of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them
Why should I choose this course?
- WORK PLACEMENTS – Build invaluable professional work experience through a variety of placement opportunities – past students have worked with top-level football and rugby clubs and national teams
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Put your therapy skills into practice in our on-campus clinics and at major sporting events, such as the London Marathon and Ride Across Britain
- ENRICHMENT – Enjoy a variety of industry trips including St George’s Park, Therapy Expo and King’s College London/Wembley Stadium, as well as our annual Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Conference
- SPECIALISE YOUR STUDIES – Choose from a range of optional modules to suit your career aims and undertake your own research project on a subject of your choice
- TEAM SCOTLAND PARTNERSHIP – Our University will be the home for Team Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, offering exciting opportunities for our students to work with the team and its athletes
Our facilities
Students on our sports therapy and massage courses have access to outstanding training facilities at University College Birmingham, with two purpose-built sports injury/massage clinics on campus where you can hone your practical skills. We also have a variety of other state-of-the-art sports facilities, including our new gym and Human Performance Centre and Laboratory.
Course breakdown
Students on the FdSc have the option of progressing onto the final year upon completion of the foundation degree.
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Core Modules
Academic Development
This module will aim to facilitate the transition of learners from FE to HE via a structured delivery of academic study skills related specifically to their Sports Therapy programme.
Exercise Science for Sports Therapists
Students will develop an understanding of the key sports and exercise science principles relating to sports therapy. This will include areas such as applied biomechanics, bioenergetics and exercise physiology.
Introduction to Sports Injury Management
The module will introduce learners to the events which occur when an injury occurs during a sporting fixture and in a clinical environment. This includes the treatment options available and how to implement them.
Musculoskeletal Anatomy
You will be introduced to basic anatomical structures of the body including bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments as well as other tissues related to the musculoskeletal system. You will explore the basic functions of regional anatomy within a sporting context to understand its relevance within the industry. Anatomy is a key underpinning component of Sports Therapy practice.
Soft Tissue Therapy
By studying the theoretical principles and practically applications of soft tissue techniques, you will develop an appreciation of safe and effective clinical skills used in sports therapy. You will enhance your hands-on skills in a range of sports massage and soft tissue techniques, as well as providing you with a solid knowledge base.
Strength and Conditioning
This module will provide the student with an introduction to strength and conditioning concepts and their application to sports therapy practice. Fitness components and training principles, variables and modalities will be identified, discussed and applied.
Core Modules
Pathology of Sports Injuries
This module aims to evaluate the predisposing factors for musculoskeletal injury, coupled with the common aetiology and presenting signs and symptoms. An appreciation of processes related to injury such as soft tissue healing and pain will also be considered in relation to regional musculoskeletal complaints.
Peripheral and Spinal Assessment
This module further develops key musculoskeletal assessment & examination skills in conjunction with basic clinical reasoning to provide students with the skills required to be able to carry out more detailed musculoskeletal assessments.
Research for Sports Therapists
The process of data collection and analysis will allow you to develop research techniques specific to a sports therapist. You will critique and analyse current research and scientific methods to develop your critical thinking abilities and key research skills.
Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation 1
This module introduces exercise rehabilitation in the management of sports injuries. It aims to provide students with an insight into exercise management, planning and prescription in a rehabilitation context.
Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation 2
This module further develops exercise rehabilitation in the management of sports injuries. It aims to provide students with the ability to return an athlete to sport following injury and enhance sporting performance.
Choose 1 optional module
Athletic Movement Analysis
This module is essential to identifying potential risk factors and causes of injury, using screening tools as a crucial component in injury prevention. You will be equipped with the skills to select and administer a range of tests to analyse athletic movement in order to identify movement dysfunctions, interpret results and prescribe a range of suitable exercises to aid correction.
Creative Business Enterprise
Have you ever wanted to create a new event concept, start a business or take over the world? Well Creative Business Enterprise gives you the knowledge, tools and skills to do just that. Creative Business Enterprise places you at the centre of the learning experience by combining theory with fun hands-on activity workshops and innovative business games to develop your understanding, knowledge and skills and achieve your goals.
Sports Coaching
You will gain an understanding of the coaching process and the wide range of factors that influence it. This will provide you with an understanding of the key psychological and physiological considerations a coach has to take into account when developing athletes and how this can vary with regard to the athlete population.
Sports Nutrition
You will examine the nutritional needs of athletes and those undertaking substantial exercise programmes, exploring the importance of nutrition in achieving optimal health. Other topics addressed will include exercise and metabolism, energy generation, hydration and vitamin and mineral needs for athletic performance.
Sports Psychology
The aim of this module is to investigate the composition of sport in relation to psychology. You will analyse and review the area of sport psychology focusing on key areas such as motivation, personality, learning and aggression. You will always examine the role of the coach and participants in relevance to psychological concepts.
Core Modules
Exercise as Medicine
The module aims to promote health and wellness through the increased use of physical activity and exercise in the prevention and treatment of disease. Students will be able to provide brief interventions on physical activity advice whilst protecting and promoting the health of patients.
Professional Clinical Practice
This module will allow the development of the clinical skills required of a sports therapist via exposure of working in a supervised sports injury clinic. In support of the practical component, lectures and seminars will develop personal critical analysis skills, by means of reflection and assessment of learning needs.
Sports Project
This is a key project through which you will hone your independent learning, problem solving, analysis and data presentation skills. You will deepen your knowledge in a selected area of the industry of your own choosing to be explored as a case study or a journal submission. Both methods are supported by an additional poster presentation.
Sports Psychology II
You will design and implement a range of interventions addressing areas such as concentration, motivation, aggression, anxiety and injury. You will critically evaluate measurement tools and the impact of regulatory and ethical issues. Using sports psychology in this manner benefits all professionals working in the sports environment.
Choose 1 optional module
Multidisciplinary Practices in Sport
A common employment destination for Graduate Sports Therapists is sports teams. The focus of this module is to develop knowledge and understanding of how a Graduate Sports Therapist would operate in a sports team environment.
Nutrition for Performance
You will explore advanced concepts in sports nutrition and look at the application of diet in response to individualised sport specific needs through the assessment of anthropometry and caloric assessment. You will analyse the use of contemporary and emerging diets within sport such as the Palaeolithic diet, ketogenic diets and intermittent fasting practices.
Sports Coaching and the Development of Expertise
What does it mean to become an expert in the sports environment? You will gain an understanding of how to develop sport expertise through the use of evidence-informed coaching practice through theory, sampling and specialisation. You will also analyse and critique methods to facilitate motor and perceptual cognitive skills acquisition.
Work Based Learning for Sport
The aim of the module is for students to gain work based experience within the sport and fitness industry. The experience will allow the students to further enhance both their career specific skills and transferable skills. Throughout the work based learning module students will have the opportunity to experience and observe a variety of different practices. The module further aims to develop the student's ability to analyse the work based experience, with the use of reflection models. In addition the module is focused upon ensuring the students are employment ready following the completion of their studies.
The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.
Entry requirements
Sports Therapy BSc (Hons)
A-levels: An A-level grade profile of BCC-CCC.
BTEC: A BTEC grade profile of DMM-MMM. This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of 104-96 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 104-96 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.
You must also complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. University College Birmingham will co-ordinate and fund the completion of the DBS check.
Sports Therapy FdSc
A-levels: An A-level grade profile of CD-DD.
BTEC: A BTEC grade profile of PPP-PP. This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of 56-48 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 56-48 UCAS Tariff points.
Non-tariff: Non-UCAS Tariff-based Level 3 qualifications are also considered for entry. Please contact admissions@ucb.ac.uk to check your eligibility.
Work-based: We also give equal consideration to applicants who are currently in work and wish to apply to University College Birmingham. To apply, you must have a minimum of 3 years’ relevant work experience, demonstrating management or supervisory duties. Your application must also include a reference from your line manager supporting your entry to higher education. For further details, please contact Admissions.
You must also complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. University College Birmingham will co-ordinate and fund the completion of the DBS check.
EU/international students
For entry requirements for EU and international students, please visit the Country Specific Information page.
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
In light of COVID-19, we have made some changes to the way we deliver our teaching. We are continually following the guidelines and measures put in place by the UK Government to ensure our students and staff are safe on campus, whilst remaining committed to providing high-quality education. The information below explains how teaching will take place in semester 2 (or semester 1 for those joining us in January) for each level/year of this course.
Assessment
Estimated breakdown of assessment for this degree course:
- Coursework – 41%
- Practical assessment – 48%
- Written examinations – 11%
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2015-2020.
Uniform and kit costs
This course incurs additional costs of approximately £100 for uniform and kit. (Prices are subject to change each year – exact costs and information on how to order required items will be provided to you prior to enrolment.)
Scholarships and bursaries
Sporting Excellence Scholarship
Students on our sports courses at University College Birmingham may be eligible to receive one of our Sporting Excellence Scholarships. These are open to applicants from any country who are able to demonstrate ongoing excellence in sporting achievement.
Two levels of support package are available, with awards of up to £3,000 towards competitions, training costs and equipment over three years of study. The scholarship also includes:
- University-branded training kit
- Free gym membership
- Individually tailored programme - may include nutrition, sports psychology, strength and conditioning or lifestyle support
- Weekly sports therapy/massage
To find out more about the levels of support and eligibility criteria, visit our scholarships and waivers page.
Kick-Start
As a new student studying this degree full-time, you will receive £300 per year via our Kick-Start Scheme (eligibility criteria applies). This scheme will support your studies and future career by contributing to course-related materials, uniform or selected items on campus. You might even qualify for an additional £500 per year.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
If you are a UK/EU student enrolling on a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2020/21, your fee for this academic year will be £9,250 per each full year. A half year tuition fee is £4,625. UK/EU students do not pay tuition fees for any placement periods.
International students
If you are an international student enrolling on a a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2020/21, your fee for this academic year will be £11,500 per year.
If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year, or £250 for a half-year placement.
Latest updates
Join the conversation and check out the latest updates from the department of Sport and Nutrition.
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Accreditations, endorsements and partnerships
University College Birmingham works with a wide range of organisations to ensure you receive the best possible training and qualifications recognised by industry.
Work placements
Work placements are vital for gaining real-life experience and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and they may even lead to a job when you graduate. Our hired@UCB team can help find the ideal placement for you.
Placements are a requirement of The Society of Sports Therapists, so we encourage students on our FdSc and BSc Sports Therapy courses to gain work experience throughout your studies, working on placement with professional sports therapists.
Work alongside experts in your sector
A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with:
- Scotland Rugby team
- Aston Villa FC
- Leicester Tigers RFC
- West Bromwich Albion Ladies FC
- West Midlands Fire Service
- Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge (physiotherapy department)

I’ve wanted a career in sport for as long as I can remember. And, wow, what an unimaginable start. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Scotland Rugby, especially during the World Cup in Japan, and I was very excited to get stuck in and help the team.
Career opportunities
Note: Some roles below may require further study/training. The roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Sports physiotherapist
£23,000 – £45,000
Occupational therapist
£24,907 – £62,001
Sports therapist
£17,000 – £35,000
Health promotion specialist
£24,907 – £44,503
Personal trainer
Average Salary: £14,000 – £30,000
Higher education lecturer
£35,211 – £43,367
Want to take your studies to the next level? Completing the BSc (Hons) degree will enable you to move onto our Strength, Conditioning and Performance MSc course.

Kenny’s Story
Kenny not only got to support the Scotland rugby team at the 2019 World Cup, but now works for a Championship rugby side.
Course statistics
BSc (Hons)
FdSc
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