Sport

Why study Sport at Durham?

As a cultural phenomenon that evokes passion, drives economies, shapes politics, highlights inequities and contributes to our sense of national pride, sport has a rare capacity to touch our lives.  Rising levels of obesity and physical inactivity also make sport a major concern for current policy and the use of sport in initiatives such as crime prevention, community development and health promotion campaigns make sport a subject area of great contemporary, vocational relevance. With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, never has it been more necessary to prepare well-rounded graduates for entry into sport-related professions and industries. 

In studying Sport at Durham, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of a number of key issues relating to sport in contemporary society. Our flexible programme of study includes topics such as sports development, sports policy, sport and exercise physiology, the sociology of sport, health and physical activity and sport and exercise psychology. Your three years of study at Durham will also develop in you a broad range of practical skills, personal qualities and intellectual capacities that can be applied to a range of future career paths and further postgraduate studies.

Graduates from our degree have successfully gone on to postgraduate study, or have been employed in a wide range of careers, including sport marketing and development, sports management, media and sports journalism, education, coaching, research and policy, health promotion and allied health professions such as occupational therapy or physiotherapy and professional sports performance. In addition to sport-related career routes, many of our students have successfully entered careers in banking and finances, computing, business and marketing, and aspects of general management.

Our typical offer is ABB at A-level (or equivalent standard across a range of post-16 qualifications). For further information on our entry requirements please see Applying for the BA Sport degree.

We also offer a number of exciting opportunities for you to take part in community-based sports initiatives such as working with disadvantaged young people in the  local region, as well as coaching in Zambia  and Sri Lanka.

Dr Catherine Palmer