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Sports Therapy - BSc (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Our innovative, practice-based Sports Therapy course is a chance for you to develop specialist skills in the prevention, treatment, management and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. Underpinned by sports medicine and sport and exercise science, this course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists....

  • Level Undergraduate
  • Study mode Full Time/Part Time

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Overview

Our innovative, practice-based Sports Therapy course is a chance for you to develop specialist skills in the prevention, treatment, management and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. Underpinned by sports medicine and sport and exercise science, this course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists. This ensures that the knowledge and competencies you gain during your time on the course are aligned with professional industry standards.

You will learn with a dynamic, expert and research-rich team of sports therapists, health professionals and sports scientists, enabling you to gain a holistic education in sports therapy. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be fully equipped with the clinical skills to work with professional sports teams, as well as with individual elite performers. Alternatively, you may wish to work in private practice, treating a wide variety of individuals in a musculoskeletal injury clinic.

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

You will cover all competencies required by The Society of Sports Therapists, such as examination, assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, delivery of soft tissue therapies, peripheral and vertebral joint mobilisations, sport and exercise rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and trauma management to name a few.

There will be compulsory work placements built into all three years of your course providing you with invaluable real-life, hands-on learning. These will include both internal and external opportunities with sporting teams and musculoskeletal injury clinics. Additionally, you can opt to complete a 12 month placement (sandwich course), which could either be within the UK or abroad.

By studying this course, you’ll split your time between our recently extended £71 million campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham which contain our state-of-the-art sport and exercise laboratory, sports therapy rooms, cutting-edge resources and a designated sports area. The Stadium was home to the Commonwealth Games in summer 2022, and the University is investing an additional £5m in areas across both main stands which will be home to our students.

Professional Placement Year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

Accredited By

This course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists

  • SST

Why Choose Us?

  • Professional accreditation – this course is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists, the largest governing body of Sports Therapists in the UK, enabling you to become an accredited practitioner upon graduation.
  • You will be taught in small practical groups - this creates an excellent close sports therapy community, where you will get to know your peer group as well as teaching staff.
  • Experienced staff – teaching staff have clinical experience in professional rugby, cricket, football, basketball and netball, as well as working in and running private injury clinics. Course Leader, Peter Thain has worked at the Commonwealth Games 2018 and 2022 as the lead therapist to Team England’s Basketball Teams. Peter is currently the clinical lead for the Great Britain Senior Women's Basketball Team.
  • Research active – teaching staff are research active and have presented their work at international conferences and within international journals. Read about our current research projects.
  • In-house Work Experience – you will have the opportunity to gain clinical experience in the assessment, treatment and management of musculoskeletal injuries, within our bespoke in-house sports massage and sports injury clinics, starting in your first year.
  • World-class facilities - You’ll split your time between our campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and - from early 2024 - the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham. We have a lease for space across the East and West stands of the Stadium and are investing £5 million in developing the space to house our state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources, including physiology labs and a sports therapy suite.

    Open Days

    Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

    Next Open Day: 24 November 2024

    Book your place

    Entry Requirements

    These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.

    All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

    Essential requirements

    Applicants will also need to complete an interview for this course; see interview arrangements below.

    If your level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on our Foundation Year instead. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff.

    Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

    Successful candidates will be required to obtain a satisfactory occupational health check, an enhanced DBS check and registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority prior to enrolling on this course. If you have any queries please refer to DBS Frequently Asked Questions or contact admissions@bcu.ac.uk.

    If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

    Fees & How to Apply

    Please select your student status to view fees and apply
    • UK Student
    • International Student

    UK students

    Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

    Award: BSc (Hons)

    Starting: Sep 2025

    • Mode
    • Duration
    • Fees
    • £1542 per 20 credits
    • Year 1 - 60 credits
    • Year 2 - 60 credits
    • Year 3 - 60 credits
    • Year 4 - 60 credits
    • Year 5 - 60 credits
    • Year 6 - 60 credits

    Fees for Part-time students

    This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

    International students

    Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

    Access to computer equipment 

    You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms. 

    Printing 

    You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment. 

    Field trips 

    All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees. 

    Access to Microsoft Office 365 

    Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation. 

    Key software 

    You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research. 

    Key subscriptions 

    Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library. 

    DBS check 

    If you are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course, the cost for your first DBS check is included in your fees. 

    Uniform 

    You will be provided with a polo shirt, crew neck t-shirt, zip-through top and shorts. There is an option to purchase more/alternative items.  

    Occupational health assessment 

    You will need to complete an occupational health assessment. The cost for this is included in your course fee. 

    Memberships 

    Membership of the relevant professional body is included in the course fees. 

    Placement expenses (mandatory) 

    Placements are a compulsory element of this course. You'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home. 

    Excess printing (optional) 

    Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet. 

    Personal stationery and study materials (optional) 

    Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. 

    Books (optional) 

    All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £100 for this. 

    Accommodation and living costs (optional)

    The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

    Guidance for UK students

    UCAS

    UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

    The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

    Applying through UCAS
     Register with UCAS
     Login to UCAS
     Complete your details
     Select your course
     Write a personal statement
     Get a reference
     Pay your application fee
     Send UCAS your application

    Our advice for applying to a health care course

    Applying for a course and preparing for an interview can be a daunting process, so we have created a series of films to help you through the process, including what to put in your personal statement.

    More guidance

    Personal statement

    Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

    Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

    Course choice

    Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?

    Career plans

    If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.

    Work experience

    Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.

    School or college experience

    Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.

    Non-accredited skills or achievement

    eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

    You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

    Get more information on writing personal statements.

    Course in Depth

    First Year

    In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

    Second Year

    In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

    Professional Placement Year

    In order to qualify for the award of ‘BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy with Professional Placement Year’ you must successfully complete the following module:

    Final Year

    In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

    Download course specification

    Download now

    Course overview

    Our BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy course aims to create competent, autonomous and industry ready graduates who are prepared for a career in sport or private practice. They will be able to practise effectively within the global sporting context and be sensitive to the needs of diverse cultures. Graduates will be able to critically reflect upon research and their own applied practice, as they continually seek to develop their professional competence, and adapt to the growing demands of industry.  

    You'll have the option of taking a sandwich year between Year 2 and Year 3 of study. 

    SST
    The Society of Sports Therapists

    This course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists

    Employability

    Placements

    You’ll have placements built into all three years of your course. Starting with pitch-side first aid in year one, you will progress throughout your time studying with us until you are working in our on-site sports injury clinic, treating and managing complex sporting injuries. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to take a sandwich placement year, which could either be within the UK or abroad, working with professional sports teams or in private sports injury clinics.

    More about our placement opportunities

    Facilities & Staff

    Teaching for our Sports courses is split between our £71 million campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham. Our cutting-edge facilities for sports students include a state-of-the-art sport and exercise lab, sports therapy suite, biomechanics lab and physiology labs.

    The Stadium was home to the Commonwealth Games in summer 2022, and the University is investing an additional £5m to develop space in the East and West stands as a home for our students.

    Our new home at Alexander Stadium

    Our staff

    Dr Peter Thain

    Associate Professor and Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

    As a Chartered Physiotherapist and Sports Therapist, Peter has over a decade of experience working in basketball, football and netball. Peter successfully designed and validated the initial BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy, and after three consecutive 100% student satisfaction scores in the National Student Survey, continues to lead the sports...

    More about Peter

    Chelsea Papworth

    Lecturer for BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

    Chelsea is a member of The Society of Sports Therapist and has a range of clinical and sporting experience spanning the past 10 years. She has worked in basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, athletics and rugby, within the UK and Canada. Her primary roles included; lead Sports Therapist within a non-league football club, Sports Therapist for an...

    More about Chelsea

    Tim Leary

    Senior Lecturer in Sports Therapy

    Tim has experience working as the Team Physiotherapist to a County Cricket Club, as well as basketball, private practice and the NHS. Tim is a practising musculoskeletal physiotherapist with extensive clinical experience in the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and management of sports and exercise related injuries. 

    More about Tim

    Joseph Matthews

    Lecturer in Sports Therapy

    Joe is a Lecturer in Sports Therapy at Birmingham City University with an interest in sports nutrition and muscle physiology. Joe has experience working across a range of professional sports teams and organisations including Wasps RFC, Coventry United Women’s FC, Luton Town FC, Movement Therapy Clinics, and The Fire Fighters Charity.

    More about Joseph