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Performance sports scientist
Sports and exercise scientist, Sports performance analyst, Sports physiologist
Sports scientists use knowledge of how the body works to help people improve their health or sporting ability.
Average salary (a year)
£23000
Starter
£50000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
37.0 to 39.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends
attending events or appointments
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through a university course.
University
You could take a degree course in sport and exercise science. Courses that include the 3 main subjects of biomechanics, physiology and psychology, will help to keep your job and study options open later on.
Alternatively, you could study for a degree in a science related subject followed by a postgraduate qualification in sports science.
Related subjects include
physical education, natural sciences, physiology, psychology
It's quite common for sports scientists to have or be working towards a postgraduate qualification.
Courses that include work placements or internship opportunities could give you an advantage when job hunting after completing your studies. This is something to ask universities about when you're looking at their courses.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More Information
Career Tips
Experience as fitness instructor, lifeguard, coach or volunteering, for example with a sports club, may improve your career prospects.
It will help you stand out in a competitive jobs market if you have extra qualifications like
first aid, gym instructing, safeguarding
Professional And Industry Bodies
You could join The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) for professional development opportunities.
Further Information
You'll find more advice on careers in sports science from The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Careers in Sport.
What it takes
Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
    Knowledge of biology
    Knowledge of psychology
    The ability to work well with others
    To be thorough and pay attention to detail
    Maths skills
    Excellent verbal communication skills
    Excellent written communication skills
    The ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
Digital Skills Level
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
What you will do
Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
Day to day tasks
As a performance sports scientist, your duties will depend on the type of organisation you work for. You could
analyse training and competition data to identify areas for improvement, design development plans to improve individual and team performance, help people improve their health through exercise and fitness, investigate how health and fitness can be used to prevent or treat medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease or cancer, take part in research projects, advise on the design and manufacture of sports equipment
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, on a sports field, at a research facility, at a client's business or at a fitness centre.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
Career Path & Progression
Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
You could work with universities, schools and colleges, large sporting organisations, local authorities and the NHS. It's also possible to become self-employed or work in a related career area, like sports development or performance testing and research.
You could also apply for accreditation through The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences in a number of areas, including:sports psychology, clinical physiology, exercise and rehabilitation, high performance sport
This offers professional recognition of your experience and expertise. A further option is to seek Chartered Scientist status.
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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