This research has been conducted with the aim of identifying the effective factors and barriers to sustainable employment of sports science graduates in Iran and within the framework of a qualitative approach.The statistical population were experts who were aware of the research topic. Data collection was through in-depth and semi-structured interviews, which reached theoretical saturation after 16 interviews. To measure validity, transferability and verifiability, research findings were presented to the participants and their points of view were applied. The intra-subject agreement method was used for reliability, which was reported as 0.82. The findings related to effective factors indicated 68 main concepts and 5 subcategories(Employment skills, curriculum, needs assessment, sports industry development, motivation and support) and the findings related to effective barriers indicated 27 main concepts and 5 subcategories(policy and planning, economic and financial, legal, technological, cultural and social).Therefore, Paying attention to the quality of the employability skills of sports science students, including personal, technical and professional, general skills and coordination between higher education policies, employment, science, technology and economy are of great importance. What is necessary for this goal is to reform employment policies, develop the sports industry, target financial policies, and encourage employers to use sports science graduates more.
