting opportunities.<\/p>\n

If I look back at my career, I have been at various times a lifeguard, a leisure assistant, a fitness instructor, a gym manager, a teacher in further education, a self-employed personal trainer operating in people\u2019s homes, a performance coach to Oxford University sports teams, a senior lecturer in sport and exercise, an examiner, and an author of textbooks.<\/p>\n

At one point, when I was self-employed, I had six different job roles. So, I can attest that the sport and exercise sector offers both variety and opportunities for progression.<\/p>\n

While I could have done some of these jobs without a degree, I would have hit a ceiling within two years. A degree was vital for progressing into more stimulating and senior roles.<\/p>\n

Do you need a degree for a career in sport and exercise?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are several ways to access careers in sport and exercise, so is doing a degree the best option?<\/p>\n

You could become a fitness instructor by completing a two-week Level 2 course, or a sports coach by completing a short governing body coaching award. However, these short courses are designed as an access point. They equip you with specific skills for a role rather than enabling a long and fulfilling career.<\/p>\n

A short course may show you \u2018how\u2019 to do something, but it is unlikely to help you understand \u2018why\u2019 you do it\u2014an essential foundation for long-term development and progression.<\/p>\n

The value of a sport and exercise degree<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A degree enables you to fully understand the science behind a practice and assess its value.<\/p>\n

David Pears, a football coach and senior lecturer in sports coaching, explains the value of a degree in sport and exercise:<\/p>\n

\u201cA good degree will ensure that your eyes are opened to the opportunities available and, because you have a greater depth of knowledge, you will be confident to move into other roles. Graduates can be more independent and look around for new things to get involved in. Degree level study can broaden your horizons, give you opportunities to network and get involved in things.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lauren Rose, a tennis coach who studied with The Open University, describes the impact of her degree:<\/p>\n

\u201cCompleting a degree has had a huge impact on my coaching career and made me a better coach. It enhanced my knowledge of psychology, nutrition, strength and conditioning, and biomechanics. Studying sport psychology helped me give players more autonomy, and this has had a big impact on their willingness to train hard, but most importantly allowed them to feel more in control during match play. Studying for the degree also helped to increase key skills such as my resilience, perseverance and time management.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some students begin their degree with a clear career goal, which can be motivating. However, this is not essential. Keeping an open mind allows you to take advantage of opportunities as they arise \u2013 work hard and you never know where you might end up!<\/p>\n

Where can a sport and exercise degree take you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Image by Christoph Meinersmann from Pixabay<\/p><\/div>\n

There are more than 50 potential roles within sport and exercise that could suit graduates in sport and exercise. These include careers in:<\/p>\n