Hear what our students have to say about the programme. Louis Kimanzi Louis talks about his time studying Applied Sport Science at Moray House School of Education and Sport. Mason Tan What were you doing before you started your degree at Moray House? Before starting at Moray House, I was fulfilling my national service responsibilities with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. I had just graduated with a Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science from Republic Polytechnic before that.Why did you choose this programme?I chose this programme because I was looking for a quality programme that would allow me to continue building on the knowledge I attained from my Diploma. The modules that were covered were the ones I was interested in and aligned with my career goals too. On top of that, the University of Edinburgh is one of the UK’s leading sports universities with world-class facilities. Why did you want to study at the University of Edinburgh?I wanted to study here because the University is one of the world’s top universities. The Applied Sport Science course has consistently been ranked highly in the UK as well. Having an opportunity to meet and interact with some of the best students from all over the world was exciting as well. Finally, to be able to live in a beautiful and vibrant city like Edinburgh was definitely something that appealed to me!What was the best thing about your programme?The best thing about my programme was the quality of the programme and that it was an applied course. This stood out for me as I know of other programmes that were more theoretical instead. Having the opportunity to learn from members of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC) and external guest lecturers definitely enriched my learning.What did you enjoy about your studies?I enjoyed being taught by academic staff who made the learning experience engaging and interesting. As an undergraduate student, I appreciated the opportunities to interact with my professors and research fellows at the University. As part of my own dissertation research, I was able to work with academic staff from a different University, which definitely value-added to my overall learning experience.What are you doing now?I am now working as an Active Health Coach with Sport Singapore, where I support individuals in taking ownership of their health and well-being through the design and delivery of programmes and workshops. I’m also currently in the final semester of my Postgraduate studies in Sport and Exercise Studies at Nanyang Technological University which I am completing on a part-time basis.How did your experience at Moray House help you get where you are today?My experience provided me with a strong foundation to build on. The high level of transferable skills gained, such as thinking critically and analytically, and carrying out thorough and robust research has served me well in my current scope of work.What advice would you give to someone considering studying at Moray House?If someone was considering studying at Moray House, I would advise them to definitely make it their top choice if the programme aligns with their own career aspirations. I’m sure they will have a wonderful opportunity to develop themselves both professionally and personally and would most definitely enjoy their time there.How would you describe your experience in three words?If I had to explain my experience in three words, I would say exciting, enriching and fulfilling. Image Stephanie Davis What were you doing before you started your degree at Moray House?The year before I started at Moray House was an ‘inbetween’ year for me. I had finished my Highers at school but I decided to take a year out before going to university to explore my options. I knew I wanted to study something sport-related but I wasn’t entirely sure which direction to go in so I went to college to do a HNC in Fitness, Health and Exercise.Why did you choose this programme?I have always been sporty and active, and after studying Fitness, Health and Exercise at college, I knew I wanted to learn more. I liked that the Sport Science course was varied and explored all areas related to exercise and sport, and gave me a number of routes to go down at the end of my degree.Why did you want to study at the University of Edinburgh?The main reason I wanted to study at the University of Edinburgh was because all my friends were going to Edinburgh and it wasn’t too close from home (Glasgow). I went along to the open day and loved the city and facilities available at Moray House. It felt like a great fit for me!What was the best thing about your programme?The course was very hands-on and interactive. We did a lot of team work and there were many practical lectures, which suited my learning style. The lab equipment at Moray House was great – the tutorial in the heat and cooling chamber is one I particularly enjoyed.What did you enjoy about your studies?I enjoyed my whole experience at Edinburgh – from studying Sport Science, joining the Hare & Hounds running club, using the amazing facilities in the gym and exploring a great city!What are you doing now?Now I am a professional runner and work part time in Finance. I also do some running coaching around work and training!How did your experience at Moray House help you get where you are today?My experience at Moray House helped me become the athlete I am today. I learned a lot from my degree on how the body adapts and trains, and I learned from the University running club different training practices and the balance between training sessions. Both of these experiences have taught me things that I apply to training and coaching today.What advice would you give to someone considering studying at Moray House?I would encourage anyone to apply to Moray House. If you are looking for a friendly place, amazing facilities and great lecturers then you are going to the right place! I also love Edinburgh as a city – there is so much to do but it is small enough you don’t feel lost.How would you describe your experience in three words?The three words I would use to describe my experience are… Inspiring, Interactive, Fun. Image Tom Julian Tom studied BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science at Moray House, graduating in 2012. His career in Sports Journalism and PR has since gone from strength to strength, and he now works as International PR Manager for the Bundesliga. Image Why did you study at Moray House?The combination of a globally-renowned course, coupled with the history and beauty of the city of Edinburgh made it a no-brainer when the time came to choosing a university. Coming from a small town, Edinburgh was the perfect blend of city life yet surrounded by nature, and I was instantly at home there. The course itself – the facilities and the opportunities to dive deeper into subjects that had long fascinated me – made it a clear number one. Tell us about your time at the UniversityStudying at Edinburgh was an incredible experience, not only for the course and the chance to discover more about the advancement of elite sport and people, but also the possibilities outside of study. Over the course of four years, I spent time as captain of the Men’s Judo team, hosted a Fresh Air radio show, and played intra-mural football as the player-coach of multi-title winning Aston Vica’ FC. Co-founded with my flatmate and fellow alum Jimmy Paul, intra-mural was the highlight of the weekend; compiling a really talented squad, developing spirited rivalries with longstanding teams (shout-out to Shugs Maw), and creating friends for life through a sport we all loved! Outside of university activities, I volunteered at Hibernian FC, and at local radio stations Forth 1 and Garrison FM (now BFBS Forces Radio).My dissertation centred on the importance of balance in martial arts training, primarily how experienced judoka’s compared to a non-martial arts trained control group. Moray House gave me access to state-of-the-art equipment, and the professors from both sports psychology and physiology provided support and guidance. The skills I learned ranged greatly; from independence and the importance of budgeting, to being diligent and thorough in my work, asking critical questions, and demanding more of myself to achieve the best possible result. Tell us about your experiences since graduatingAfter graduation I joined Sky as a media researcher, hoping to work my way up to being a full-time sports journalist. I achieved that goal, starting as a multi-sport journalist before becoming NFL Editor for Skysports.com. A personal career highlight to date was travelling to Houston, Texas for Superbowl 51 – the site of Tom Brady’s New England Patriots coming back from 28-3 down to lift the Lombardi Trophy in overtime!After five years at Sky, I moved into public relations, working for an agency that specialised in Olympic communications. There I worked with international federations and governing bodies, including the Commonwealth Games Federation, International Volleyball, and World Taekwondo. I also contributed to the corporate communications efforts from Olympic bid cities, including LA 2028.After three years there and just days before the Coronavirus pandemic, I moved to Germany to begin working as the International PR Manager for the Bundesliga. After two years of pandemic and “ghost games”, the Bundesliga is once again one of the most exciting and most watched leagues in the world, and it is my pleasure to work with journalists and broadcasters globally to bring the best of German football to fans across the globe. Alumni wisdomMy time at Moray House was fundamental to my progression because of the life lessons I learned along the way. The confidence to reach out and ask for an opportunity, even if it doesn’t look like one is there, has been the making of my career so far. While in Edinburgh, you have to hike Arthur’s Seat for the sunrise, take every opportunity to join clubs and societies and enjoy your time with friends because you will likely never have time like that again! More student stories Hear from more Sport students and graduates from Moray House programmes This article was published on 2024-10-07
