Because this degree course includes a lot of sport didactics, a basic level of fitness and athleticism is an advantage. You will need to demonstrate this by passing a sports aptitude test before you can be accepted to the degree course.

You should also enjoy exercise and physical activity in various sports and areas of life. An appreciation for reflecting on (your own) athletic performance and discussing it with others is also an advantage. In order to pursue your studies, you must be able to read and understand specialized academic literature in English and, if required, to participate in events in English.

In the bachelor’s degree program Sports Science you will combine experience of physical activity, academic work, and practical application. The six-semester degree program is divided into one-semester modules, which allows for a clearly structured yet flexible course of study.

In the first part of the degree program, you will begin by getting to know the fundamentals of sports science. Building on this, you will explore your individual interests and focus areas within the four key areas of sports:

1. Health, well-being, and social issues
2. Sport-motor skills in training and competition
3. Sports management and business
4. Sports as a lifestyle, society, and culture

Within these focus areas, you will complete both required elective modules and elective modules which will enable you to develop a specialized professional profile. The degree program is complemented by cross-disciplinary topics that span various fields of practice and address current developments and socially relevant issues – including digitalization in sports, sustainability, media in sports, inclusion, and social responsibility in sports.

It is characterized by modern teaching and learning formats that consistently combine academic work with physical experience and practical application. In addition to traditional courses, you can expect project-based seminars, hands-on applications, group work, presentations, and research-oriented formats. The focus is not merely on teaching sports science content, but on developing the ability to independently analyze sports science issues, reflect on them critically, and develop scientifically sound solutions for various fields of practice.

Stay abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

The Institute of Sports has over 25 cooperating partner institutions you can study abroad at. Depending on when you start your studies, the third or fifth semester (if you started in the winter semester) or the fourth semester (if you started in the summer semester) is recommended for studying abroad.

Internships

As part of your studies, you will complete a compulsory internship in a sports-related profession or field of activity, e.g., in health-oriented institutions (prevention and recovery, or occupational health management), sports associations/clubs, in the sports and leisure industry, or in sports journalism.

In our “professional work experience” courses, past students come and present their current careers.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Sport Sciences graduates typically work in the following areas:

• Health-oriented institutions (prevention, recovery, exercise for disabled persons, gyms)
• Institutes of higher education and universities (research and teaching)
• Sports clubs and associations as well as sports promotion
• Sports and leisure industry (sports schools, tourism, commercial providers, sports marketing/sports management, athletic sponsoring, etc.)
• Sports media, sports public relations, sports communication, journalism, PR, media analysis

Thanks to your training in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities as well as the acquired social, presentation, and self-organizational skills, other fields of activity less closely related to your subject are also open to you, for instance in the following areas:

• Politics and social affairs (e.g., ministries, political parties, foundations, educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• International relations (e.g., tourism, trade relations, associations, clubs, foreign service, international organizations)
• Public services and administrations (e.g. as a specialist consultant)
• Advertising and marketing
• Education and culture (e.g., theaters, museums, educational institutions, adult education, libraries, archives, documentaries)
• Business (e.g., business advisory services, consulting, materials management, human resources, corporate training)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.