The article is devoted to the problem of implementing the principle of continuous education of students of a sports university by combining basic vocational education and training in additional vocational education programs. The relevance of the research is due to the need to master and constantly improve professional knowledge and skills, competence development of the individual in accordance with the requirements of modern conditions. The purpose of the study: to assess the readiness of students of P.F. Lesgaft NSU, St. Petersburg to study under the professional retraining program at the University in parallel with obtaining basic education. The research conducted by the authors in the form of a survey of students of the P.F. Lesgaft National University, St. Petersburg in order to determine their attitude to the possibility of obtaining additional professional education during basic education allowed us to substantiate the conclusion about the demand for a combination of basic and additional professional education in a sports university, the high relevance of the principle of lifelong learning for modern students.