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Studies & Degrees in Physical Education

Physical education (PE) is the study of human movement, sport and health and of how to teach them. A degree in the field prepares students to plan and lead physical activity for children, teenagers and adults, in schools and outside them. Most countries separate two things: the degree in physical education or sport science, and the teaching qualification that gives access to school classrooms.

York St John University, in England, describes its BSc (Hons) Physical Education and Sports Coaching as a course that balances academic theory with practical learning. Alongside modules on the science of human movement, students study sport from social, ethical and historical perspectives.

What students learn

  • sciences of human movement: anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and motor development
  • pedagogy: how children learn, lesson planning, assessment and inclusion
  • the practice and teaching of individual and team sports, games and outdoor activities
  • health, physical activity and wellbeing
  • sport in society, ethics and sports management
  • teaching practice in schools or placements with sports organisations

Practical experience is part of every programme. York St John points to its connections with local schools and sports teams. In Chile, the Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins trains its students to design and carry out teaching and learning in physical education and health, and also to work in educational and sports management in the public and private sectors.

Qualifications and routes into teaching

  • Spain. The university degree is the Grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, offered for example by the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad de Murcia. In Murcia it lasts 4 years, has 240 ECTS credits and is taught in Spanish on campus. To teach in secondary education, graduates also need the official master's degree that qualifies for the regulated profession of secondary school teacher. It has 60 ECTS credits and requires a foreign language at CEFR level B1; holders of a degree that corresponds to the chosen specialisation are exempt from the entrance test. Primary school teaching is a separate regulated profession that requires the official bachelor's degree for primary teachers, within which universities may offer specialisations (menciones) of 30 to 60 ECTS credits.
  • Chile. Teacher training is a single degree. At the Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Pedagogía en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación para Enseñanza Básica y Media lasts 10 semesters and leads to the professional title of teacher for primary and secondary education and the academic degree of Licenciado en Educación.
  • England. Qualified teacher status (QTS) is needed to teach in most primary and secondary schools. According to the National Careers Service, students can take a sport and fitness, physical education or sports coaching degree with QTS, or complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) after a first degree without QTS. The York St John degree takes 3 years full time and can be followed by a PGCE.
  • United States. All states require public high school teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree, and public school teachers must hold a state-issued certification or licence, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 93 schools for physical education. The United States has 52 and Spain 10, followed by Brazil (7), the United Kingdom (6), Chile and Canada (3 each), and Colombia and Mexico (2 each). Teaching is normally in the language of the country, because graduates are trained for its school system.

International students should check recognition before they enrol. A teaching qualification is tied to the country that awards it. For training in England, for example, applicants with qualifications from outside the UK must show that these meet the standards set for teacher training there.

Careers

Most graduates aim to teach PE in primary or secondary schools. Others work as coaches, fitness instructors, sports development officers, or managers of sports clubs, facilities and public sports programmes. In England, a teacher with QTS can also teach other subjects if they can show enough expertise.

Employment data are published for teachers as a whole, not for PE alone. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 1,087,500 high school teaching jobs in 2025 and projects little or no change in employment from 2025 to 2035. Even so, it expects about 63,500 openings each year, mainly to replace teachers who leave the occupation.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to become a PE teacher in Spain?

For secondary education, a relevant bachelor's degree such as the Grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte (240 ECTS credits) plus the official teacher-training master's degree of 60 ECTS credits. For primary education, the official bachelor's degree for primary school teachers.

How long does a physical education degree take?

Three to five years, depending on the country: 3 years full time at York St John University in England, 4 years for the Spanish grado, and 10 semesters for the teaching degree at the Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins in Chile.

Can I train as a PE teacher in England without a PE degree?

Yes. To train to teach PE in England, applicants need GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths and a bachelor's degree in any subject.

Is a physical education degree only for future teachers?

No. The same studies lead to coaching, fitness and sports management. The Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, for example, prepares its graduates for educational and sports management as well as teaching.