Sports and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons)
Course Code
UCAS Code: BC96
International Code: HLSU191
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years full-time (study abroad or work placement)
Start date
September 2022
Course overview
Study level: Undergraduate
Sports and Exercise Therapists aim to maximise peoples’ physical potential in performance, sports and life.
- Sports and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists (SST)
- Dedicated Sports Therapy Clinic run by final year students under the supervision of staff
- Study in the multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building with specialist sports therapy suite, physiology and biomechanics laboratories and industry-standard equipment
- Excellent current staff links with sporting organisations, events, local sports teams and clinics

Global Ready
An international outlook, with global opportunities
Teaching excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Employability
Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeedWhy you should study this course
Sports and Exercise Therapists work with clients through rehabilitation to achieve maximum performance. Currently accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists (SST), this course aims to examine the musculoskeletal system, exercise physiology, treatment and rehabilitation skills with an emphasis on performance underpinned by sports science principles.
With access to a dedicated Sports Therapy Clinic, where you will have the chance to engage with public clients from year two onwards (subject to availability), you’ll be taught in fully equipped sports therapy suites, and physiology and biomechanics labs. These feature gold-standard equipment such as Alter G treadmill, Isokinetic Dynamometry, bod-pod and Vicon 3D motion analysis.
Our current team of expert practitioners - who continue to work in the industry, engage in active research and clinical practice - will support you and aim to help you to develop the skills needed to become an accredited Sports and Exercise Therapist* upon graduation.
You will explore the structure and function of the human body and how to employ a variety of therapy techniques including massage, soft tissue manipulation and exercise programmes. This will be expanded to include joint mobilisation techniques and management of acute emergency situations. In addition, you will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in the application of scientific disciplines such as psychology and nutrition to your clients.
You will have the opportunity to complete incremental placements throughout your studies and apply for a placement year nationally or study abroad year internationally*. You will also have the opportunity to volunteer to support a wide range of events throughout the community during your time with us*. Previous students have provided support at events such as the World and British Transplant Games and have worked with a variety of elite sports teams including Wasps RFC, Southampton Football Club and Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Team.
There are a number of opportunities for you to engage in independent research projects to give you the chance to further develop your employability skills as well as opportunity for assessments to obtain industry-related qualifications. This includes the first aid certificate (following successful completion of the Preparation for Practice module), which should enable you to undertake first responder work experience with our sports teams (subject to availability).
Accredited by:

Society of Sports Therapists
On successful completion, you should be eligible for full SST membership (additional costs and SST requirements apply) allowing you to be able to practice as a Sports Therapist in a wide variety of settings*. *This course is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists (SST) for the 2022/2023 intake. Should any changes be made to this accreditation, we will inform all applicants and students as soon as possible. On successful completion of this course, you should be eligible for full SST membership which allows you to be able to practice as a Sports Therapist (additional costs and SST requirements apply). Please visit the SST website for further information on requirements. Also, see the Memberships section of this webpage for further information.
Memberships
Society of Sports Therapists
You will be eligible for full membership on graduation provided you have a valid first aid certificate and have performed the requisite number of hours of clinical practice to prove your practical competence (currently 200 supervised clinical hours then a certain number of hours per year as determined by the SST). Only full membership meets the required levels of competencies and knowledge necessary to be covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance. Additional costs and other requirements may apply for full membership. Please check with the membership body SST for details.
The Sports Therapy degree has given me so many opportunities to gain experience and build contacts in the industry. I had a year-long placement at Wasps rugby club and was part of the Sports Therapy team at the World Transplant Games. I have also travelled to Lithuania and Florida with other Sports Therapists to gain an insight in our profession in different parts of the world. The staff have supported me with aspects such as my clinical skills and academic writing, and have allowed me to grow into a well-rounded Sports Therapist.

What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
You will be taught through a mixture of interactive practical sessions, lectures, supervised clinical experience, lab-based skills development, seminars, problem-based learning, and tutorials. In our student-led clinic you will have the opportunity to work alongside other professional practitioners as part of a multi-disciplinary team, with the chance to practice your skills throughout your studies. Alongside your core teaching sessions, you will have opportunities to work in small learning sets to work with your peers and practice your emerging skills amongst each other. You will be supported to develop a confident and professional approach to physical examination both as a practitioner and a participant which aims to enhance your learning. You will receive individualised supervision during your final project and placements where appropriate.
Alongside your core teaching sessions, you will have opportunities to work in small learning sets to work with your peers and practice your emerging skills amongst each other. You will be supported to develop a confident and professional approach to physical examination both as a practitioner and a participant which aims to enhance your learning. You will receive individualised supervision during your final project and placements where appropriate.
During the undergraduate degree you will have the opportunity to experience a higher level of supervised teaching and practical hours in year 1 (level 4), decreasing each year as you should develop and become self-guided and independent in preparation for post undergraduate life.
- In a typical year 1 teaching week, you will have around 13 ‘contact’ hours of study. This generally breaks down into lectures, practical sessions and tutorials.
- In a typical year 2 teaching week, you will have around 10 contact hours of study. This generally breaks down into lectures, practical sessions, project meetings and applied clinical experience.
- In a typical year 3 teaching week, you will have around 11 contact hours of study. This generally breaks down into lectures, clinical experience and project meeting.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 18 hours each week studying and revising in your own time including some guided study using handouts, online activities, etc.
Assessment
Assessments are tailored towards the nature of the role in industry - as such these will be more practical in nature. The programme of study will include written components building towards the generation of a dissertation or written project. There will also be practical components culminating in a final clinical examination of a client. This viva has been commended as the Gold Standard of examination by the accrediting body.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include practical exams, coursework, tests, essays and practical or project work.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
Job ready
The multi-disciplinary and applied nature of this degree course aims to prepare you for a potential future career in sport or exercise, including scientific support, exercise training, health promotion and rehabilitation.
On successful completion, graduates of the Sports and Exercise Therapy course will have forward-thinking knowledge of:
- Recognition and evaluation
- Movement dysfunction
- Injury risk reduction
- Management, treatment, and referral protocols
- Prehabilitation and rehabilitation
- Education and professional practice issues
- The role of Sports and Exercise Therapy in a wider clinical or field setting
With this underpinning knowledge, successful graduates should be able to:
- Transfer their knowledge and high professional standards to work within a therapy clinic or sports club setting.
- Act as an autonomous professional first responder who can rehabilitate and optimise movement and performance to reduce risk of injury.
- Design, run, and evaluate research projects in an ethical manner.
- Progress to further study to include a range of masters and PhD level opportunities.
International Experience Opportunities
Our sandwich degree option allows a full-year work placement, which can be taken abroad, or you can undertake a study-year abroad*.
Students can elect to undertake a study abroad or work experience year after their second year of study. Past students in our School have been successful in securing places in Spain, France, Canada and the US. The Society of Sports Therapists (SST) also runs a travelling scholarship scheme for student members, which enables successful applicants to work abroad in various clinics or educational establishments (subject to additional costs and for further requirements and eligibility please visit the SST website).
We also try to ensure there is an international perspective to course content and have previously visited the World Transplant Games in Argentina and participated in online international learning (OIL) projects with places such as Hong Kong.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
2022/23 Tuition fees
Student | Full time | Part time |
---|---|---|
UK | £9,250 per year | Not available |
International | £16,650 per year | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
Facilities
Based in the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building, you will have the opportunity to use our cutting-edge facilities, including sports therapy clinic and extensive sports science laboratories.

Sports Therapy Clinic
The Sports Therapy Clinic is run by final year Sports Therapy students under the supervision of qualified staff with second year students providing a supervised massage clinic twice a week.

Strength and Conditioning Suite
Our multi-purpose suite is equipped with multiple Olympic lifting platforms, a 20m gait analysis track, an anti-gravity treadmill and a 3D motion capture system.
Careers and opportunities
Accreditation from the Society of Sports Therapists means that on graduation you will be qualified to work as a sports therapist with professional teams, clubs or private clinics. Alternatively, you can access appropriate additional training to support professional football and rugby (additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting any applicable visa requirements may apply).
The course includes a substantial amount of sport science, which can allow you the opportunity to move into other career options upon graduation, such as management or service delivery in sport and leisure centres. If you are more interested in the medical and health applications of exercise science, you could go on to work within cardiac and other rehabilitation teams within the NHS, or with local councils within sports development or exercise for health schemes.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and helping to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market upon successful completion of your course. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your future career options. They can also help you to apply for suitable work placements* and give you advice on how to get the most out of them.
Where our graduates work
Some past graduates from this course have gone on to work at high levels of professional and semi-professional sports such as football, rugby and transplant sport.
A number of past graduates have gone onto lead successful careers within private practice, both owning and working within a range of therapy clinics nationwide.
A proportion of past graduates have also utilised their skills within the NHS in rehabilitation department.
Other past graduates have gone to work as clinicians with practices such as Swan Physio Ltd, Body Logic Health, and as sports therapists for teams such as Watford FC and Aston Villa FC. Others have continued with postgraduate study on courses including Strength and Conditioning MSc.
Further study
You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition MSc . You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
Coming from a European country, Coventry’s modern and evidence-based course in sports therapy has given me the knowledge and practice to take back home and make an impact in the sports industry there.

How to apply
-
UK Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS. Part-time students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
-
International Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
You may also like

Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons)

Sport and Exercise Psychology BSc (Hons)

Sport Coaching BSc (Hons)
Discover Uni stats
-
Disclaimer
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
Tuition fees
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
Facilities
Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Placements and study abroad opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).