- Editor
- Development, Employer focus, Your career, Your world
Beyond the degree: How Oxford Brookes University is supporting students to turn their education into employment
Kit Cutter, Senior Lecturer, Sport and Coaching Sciences Employability Lead at Oxford Brookes University, discusses how the university’s sport and physical activity courses offer important employability skills.
In today’s competitive job market, employability is more crucial than ever. Employers seek graduates with applied experience, making it essential for education providers to go beyond traditional teaching methods. As a quality-assured Enhancing CIMSPA Higher Education Partner, Oxford Brookes University is committed to equipping students with the practical skills and qualifications necessary to secure meaningful employment.
The endorsed programmes, which integrate qualifications aligned with the following professional standards, is producing industry-ready graduates who are making a positive impact in the workforce.
Degree programme | Occupation | Population specialism | Environmental specialism |
|---|---|---|---|
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science | Personal Trainer Strength and Conditioning Coach | ||
BSc (Hons) Sport, Coaching and Physical Education | Coaching Assistant Coach Personal Trainer Strength and Conditioning Coach | Working in the School Environment (Out of Curriculum) | |
BSc (Hons) Sport, Physical Activity and Health Promotion | Personal Trainer Strength and Conditioning Trainer Health Navigator | Working with People with Long Term Conditions |
Endorsed courses with embedded professional qualifications: producing industry-ready graduates
This endorsement is central to our provision, ensuring that students graduate with a deep understanding of the essential skills, behaviours and knowledge required in their respective fields.
This academic year, 160 students are registered for at least one occupational qualification, with 34 students also working towards a population or environmental specialism. As a result, Oxford Brookes graduates can enter the sector with Advanced Practitioner professional status, with these credentials providing tangible evidence of their expertise and significantly enhancing their employability prospects.
According to DiscoverUni (2025), 100% of BSc (Hons) Sport, Coaching and Physical Education graduates secure employment or further study within 15 months of graduation, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach. A recent graduate shared his experience:
Real-world experience through work-based learning
Practical experience is invaluable in today’s job market. Our credit-bearing work experience modules at Levels 5 and 6 allow students to apply their learning through volunteering opportunities, internships and placements. These experiences enhance sector-specific competencies, build confidence and expand professional networks. Our network is diverse, including educational institutions, grassroot sports clubs, professional bodies and charities across sport, physical activity and health.
In Oxfordshire, 137,000 people live with multiple long-term conditions, and over 3,000 elderly individuals are hospitalised annually due to falls. To address these challenges, we have collaborated with local organisations, providing students with hands-on experience in supporting vulnerable populations while building crucial industry links. As a result, students are able to complete the Health Navigator and Working with Long Term Conditions professional standards.
Further, as part of the wider university’s Strategy for Sport, I am collaborating with Richard Ormiston-Rees, Brookes Applied Manager. Brookes Applied is an initiative designed to create a well-rounded educational environment where students gain hands-on practical experience to enhance skills and improve their readiness for employment. You can read more about this initiative here.
Sector collaboration and local skills development
Oxford Brookes is an active member of the Oxfordshire Local Skills Accountability Board (LSAB), which brings together employers, education providers and employability-focused organisations to enhance career pathways and workforce development in the sport and physical activity sector.
The local skills plan has identified several key priorities, including connecting education and employers, improving inclusivity and making the most of opportunities to integrate with the healthcare sector.
With this in mind, the sport and coaching science programme plays a vital role in addressing the themes and recommendations underpinning this plan.
As the employability lead, I am actively working with colleagues, members of the LSAB and wider organisations to ensure our provision meets the demands and needs of local employers and that we are producing work-ready individuals who will positively impact the workforce in Oxfordshire and beyond. We are achieving this through a number of initiatives.
A holistic approach to career readiness
We know that employers are looking for graduates who not only possess theoretical knowledge but also practical skills. Oxford Brookes’ integrated approach – combining our endorsed courses with professional qualifications and drawing upon our sector collaborations, we can ensure that our graduates are theoretically informed, contextually aware practitioners who are work force ready.
We believe the message is clear: to maximise career readiness, students need to take full advantage of the opportunities available. Engage with endorsed courses, pursue professional qualifications, and build valuable industry connections. These steps will significantly enhance your employability and increase the likelihood of long-term professional success.
At Oxford Brookes, we are dedicated to providing students with the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to thrive in their careers.”
