Our BSc Sports Therapy course is designed to shape the next generation of sports therapists poised to make a difference. It gives you the applied knowledge and skills to become a sports therapist with the confidence and competence to thrive in any professional setting.
Our course has a significant practical component, blended with classroom and experiential learning. You study topics such as:
injury prevention
injury assessment
injury treatment and management
injury rehabilitation
underpinning principles in physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition
clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice
You will gain between 200 and 250 hours of hands-on experience through our Sports Therapy Clinic and extensive network of external placements at various sports clubs, teams, and multidisciplinary clinics. This will help you hone your craft, develop your (inter)personal skills, apply your academic knowledge and boost your professional prospects. You can gain more real-world experience at our renowned Human Performance Unit, where you can work with performance scholars, students, staff and members of the public. Sports Therapy students have access to a £250 bursary for external placement travel expenses.
Being part of our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences you join a community focused on sports and exercise science, sports therapy, sports performance and coaching, sport and exercise psychology and physiotherapy. Our interdisciplinary team of scientists and practitioners help you understand the role of physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and nutrition in sports therapy. We bring together our internationally-recognised research, share knowledge, and enhance placement and vocational opportunities for our students and graduates.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists.
Why we're great.
Take advantage of easy access to our ultramodern and well-equipped Sport Arena and lab facilities.
Work with elite athletes and gain experience in our renowned Human Performance Unit.
94% of our Sports, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences undergraduate graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024).
Study abroad
Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.
Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.
If you spend a full year abroad, you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.
Placement year
As well as the 200-250 hours of placement you will go as part of the course, you can spend your third year on a placement year with an external organisation before returning to complete your final year. These placements are usually with sports teams or clubs and provide the opportunity for you to apply your academic knowledge in a practical working environment and develop your personal skills.
Some organisations that have recently provided placement year opportunities include West Ham United Football Club, Colchester United Football Club, Colchester Rugby Club, Saracens Rugby Club and Royal Hospital School.
If you complete a placement year, you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.
Our expert staff
Your learning will be supported by several experienced and expert researchers and practitioners. You will have the opportunity to get involved with exciting and impactful research projects; our academics have worked closely with prestigious organisations, such as the Rugby Football Union, Colchester United FC, and the Royal Ballet School. The staff members who deliver this course are:
Dr Sally Waterworth, a Sports Therapist with over 25 years' experience of working with recreational to professional athletes from a variety of sports. Sally's research focuses on the impact of interactions between training and nutrition on performance and health.
Tracy Lewis, a physiotherapist with 25 years' experience working in the public and private sector and specialising in elite sport. Tracy worked for The Football Association for 12 years where she was Head of Physiotherapy for Women for 9 years, working with English International players from youth to senior level. Tracy's research interests include injury surveillance in female sport with a particular interest in football.
Dr Louis Howe, an experienced strength and conditioning coach. Louis has helped prepare athletes for numerous elite competitions, including the British Athletics Championships, European Athletics Championships, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympic Games, as well student-athletes. Louis's research interests are the compensatory strategies that emerge from mobility restrictions.
Sebastian Biggins, an experienced sport therapist and weightlifting coach. In his career, Sebastian has worked at a private sports injury clinic, a weightlifting club, and within football and basketball. His research focuses on Achilles tendinopathy and weightlifting mechanics.
The University of Essex has a Women's Network to support female staff and students and was awarded the Athena Swan Institutional Bronze Award in recognition of its continuing work to support women in STEM.
Specialist facilities
Our School is based in our Sport Arena at our Colchester Campus, where we have a purpose-built Sports Therapy Clinic, a range of specialist clinical laboratories and IT facilities to assist you with the effective learning and acquisition of new skills. You also have access to three Sports Therapy laboratories, five fully equipped Sports Science laboratories, state-of-the-art analytical equipment, and access to the equipment used by the Department of Psychology's Centre for Brain Science.
We offer excellent physical and online resources in terms of libraries, computer labs, datasets, archives and other research materials. You can take advantage of our links with the Institute of Social and Economic Research, which conducts large-scale survey projects, many for Government, EU and other public agencies, and has its own library. The UK Data Archive is also based at our Colchester Campus and stores national research data.
Human Performance Unit
The Human Performance Unit (HPU) has been used by professional athletes and sports persons from a range of disciplines, including Team GB athletes participating in the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and players from our local Colchester United Football Club.
The HPU supports student teaching and research across all degree types. Our undergraduates in sports therapy, sports performance and coaching, and sports and exercise science use the HPU for some of their modules, with both beginners and professional sports persons recruited to take part. This gives students experience in managing the practical physiological tests, as well helping them develop soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
Additionally the HPU supports a range of placement activities. Undergraduate students have the option to use the HPU during our optional Placement Year, while our Masters students can take a 12-week placement. Along with continuing the work with individual athletes, students who have a placement year as part of their course also assist with sports science workshops held at the HPU for local schools. These workshops are tailored to the National Curriculum for PE, and give our students experience of working with teachers and young people.
Your future
Our BSc Sports Therapy course can lead to postgraduate study and many exciting career paths, such as:
Sports Therapist
Health Promotion Specialist
Rehabilitation Specialist
Fitness Trainer
Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Occupational Health Specialist
Corporate Wellness Consultant
Graduates will be eligible to register as a fully-insured member of the Society of Sports Therapists and work as an independent private practitioner, with a team or in a multidisciplinary clinic or sports and leisure club.
The course also prepares you for postgraduate study, which could be in a range of areas including sports science, other healthcare professions (including nursing and physiotherapy) or teaching (PGCE teaching qualification).
We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.
Sport scholarships
Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has been created for talented athletes playing at regional, national or international level, and offers a range of benefits. We want students competing in our focus sports - basketball, volleyball, tennis and football - as well as other team sports and as individual athletes to contribute to our performance sport programme.
Our scholarships can include fee discounts of up to 100%, offered to athletes who demonstrate sporting excellence. Athletes who are awarded the scholarship may also receive a host of other benefits, including:
free kit
access to state-of-the-art facilities
performance coaching
the option to live in our Athlete Village (accommodation fees may vary)
a support package valued up to £1,500
These benefits are designed to help athletes focus on their training and development, and to enable you to reach your full potential alongside your studies.
"I really enjoyed the structure of my course and loved my practical modules. I was also lucky enough to study abroad at Brock University in Canada during my degree. I was able to experience a new culture and gain insight into how they practice sports therapy. I had the opportunity to work with their basketball team’s sports therapist and I helped treat players during and after their games. I am really grateful for the experience; I had the chance to travel the world and make lifelong friendships."
Hopkins Langlah, BSc Sports Therapy
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
GCSE: Mathematics and Science C/4.
Plus one of the level 3 qualifications below:
A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels and a minimum grade C in a science subject or Mathematics. PE and Psychology are acceptable as science A-levels.
BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent including C in one science subject or Mathematics. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554. Either must include 5 in a Higher level science subject or Mathematics. Our GCSE Maths requirement can be met with either: 4 in Standard level Maths; 3 in Higher level Maths; or 4 in IB Middle Years Maths.
IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. If you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer. Factors we consider:
Applicants from underrepresented groups
Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus
For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.
Additional requirements:
You are required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring System (DBS) Check for this course prior to undertaking any relevant placement or activity. This will be organised by the University. Please contact our DBS team if you have any questions relating to this.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
English language shelf-life
Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Pending English language qualifications
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk
.
Requirements for second and final year entry
Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Structure
Course structure
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
The aim of this module is to develop your academic, scientific and professional abilities relevant to the study of and professions related to sport, rehabilitation and exercise sciences. There are four key focuses of this module: professional skills; research design and ethics; data analysis, presentation and interpretation; and employability.
This module will help you to understand the physical and mechanical principles that determine how we, and the objects with which we interact during exercise and in sporting events, move. You will learn the meaning of concepts such as force, mass, speed, velocity, acceleration, momentum and we will explore how they enable us to describe and understand movement in sport and exercise.
Is it all in the mind? The margin between victory and defeat is thin, but can an athlete’s psychology really give them an edge? Why do some people find exercise difficult and other find exercise essential? Understanding how involvement in sport, exercise and physical activity affects a person's health and wellbeing is important in creating better interventions. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the fundamental principles underpinning the psychology of sport and exercise.
What is sports therapy? Explore the ethics and obligations behind the practice and the fundamental skills required to be a sports therapist in this fast-growing profession. You will also be introduced to remedial sports massage techniques and the concept of reflective practice.
Students will gain a basic knowledge of nutrition and metabolism underpinning Sports Science. On completion of the module, students will be able to describe the flow of nutrient intake and energy production supporting not only training and performance but optimal health. This module will give students a firm foundation from which to study exercise physiology and the specific nutritional requirements of athletes including legal and illegal substances, in later modules.
The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge on the fundamental concepts of human anatomy and physiology which underpin the biological sciences. The module will provide you with a sound knowledge of the mechanisms associated with the control and regulation of the major systems of the body. This module will enable you to complete an accredited Certificate in Fitness Instruction (GYM) and is at level 2 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework.
This module will build upon your knowledge and skills to understand, appraise and plan research in sport and exercise. You will develop your understanding of different methodologies, research designs, and data analytical techniques, including their strengths, limitations and applications.
You will develop your skills in using library and online resources for scientific research, and your ability to critically appraise published work and how it can be used to inform applied practice in sport and exercise. You will also gain practical experience in participating in research, planning your own study, and analysing and interpreting data. Overall, the module will equip you with knowledge and skills required for your final year research project.
A good strength and conditioning (S&C) coach can take someone from where they are to where they want to be. This module aims to develop your understanding and application of how strength and conditioning can be used in the development process. You will explore different approaches to planning training over a season, look at how to vary and monitor training volume, as well as the indicators of and consequences of overtraining. In addition, you will explore the concept of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), administer and take part in a variety of hands on practical sessions.
Building on knowledge gained in the anatomy module, this module teaches you skills in assessment, evaluation and diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions relating to peripheral and spinal joints. This module also includes 20 hours of first aid where you will support the University BUC’s teams.
Investigate the role of functional rehabilitation within the practice of sports therapy. Exercise is an essential component of injury management, and you pay close attention to injury prevention and performance enhancement. You develop your abilities to prescribe and deliver progressive exercise programmes, and learn to make reasoned decisions in the selection of exercise, basing choices on factors such as flexibility, endurance, strength, skill and co-ordination. You also explore the topics of return to sport, warm-up and cool down, the participation of specific populations in exercise and sport, and the role of exercise and mental health.
This module develops the students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in treatments available to sports therapists in their practice including soft tissue techniques and other manual techniques such as spinal and peripheral mobilisations.
This module offers you the opportunity to undertake an in-depth piece of work focused on a Sports Therapy topic of your choice. The Research Project may take various forms of empirical research, employing different kinds of methods and methodologies such as testing, surveys, interviewing or processing secondary data. The project provides an opportunity to apply the research methods covered during your course. You will be allocated a supervisor from the Sports Therapy team to provide support and guidance for your project.
This module provides you with the opportunity to integrate your sports therapy skills and knowledge, learn how to use various electrotherapy modalities (including shockwave, ultrasound, interferential and TENS), consolidate your clinical reasoning abilities and develop your ability to assess and treat more complex cases.
Using an evidence-based approach, you will explore contemporary issues in sports therapy and evaluate the evidence behind commonly used assessment and management strategies. You will also further expand your rehabilitation skills, building on previous knowledge and learning to develop long-term rehabilitation strategies for various sports with appropriate exit and return to play criteria.
This module builds on the knowledge you'll have developed throughout your course. Clinical supervision is provided to enable you to gain your 200 hours of clinical practice. This clinical supervision takes the form of lectures and teaching support as well as work in the University clinic and any external placement that you secure. This module allows you to explore more complex cases and supports you with the tools that you will need when you graduate in this field.
On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Teaching
Undergraduate students in the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences typically attend a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar for each module every week. Vocational programmes such as Sports Therapy focus on practical sessions.
This course combines University learning, e-learning and work-based learning to help you enhance your practice skills.
Modules have their own accompanying webpages on Moodle where you can download relevant readings, PowerPoint presentations, podcasts and YouTube clips, and contribute to online discussions.
We also work closely in partnership with the NHS and the independent health sector to provide placement opportunities.
Assessment
Degrees are awarded on the results of your written coursework and end-of-year examinations.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,535 per year
International fee
£21,525 per year
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer.
You have the chance to:
tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.
The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are 'L' and 'S' respectively.
For information on transferring from another university, applying when you are not at school or college, and applying for readmission, please see How to apply and entry requirements
Offer Holder Days
If you receive an undergraduate offer to study with us in October 2025 and live in the UK, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Offer Holder Days. Our Colchester Campus Offer Holder Days run from February to May 2025 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus events run in April and May. These events provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. To support your attendance, we are offering a travel bursary, allowing you to claim up to £150 as reimbursement for travel expenses. For further information about Offer Holder Days, including terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for our travel bursary, please visit our webpage.
If you are an overseas offer-holder, you will be invited to attend one of our virtual events. However, you are more than welcome to join us at one of our in-person Offer Holder Days if you are able to - we will let you know in your invite email how you can do this.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and
Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
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