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Sports therapy student working with equipment

Begin your journey to become a qualified sports therapist with an integrated master's degree

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C6B9
4 years full-time
Bishop Otter Campus (Chichester)

100%

for student satisfaction

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37th

UK University

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7th

in the UK for teaching quality

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Overview

Develop fundamental clinical skills and musculoskeletal expertise

Our dynamic four-year full time MSci Sports Therapy course offers you the opportunity to develop your sports therapy clinical skills and musculoskeletal expertise.

Accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists, this course has a long track record of producing therapists that have continued on into a variety of careers within the sport sector.

You will be able to work as an autonomous sports therapist, or as a member of the multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team, with athletes of all levels of ability, ranging from recreational to international.

The Society of Sport Therapists logo

Incorporate postgraduate level learning

The first three years mirrors the BSc Sports Therapy course, with an additional fourth year in which you will gain invaluable experience working in an applied setting, such as a professional sports team or sports therapy clinic.

The final year will also see you undertake postgraduate level learning including a research project, where you will receive postgraduate level instruction on research methodologies and ways of sharing your work within the scientific community.

On this course you will:

  • Develop your understanding of the concepts of sports medicine and sports science, with a focus on physiological and pathological processes.
  • Gain additional experience through applied work placements in your fourth year, as you continue your studies to postgraduate level.
  • Work to develop excellent clinical, examination, and assessment skills.
  • Learn to plan and implement appropriate independent treatment regimens for injured patients.

The Course

Develop your understanding of the concepts of sports medicine and sports science

Our MSci Sports Therapy course gives you an highly-practical and in-depth overview of the fundamental concepts and realities of contemporary practice.

In your third year you will work with injured students and staff in the University for 60 hours in your third year and a further 140 hours outside of University in a professional sports club or organisation. You will have the option to look after a team, but it is not compulsory.

In your fourth year, you will continue to gain vital experience by working in an applied setting. This experience will help you to apply the skills you will have learnt up until this point, as you continue your studies at postgraduate level.

Your Professional Placement in your fourth year will extend throughout your programme of study to align with one entire season or performance cycle i.e. September-June.

This list is indicative and subject to change.

Select a year

Acute Injury and Trauma

This module introduces you to the role of the Sports Therapist in the identification and management of acute sporting injury. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to detect, identify, and manage acute sporting injury from serious life threatening injury, to common soft tissue sporting injury. It will include on-field examination and making return to play decisions. You will gain an accredited first-aid qualification.

Evaluating Sport, Exercise and Health

This module will use a sport, exercise and health science context to develop study and research skills through practical application.

You will be introduced to simple methods of quantitative research and data analysis together with the rational for those methods. You will experience a wide range of learning modalities to develop your study skills including:

  • Practical data collection
  • Computer laboratories
  • Group seminars
  • Group and individual tutorials.

Fundamentals for Sports Therapists

This module aims to enhance your knowledge of the structure and function of the body’s cells, tissues, and systems. the integration of the study of the normal physiology of body tissues with pathological conditions that may commonly affect them is a key theme running through this module. the module examines the relevance of these pathologies and the body’s response to them in our clinical practice.

Fundamentals of Human Physiology

This module will allow you to examine how key systems such as the musculoskeletal system, the cardio-vascular system, and the respiratory system affect human performance. Specific attention is paid to energy metabolism in the context of the exercising human across the breadth of the energy spectrum.

Human Anatomy

This module introduces you to the musculoskeletal system of the human in context of its functional activity during everyday life and sporting activities. This module aims to analyse the movement parameters of the principal musculoskeletal zones of the body. You will develop palpatory skills and analyse joint movement and investigate the muscles involved in simple limb and trunk activity.

Introduction to Applied Exercise Physiology

This module aims to develop an understanding of the application of scientific principles and techniques to evaluate human performance. Consideration will be given to the selection of an appropriate data collection environment (i.e. laboratory versus field) and the applicability across a range of activities that spans energy provision.

Soft Tissue Massage and Manipulation Techniques

This module will provide you with a foundation on which to build further skill and expertise in the art of soft tissue massage and manipulation. You will gain the theoretical principles and practical skills to plan and implement appropriate treatment to address soft tissue dysfunction through the phases of tissue injury and to provide general conditioning for the tissue through periods of training and competition.

Sports Injury Management 1

This module aims to introduce the role of the Sports Therapist in the clinical assessment and treatment of injury. It provides a basic foundation on which to build further knowledge, skill and expertise. the module will cover an introduction to examination and assessment of the lower limb and provide an introduction to the planning and delivery of safe and effective treatments thereof. You will learn and develop skills in clinical assessment, sports taping and basic exercise therapy.

Clinical Biomechanics

This module aims to build upon the core biomechanical principles underpinning the practical analysis of human movement. It will also consider the role of biomechanical analysis in sports therapy and the assessment of patients. It will serve to widen your knowledge base and show the integrative nature of the separate disciplines of therapy and biomechanics.

Clinical Exercise Physiology

This module explores the relationship of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with both the development and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD).

You will examine the physiological responses to physical activity, and methods to assess health and fitness for those individuals suffering from such disease states.

You will explore the application and appraisal of exercise prescription guidelines for NCDs, with consideration of those that are serviced by exercise/GP referral schemes.

This module is aligned to the CIMSPA professional standards Health Navigator and Long-Term Conditions.

Neuromusculoskeletal Manual Therapy to the Spine

This module provides you with the knowledge, understanding, and ability to provide the safe and effective assessment and management for the cervical, thoracic, lumbar vertebrae. It will give you the ability to apply comprehensive neurogenic, arthogenic, and myogenic examination, assessment, and treatment techniques appropriate to the above regions.

Rehabilitation: Return to Competition

This module will allow you to consolidate your theoretical knowledge and develop your practical ability to lead rehabilitation sessions in a group setting that are injury-specific and applicable in both the sport and occupational setting. You will learn to plan, implement, and evaluate safe and effective group rehabilitation programmes that are appropriate to the needs of the patient’s transition during the phases of late-stage rehabilitation, to return to competition/occupation.

Rehabilitation: Return to Function

This module will provide you with the theoretical knowledge, understanding, and practical abilities to plan and implement safe and effective, progressive rehabilitation programmes that are both injury and functional specific, and address the individual needs of the patient.

Researching Sport, Exercise & Health

You will further develop your skills in research methods and data analysis, with a broad focus on analysis procedures including the qualitative method of interviewing, and quantitative methods of analysis of variance, correlation and linear regression. These methods are commonly used procedures in the sport, exercise and health sciences, and understanding of these will also provide a solid foundation for understanding more advanced research methods that you may learn in your future work including research projects or postgraduate study.

Sports Injury Management 2

This module provides you with a safe and effective assessment and management of soft tissue and sport-related injuries. the module also aims to enable you to understand the gross structure and function of the upper body and the typical pathological responses of the body. It is also aimed to equip you with signs and symptoms of clinical pathology and the mechanisms of injury aetiology.

Advanced Musculoskeletal Manual Therapy

This module aims to provide you with the expertise to apply safe and effective manual therapy and mobilisation techniques to the peripheral joints of the body. It will give you the ability to apply a comprehensive range of manual therapy techniques appropriate to a wide range of presenting problems in the peripheral joints and aims to develop a more clinically reasoned approach in your management.

Advanced Research in Sport and Exercise

This module accesses sections of the provision for MSc students and so begins to move you towards postgraduate level thinking. You will work alongside MSc students to access sections of work at the appropriate level. Assignments will reflect that the module is in Year Three but will take an applied approach to promote independent use and evaluation of research methods and statistics.

Advanced Sports Injury Management

This module provides an opportunity for you to consolidate your knowledge and further develop existing skills. the module aims to challenge current concepts in sports therapy practice, and further develop a clinically reasoned approach in differential diagnosis, and management of more complex and multifactorial presentations. This module prepares you for the complexities and realisms of clinical practice in all settings.

Psychology of Injury and Rehabilitation

This module enables you to critically evaluate the psychological, social, and cultural factors in injury risk, theories of psychological responses to injury, recovery, and adherence to rehabilitation programmes. It will critically evaluate theory and research, and consider practical approaches to working with injured athletes to assist them with their response to and rehabilitation from injury experiences.

Research Project

The research project provides an opportunity to apply appropriate knowledge, concepts, and techniques to an in-depth study of a particular question or problem relating to sport,  exercise or healthcare.

This module aims to foster a greater understanding of the processes to undertake a small-scale research project and marks the culmination of the student’s learning experience over their undergraduate programme of study.

Therapeutic and Clinical Electrotherapy

This module provides you with the theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to apply Ultrasound, TENS, Interferential, and LASER safely and effectively. It will equip you with the clinical reasoning regarding the implementation of these modalities. It will also investigate the research regarding the usage of these modalities.

Advances in Sports Injury Management of the Lower Quadrant

The module focuses upon the many approaches that exist in the management of lower quadrant dysfunction, exploring the evidence, and challenging the current concepts supporting these methods. It builds upon the Advances in Sports Injury Management of the Upper Quadrant module, developing theoretical and clinical knowledge further, preparing you for the complexities and realism of clinical practice.

Advances in Sports Injury Management of the Upper Quadrant

This module builds upon your individual practical experience, consolidates your knowledge, and further develops your existing assessment and management skills of upper quadrant dysfunction in an injured athlete. It further develops theoretical and clinical knowledge, preparing you for the complexities and realism of clinical practice.

Dissertation

This module is designed to be the culmination of the programme, applying theory to practice in innovative ways. It is the opportunity to complete an in-depth study of a topic, the outcomes of which will have a specific impact on their professional practice personally and/or that of an institution/organisation.

Professional Placement

The professional placement will enable you to further develop, apply, and reflect on the core areas of sports therapy practice and to draw on, and review, the profession’s evidence base. You should develop new knowledge and skills while in practice-based settings, in addition to applying, consolidating, and reflecting on the learning gained in the University environment. You will also develop a network of professional contacts to be established that could greatly aid future employability.

Experience

Discover a wide range of excellent sporting facilities that support your learning

Teaching and Assessment

Innovative teaching methods that focus on practice

Teaching

Our team of principal lecturers ensure innovation, enthusiasm and expertise combine to deliver the excellent standards that give our institution its high reputation.

When you come to Chichester, you will join a community of students and lecturers working in partnership to ensure that your learning experience reflects best practice and embraces the opportunities presented by new, interactive technologies.

Each module is delivered differently depending on its content and focus of study.

In most modules you can expect lead lectures to introduce core content, but the majority of your time will be spent working in small groups with tutor support in seminars, workshops or laboratory sessions.

Many sessions will require you to have completed some preparatory work and you will also be given structured follow-up work after a session to further progress your learning, often reading or an individual/group task. As you progress through your degree you will be expected to take more and more ownership over your learning and development, directing your study into areas of most interest to you.

Assessment

You will be assessed by a variety of methods, including essays, examinations, portfolios, practical assessments, lab reports, and oral presentations.

Our course includes a mix of assessments, so that you may develop a wide range of transferable skills. Modules are assessed at every stage of the course, offering cumulative assessment of your progress.

You can monitor your own progress, allowing you the opportunity to discuss and plan your development with your lecturers throughout the course. Where appropriate special arrangements can be made for students with an identified need.

Placement Opportunities

Utilise our extensive professional networks to support your learning

You will your develop skills through our work placements. These are typically held in a professional sports club or organisation and allow you to apply theory and knowledge in an operational sport setting.

Our third year students run our Sports Injury Teaching Clinic for four hours a week during semester time.

They provide free treatment and advice for musculoskeletal injuries to all at the University of Chichester. The Sports Injury Teaching Clinic can be found in The Tudor Hale Centre for Sport.

Students are ultimately responsible for finding their own placement, however the placement coordinator is available to assist students and has a network of contacts.

Our students are from all over the UK, with the majority from the South and South East of England, with a few students from overseas. Many students find work placements in their home towns, as well as local opportunities in Sussex.

Placements are integral to your development as a student and are integrated within University-based work.

You will need to ensure you have all the necessary documentation in place before you start your placement. Some courses will insist that you complete a DBS check on entry to the course and others will require you to complete a check once you have started. Please check that you have completed all necessary documentation before commencing your placement.

Study Abroad

Explore the opportunity to study part of your course abroad

As a student at the University of Chichester, you can explore opportunities to study abroad during your studies as you enrich and broaden your educational experiences.

Students who have undertaken this in the past have found it to be an amazing experience to broaden their horizons, a great opportunity to meet new people, undertake further travelling and to immerse themselves within a new culture.

You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination institution for you and your course. We can take you through everything that you will need to consider, from visas to financial support, to help ensure that you can get the best out of your time studying abroad.

Careers

Acquire the skills and knowledge required to gain employment with the sports industry

We understand the importance of ensuring that you have the knowledge, skills and experience to compete successfully in today’s challenging jobs market.

With a practical-based modular approach, our MSci Sports Therapy course gives you the skills and experience necessary to succeed as a professional sports therapists, as well as in a variety of other roles within the sports industry.

Typical careers include:

  • Sports therapist
  • Private practice
  • Fitness consultant
  • Personal training
  • Health promotion
  • Teaching

Jordan

MSci Sports Therapy, graduate and Business Owner and Lead Graduate Sports Therapist: Active Motion Injury Clinic (Southampton), Graduate Sports Therapist, DKW Sports Therapy (Fareham), and Physio-logical (Havant)
"The first three years of the MSci programme provided the key grounding needed to succeed as a sports therapist irrelevant of whether you wanted to work in private practice or professional sport. The fourth year allowed me to experience the world of professional sport. Personally, I was unsure which career path to follow - professional sport or private practice. Undertaking the MSci allowed me to find that answer while gaining valuable experience, information and contacts. This in combination with the guest lectures provided me with a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain information and learn from one of the best medical teams in the country (AFC Bournemouth – Premier League Football) as well as some of the best private practice clinicians. I am now forever drawing back to the extra information I gained from the lectures and my time in professional sport."

Rosie

Sports Therapy graduate
"When I was researching possible universities the University of Chichester by far stood out. Areas such as the on-site clinic, where we work with real clients, really helped me make my decision. I thought it was a brilliant setup. The lecturers are amazing; they really know their stuff and are really helpful. I love the practical sessions as you get hands on, putting what you’ve learnt from your lectures to practice. I would highly recommend the course to anyone considering it."

Further study

We offer postgraduate research programmes (MPhil/PhD) across the field of sport disciplines.

Supervision is offered by a strong, research-active team with a range of expertise. Our research interests stem from applied experience to deliver ‘real world’ meaningful results.

University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.

Course Costs

Course Fees 2024/25

UK fee
£9,250
15% discount during your fourth year.
International fee
£15,840

For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.

For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.

To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.

Entry Requirements

UCAS
120-128
tariff points.
A Levels
ABB - BBB
to include Biology or PE at grade B or above
BTEC
D*DD
including Sports Science.
GCSEs
C/4
or better in both English Language, Science (PE accepted) and Maths.
IELTS
6.0 overall
with no element lower than 5.5
Access to HE Diploma
Pass
with at least 12 credits worth of Biology units at Merit.

Interview

As part of the application process for this course you will be asked to attend an interview.

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