Applied Sports Studies in Athletics

Explore your sporting passion as a competing athlete as you build real-life professional experience. You’ll work with us and our partnership organisations in your chosen sport.

If you’re an athlete competing at national or international level, or you have significant coaching experience, this degree will enable you to build your professional experience in athletics.

As part of this course, you’ll:

• Study four key areas: sport science and performance, sport business and management, sport coaching, and sport in the community

• Develop academic and professional skills, applying these into your chosen sport

• Work with our industry partners including key employers, for example, Leeds Rhinos (rugby and netball), Leeds United and British Athletics

• Apply your learning around these areas of study to your chosen sport setting

• Gain breadth and depth of work experience from day one through modules, volunteering, coaching qualifications and paid employment

• Decide whether to focus on one discipline area, or maintain a breadth as you progress through your degree

Find out more

Placements and work experience
You’ll work with various companies or clubs in the Leeds region to build up valuable industry experience throughout your course. In both your first and second years you’ll complete a minimum of 100 hours’ formal work-based learning. In your third year, you’ll continue your sport-specific learning alongside tailored personal tutor sessions that will enable you to directly consider your next steps after graduation. Your Final Year Project will be relevant to both your intended career and employers’ needs.

Build your portfolio
Throughout your course, you’ll have the opportunity to build and present evidence of your experience and planning through your personal and professional development portfolio whilst also gaining key employability experiences. Your portfolio will be a record of experiences you have engaged with both within modules and wider University opportunities and will range from those hosted by our sport-specific partners, to other activities closely aligned with possible employment options.

Breadth of learning
Your learning will be informed by current policy, high standards in professional practice and applied theory so you’ll graduate with the skills you’ll need to work in the sports industry. You’ll learn in a group with fellow students studying the same area of sporting and professional interest, with opportunities to enhance your learning through sharing across sporting contexts. This means you’ll be ready for roles within the sports industry aligned to your area of specialism and beyond.

Your Carnegie School of Sport community
As a Carnegie School of Sport student, you’ll join an inclusive, supportive and caring community. Your learning will be facilitated by expert tutors, alongside professionals within your chosen sport setting with a wealth of industry experience and have access to specialist facilities in the Carnegie School of Sport Building at Headingley Campus.

Why study the BSc Applied Sport Studies in Athletics course at Leeds Beckett University?

• Developed in partnership with sports industry organisations

• Global reputation - we're recognised as one of the top 100 institutions in the world for Sports-Related Subjects*

• Strong focus on employability with opportunities to build up work-based learning experiences immediately

• Breadth of specialist facilities

• Develop skills and knowledge that are in-demand in professional contexts and with employers

*2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject