BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

Core units

• Introduction to Sports Therapy: This unit will introduce you to the history and progress of Sports Therapy as a growing profession. You will develop your understanding of the current best practice in identification and management of acute sports injuries and illness, including carrying out initial assessments and primary surveys with consideration of core professional standards applicable to practice. 
• Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology: Covering the core anatomical and physiological principles, you will understand how these relate to the different body systems.   
• Introduction to Research: You will be introduced to the concepts, principals and skills of social and scientific research enquiry and to the role of research more widely in a variety of rehabilitation, nutrition, sport and exercise related contexts. 
• Introduction to Injury: You will develop your understanding of common sports injuries and the body’s healing response across the lifespan. You will undertake subjective assessments as a tool to identify common injuries and rule out serious pathology, considering a diverse range of participants. 
• Applied Anatomy and Physiology: You will develop your understanding of anatomical and physiological principles in relation to assessing human movement and function, considering how changes in function affect individual health. 
• Therapeutic Modalities: In this unit, you will cover the knowledge required to safely and effectively apply therapeutic interventions in the context of injury management 

Core units

• Lower Limb Assessment and Treatment: In this unit, you will cover the ability to objectively evaluate and assess peripheral joints of the lower limb. You will apply your manual therapy knowledge and skills to implement a safe and effective treatment plan, relative to objective assessment findings. 
• Upper Limb Assessment and Treatment: In this unit, you will cover the ability to objectively evaluate and assess peripheral joints of the upper limb. You will apply your manual therapy knowledge and skills to implement a safe and effective treatment plan, relative to objective assessment findings. 
• Conducting Research: Prepare for independent research and develop your knowledge and critical understanding of social and scientific research applied to a range of nutrition, rehabilitation and sport and exercise science related contexts. You’ll learn how to critically evaluate research problems, and apply coherent ethical research designs and appropriate analysis. 
• Spinal Assessment and Treatment: In this unit, you will cover the ability to objectively evaluate and assess the spine, with consideration of clear communication and informed consent. You will apply your manual therapy knowledge and skills to implement a safe and effective treatment plan, relative to objective assessment findings. 
• Injury Rehabilitation: You will combine your pathophysiological knowledge with injury prevention and rehabilitation theory to plan, implement and monitor comprehensive rehabilitation programmes that consider injury risk reduction and progress a client to full functional fitness.  
• Exercise Prescription for Sport and Health: You will develop an understanding of how to design and plan a training programme for sport and health, with consideration of how to adapt training programmes to apply principles of training for development of specific goals relating to sport and health. 

You'll have the option to complete a 30-week work placement (minimum) during the course, working in a professional environment. The placement provides you with an opportunity to enhance your personal development and future employability.

Core units

• Advanced Rehabilitation and Return to Performance: This unit will advance your understanding of comprehensive high-level rehabilitation, considering elite and professional athletes. You will assess baseline information, and consider objective pre-injury data in the development of advanced return to sport rehabilitation programmes. 
• Contemporary Issues in Sport and Exercise: This unit will develop your understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with participation in sport and exercise, as well as considering emerging evidence regarding the management of optimal health and wellbeing across the life span. 
• Research for Practice: You will develop original and critical thinking whilst conducting independent research in relation to either health and social care, or sport, exercise and health. You will consolidate your ability to locate and synthesise evidence on a chosen topic, allowing you to critically evaluate such evidence to form reasoned arguments. 
• Applied Sports Therapy Practice: You will professionally integrate knowledge and practical skills to apply critical clinical reasoning to the assessment of injuries presenting during applied placement experience. Drawing on a comprehensive understanding of components of sports therapy, you will plan, implement and monitor injury prevention strategies and return to performance programmes. You will apply knowledge established in previous units and reflect upon your first-hand experience of sports therapy in a range of practice settings within placement. 

Optional units (pick 2 from 3 options) 

• Advanced Sports Trauma and Injury Management: This unit will provide you with the knowledge to manage the traumatically injured athlete in a pre-hospital environment. It will consider life and/or limb threatening injuries and equip you with best practice protocols to manage emergency situations. 
• Advanced Exercise Prescription for Health: This unit will provide you with the understanding to plan and deliver safe and effective exercise sessions/classes for a diverse range of population groups to optimise health. 
• Sport and Exercise Nutrition: Learn how to translate sports nutrition principles into practical professional advice in a range of sporting settings. The unit allows for critical evaluation of the general principles, concepts and underpinning theory in sports nutrition necessary for the development of nutritional strategies for those engaged in recreational through to elite sport.  

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

There is a strong emphasis on the understanding and application of practical skills. In your final year, there will be a requirement to undertake a minimum of 200 hours of supervised sports therapy experience. 

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Co-ordinator, alongside our Sports Therapy Professional Practice Lead.    

Through timetabled sessions and one-to-one appointments, they’ll help support you in your placement search including advice on finding a placement, information and advice on all aspects of job searching and job applications, as well as ensuring your proposed placement meets the requirements of your course.    

Our CareersBU service is also available throughout your time at BU, offering services like CV checking and careers fairs to meet employers.  

Placement Development Advisors will support you once you have started your sandwich placement – so you will be able to maintain contact with the university throughout.

Your final year placement will be interwoven throughout the year, and you also have the option of taking an additional minimum 30-week placement at the end of your second year of study. The placements may be with a Physiotherapist, Sports Therapist or Sports Rehabilitator, and each placement provider has to be recognised by an appropriate professional body.

As a sports therapy student you may have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our clinic.

Our BU Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic aims to offer rapid access, affordable healthcare services to all of our local communities. The clinic provides a multidisciplinary service based in the centre of Bournemouth and provides physiotherapy, sports massage and sports injury rehabilitation services.

Placement work experience in our clinic is designed to maximise your future employability and includes benefits such as:

Hands-on experience: 

• Develop your clinical skills and apply the theory and skills you have learned to real patients.
• Gain a breadth of experience treating a variety of cases, including high-level athletes.
• Develop your interpersonal skills as you engage with a wide range of patients.
• Gain experience to prepare you for your future career.

Mentorship:

• Learn from our highly qualified physiotherapy and sports therapy team.
• Gain personalised feedback on your skills in real-time as you put them into practice.

Exposure to the business side of healthcare:

• Explore your entrepreneurism with insight into clinical governance and clinical promotion.
• Gain experience of practice management including billing, scheduling and customer service.
• Gain insight into the set-up, management and work required in a private clinic.

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check (previously known as CRB)

All successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barred List check; this will be a condition of offer and will need to be completed prior to commencing the course. Please see the Government website for the most up to date information.

We are looking for applicants that demonstrate insight into the profession through work experience (paid or voluntary) or clear insight in the field of work being applied for. Examples of the sort of experience that candidates have are:

• In health, fitness, sport and/or rehabilitation settings.
• Experience in a ‘person-facing’ role such as a Fitness Instructor, Sports Coach or Lifeguard may be beneficial.

We'll use this information to shortlist applicants so it must be evidenced clearly on your UCAS application form in the employment history section and in your personal statement. 

In the healthcare sector IT is now a vital tool for accessing and maintaining patient records, accessing literature to client care and conducting clinically-related research. As a student you will receive an introduction to IT near the beginning of your course and you will be provided with computer access and your own email address.

During the course, you will be expected to use your developing IT skills to produce assignments,  conduct literature searches, and to use client-related record systems in the clinical setting. Following instruction some of your study will be undertaken through web-based learning tools, for example by participating in online discussions.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

If you are unable to meet the entry requirements, we may be able to make you an offer through AccessBU if you meet certain criteria e.g. you have been in care or live in an area where fewer people typically progress to Higher Education. If you don't meet our published tariff, we will accept you at least 8 points below if your personal circumstances match our AccessBU criteria. 

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU.
 
For our health and social care courses our admissions team use the DRIVE criteria to assess your application and evidence of this must be show in your personal statement. You can also find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

There are a variety of career options for students once you’ve graduated from this course. These include:

• Working in a sports therapy clinic, either by setting up your own practice or working for others
• Working with all levels of sports teams for both injury prevention and injury rehabilitation
• Working within clinical and NHS settings in roles such as Sport and Exercise Therapist, Musculoskeletal Clinician or Rehabilitation Assistant
• Working in the health and fitness industry.

You will also develop transferable skills such as time management, managing data, project management, enhanced communication skills and critical thinking skills.

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course, including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
• Professional body accreditation of the course
• Student membership to the Society of Sports Therapists during the course duration, which includes insurance to cover 250 hours of placement during the final year
• BU branded jacket, t-shirt and shorts for practical sessions 
• Use of SportBU facilities during the relevant periods of study

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies
• You will need to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as a condition of enrolment, including any Post Office verification charges. 
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately
• All students, including International students, must pay for travel costs to and from their placement, including car parking charges and car insurance. Where possible, travel distance and time are minimsed as part of the placement allocation process
• Additional course costs in first aid work, sports massage, or fitness instruction (optional). However, first aid is offered as part of the course, all students receive a First Aid at Work qualification.
• SportBU membership..

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Sara Sayer is a Lecturer and Professional Practice Lead for Sports Therapy, having joined BU in September 2020 from her role as Senior Academy Physiotherapist at AFC Bournemouth. 

Sara is unit lead for predominantly skills based units for Level 5 and 6 and in her role as Professional Practice Lead, she integrates placement opportunities within the Sports Therapy programme. Opportunities include first aid at Level 4 through to student led, case based learning on injured TeamBU athletes and pitchside assessment and management of injuries at University sports on Wednesdays. 

Sara completed an undergraduate degree in Sports Therapy at the University of Hertfordshire in 2012 and then a Masters degree in Physiotherapy at Oxford Brookes in 2016. Other than professional football, Sara has also worked at Salisbury Hospital in the Spinal Injury Unit and within a private musculoskeletal injury clinic.

Sara’s professional interests include the management and rehabilitation of injuries and she is currently studying for a PhD on the impact of the menstrual cycle on injuries in females.

Dr Malika Felton joined Bournemouth University in 2017 to complete her PhD in Health Sciences and joined the Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences in February 2021 as a Lecturer in Health and Exercise Science. She was Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy from August 2021 to May 2025 and teaches physiology, innovation and research units on this programme.

Malika’s research interests are in women's health, especially related to maternal health, and in the areas of physical activity and non-pharmacological treatment methods. She completed her postdoc research as part of the Moving Through Motherhood research team, based at the University of Exeter, working to improve physical activity information and guidance during and after pregnancy. Malika is also an ISAK Level Two Anthropometrist, trained as a technician in the measurement of body composition, and assists in teaching Level One ISAK courses in the UK and Ireland.

Dr Malika Felton won the Early Career Researcher Award at the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network conference in June 2023.

Peter is a Chartered Physiotherapist who has been working in clinical practice for over 20 years. He joined the University teaching team in 2019 and brings real world, practical experience from numerous clinical environments, including Elite and Professional Sport, the military, private practice and the NHS. Peter supports the skills based units at Bournemouth across all levels, including providing supervision for the case based learning on injured TeamBU athletes and pitchside assessment and management of injuries at University sports on Wednesdays.

Peter’s active clinical interests include advanced rehabilitation and strength and conditioning, long term athlete development and injury prevention, digital advances in healthcare and service delivery reform.