Sports and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Student putting plasters on another students thigh

On our Society of Sports Therapists accredited course, we aim to create independent practitioners grounded in musculoskeletal therapy, exercise physiology, treatment, and rehabilitation knowledge with an emphasis on performance underpinned by sports science principles.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

BC96

Start date

September 2025


Course overview

The design of our accredited course develops you into an independent practitioner set for the healthcare, sporting, and practice-based environments.

Learn how to manage a range of clients from the young to the elderly, from the sedentary to the elite independent and team-based sporting populations.

  • You will be guided and supported in your studies by expert academic practitioners who continue to work clinically within the discipline, alongside active research involvement, and have access to a wide range of professional networks and links throughout the industry. Staff may be subject to change.
  • You will benefit from outstanding facilities and the opportunities to work at local, national and international events with elite and community-based sports people (subject to availability).
  • On graduation, you will be 'practice ready' and able to start your career as a Sports and Exercise Therapist working in sporting, healthcare or community settings.
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • You will get the opportunity to study in the multi-million-pound Alison Gingell building with specialist sports therapy suite, physiology and biomechanics laboratories and industry-standard equipment4.
  • 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.
  • Your dedicated lecturers continue to work with international, national and local athletes as well as within successful private practices, and look to support and develop you into the next generation of Sports and Exercise Therapists (staff subject to change).
  • Our students have provided support at the World and British Transplant Games and have worked with a variety of elite sports teams including Wasps RFC, Coventry City Football Club, and Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Team.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The Society of Sports Therapists

The Society of Sports Therapists

On successful completion, you should be eligible for full membership of The Society of Sports Therapists (SST) (additional costs, SST requirements and a minimum of 200 clinical experience hours apply) allowing you to be able to practice as a Sports Therapist in a wide variety of settings.


Coventry University welcomes Birmingham City Women FC

The squad of 24 players visited the university’s Alison Gingell building for midseason strength testing.

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Someone sat in a chair to test their strenght with a staff member helping beside the equipment

The practical elements of the course are really helpful – how hands-on the course is. The amount of contact hours and support here is really good.

Matt Searles, Sport and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) graduate, 2021
A student treating a student on a hospital bed with another student looking on.

What you'll study

Modules studied in year one aim to provide the scientific knowledge underpinning therapeutic techniques. This includes understanding human anatomy and the involvement of complex structures in understanding the body’s movement. You will cover the science of exercise through our bespoke biomechanics and strength and conditioning modules as we develop your understanding of their applications within the rehabilitation pathway.

Modules

In year two you will have the opportunity (under supervision) to utilise your skills in the on-site massage clinic, open to the public, and will be taught joint manipulation techniques. You will be taught how to assess and manage injury, and how to employ rehabilitation programmes. In addition, exercise physiology is taught, which is focused on sporting performance and how Sports and Exercise Therapists can support and enhance athletic function. Preparation for the final year project begins with a focus on designing and analysing research investigations.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

In the final year, you will help to run the university’s Sports Therapy Clinic under the supervision of staff. You will also have the option of sourcing your own placement2 at an external clinic with the approval of course leads. Over the year, you will build a portfolio of evidence of clinical competency to fulfil post-graduation requirements for registration with the SST*.
You will learn the importance of screening and profiling in order to enhance your rehabilitation strategy with consideration for nutritional and psychological aspects of their needs. You will have the chance to design and undertake a research project.

*Please see the accreditation and professional recognition section and the SST website for further information on requirements.

Modules

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.

We have lots of practical sessions, a lovely sports injury clinic and my lecturers not only help in the teaching setting but also with my own injuries.

Urszula Dabrowska, Sports and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) current student, 2021
Female student strapping another students ankle

How you'll learn

To guide you through your learning journey your lecturers will utilise a range of teaching and learning techniques to enhance your path to becoming an independent practitioner.

In the first year where you ground yourself in subject theory, interactive lead lectures enable you to participate in the learning journey supported by asynchronous tasks enabling you to undertake further learning in your own time. As our course is practical in nature, we introduce practical sessions from day one combining demonstration techniques and content focused tasks. Through these practical sessions, you develop your soft skills that enhance your information gathering ability, and apply your treatment techniques working individually through working in pairs and as part of a group of students.

Through the massage clinic and sports therapy clinic your educators adopt a more learner-centred approach to your teaching that encourages participative methods including discussions and case studies where peer to peer learning and problem solving is undertaken.

Sports therapists need to be able to see and assess the patient's body in order to provide effective treatment. Therefore, in order to study sports therapy, you may need to remove some clothing in some cases (i.e., when acting as the client). However, it is important to note that modesty and privacy are prioritised throughout using towels as screens and covers.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. The assessment methods may include:

  • formal examinations
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • projects
  • coursework
  • individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


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 abroad2. Past students in our college 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. 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 collaborative online international learning (COIL) projects with places such as Hong Kong.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.

You can go straight from uni and be successful in work. It is a competitive environment but if you work hard, are dedicated and passionate, it can be done.

Matt Searles, Sport and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) graduate, 2021
student smiling holding a skeleton

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC to include Biology or PE. Excludes General Studies
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C to include English, Maths and two science subjects
BTEC DMM in a Biological or Sport Science based subject. Excludes Health and Social Care
IB Diploma 30 points to include 5 points in Biology at Higher level
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits above Merit of which 15 must be at Distinction in Biology or Sport Science related units. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

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Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an International Foundation Year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Sports Science will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,300 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,300 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

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.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

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.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

This course is delivered at Coventry University main campus, primarily in the Alison Gingell building4.

You will benefit from the outstanding facilities for sport and exercise sciences in the purpose-built Alison Gingell building, including sports and exercise therapy clinic, extensive sport and exercise science laboratories, gait analysis track and 3D motion capture software.

Two male students checking a female students arm

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.

female running on a treadmill with a mask wired up to a machine

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.

 

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


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.

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. Other graduates have gone on to lead successful careers within private practice, both owning and working within a range of therapy clinics nationwide and internationally.

A proportion of past graduates have also utilised their skills within the NHS in rehabilitation departments.

Graduates have also continued with postgraduate study on courses, including our:

Where our graduates work

Graduates have also gone to work as clinicians with practices such as Swan Physio Ltd, Body Logic Health, and as sports therapists for teams such as Wasps, Watford FC and Aston Villa FC, Nottingham Forest FC, Kidderminster FC, Peterborough United FC, Coventry United Ladies FC, QPR FC.

Further study

We have a range of postgraduate courses that graduates would be well prepared to progress onto, enabling them to gain specialist skills relating to development of teaching, sporting potential or lifelong physical activity. Our PGCE courses allow entry to teaching careers and our more specialist MSc programmes in sport provide opportunities for graduates to develop skills in a more specific area of study.

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.

The opportunities which were offered to us throughout the course were amazing. We had the opportunity to work in two onsite clinics throughout the second and third year, to cover pitch side first aid at different sporting events, the chance to volunteer at the Coventry Marathon, international trips and a choice to do a placement year in which I managed to get a year-long internship at WASPS RFC. Having these opportunities at Coventry University gave me the chance to develop further and gave me the confidence to become the best Sports Therapist I could be.

Poppy Headland, Sports and Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) graduate, 2021
Group of students putting another student on a stretcher
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