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Southampton Solent University logo

BSc (Hons)Sport and Exercise Therapy

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Starting in2025
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UCAS code: SET2
Institution code: S30
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study sport and exercise therapy with a placement year

Help patients back to optimal levels of fitness with this SST-accredited degree. Learn from clinically active staff and gain real-world experience with placements in a range of settings.

  • Top 0
    in the UK for teaching in sport and exercise sciences studies, out of 83 institutions (NSS 2024)
  • 0%
    positive responses for learning opportunities (NSS 2024)
  • 0%
    positive responses for academic support (NSS 2024)
  • Gain valuable first-hand work experience with a year-long full-time work placement between the second and third years of your degree.
  • This course is accredited by The Society of Sport Therapists (SST) and your student membership will provide insurance for your placements.
  • Learn essential professional skills and musculoskeletal expertise to help you develop an exciting career working with athletes, sports teams and the general population.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to acquire industry-specific fitness and discounted coaching (NGB) qualifications as you study.
  • Employability is embedded in the course at every level and many of our modules will give you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and employability skills to enhance your job prospects after graduation.
  • We have an ultra-modern sports complex, featuring two sports halls, strength and conditioning and teaching gyms, and a sport and exercise therapy floor featuring three bespoke clinic spaces.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a placement at a professional sporting club, clinic or NHS setting.
  • Throughout your study, you’ll be supervised by an experienced teaching team who are at the forefront of cutting-edge research and have an established record of working within the NHS, MOD and with athletes of all levels, ranging from international through to recreational sports men and women.
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Course overview

This dynamic sport and exercise therapy degree will help provide you with the essential professional skills and musculoskeletal expertise you will need to secure an exciting career working as a graduate Sports and Exercise Therapist. The scope of practice is not limited to sporting injuries alone; we treat all musculoskeletal injuries including chronic and work-related injuries.

We utilise the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes to ensure that you can return your patients to their previous levels of training, competition and/or work.

This highly practical course is specifically tailored for you to study a combination of sports therapy and sport and exercise science modules, which will include acute sports trauma management, innovative examination and assessment techniques, therapeutic exercise prescription, interventions to reduce the risk of injury, return to or monitoring of sports specific fitness, fundamental principles of how to coach/instruct in sporting and exercise settings, manual therapy techniques, electrotherapy, exercise physiology, nutrition, psychology and biomechanics.

You’ll have the option to undertake a placement year at a professional sporting club or organisation for a complete season/performance cycle. The programme has excellent links with professional sporting clubs and organisations. This hands-on practical course is delivered in state-of-the-art facilities by internationally renowned research and clinically active staff.

Any questions?

Contact UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

Accredited by:

Society of Sports Therapists logo

Course features

  • Additional qualification

    This course offers additional qualifications for you to obtain with your degree

  • Professional accreditation

    This course has been accredited by a professional body

  • Professional membership

    You have the opportunity to obtain a professional membership as part of this degree

  • Specialist facilities

    This course has access to specialist facilities

  • Further studies

    After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent

  • Placement year

    If you apply for this course with a placement year, you have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry between your second and third years

  • Study abroad

    You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course

Who is this course for?

This popular course is well-suited to those interested in how the body works, and how this applies in a sporting context.

The practical elements of the course will appeal to those looking to gain hands-on experience in dealing with the treatment of sporting injuries, as well as prevention and rehabilitation.

What does this course lead to?

The occupational title following graduation is that of sports therapist, which has a clearly defined scope of practice. As a graduate sports therapist, who is a member of The Society of Sports Therapists you’ll be an allied health professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to:

  • Utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation and injury prevention programmes.
  • Provide the immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training, occupational and competitive environment.
  • Assess, treat, rehabilitate and, where and if appropriate, refer on for further advice and intervention.
  • Provide appropriate manual therapy and psychosocial interventions in a sport and exercise context
  • Plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation and return to training/work programmes.

Graduate stories

Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.

Meet the team

Throughout your study you'll be supervised by an experienced teaching team who are at the forefront of cutting-edge research and have an established record of working with athletes of all levels, from international to recreational sportspeople. You'll also get the chance to hear guest lectures from leaders in academia and the sport and exercise therapy industry.

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Students have access to the University’s professional sport and exercise science facilities, including fully equipped physiology, psychology, and biomechanics labs, health and exercise gyms, and sport and exercise therapy teaching spaces. Students can also practise their skills in our state-of-the-art teaching rooms and our student-led therapy clinic based in the Sports Complex.

Our physiology laboratory is officially accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), marking it as one of the UK’s leading sport and exercise science facilities. As well as being a teaching and research building our Sports Complex has three gyms, fitness studios and multi-purpose and performance sports halls, which are open to everyone. Our multi-purpose sports hall can be used for basketball, futsal, badminton, netball, wheelchair rugby and volleyball. Our performance sports hall is specifically for basketball and is where Team Solent Kestrels home games are held, supported by our sports and exercise therapy students.

    International opportunities

    Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.

    Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.

    For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.

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