Do you have an interest in the leisure industry? Do you have an interest in working with a wide cross-section of people? If so, then perhaps a course in Sports and Leisure Management would be perfect for you.

However, as part of the course you will not only be expected to learn about the leisure industry as a whole, but also about the businesses and financial aspects of holding a management position within the leisure industry. As such potential students should be able to demonstrate an interest in this particular field of study.

As part of most courses, students will also be encouraged to gain work experience within the leisure industry as part of the programme, as well as attending lectures and tutorials. In order to make the rest of this course, students should be able to work independently and be highly efficient.

The majority of Leisure Management graduates are fortunate in that they are able to find employment within the sports and leisure industry. Many graduates find work in fitness and Leisure centres or within hotel’s running the spa and gym facilities.

Similarly, sports and leisure graduates are also likely to find employment within hotel environments either working behind the reception, greeting customers and even working within the marketing and publicity departments. There are also roles in events management and even working as a tourism officer managing tourist information.

For those who wish to pursue further study, there are also a number of teaching options such as studying a PGCE and working as a secondary school PE teacher, as well as taking a coaching course.

There are a number of courses currently available to those wishing to study Leisure Management. This wishing to study at an undergraduate level, lasting a minimum of 3 years should have at least 3 A-levels or equivalent. However, many courses programme for a year in order to partake in a work-related placement.

For those who already have a degree, ideally with a 2:1 classification, there is also the option to study sports and leisure management at post-graduate level. Most courses will take a minimum of a year, but can take longer depending upon level of study and whether or not you decide to study on a full-time or part-time basis.

UK universities are more than willing to consider applications from candidates who are non-native speakers of English. However, before starting any programme of study, it is important for such students to have scored a minimum of 6.0-6.5 on an IELTS test in order to demonstrate their proficiency in the language.

Location is one of the most important aspects to consider when choosing where you would like to study. Given that the subject matter leads to a very specific career path, it is important to gain as much work experience as possible in order to compete with all the other graduates on the jobs market. As such your extra –curricular activities may have a dramatic impact upon your future employability. Ideally you should study at a university located in a city that has a vibrant leisure or sports industry.

It is also important to take into account which areas of sports and leisure management is of interest to you. While there will be some core modules that are the same irrespective of academic institution some courses may focus more on the business side of leisure and sports, whereas others may opt to focus on the industry itself. You’ll be studying for at least a year, if not longer, so it is important that you study something that interests you.

Of course, it is also vital that you consider the costs of the course, and whether you meet the entry criteria for the course of study. If you’re just short of the required grades, then some Universities may be flexible about who they will and won’t accept onto the course. Mature candidates who have relevant work experience, may be accepted onto the course. If this sounds like you, then you should contact the university to see if it is worth submitting an application.

There are also a number of grants and scholarships available to those who are struggling financially to gain access to further education. This is something you should investigate when planning your budget.