A Sports Therapy student monitors one of her peers as they ride an exercise bike.

BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

Develop the skills required to keep athletes in peak condition as you gain practical experience in our specialist sports therapy clinic on a degree accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists.

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    Overview

    Covid-19 - Sports Therapy Essential Information

    View essential information and videos about the changes to teaching and learning and campus facilities from September 2020
    UCAS Code: CB63
    Course Length: 3 Years Full-Time
    Start Dates: September 2021
    Subjects: Sport and Physical Activity
    Location: Edge Hill University
    Example Offers: BCC-BBC (A Level) or DMM (BTEC)
    View full entry criteria

    In pursuit of sporting excellence, the human body is often pushed to its limits, with consequences frequently arising in the form of physical injury. This professionally accredited degree provides you with the skills and knowledge to help injured athletes recover through rehabilitation and return to peak fitness and competitive sport. Designed specifically for people who wish to pursue a career in sports therapy, the course has a strong practical emphasis, underpinned by solid theoretical knowledge. It also provides experience working with clients in our on-campus clinic which is a key feature of this degree. On graduation you will be eligible for membership of The Society of Sports Therapists, which carries professional indemnity insurance.

    Student and Alumni Profiles

    • Jeni Sturgess

      Jeni Sturgess

      BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
      Differential diagnosis – thinking outside the box and considering a range of factors when determining what’s wrong with a patient – is a skill I gained at Edge Hill that is key to the way I work today.
       View Jeni Sturgess' full profile

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    In Depth

    What will I study?

    Year 1 gives you a solid grounding in the disciplines relating to sports therapy. It will develop fundamental knowledge and skills in subject areas such as anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, exercise therapy and injury assessment and treatment.

    In Year 2, as well as building on your specific sports therapy skills, you will look further at the underpinning scientific principles in sports therapy in applied kinesiology and anatomy and physiology. You will have an opportunity to develop your practitioner skills through the sports therapy clinical practice module within our on-site clinical environment.

    Year 3 will require you to use all of your knowledge of sports science and therapy to develop sophisticated sports therapy treatment plans and rehabilitation programmes. You will also build on your understanding of treatment methods and apply your knowledge in a practical sports therapy environment. In addition, you will complete a dissertation on an area of sports therapy of your choice.

    How will I study?

    The degree takes a hands-on approach, with practical experience gained in our purpose-built and well-equipped biomechanics, physiology and psychology laboratories and sports therapy clinical areas. You will also have lectures, small group seminars, tutorials, workshops, taught practical sessions and ICT-based learning. For each module you will have a detailed booklet that tells you what sessions are about, what to read and how you will be assessed, as well as offering coursework guidance.

    Students will gain extensive clinical practice experience throughout the programme within our on-site sports therapy clinic in the first two years and within a professional/semi-professional club in the final year of the degree.

    How will I be assessed?

    You will be assessed using practical examinations, clinical portfolios, essays, critical analysis of papers, oral presentations, case studies and independent research.

    Who will be teaching me?

    The teaching team are highly experienced and enthusiastic with a real commitment to teaching and supporting students. Dynamic, friendly and supportive of individual student’s needs, staff are also actively involved in research and consultancy projects that influence the development of sport therapy and which directly feed into your degree.

    A Great Study Environment

    Students engage in sports therapy in the dedicated facilities on campus.All courses in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity place a strong emphasis on practical work, underpinned by outstanding facilities including dedicated biochemistry, biomechanics, performance analysis, physiology and psychology laboratories.

    The performance analysis laboratory provides access to industry-standard software and audio-visual equipment for the analysis of athletic and coaching performance, while the biochemistry laboratory enables you to collect and accurately analyse a wide range of metabolites, using the latest technology, to determine the physiological responses of athletes and others, to a variety of exercise stresses such as running, cycling and rowing.

    There is a dedicated sports therapy clinic, providing a clinical learning environment in which you will gain practical experience with your peers and external clients, as well as a functional rehabilitation centre where bespoke rehabilitation programmes for individuals or small groups can be implemented.

    Additional learning resources include high quality eye-tracking systems in a specialist vision analysis laboratory where you can measure hand-eye coordination, ocular-motor control, reaction times, cognition and other mechanisms associated with visual perception. Cutting edge musculoskeletal assessment tools combine with a dedicated strength and conditioning area in our MSk laboratory where you can assess athletes and implement (p)rehabilitation programmes. Isokinetic dynamometry, electromyography and dynamic balance assessment can all be conducted with immediate transfer to exercise prescription.

    In the Sleep, Exercise and Performance laboratory, you can measure the responses of individuals to sleep, sleep deprivation and changes in the circadian rhythms of a variety of biological processes. This helps to determine the best time to exercise or when individuals need to sleep and recover.

    Complementing the impressive academic facilities, there are £30 million of sport and leisure facilities across 60 acres on campus, including top-of-the-range 3G football and rugby pitches, hockey pitches, tennis courts, a competition-standard athletics track and an athletics field. The University sports centre boasts a 25-metre swimming pool, double sports hall for badminton, basketball, netball and squash, a 100-station fitness suite, aerobics studio and a health suite with sauna and steam rooms.

    Modules

    Expand All

    Year 1

    SPT1930Critical Enquiry and Academic Skills for Sports Therapy (20 credits)

    Critical Enquiry and Academic Skills for Sports Therapy provides you with the necessary foundation skills to study at degree level and will include an introduction to the research and study skills required to investigate issues within the domain of sports therapy.  Specifically, the module is designed to help you develop essential intellectual and study skills in order to search for published literature, write scientifically and employ clinical reasoning in the analysis and interpretation of published work. An initiation to statistics theory, statistical analysis methods and qualitative methods of research will be explored.


    Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Written Exam(s): 50%.

    SPT1931Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)

    Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology provides an overview of the fundamental concepts of physiology and anatomy and their relative function in sports therapy. The module equips you with a knowledge of both the structure and function of various physiological systems and the gross anatomy of the human structure. The exploration of these theoretical concepts will be supplemented by additional laboratory sessions which will help develop relevant laboratory-based competencies in line with the professional standards required of a sport therapy practitioner.


    Assessment: Coursework: 30%, Practical(s): 70%.

    SPT1932Introduction to Kinesiology (20 credits)

    Introduction to Kinesiology helps you to understand the physical and mechanical principles that determine movement and interaction with objects during exercise and sports performance. The module will introduce you to key concepts such as force, mass, speed, velocity, acceleration and momentum. You will explore how these concepts enable us to describe and understand movement and musculoskeletal injury.  You will gain hands-on experience in video analysis and force plate analysis for the evaluation of technique and the measurement of loads and forces that lead to musculoskeletal injury.


    Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Written Exam(s): 50%.

    SPT1933Introduction to Exercise Therapy (20 credits)

    Introduction to Exercise Therapy provides you with knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of implementing exercise, games and activities for a healthy population. The environment used will be a mixture of gymnasium, pool and outdoor practical spaces providing you with a wide range of practice-based settings in which you will begin to develop your exercise as rehabilitation skills. The key areas of  focus for the module will be initial personal characteristics in terms of voice, manner, enthusiasm and reaction to situations and events. Attention will also be given to more organisational skills such as time management and the planning and preparation of certain tasks. You will be expected to use your own initiative and imagination in developing game/activity plans for pairs, small groups and team-related exercises and be able to reflect on the outcome of these tasks.


    Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

    SPT1934Sports Therapy 1 (20 credits)

    Sports Therapy 1 represents the first stage of training in becoming a sports therapist and is designed to provide you with an introduction to the role of a sports therapist in assisting injury prevention. You will discover how to competently administer first aid in a sporting context; identify causes and specific types of tissue injury and gain an understanding of the healing processes involved; identify indications, cautions and contraindications of sports massage treatments; and achieve competency in the application of a range of massage and soft tissue treatments. The module provides you with the foundation on which you can build further knowledge, skills and expertise.


    Assessment: Coursework: 30%, Practical(s): 70%.

    SPT1935Sports Therapy 2 (20 credits)

    Sports Therapy 2 is designed to provide you with an introduction to the role of a sports therapist in helping to prevent injury. You will discover how to identify causes and specific types of tissue injury, the healing processes involved and possible recovery complications. You will also learn how to conduct a competent basic assessment of a sports person in a clinical/practical setting and plan treatment programmes appropriate to specific stages of pathology and tissue healing. A key feature of the module will be the development of examination and assessment skills. The module provides you with the foundation on which you can build further knowledge, skills and expertise.


    Assessment: Practical(s): 100%.

    Year 2

    SPT2930Research for Sports Therapy (20 credits)

    Research for Sports Therapy enables you to enhance your research skills and develop the expertise required in order to critically evaluate scientific and clinical literature, further your understanding of research questions, and plan and design meaningful and valid research. Applied statistical analysis, which encompasses descriptive and inferential statistics, will be given particular attention. Important concepts including research ethics, relating to the use of human subjects, will also be introduced.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    SPT2931Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)

    Anatomy and Physiology equips you with a deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology and its relation to sports therapy. The module provides an enhanced understanding of the application of anatomy and physiology in relation to the sport therapist and their work with elite and recreational athletes. You will conduct competent examinations and assessments of peripheral and spinal regions of the body, analyse the physiological demands of sport specific performance and identify factors that limit performance, and learn how to interpret results of physiological profiles of performers and communicate findings to appropriate audiences.


    Assessment: Coursework: 40%, Practical(s): 60%.

    SPT2932Kinesiology (20 credits)

    Kinesiology develops your knowledge and understanding of kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement, in order to link and apply movement principles to the injured athlete. You will discover and apply theories as to why athletes move in a certain way in sports performance and build your understanding of how technique can be adjusted to improve performance and reduce the likelihood of injury. The module will further your knowledge and understanding of the basic anatomical structures and theories relating to the causative factors of injury and the methods of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of biomechanical problems.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    SPT2933Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation (20 credits)

    Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation introduces the concepts of injury and rehabilitation management supported by evidence based practice strategies adopted by health care professionals. Clinical reasoning will form the ethos of planning and putting together any preventative or treatment strategy.  You will develop skills which enable you to plan progressive rehabilitation programmes across a range of sports and identify an athlete’s readiness to return to play/physical activity, as well as the need to regress a rehabilitation programme where appropriate.


    Assessment: Coursework: 60%, Practical(s): 40%.

    SPT2934Manual Therapy 1 (20 credits)

    Manual Therapy 1 introduces you to the concepts of manual therapy and will involve the development of your skills in both soft tissue and peripheral joint mobilisation. The module provides you with the skills to examine, select and apply appropriate therapeutic interventions in a safe and effective manner in the treatment of injury.  The practical skills-based sessions within this module are used to reinforce the theoretical principles and clinical evidence base introduced in lectures which have been used to inform practice.


    Assessment: Written Exam(s): 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

    SPT2935Sports Therapy Clinical Practice (20 credits)

    Sports Therapy Clinical Practice provides an opportunity to draw together key aspects of clinical practice to achieve a synthesis of learning. The module will enable you to apply the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation skills in order to manage a range of sports injuries.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    Year 3

    SPT3220Dissertation (40 credits)

    Dissertation allows you to engage in an in-depth independent research project, specialising your focus on a relevant area of interest.


    Assessment: Coursework: 80%, Practical(s): 20%.

    SPT3930Advanced Clinical Practice (20 credits)

    Advanced Clinical Practice enables you to draw together key aspects of clinical practice and applied and advanced clinical practice in order to achieve a synthesis of learning. The aim is to provide a practical context in which to apply and evaluate theoretical concepts. You will critically apply the skills of assessment, clinical reasoning and rehabilitation techniques to clients with a range of sports related injuries. You will also critically reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses in the context of the role of a sports therapist. The module provides an opportunity to access, analyse and record clinical data, make reasoned clinical judgements, and determine the appropriateness of assessment protocols.


    Assessment: Coursework: 30%, Practical(s): 70%.

    SPT3933Functional Rehabilitation (20 credits)

    Rehabilitation Science develops your knowledge and understanding of the concepts of injury and rehabilitation management, with a specific focus on functional approaches, supported by  the evidence-based practice strategies adopted by health care professionals. The module will look at the relationship of physiological rehabilitation and how this is aligned to the more specific physical rehabilitation modes, highlighting the importance of position and sport-specific rehabilitation concepts and the role of the sports therapists in bridging this knowledge gap. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to the psychology of the injured athlete who is about to be returned to full competitive and contact sport.


    Assessment: Coursework: 60%, Practical(s): 40%.

    SPT3934Manual Therapy 2 (20 credits)

    Manual Therapy 2 is designed to enhance your manual therapy techniques and assessment skills and enable you to apply manual therapy skills to sports related vertebral problems. You will discover how to examine and assess the joints of the vertebral column and identify the relevance of signs and symptoms encountered, plan and apply appropriate evidence-based manual therapy techniques to the vertebral column in a safe and effective manner, and advise clients on safe and effective preventative and self-treatment measures.


    Assessment: Practical(s): 100%.

    SPT3935Strength and Conditioning for Sports Therapy (20 credits)

    Strength and Conditioning for Sports Therapy furthers your understanding and application of the study of sports therapy, with an applied focus on current initiatives in strength and conditioning. Issues in strength and conditioning will be considered with reference to performance enhancement, rehabilitation and injury prevention. You will develop a specific, distinctive appreciation of strength and conditioning issues across a range of sports, in each case considering the hierarchical needs of the various parameters of conditioning in order to enable you to develop and critically evaluate a periodised rehabilitation plan for selected injury.


    Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

    Timetables

    Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

    Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

    Entry Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    Typical offer 104-112 UCAS Tariff points, preferably to include Physical Education or a Science subject.

    This course is approved by the Society of Sports Therapists. When offers of places are made, consideration will be taken of the Standards of Practice and Proficiency of the Society with regard to your personal fitness and capability to practice.

    If you accept a formal offer from Edge Hill University you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure indicating that you meet the mandatory criteria of ‘Clearance to Work with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults’. Further information will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.

    Example Offers

    Some examples of how you can achieve 104-112 UCAS Tariff points are detailed below.

    • A Level: BCC-BBC;
    • BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications): Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM);
    • International Baccalaureate (IB): We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply;
    • Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 credits at Level 3, for example 9 credits at Distinction and 36 credits at Merit or 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

    Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

    As long as you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as the Welsh Baccalaureate and Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven’t been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

    For further information on how you can meet the entry requirements, including details of alternative qualifications, please visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/offers.

    EU students can get country-specific information about the University’s entry requirements and equivalent national qualifications at www.edgehill.ac.uk/eu.

    International students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international for information on the entry criteria for overseas applicants.

    English Language Requirements

    International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

    If your current level of English is half a band lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

    Recognition of Prior Learning

    Edge Hill University recognises learning gained elsewhere, whether through academic credit and qualifications acquired from other relevant courses of study or through recognition of an individual’s professional and employment experience (also referred to as ‘experiential learning’). This may include credit or learning undertaken at another university.

    Previous learning that is recognised in this way may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for a programme and/or for exemption from part of a programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning. For guidance, please consult the University’s academic regulations (sections C7 and F3.1) or contact the faculty in which you are interested in studying.

    Career Prospects

    What are my career prospects?

    You will be well prepared and have the practical competencies to work as a self-employed therapist. You will also be well-equipped for employment within the health and fitness industry and within professional sport. You may also have the opportunity to progress onto postgraduate study.

    How can I enhance my employability?

    It is useful to consider, even before you apply, how you will spend your time while studying and make the most of your university experience.

    Optional, additional activities may be available on this degree which could help to prepare you for a stimulating and rewarding career. These include:

    • Sandwich Years – you may have the opportunity to apply to complete a sandwich year placement, usually as the third year of a four year degree, and gain highly relevant work experience;
    • Erasmus+ and Study Abroad – you may have the opportunity to apply to spend time studying or working abroad, usually as the third year of a four year degree, enabling you to immerse yourself in a different culture;
    • Learning a Language – you may be able to participate in Language Steps classes, delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, as additional study.

    Please note, the availability of these additional activities cannot be guaranteed for all students. Depending on availability and the number of students wanting to participate, there may be a competitive application process for sandwich year placements or studying abroad opportunities or you may be required to secure a relevant placement yourself.

    Finance

    Tuition Fees

    If you are a prospective UK student who will be joining this undergraduate degree in academic year 2021/22, the tuition fee will be £9,250 per annum (subject to final Government approval).

    Tuition fees for international students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2021/22 are £12,500 per annum. Exemptions apply for EU students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, who may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

    The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

    Financial Support

    Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this undergraduate degree can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the programme may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

    For comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students joining this programme in academic year 2021/22, together with details of how to apply for potential funding, please view our Money Matters 2021/22 guide at www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfinance2021.

    EU students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals should apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).

    Financial support information for international students can be found at www.edgehill.ac.uk/international/fees.

    Scholarships

    Ten scholarship winners sitting together in a lecture theatre at the Scholarship Awards Evening.Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships with a competitive application process for prospective full-time undergraduate students.

    These scholarships aren’t linked to academic success and celebrate determination, talent and achievement beyond your coursework, for instance in creativity, enterprise, ICT, performance, sport or volunteering.

    An additional scholarship, which you may qualify to receive, rewards outstanding A Level and BTEC grades.

    To find out more about scholarships, to assess your eligibility, and to meet some of our dedicated scholarship winners, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

    Apply

    How to Apply

    Apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.com.

    Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyucas to find out more about the application process.

    Further information for international students about how to apply is available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyinternational.

    Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

    Visit Us

    If you are considering applying to study at Edge Hill University, the best way to gain an insight into student life is to discover our stunning campus for yourself by attending an open day. You can view dates and book your place at www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays.

    Alternatively, if you are unable to attend an open day, you can find out more about our full range of events for prospective students, including campus tours and virtual activities, at www.edgehill.ac.uk/visitus.

    Request a Prospectus

    If you would like to explore our full range of degrees before you apply, you can order an undergraduate prospectus at www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradprospectus.

    Get in Touch

    If you have any questions about this programme or what it’s like to study at Edge Hill University, please contact:

    International students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk with any queries about overseas study.

    A prospective student and her parents read a printed open day guide while stood on a bridge near the Catalyst building.

    Course Changes

    Expand All This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years.

    12th February 2020 - Change to Entry Requirements

    104-112 UCAS Tariff points are required to join this programme with effect from September 2021 entry.

    5th July 2019 - Change to Entry Requirements

    Entry requirements have been revised to 112 UCAS Tariff points, preferably to include Physical Education or a Science subject. Additionally, DBS Enhanced Disclosure continues to be required.

    Covid-19 - Sports Therapy Essential Information

    Sports Therapy Course Statement

    Weekly delivery to consist of six hours of onsite teaching supported by six hours of online learning comprising of synchronous (lecture, tutorial, workshop) and asynchronous (lecture, discussion board, online tasks, practical simulations, problem-based learning) learning activities and academic support.

    Teaching and Learning at Edge Hill University in 2020

    In this video Pro Vice-Chancellor, Lynda Brady, answers your questions and explains how teaching will work when you join us at Edge Hill University in September.

    Campus Facilities at Edge Hill University in 2020

    In this video Pro Vice-Chancellor, Lynda Brady, explains how we’re preparing the campus for your arrival in September and the facilities that will be available.