Identifying gender gaps on sports degrees: a retrospective case study

Rebecca Bradburn; Erin Quinn; Zoe Avner; Nicola McCullogh; Rick Hayman; Karen Johns; Paul Cook; Daniel Peart; Paul Ansdell

doi:10.1016/j.jhlste.2025.100576

Identifying gender gaps on sports degrees: a retrospective case study

Rebecca Bradburn, Erin Quinn, Zoe Avner, Nicola McCullogh, Rick Hayman, Karen Johns, Paul Cook, Daniel Peart, Paul Ansdell^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study aimed to identify gender gaps in enrolment and average grades on undergraduate sports degrees at a UK university. Data were retrospectively analysed over five years (1224 ± 57 students per year). On sports degrees, only 25–32 % of new students were women, whereas on physiotherapy 65 % of new students were women. Across all degree pathways, women consistently achieved 3–5 % higher average grades, which resulted in the average grade for women being one grade boundary higher than for men. These gendered gaps could contribute to discrepancies within the sport industries and should be considered by staff who teach and recruit on sports degrees.

Original language	English
Article number	100576
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education
Volume	37
Early online date	18 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2025.100576
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2025

Keywords

Attainment
Engagement
Higher education
Men
Women

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jhlste.2025.100576

Cite this

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title = "Identifying gender gaps on sports degrees: a retrospective case study",

abstract = "This study aimed to identify gender gaps in enrolment and average grades on undergraduate sports degrees at a UK university. Data were retrospectively analysed over five years (1224 ± 57 students per year). On sports degrees, only 25–32 \% of new students were women, whereas on physiotherapy 65 \% of new students were women. Across all degree pathways, women consistently achieved 3–5 \% higher average grades, which resulted in the average grade for women being one grade boundary higher than for men. These gendered gaps could contribute to discrepancies within the sport industries and should be considered by staff who teach and recruit on sports degrees.",

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AU - Bradburn, Rebecca

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AU - McCullogh, Nicola

AU - Hayman, Rick

AU - Johns, Karen

AU - Cook, Paul

AU - Peart, Daniel

AU - Ansdell, Paul

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N2 - This study aimed to identify gender gaps in enrolment and average grades on undergraduate sports degrees at a UK university. Data were retrospectively analysed over five years (1224 ± 57 students per year). On sports degrees, only 25–32 % of new students were women, whereas on physiotherapy 65 % of new students were women. Across all degree pathways, women consistently achieved 3–5 % higher average grades, which resulted in the average grade for women being one grade boundary higher than for men. These gendered gaps could contribute to discrepancies within the sport industries and should be considered by staff who teach and recruit on sports degrees.

AB - This study aimed to identify gender gaps in enrolment and average grades on undergraduate sports degrees at a UK university. Data were retrospectively analysed over five years (1224 ± 57 students per year). On sports degrees, only 25–32 % of new students were women, whereas on physiotherapy 65 % of new students were women. Across all degree pathways, women consistently achieved 3–5 % higher average grades, which resulted in the average grade for women being one grade boundary higher than for men. These gendered gaps could contribute to discrepancies within the sport industries and should be considered by staff who teach and recruit on sports degrees.

KW - Attainment

KW - Engagement

KW - Higher education

KW - Men

KW - Women

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016263605

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DO - 10.1016/j.jhlste.2025.100576

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SN - 1473-8376

VL - 37

JO - Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education

JF - Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education

M1 - 100576

ER -

Identifying gender gaps on sports degrees: a retrospective case study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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