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BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

Develop the knowledge, skills, and clinical confidence required to become a professional Sports Therapist. Gain a minimum of 400 hours of hands-on clinical experience within our on-site clinics, working with a diverse range of clients, seeking to improve their health, wellbeing, and physical performance. The course is accredited by the Sports Therapy Organisation, ensuring that the curriculum meets professional standards and prepares graduates for a successful career within the profession.

Lecturer explains anatomy to two students using a skeleton as a teaching aid

400 hours (minimum) of clinical experience

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Full-time Part-time

Entry requirements

Three A-levels at grades BBC - BBB

Or BTEC triple grades DMM - DDM

Access to HE Diploma accepted with credits in line with UCAS tariff point range

Or T level M

GCSE Grade C or 4 English Language or an acceptable equivalent qualification

Applicants with other qualifications and/or experience will be considered on an individual basis

We will accept 2 AS levels in lieu of one A level but must be accompanied by 2 A Levels or BTECs General Studies is excluded.

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required.

UCAS points 104-120

UCAS code C631

UCAS institution code P63

Duration Three years full-time and part-time options available

Any questions?

Contact Charley, our Applicant Support Coordinator, if you have any questions. Email: applicantsupport@marjon.ac.uk and Charley will get back to you!

Contact Applicant Support

Course Summary

The sports therapy profession is evolving rapidly, creating exciting opportunities for highly skilled practitioners who can assess, treat, rehabilitate, and support individuals across sport, exercise, and healthcare settings. Accredited by the Sports Therapy Organisation (STO), our BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree has been specifically designed to meet the demands of contemporary practice and prepare graduates for successful careers within the profession.

This dynamic and hands-on programme combines evidence-based theory with extensive practical experience. From the very start of your degree, you will develop your clinical skills through supervised practice in our on-site Sports Therapy Clinic, gaining a minimum of 400 hours of real-world clinical experience. Working with a diverse range of clients, from recreational exercisers to competitive athletes, you will learn how to assess injuries, deliver effective treatments, and design rehabilitation programmes that help people return to activity safely and confidently.

Our state-of-the-art facilities provide access to a wide range of industry-standard technologies used in modern sports therapy practice. Students gain experience using equipment such as diagnostic ultrasound, anti-gravity treadmills, RS Footscan technology, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, and electrotherapy modalities, helping to bridge the gap between theory and professional practice.

As a student on the programme, you will also benefit from access to our cutting-edge CASES-accredited Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratories, where you can develop practical assessment skills, undertake research, and utilise advanced equipment to investigate human performance, movement, injury mechanisms, and rehabilitation outcomes.

Throughout the degree, you will build a comprehensive understanding of functional anatomy, physiology, nutrition, injury prevention, soft tissue therapy, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and professional practice. Combined with extensive clinical experience and exposure to innovative technologies, these areas provide the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to thrive in a wide range of careers within sports therapy and related healthcare professions.

Sarah: So our undergraduate courses are accredited degrees by the Sports Therapy Organization and British Association of Sport Rehabilitation and Athletic Trainers. Both of the programs are very similar in terms of their context. We try and engage a really practical aspect to it. So we try and get the students involved from year one with sports massage, with soft tissue techniques. We encourage them then to be looking at placement opportunities and we've got a massive array of different placements, organized placements with professional teams with recreational athletes. We've got a fully operational sports injury clinic in Sports Centre as well. So it gives them that real exposure to the public as well as supporting that with the theory behind the independence.

Helena: I chose Marjon because the facilities for this course are second to none. Also, from a sports point of view, the facilities onsite are really incredible. Not a lot of universities offer so many facilities on campus as well. And I liked the size of the uni. We've been offered loads of placements this year as first years, which is amazing. It allows you to, it teaches you things that you can't learn in the clinic. It's like really important, especially for your employability outside, because you can be really good at academic work, but if you want to work or succeed in this course, or even in this career, you need to have really good experience treating people, different pathologies, different populations. So it's really important to get that hands on practice with people. The great thing about this uni is that whatever year you're in, you're always meeting people. Also, they have so many student nights for people, so the social life is really good. And you're just with, it's like a family. I think that's one thing that Marjon really has just due to the size of the campus. Everyone knows everyone and it's just really good fun. You make some really good friends.

Laura: For me from where I'm from, I'm from more of the countryside, the smaller areas. I'm not used to big cities. So being on a campus this size, and it's really lovely, you get to know everyone. I've already gotten to know people from the years above me on the same course. Everyone is so lovely. It just felt right. And due to it being a sports uni, I love my sport too much. I've played lacrosse, basketball, hockey, badminton, everything I could try. And with all the facilities on site and makes it so much more easier.

Rebecca: I would definitely say come and study at Marjon. It's probably been one of the best decisions that I've made. I really enjoy it here. You know, all the lecturers are all really helpful. So there's like a lot of support sort of academically. And then you've got, you know, student support and things that side where they help with like financial problems or, you know, problems at home or anything that might be happening off campus. So, yeah. So, if anyone's kind of debating between Marjon and on a different university, I would definitely say for the personal touch, come here.

Why this course at Marjon?

Accredited by the Sports Therapy Organisation (STO) Study on a professionally accredited programme that meets industry standards and prepares you for a successful career as a Sports Therapist.

400+ Hours of Clinical Experience Gain hands-on clinical experience through our on-site Sports Therapy Clinics and external placement opportunities. Work with a diverse range of clients, developing the practical skills, clinical reasoning, and confidence required for professional practice.

Industry-Standard Facilities Develop your skills using cutting-edge equipment, including diagnostic ultrasound, anti-gravity treadmills, RS Footscan technology, shockwave therapy, laser therapy, and electrotherapy modalities commonly used in modern clinical practice.

Learn from Experienced Practitioners Be taught and supported by experienced Sports Therapists, researchers, and clinicians who bring real-world expertise, current research, and industry insight into every aspect of the programme.

CASES-Accredited Laboratories Access our state-of-the-art CASES-accredited Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratories, providing opportunities to undertake research, perform advanced assessments, and develop a deeper understanding of human performance, injury, and rehabilitation.

Real Clients. Real Experience. Real Impact. From professional athletes and sports teams to members of the public and specialist populations. This diverse clinical experience will challenge you, build your confidence, and prepare you to succeed in sports therapy from day one after Graduation.

Modules for this course

Course Snapshot

“ In the first year we learnt the basic anatomy and physiology needed to assess soft tissue injuries and we got hands-on experience learning massage techniques. In our second year we learnt about clinical diagnoses and different treatment techniques, and personal training and gym instructor qualifications are built in to the coaching module. Third year involves injury prevention, strength and conditioning as well as a dissertation. There’s loads of placement opportunities throughout the degree, including at the on-site Marjon Sports Therapy Clinic.”
Hannah - Third year, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

1st Year

Engaging with learning: personal and professional development
You will be developing your academic skills; reflecting on your own self, learning how to write academically and learning how to use all the resources around you to make sure you work is of a high quality.
Introduction to sport, exercise and health psychology
In the first year we learnt the basic anatomy and physiology needed to assess soft tissue injuries and we got hands-on experience learning massage techniques. In our second year we learnt about clinical diagnoses and different treatment techniques, and personal training and gym instructor qualifications are built in to the coaching module. Third year involves injury prevention, strength and conditioning as well as a dissertation. There’s loads of placement opportunities throughout the degree, including at the on-site Marjon Sports Therapy Clinic.
Physiology and Nutrition
This module introduces students to physiology of the human body with direct reference to sports therapy and exploring the impact nutrition has on health, injury and repair
Functional anatomy for sport therapy and rehabilitation
Working on hands-on palpation skills. Learning about muscles, ligaments, tendon, bony points and common injuries.
Soft tissue theory
Learn soft tissue techniques (sport massage), taping athletes and gaining 50 hours hands on experience with real clients. This module can lead to FHT accreditation (100 hours).
Musculoskeletal assessment
Learning how to assess a patient (subjective and objective assessments), performing orthopaedic testing and linking to sport injuries.

2nd Year

Research methods and analysis in sport and health sciences
Learning about how to research and the techniques required to help you produce your dissertation in year 3.
Work-based learning
100 hours work placement in the industry. Great opportunities available in the local area – clinics, sport teams and professional clubs.
Injury treatment modalities
Learning about and using different treatment techniques - therapeutic ultrasound, game ready, anti-gravity treadmill, taping, TENS and inferential machines. Shadowing year 3 students in clinic (50 hours).
Principles of exercise and coaching
Introduction to the techniques required to rehabilitate an athlete back to full functional fitness.
Spinal Assessments and Treatments
introduce the examination and assessment of the spine as well as a range of manual therapy techniques which can be applied to spinal joints/soft tissue.
Pathology and clinical reasoning
Investigating how the body heals after injury. Discussing clinical reasoning.

3rd Year

Honours project
A research project within the area of Sport Therapy.
Injury biomechanics
Investigating injury prevention techniques through a better understanding of the biomechanics of injury and disability.
Strength training, conditioning and rehabilitation
Looking at strength and conditioning techniques and how these are used in rehabilitation programmes.
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
This module will investigate rehabilitation techniques for musculoskeletal injuries
Clinical experience and business
Spend 200 hours gaining hands on experience within our busy commercial sport injury clinic; treat a whole range of patients, from the weekend warrior to professional athletes, and prepare yourselves to set up your own business.
Download course details

Current students say...

Steph Beck

“I love the practical aspect of the course, being able to work with a wide variety of different clients who have different types of pain, symptoms and injuries. I’ve gained knowledge on how the body functions and what happens if the body isn’t functioning properly. I now understand how to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate a variety of different injuries. My confidence when working with different sports and every day injuries has increased as every day I am put in situations that make me learn.”

Kelly Kemp

“I enjoy the practical side of the course, working in the sports therapy clinic and discovering hands-on which treatments work best for different injuries. My writing skills are stronger from writing case studies, lab reports and presentations and I have developed the ability to critically analyse research.My self-confidence has increased substantially from working in the clinic and pitch-side with sports teams. I am now confident in assessing, diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating injuries.”

Karen Eccles

“I enjoy learning about how the use of manual therapies can help injured athletes with various conditions and I enjoy helping fellow students with their sports injuries. I also enjoy meeting up with my course mates during and after lectures. I’m challenged and made to think and I’ve learnt to think critically, not just accepting everything I read.”

This course is perfect if you’re curious about

Why do injuries happen? Understand the causes of injury and how to prevent them.

How do people recover from injury? Learn how to assess, treat, and rehabilitate patients back to full function.

What makes the human body perform? Explore anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and movement.

How do elite athletes stay at the top of their game? Discover the science behind performance, recovery, and rehabilitation.

How can technology improve outcomes? Use cutting-edge equipment to assess, monitor, and support recovery.

How can I make a difference through sport and health? Turn your passion into a rewarding career helping people move, perform, and feel better.

“ The student’s knowledge throughout the training season has been a massive boost to the team. I have to comment on their professionalism, which they excelled in. They conducted themselves in a fantastic manor. Not only did they support us at the Championships, but they supported other crews that competed, making them integral to the event and I thank them greatly for their willingness! I have received many positive comments regarding their skills and help provided.”
Sub Lt Emily Gunning - HMNB Devonport Field Gun Crew

See where our graduates are now

Gemma Arundel

“Within my current role, I lead rehabilitation classes for patients with various musculoskeletal disorders. Placement opportunities provided exposure to a variety of potential job roles so I could begin to understand the type of working environment that I wanted to have a career in. The combination of theory and practical sessions allowed both skills and knowledge to be practiced and perfected, which gave me confidence when beginning my new job.”

Physiotherapy Assistant, NHS.

What might you become?

Our Sports Therapy graduates are highly sought after for their practical skills, clinical confidence, and industry-ready experience. The programme is designed to produce employable graduates who are prepared to make an immediate impact across sport, healthcare, and rehabilitation settings.

Graduates have progressed into exciting careers as Sports Therapists, Rehabilitation Specialists, Performance Support Practitioners, Clinical Demonstrators, and Strength and Conditioning professionals, working across both the private and public sectors. Career opportunities include roles within professional sports clubs, sports injury clinics, private healthcare providers, community rehabilitation services, and selected NHS settings.

Our graduates have secured positions with organisations including Plymouth Argyle FC, Manchester United FC, Torquay United FC, Plymouth Albion RFC, and Exeter Chiefs RFC. Others have gone on to establish and grow their own successful sports therapy, rehabilitation, and performance businesses.

For those wishing to continue their academic journey, the degree also provides an excellent foundation for postgraduate study, including Master's degrees, PhDs, and teacher training through a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Whether your ambition is to work in elite sport, healthcare, rehabilitation, education, or to build your own business, this degree will provide the knowledge, clinical experience, and professional network to help you achieve your goals.

Saul: Well, there's a huge amount going on in Health Sciences at the moment. We've had a number of programs, both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Not only have we got really strong academic credibility of our programs, but also we really work very hard with them on our networks, so that they can get good employability opportunities, good placement opportunities. All our courses are accredited so they're recognized by the professional bodies, which really does help our students stand out to combine those three components.

Onsite at the university, we have a number of programs that offer service delivery. We have patients in the NHS, which our students help support to rehabilitate and really improve the quality of their life. It's quite an exciting opportunity for us to use to join us at the moment. What really makes us quite a specialist and distinguishing feature is we've got fabulous sport and exercise science that [house 00:00:56] science laboratories here on site so our students get an opportunity to work from year one, get competent in the practical skills that are required to then go out and do the job that they're training for.

Nathalie: I chose the course because it was quite broad in the first year, but then you could choose different pathways to specialize in different areas. You can do teaching, you can work with patients, you can go into sports development, that kind of thing, all through the same course. I really liked that aspect of it. It's a lot smaller of a university so the teaching is better, and I think the contact time that you get with your teachers is a lot more than other universities. You're not just a number. They know you by name and they know your situation so they can help out a lot more.

Chelsea: The main reason I chose Marjon mostly because of the facilities. I saw a couple of other universities, but although Marjon's quite small, it stood out above all the rest because there's the number of students, with the facilities, there's never a time where you're going to be waiting to use any of the equipment. It's never going to be a time where you have to put your dissertation on hold because someone else is using that. The equipment and the facilities and everything in general was really good here.

Ryan: Now we deliver innovative workplace health and wellbeing solutions to businesses so large corporates, including Wrigley, including City Bus in Plymouth. We support their employees with health and wellbeing with our expertise in the industry gained through experiences at Marjon. The tight-knit community at Marjon and experience that the guys have, the lecturers, they're very experienced in health and fitness and sports science. They're passionate about it as well and they're always conducting new research so it's great to be involved in.

Accreditation

Sports Therapy Organisation Logo

Sports Therapy Organisation (STO)

STO is a not-for-profit organisation that works with industry and sport governing bodies and supports its members by driving standards and providing opportunities.​

CIMSPA-Endorsed-Professional-Standards-Logo

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity

CIMSPA is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire our nation to become more active.

CIMSPA - Quality Assured logo

CIMSPA - Quality Assured

This badge recognises CIMSPA education partners who have evidenced best practice within most of their operations, processes, and practices, and are seen to be offering highest quality provision to its learner. This involves completion of CIMSPA's annual quality assurance review in order to maintain this badge.

How you’ll be taught and assessed?

How will you be taught?

Our Sports Therapy programme uses a blended approach, combining face-to-face teaching with high-quality digital resources to build both academic knowledge and practical clinical skills.

You will learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, placements, and supervised practice. This supports the development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and evidence-based decision-making for modern healthcare practice.

Practical learning takes place in our dedicated Teaching Clinic, commercial Sports Therapy Clinic, and CASES-accredited Biomechanics and Physiology Labs, giving you hands-on experience, real-world application, and access to industry-standard equipment.

 

How will you be assessed?

A range of assessment methods is used to develop and evaluate both academic knowledge and clinical skills. These reflect the demands of modern sports therapy practice and may include case studies, reports, essays, research posters, presentations, multiple choice exams, practical exams, competency-based assessments, rehabilitation planning tasks, reflective portfolios, clinical logs, and professional discussions.

This variety allows you to demonstrate your understanding in different ways while developing key skills such as communication, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and practical application, supporting your preparation for a career in Sports Therapy.

 

Sarah Catlow staff portrait

Sarah Catlow

Course leader

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Sarah has worked with international, national and local sports persons from a variety of disciplines for over 20 years. She has worked within championship football, professional basketball, academy squads within professional rugby and football and professional ice hockey. She holds professional qualifications in manual therapy, acupuncture and she is a tutor for the RFU Intermediate Care in Sport qualification. She is also a member of the Sports Therapy Organisation (STO) Executive Committee, Complementary and Natural Health Care Council, Federation of Holistic therapists (FHT), British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and The British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT).

Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,790 per annum

This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.

Additional costs:

Students are required to self-fund the following:

  • A DBS check (£52)
  • A first aid course (if you have not completed one)
  • Marjon sports kit (£25-100)
  • Printing costs
  • Travel costs associated with placements and case studies
  • Insurance for work placements (£35 per year)

Funding available for this course

Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.

Learn more

Lecturers

Darren Crocker

Senior Lecturer

View profile

Vicki Evans

Lecturer in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

View profile

Vicki specialises in exercise rehabilitation and has worked with diverse groups including adolescents, sports people, disabled athletes, fire service personnel and sarcoma patients. 

James Hedges

Lecturer

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Sarah Martin

Senior Lecturer

View profile

Frequently asked questions

Q1   Do I need a DBS check?

Yes. As you will be working with members of the public as part of your clinical training, you will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check before undertaking certain clinical activities.

Q2   What career opportunities are available after graduation?

Graduates work in professional sport, private practice, sports injury clinics, rehabilitation services, strength and conditioning, healthcare settings, and some NHS roles. Many also establish their own successful businesses.

Q3   How much clinical experience will I gain?

Students complete a minimum of 400 hours of supervised clinical experience, working with professional sports teams, athletes, members of the public, and special populations.

Q4   When do I start working with patients?

Students begin developing practical and clinical skills from Year 1, with opportunities to engage in supervised clinical activities throughout the programme.

Q5   Do I need to be good at sport to study Sports Therapy?

No. You do not need to be an athlete or play sport at a high level. An interest in health, injury management, rehabilitation, and helping people is far more important.

Q6   What facilities will I have access to?

Students have access to our Sports Therapy Teaching Clinic, commercial Sports Therapy Clinic, CASES-accredited Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratories, and industry-standard rehabilitation and assessment equipment.

Saul: Well, there's a huge amount going on in Health Sciences at the moment. We've had a number of programs, both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Not only have we got really strong academic credibility of our programs, but also we really work very hard with them on our networks, so that they can get good employability opportunities, good placement opportunities. All our courses are accredited so they're recognized by the professional bodies, which really does help our students stand out to combine those three components.

Onsite at the university, we have a number of programs that offer service delivery. We have patients in the NHS, which our students help support to rehabilitate and really improve the quality of their life. It's quite an exciting opportunity for us to use to join us at the moment. What really makes us quite a specialist and distinguishing feature is we've got fabulous sport and exercise science that [house 00:00:56] science laboratories here on site so our students get an opportunity to work from year one, get competent in the practical skills that are required to then go out and do the job that they're training for.

Nathalie: I chose the course because it was quite broad in the first year, but then you could choose different pathways to specialize in different areas. You can do teaching, you can work with patients, you can go into sports development, that kind of thing, all through the same course. I really liked that aspect of it. It's a lot smaller of a university so the teaching is better, and I think the contact time that you get with your teachers is a lot more than other universities. You're not just a number. They know you by name and they know your situation so they can help out a lot more.

Chelsea: The main reason I chose Marjon mostly because of the facilities. I saw a couple of other universities, but although Marjon's quite small, it stood out above all the rest because there's the number of students, with the facilities, there's never a time where you're going to be waiting to use any of the equipment. It's never going to be a time where you have to put your dissertation on hold because someone else is using that. The equipment and the facilities and everything in general was really good here.

Ryan: Now we deliver innovative workplace health and wellbeing solutions to businesses so large corporates, including Wrigley, including City Bus in Plymouth. We support their employees with health and wellbeing with our expertise in the industry gained through experiences at Marjon. The tight-knit community at Marjon and experience that the guys have, the lecturers, they're very experienced in health and fitness and sports science. They're passionate about it as well and they're always conducting new research so it's great to be involved in.

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