Leah opts for a life on the ocean waves

The UCLan Sports Studies course provides graduates with a wide range of skills to enhance their future employability.

Careers in sport and teaching are the most popular choices for those who successfully complete the programme, but its diverse nature can also lead students into other areas such as tourism or the outdoors.

Leah Bradbury is a great example of this, securing a role as a Retail Assistant on board the Cunard cruise liner MS Queen Victoria.

She said: "I picked the Sports Studies degree to learn about a wide range of topics surrounding the subject, such as history and politics as well as enterprise.

"The course has given me the platform to gain experience in different career paths in order to make an informed decision about my future.

"My time at UCLan has been a mix of emotions. I've met friends for life but also had to know when to knuckle down. I know that both my experience and my degree played a huge part in me gaining my new job."

Graduates start new company

UCLan Sports Studies duo Carlton Evans and Luke Daniels are using the knowledge and experience gained on our programme to set up their own business.

Supported by Challenger Sports, Carlton and Luke will launch TinyTykes Preston in March 2016.

The scheme, created by childcare specialists, introduces children aged 18 months - 5 years to the basic skills of soccer.

Luke (far left) said the diverse nature of the Sports Studies course had been a big help in mapping out the path they wanted to choose.

"The course is very well run, with all the tutors and staff extremely helpful across the whole three years," he said.

"The modules are set out in a way that give you many different routes in sport, which sets you up for third year when you eventually have to choose one. I accumulated over 250 hours of coaching experience over my final two years, which has provided a perfect platform to start this business."

Luke and Carlton also enjoyed international experiences during their time on the course, working as Team Leaders on this year's UCLanSport for Development Project in Zambia.

They led two groups of second year students to an area with a high poverty rate in an attempt to deliver life lessons about HIV/AIDS and gender equality through the medium of sport.

The pair, who graduate later this month, will keep close ties to UCLan by offering coaching opportunities to undergraduates and utilising the expertise available at the university.

Triple election joy for sporting expert

Professor John Horne has been elected to positions of responsibility within three major international and national scholarly associations.

Professor Horne has joined the Nominations Committee of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS), become Vice Chair of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and from January 2016 will take up the role of Vice President and Treasurer of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA).

The AcSS is the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences.

The Academy is made up of around 1000 individual Fellows, 43 Learned Societies and a number of affiliate members, together representing nearly 90,000 social scientists.

Founded in 1951, the BSA is the national subject association for sociologists in the UK and its primary objective is to promote sociology. Members of the Association are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and include researchers, teachers, students and practitioners in a variety of fields.

The Association represents UK sociology on key bodies both nationally and internationally, working closely with allied organizations to influence policies affecting sociology within the wider social sciences remit.

Through its publications, research groups and busy calendar of events, the BSA provides a network of communication to enable the promotion and use of sociology and sociological research.

The ISSA is a research committee of the International Sociological Association (ISA) where it is officially recognized as RC27 (Sociology of Sport) and also an official committee of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE).

ISSA holds annual conferences, including congresses in conjunction with the World Congress of Sociology and the Pre-Olympic Scientific Congress, and publishes the International Review for the Sociology of Sport (IRSS).

Professor Horne's expertise has been in much demand throughout 2015, joining panel discussions at Leeds Beckett and Bournemouth Universities, and following up his recent research into sports mega-events by co-editing a collection of articles with Professor Richard Gruneau from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver.

Entitled 'Mega-Events and Globalization: Capital and Spectacle in a Changing World Order', the collection will be published by Routledge later this year.

He has also received an invitation to take part at an international workshop, 'More than just a game: mobilities, infrastructures & imaginaries of global sports events', to be hosted by the University of Antwerp, Belgium, in October 2015.

Sports Studies duo chase teaching careers

Our graduates often use the UCLan Sports Studies degree to progress into teaching.

Having successfully completed the course, Megan Greaves (left) and Rachel Loveday (below) have now secured roles which they hope will lead into careers as Physical Education teachers.

Megan has accepted a position at LSA Technology and Performing Arts College in Lytham St Annes, and said the support she received whilst on the course was invaluable to her future prospects.

"I fully enjoyed all three years at UCLan," said Megan. "A lot of help and support was given along the way from lecturers, whether it be guidance with assignments or plans for the future.

"Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I've always known it was the career choice for me. There was a lot of support off staff, in particular Nick (Passenger), especially when it came to applying and interviews for the PGCE year.

"Help was given with applications, lesson plans and also the opportunity to put these into practice before the final interview date.

"The School Direct programme seems very worthwhile and I'm very excited to start at LSA in September. I'm looking forward to pursuing a career as a secondary school PE teacher."

Rachel has secured a role at Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School in Wigan as a Physical Education Coach and Sports Leader.

She will deliver the national PE curriculum children aged 3-11 and will also be responsible for extra-curricular activities, including organising and running competitions for the school and others in the local community.

Rachel commented: "I feel the course has set me up well for a career in teaching, as well as giving me other options along the way.

"It allows you to take different routes depending on the career you wish to pursue and gives lots of hands on experience, so it's suitable for those who don't know what they want to do when they go to university."

Thomas secures exciting Manx marketing role

The UCLan Sports Studies programme provides a platform to many varied careers in the world of sport.

Thomas Downward graduates this summer and has already secured an incredible opportunity to undertake a Sports Marketing internship with the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association (IoMCGA).

He also plans to study for a postgraduate degree in Sports Marketing to further enhance his future career prospects.

Thomas commented: "The internship is a great opportunity to put into practice the theoretical knowledge I've acquired throughout many of my course modules, and hopefully make the Isle of Man proud of my contribution to the development of Manx sport on the island.

"The Master's degree will enable me to further develop my knowledge and application on the marketing of sport, and will tie in perfectly with my internship."

Thomas will carry out a variety of duties, including developing the presence of the Commonwealth Games on the Isle of Man by forging links with sport governing bodies and their members, business and education centres, and also promoting the IoMCGA brand in the wider Manx community by building the CGA's online and social media presence.

He said his undergraduate studies have proved invaluable as he looks to progress his career in the sports industry.

"Prior to beginning my degree I wasn't exactly sure on the specific career in sport I wanted to pursue," said Thomas. "The Sports Studies course enabled me to explore various disciplines in the sports industry, and the second year sports marketing module really opened my eyes about what I wanted to do.

"I recently completed a placement at South Ribble School Sports Partnership as a Social Media and Marketing Intern, where I further developed my knowledge and application of marketing communications, considerably enhancing my personal and transferable skills and interest in sports marketing.

"I'd like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all of my module tutors and course leaders, who offered excellent ongoing support and dedication throughout my three years at UCLan."

UCLan researcher presents at major football exhibition

Dr Iain Adams recently delivered the penultimate public lecture of 'The Greater Game: Football and the First World War' exhibition at the National Football Museum.

Entitled 'Football behind the Lines: 1914-1918', Dr Adams' talk was part of a series which told the forgotten stories of players and fans during World War One.

This major exhibition has explored the role football played during the war years, and investigated the myths and realities of famous stories from the conflict.

Ex-UCLan research student Dr Alex Jackson, the National Football Museum Collections Officer, will deliver the concluding talk in the series on 17th June.

For more information about the exhibition please click here.

International call-up for UCLan student

UCLan's Joe Gilpin has been chosen to represent England at the upcoming Student Four Nations tournament.

The Sports Studies student progressed through a series of tough training camps to make the final 20-man squad which travels to Dublin in June to face Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

England are preparing for the Four Nations with RFL Association Cups games against the Great Britain teams for the Police, Teachers and Armed Forces.

Joe, who was on the scoresheet as England won 72-8 against the Police, commented: "I'm eager and excited to represent my country and compete at an international level.

"I'd like to thank my UCLan Coach, Andy Procter, who has helped me develop and improve as a player. I'm also grateful to my university lecturers and the sports department for their support throughout this process."

The Student Four Nations takes place from 14-19 June.