Best global Colleges and Universities to study Sports Science
About Sports Science
Sport science is a branch of health science that analyses the functions of the human body and how they perform during various sports activities. It deals with the scientific theories and principles involved in sporting activities. There are four key areas in sports science:
- Psychology- It is concerned with the psychological aspects of sports performance, such as the role of thoughts, behavior, and feelings, and how they influence athletic performance.
- Physiology- It involves the study of how the human body performs through exercise and physical training.
- Biomechanics- It is the study of biological data in response to exercise and movement, such as hormone levels, glucose levels, and so on.
- Motor control/learning- It addresses the motor skills required to conduct physical activities in order to improve performance and endurance in preparation for events and competitions while reducing injury risk.
A degree in sports science is perfect for students who are passionate about sports, exercise, and fitness. This article walks you through the process of earning a sports science degree and provides information on top universities that offer a variety of sports science degree options.
Duties of a Sports Scientist
Sports science is utilized to evaluate strengths and limitations so that a training program can be adapted to each individual. Following are some of the duties of a sports scientist:
- Work with athletes, researchers, and health care providers to enhance health via exercise and fitness
- Conduct research on exercise and health
- Assist athletes with scientific advice in preparation for competition
- Create plans and approaches that help athletes perform better
- Adapt programs and training to target certain muscles in the body in order to cope with a variety of environmental situations
- Provide knowledge, technical, and practical advice on training, injury prevention, technique analysis, nutrition, and performance optimization, as well as psychological support
Skills required for Sports Science
A degree in sports science teaches how to assist individuals, notably athletes and sports staff, in training for various sports as mentors, trainers, coaches, dieticians/nutritionists, therapists, and so on. The following are the essential skills necessary for it:
- Research and data collection
- Leadership and problem-solving abilities
- Written and oral communication skills
- Time management and organization skills
- Inter-personal skills
- Analytical and critical thinking skills
- Basic IT and technical skills
Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Sports Science
Sports science is progressively coming into prominence in countries around the world, and as a result, several colleges are now offering degrees in the field. The following is a list of popular degrees offered by top universities for sports science around the world.
Bachelor’s programs
An individual can opt for either a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree as their undergraduate degree in sports science. Some popular bachelor’s degrees offered by top universities for sports science are:
- Sports Science and Nutrition
- Sports Management
- Physical Education
- Applied Sports Science
- Kinesiology
- Physiotherapy
Master’s programs
Because sports science is an interdisciplinary profession, a master’s degree can be completed in a variety of specialties. A master’s degree offers more employment opportunities and teaches important skills required in the field of sports science. The following are some of the most popular specializations:
- M.Sc. in Sports Science
- M.S. in Sports Science, Exercise, and Rehabilitation
- M.S. in Exercise and Nutrition
- M.Sc. in Exercise and Sports Science
- M.Sc. in Kinesiology
- M.Sc. in Human Kinetics
- M.S. in Kinesiology and Sports Management
- M.Sc. in Humanities and Social Sports Sciences
- M.S. in Physiology and Sports Science
Doctoral programs
The terminal degrees are often preferred by students who wish to enter research or academics. A dissertation is required to get a Ph.D. in sports science. Some doctoral degrees in sports science are:
- P.hD. in Kinesiology
- P.hD. in Exercise and Sports Science
- P.hD. in Sport, Physical Education, and Health Sciences
- P.hD. in Sports Therapy
- P.hD. in Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Specializations in Sports Science
A sports science specialty will give prospects a greater grasp of how science may be applied to sport and physical activity, which will help to improve coaching and/or teaching skills. They can specialize in one or more of the following areas in sports science:
- Sports physiology
- Sports management
- Sports psychology
- Sports biomechanics
- Sports physiotherapy
- Physical and sports education
- Sports nutrition
- Sport and exercise science
- Nutrition and metabolism
- Sports journalism
- Physical therapy
- Athletic training
- Sports medicine
Duration of programs in Sports Science
The length of sports science degrees varies by country; for example, in the USA and Canada, a normal bachelor’s degree takes four years to finish, whereas, in the UK and other European countries, it takes three years.
| Country | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree | Doctoral Degree |
| USA and Canada | 4 years | 2 years | 4-7 years |
| UK and Europe | 3-4 years | 1-2 years | 4-7 years |
| Australia | 3-4 years | 1-2 years | 4-7 years |
| Others | 4 years | 1-2 years | 4-7 years |
Career opportunities in Sports Science
Students might work in a public or private hospital, a sports field, a research facility, an office, or a fitness center. Potential job options in the field of sports science include
- Fitness coach
- Sports and fitness administrator
- Fitness manager
- Exercise physiologist
- Sports scientist
- Sports teacher or professor
- Performance analyst
- Nutritionist
- Personal trainer
- Sports therapist
- Sport and exercise psychologist
- Outdoor activity manager
- Fitness expert
- Sports journalist
- Healthcare consultant
- Sports medicine physician
Average salaries in Sports Science
The average pay in sports science varies depending on the field of specialization and the type of job. The salary ranges in sports science are summarised in the table below.
| Country | Average salary in USD*/year |
| USA | 53,000 (Source: 6fig.com) |
| Australia | 51,292 (Source: Payscale) |
| UK | 44,721 (Source: Glassdoor) |
| Canada | 41,403 (Source: Talent) |
*Note: All prices mentioned in USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and country to country.
Top 50 Universities in the world for Sports Science based on ranking (QS/Shanghai/THE):
| QS Ranking | Shanghai Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor Programs | Master Programs |
| 1 | 5 | 351-400 | Loughborough University | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2 | 6 | 54 | The University of Queensland | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 3 | 51-100 | 58 | The University of Sydney | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 4 | 14 | 37 | University of British Columbia | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 5 | 41 | 18 | University of Toronto | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 6 | 3 | 251-300 | Deakin University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 7 | 51-100 | 51-100 | The University of Melbourne | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 8 | NA | 201-250 | University of Bath | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 9 | 27 | 125 | University of Alberta | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 10 | 20 | 154 | University of Florida | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 11 | 1 | 96 | University of Copenhagen | Denmark | Click Here | Click Here |
| 12 | 15 | 105 | University of Birmingham | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 13 | 51-100 | 143 | The University of Exeter | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 14 | 101-150 | 201-250 | University of Otago | New Zealand | Click Here | Click Here |
| 15 | 12 | 401-500 | Liverpool John Moores University | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 16 | 201-300 | 54 | Seoul National University | South Korea | Click Here | Click Here |
| 17 | 51-100 | 119 | Pennsylvania State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 18 | 44 | 24 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 19 | 35 | 80 | McMaster University | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 20 | 101-150 | NA | University College London | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 21 | 51-100 | 85 | The Ohio State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 22 | 51-100 | 30 | The University of Edinburgh | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 23 | 27 | 42 | KU Leuven | Belgium | Click Here | Click Here |
| 24 | 51-100 | 201–250 | Griffith University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 25 | 11 | 201–250 | University of Calgary | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 26 | 101-150 | 201–250 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 27 | 39 | 201–250 | Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | New Zealand | Click Here | Click Here |
| 28 | 25 | 132 | The University of Western Australia | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 29 | 51-100 | 143 | University of Technology Sydney | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 30 | 23 | 401-500 | Edith Cowan University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 31 | 101-150 | 201–250 | Western University | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 32 | 51-100 | 46 | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
| 33 | 9 | 401-500 | Victoria University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 34 | 45 | 201–250 | University College Dublin | Ireland | Click Here | Click Here |
| 35 | NA | NA | The University of Manchester | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 36 | NA | NA | The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Click Here | Click Here |
| 37 | 36 | 201-250 | La Trobe University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 38 | NA | 70 | The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 39 | 38 | 52 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 40 | 51-100 | 162 | University of Ottawa | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 41 | NA | 21 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore | Click Here | Click Here |
| 42 | 101-150 | 801-1000 | Waseda University | Japan | Click Here | Click Here |
| 43 | NA | 137 | The University of Auckland | New Zealand | Click Here | Click Here |
| 44 | 51-100 | 193 | Texas A&M University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 45 | 101-150 | 44 | McGill University | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 46 | 9 | NA | University of Jyväskylä | Finland | Click Here | Click Here |
| 47 | 15 | 96 | Ghent University | Belgium | Click Here | Click Here |
| 48 | 51-100 | 63 | University of Southern California | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 49 | 22 | 251-300 | Australian Catholic University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 50 | NA | 113 | National Taiwan University (NTU) | Taiwan | Click Here | Click Here |
Top Universities in the USA for Sports Science
| QS Ranking | Shanghai Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor Programs | Master Programs |
| 10 | 20 | 154 | University of Florida | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 17 | 51-100 | 119 | Pennsylvania State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 18 | 44 | 24 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 21 | 51-100 | 85 | The Ohio State University | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
| 26 | 101-150 | 201–250 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | USA | Click Here | Click Here |
Top Universities in the UK for Sports Science
| QS Ranking | Shanghai Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor Programs | Master Programs |
| 35 | NA | NA | The University of Manchester | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 1 | 5 | 351-400 | Loughborough University | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 8 | NA | 201-250 | University of Bath | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 12 | 15 | 105 | University of Birmingham | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
| 13 | 51-100 | 143 | The University of Exeter | UK | Click Here | Click Here |
Top Universities in Australia for Sports Science
| QS Ranking | Shanghai Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor Programs | Master Programs |
| 3 | 51-100 | 58 | The University of Sydney | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 6 | 3 | 251-300 | Deakin University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 7 | 51-100 | 51-100 | The University of Melbourne | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 24 | 51-100 | 201–250 | Griffith University | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
| 28 | 25 | 132 | The University of Western Australia | Australia | Click Here | Click Here |
Top Universities in Canada for Sports Science
| QS Ranking | Shanghai Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor Programs | Master Programs |
| 4 | 14 | 37 | University of British Columbia | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 5 | 41 | 18 | University of Toronto | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 9 | 27 | 125 | University of Alberta | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 19 | 35 | 80 | McMaster University | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
| 25 | 11 | 201–250 | University of Calgary | Canada | Click Here | Click Here |
Top Universities in New Zealand for Sports Science
| QS Ranking | Shanghai Ranking | THE Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor Programs | Master Programs |
| 14 | 101-150 | 201-250 | University of Otago | New Zealand | Click Here | Click Here |
| 27 | 39 | 201–250 | Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | New Zealand | Click Here | Click Here |
| 43 | NA | 137 | The University of Auckland | New Zealand | Click Here | Click Here |
Academic requirements for studying Sports Science
The academic requirements for pursuing a degree in sports science vary from one specialization to another, but typically involve all or some of the following:
Bachelor’s level
Undergraduate admissions criteria include some combination of the following:
- A high school diploma with a GPA 3.0 or greater (on a scale of 4.0 GPA) with science and mathematics (or psychology) as compulsory subjects
- Academic transcripts
- SAT and/or ACT scores (varies from university to university)
- Personal statement
- Letter of recommendation
- A valid passport
- English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (varies from 5.5 to 6.5)
Master’s level
- A bachelor’s degree in sports science or related field with a GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a scale of 4.0 GPA)
- Academic transcripts
- MCAT and/or GRE scores (varies from university to university)
- Personal statement
- Letters of recommendations
- A valid passport
- Work experience (preferable)
- English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (varies from 5.5 to 6.5)