What are the career opportunities for Bachelor of Sport and Recreation graduates?
If your child loves sport and is wondering how they can turn their passion into a legitimate career, then read on to discover the types of careers and accomplishments our graduates have achieved in New Zealand and overseas.
Your child may know they want a future in sport but they could be unaware of the range of options available within the industry. All Bachelor of Sport and Recreation students study the same classes in their first year so they have a solid knowledge base. They can discover their preferred specialty areas later in their degree. Like all degree programmes at university, the sport and recreation courses require focus and commitment. The opportunities and benefits are rewarding for dedicated students.
AUT is ranked in the top 40 universities in the world for sports and we offer a variety of sport and recreation courses. Our lecturers and graduates are leading the way in sports related research and the use of innovative technologies. Industry experience is a key part of the AUT sport and recreation study programmes providing students with opportunities for placements at top sporting teams, organisations and businesses. AUT graduates enter the world of employment with experience and confidence.
Fast facts:
- Students can choose from a general focus degree or select a specialty major (coaching, exercise science & nutrition, health & physical education, management, outdoor education, sport & exercise science).
- AUT’s Bachelor of Sport and Recreation offers unique opportunities including studying overseas on a student exchange, valuable workplace experience, and assisting on innovative research projects.
- AUT is the home of New Zealand’s leading sport and fitness facility, AUT Millennium. AUT has 3 gyms located at our North, City and South campuses.
- AUT’s School of Sport and Recreation is the top-ranked sports science school in New Zealand (The Academic Ranking of World Universities).
Julia Herbst thought she would be a high-performance sport physio, but while she was at AUT, she found her passion was analysing performance in a sports setting. Julia’s skills are invaluable, and she then became the head analyst for the Vantage Black Sticks men’s national hockey team.
The knowledge Chantelle Huch gained during her Bachelor of Sport and Recreation has made a direct impact. Chantelle’s work placement was with NZ Rugby and she also worked on a research project exploring Pacific people in the rugby community. This led to the launch of the Navigating Two Worlds programme focusing on leadership development and mentoring for non-playing rugby roles. Chantelle was able to put her theory into action when she became the Pacific community sport coordinator at Sport Waitakere.
Other health, physical education and coaching career opportunities
- Coach development manager
- Coach for regional or national sports organisations, or youth and development teams
- Kiwisport/school sports/physical activity/recreation programme coordinator
- Health and physical education teacher
- Coach with local, regional or national sports organisations
- Health promotion educator
Find out more about studying health, physical education and coaching
Hubert Woroniecki drew upon the knowledge he gained at AUT during his Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in Sport and Exercise Science to push Emirates Team New Zealand in their America’s Cup win. AUT taught Hubert that learning never stops and he went on to use his skills as the head physical trainer with the French national boxing team.
Simon Fathers is another New Zealander making an impact overseas. Simon graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in Sport and Exercise Science. He went on to run his own sports performance company in the US, and one of his initiatives is a tactical and performance rehab programme supporting the police, fire, and coastguard in the San Francisco Bay area. Simon has worked with some of the world’s best big wave surfers, elite athletes and special forces units within the US military.
Other sport and exercise science career opportunities
- Active communities/physical activity/school sports academy/community health development coordinator
- Clinical exercise physiologist
- Corporate health and wellness advisor
- Health promotion officer
- Sport or exercise scientist
- Fitness trainer
- Health and wellness advisor
- Personal trainer
- Physical conditioning or training instructor
Find out more about studying sport and exercise science
Studying a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in Outdoor Education steered Dave Williams into his career in education. As the head of the outdoor education department at Botany Downs Secondary College, Dave went on to inspire his own students – even taking them all the way to Mt Everest Base Camp!
Other physical activity, nutrition and outdoor career opportunities
- Adventure consultant or educator
- Corporate development trainer
- Commercial guide
- Outdoor education instructor or teacher
- Instructing outdoor pursuits like white water kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, bush survival
- Youth worker
Find out more about studying physical activity, nutrition and the outdoors
One of the reasons Katrina Sharlott chose to study her Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in Exercise Science and Management at AUT is because she could clearly see the bridge between academic studies and industry practice. Katrina is now based in Vancouver, Canada and spent several years as an applied researcher at Lululemon’s innovations lab where she used state of the art technology to research new business opportunities for the company.
Henry Watt said “What was once seen as a hobby by many New Zealanders is now a serious and highly valuable industry.” Henry studied a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation in Management at AUT and his career took him on an international journey from PR with Adidas in New York to a global sports management powerhouse in London.
Other sport and recreation management career opportunities
- Community and sports events/school sports coordinator
- Sales and marketing executive
- Sponsorship or marketing manager
- Sport and leisure facility manager or coordinator
- Sport development manager
- Event manager
Find out more about studying sport leadership and management
Chloe McKenzie decided AUT was the ideal place to kick off her sports industry career because she knew as well as gaining knowledge, skills and experience, she would also make and build industry connections. Chloe went on to do a PhD and she’s the owner of Next Level Netball and applied her skills as the strength and conditioning Coach at High Performance Sport New Zealand.
Chloe said “I was involved in many different sports growing up, and I decided to follow that passion and make a career out of it. AUT is a modern, forward-thinking university with a strong emphasis on integrating theory with practice and strong connections with the sports industry.”
View our AUT sport and recreation career sheets for further information.
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