Course description

As demand for skilled sports therapists continues to grow, this new degree will help you develop high-level professional knowledge and skills so that you can go into practice after graduation.

• Choose a course recognised for its high academic quality; this course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists
• Complete over 200 hours of clinical placements to gain hands-on experience of the profession and apply theory to practice
• Build a thorough understanding of the rehabilitation process, including manual therapy techniques, exercise therapy and sports massage
• Undertake fieldtrips to sporting events
• Make the most of our specialise facilities in our sports centre
• Be inspired by our enthusiastic and expert staff who boast a wealth of professional experience working with elite athletes

 This is a dynamic course which will set you apart as an industry-ready sports therapist and rehabilitator.

Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation at Derby

This accredited degree will equip you with the professional, academic and scientific skills to become a research-savvy, industry-ready sports therapist and rehabilitator - all set to go straight into practice after graduation.

As a sports therapist, you will take the lead in directing patients back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports-specific fitness. You’ll use sport and exercise principles to help boost performance, devise injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes, and provide assessments and treatments in recreational, training and competitive settings.

Offering a blend of science and practice, this course prepares you for the challenges of the role. You’ll gain a detailed understanding of the human body in terms of anatomy and movement. You’ll also cover all aspects of the rehabilitation process, including manual therapy techniques, exercise therapy, and sports massage

Expert teaching

Our teaching team has vast professional experience in sports therapy and rehabilitation. Staff have forged extensive links with sports clubs and provide expert consultancy to elite track and field athletes, golfers and professional footballers.

These strong professional networks will open doors for you, with guest lectures, demonstrations and employer-led projects adding an extra dimension to your studies.

Real world learning in action

Work placements are a key feature of this course. You’ll gain hands-on experience with private therapy clinics and University sports teams to improve your employability. By working with clients under expert supervision, you’ll be ready to practice effectively once you graduate. As well as gaining hands-on experience in our Sports Therapy Clinic, you can participate in our 'Telehealth' services which provide support to staff and students who require injury advice and management guidance digitally through Microsoft Teams.

Fieldtrips will also broaden your outlook. There are opportunities to visit sporting events such as 10 kilometre runs, half marathons and golf tournaments to see the work of the sports therapist at first hand.

Your learning will be varied and inspirational, with real case studies, laboratory work and problem-solving exercises. You’ll also evaluate the latest research so that you can use it to underpin your practice as a therapist.

How you will learn

You’ll learn through a combination of clinics, lectures, practical sessions, seminars, laboratories, workshops, tutorials, and guided self-study. During your study, you will complete a number of work placements in our real world learning labs and, using the knowledge, skills, and understanding you acquire, you’ll learn to evaluate research and use it to develop your clinical decision making skills and inform your practice as a therapist.

Assessment

The course assesses the professional, academic, and scientific skills considered key to becoming a research savvy, industry-ready sports therapist and rehabilitator. Assessments will include oral presentations, structured clinical examinations, written projects, problem solving exercises, laboratory reports, professional development work, exercise prescription tasks, essays, practical viva voce, and case studies.