Undergraduate BSc (Hons)
Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Discover the world of sports therapy and learn to diagnose, treat and prevent sporting injuries.
Come along to one of our autumn Open Days in October and November. Hear from staff and students about our courses, find out about our accommodation and see our stunning campuses for yourself.
Make a difference by studying a degree in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation.
Sports therapy and rehabilitation is one of the fastest-growing areas in the sports and healthcare sector and at Kent we are dedicated to giving you the best start to a career in this exciting field. From diagnosis and treatment to the prevention of injuries, studying Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation at Kent equips you with the extensive knowledge and skills needed to work in a range of environments.
You'll gain a good mix of theoretical knowledge, and valuable laboratory and clinical skills. Get hands-on experience in our excellent facilities including laboratories and custom-built teaching spaces, and complete a placement to put your learning into practice. You'll develop the expertise to treat elite athletes, teach specialist exercise groups or set up your own business as an independent Sports Therapist and Rehabilitator.
Together with our dedicated careers and employability support, studying at Kent gives you the edge in pursuing a career in a range of areas including research and development, within a sports club and sports rehabilitation.
Dr Kyra De Coninck explains the skills you'll gain from the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation degree at Kent.
Sports Science at Kent scored 88% overall in The Complete University Guide 2023.
You'll gain invaluable real-world experience in our laboratories and clinics.
The course is accredited by the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT).
You'll gain invaluable practical experience and confidence in your ability to work with clients at all levels of fitness.
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
BBC including B in an appropriate subject (eg Biology, Chemistry, Sport, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Statistics, Mathematics, Applied Science, Human Biology)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in a sport or science subject
30 points overall or 15 at HL including Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics, Sports, Exercise and Health Science 5 at HL or 6 at SL and Mathematics 4 at HL or SL.
Mathematics grade C / 4
Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 60% overall average including 60% in Fundamentals of Human Biology and 60% in Life Sciences plus 50% in LZ013 Maths and Statistics.
Merit overall in Science with a minimum of grade B for the core components (including grade B in the core B examination) and merit overall in the occupational specialism component.
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.
Please contact our Admissions Team for more information at studynats@kent.ac.uk.
The following modules are offered to our current students. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:
Students will cover the biomechanics of movement, movement patterns of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; bones and surface markings of the lower limb, upper limb and spine; joints of the lower limb, upper limb and spine; muscles (origin, insertion and actions) of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; soft tissue structures of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; and nerves of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk.
The main aims of this module are to explore and gain knowledge of human physiology. Students will study the major systems of the human body including the musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system and the nervous system. Students will gain an understanding of their structure and function.
This module will enable students to interpret the pathophysiology of a range of sports injuries by mechanism of injury, anatomical region and tissue type. The module develops the students' ability to relate the mechanism of injury to the pathology of sports injuries. Students will also be required to understand the risk factors associated with sports injuries.
This module will introduce skills in problem solving and clinical reasoning including subjective and objective assessment and the relation to presenting signs and symptoms. The module develops your ability to examine and clinically assess your client, focusing on the upper and lower limbs. You will learn how to assess range of movement, muscle length and strength, ligamentous stability as well as how and when to apply a number of special tests.
This module will enable students to acquire an understanding of sports massage, in order to practically demonstrate a range of sports massage skills effectively and safely. The module also develops the students' ability to record and review their own sports massage sessions with clients. Content will include all skills required in order to carry out a full body sports massage. Basic sports massage strokes such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and frictions will be included. These strokes will be applied on the back, shoulders, gluteals, legs, feet, arms, hands, chest, neck and abdomen. Underpinning knowledge will include record keeping, professional ethics and code of practice, as well as health and safety regulations.
The course takes the form of an individual research study. There are 4 taught lectures covering the management of a research project. The research projects are then conducted with the supervision of a department tutor who will advise the student on issues such as methodology, analysis and presentation. It is the student’s responsibility to organise, conduct, analyse and present the research as required.
Module information to be confirmed.
Module information to be confirmed.
Soft Tissue Techniques will enable students to pursue inquiry into the treatment of selected soft tissue injuries, using a variety of soft tissue techniques. This module develops the students’ ability to use critical analysis and clinical reasoning skills in the application of soft tissue techniques. Students will be required to analyse current issues in the use of soft tissue techniques within the field of Sport and Exercise Therapy.
Principles of Rehabilitation will enable you to recognise and describe the different stages and components of rehabilitation. You will learn how to progress athletes from one stage to the next and also recognise when an athlete needs to regress their rehabilitation programme. You will learn how to adapt exercises according to your clients' needs. The different stages of healing and recovery of a range of sports injuries will be taken into account.
Applied Rehabilitation will enable you to apply the principles of rehabilitation to different tissues and injuries within the body. You will formulate sports specific rehabilitation programmes for their athletes and clients individually and as part of group based rehabilitation. In this module, you will be required to complete hours at a supervised work placement in addition to the lectures and practical seminars.
In this module, you will be required to complete hours at a supervised work placement in addition to the lectures and practical seminars. This module is an introduction to a variety of treatment modalities including manual therapy techniques, electrophysical modalities, bracing and taping techniques and analysis tools that can be used e.g. for gait assessment. Therapeutic modalities for rehabilitators will enable you, to pursue inquiry into interventions in the treatment of common peripheral and vertebral dysfunction and the theory that underlies practice. This module develops your ability to select and use therapeutic modalities that are commonly used in rehabilitation. You will be required to analyse current issues in the use of therapeutic modalities within a rehabilitation environment. You will learn a range of interventions and skills in the treatment of common joint dysfunctions.
What does psychology have to do with sport, exercise, and rehabilitation? In this module, you will learn how these are closely related. You will also learn about psychological and emotional responses to sports injuries and chronic conditions. Topics covered in this module include: adherence to rehabilitation programmes, the importance of motivation, dangerous behaviours in sport, and applied psychological interventions for the injured athlete.
This module introduces students to the analysis techniques required for their dissertation module, as well as how to develop a research idea into a formal study proposal.
Students will learn how to develop as a graduate professional. They will use work-based experiences to reflect on their professional and personal development. This module will enhance the skills they have learnt in modules across the programme and apply these in a current or future professional setting. The assessment of this module draws on the experiences gained in the professional field and is assessed through a portfolio submission.
Students who do not obtain a placement will be required to complete a portfolio based on the University's graduate attributes, this will include self-reflection and planning for a graduate career.
This module covers: - Exercise prescription for the asymptomatic older adult - Physical activity & cardiovascular diseases - Physical activity & metabolic diseases - Physical activity & neurological impairment - Physical activity & orthopaedic diseases - Physical activity & pulmonary diseases - Exercise in cardiac rehabilitation - Exercise psychology
The module takes the form of an individual research study. There are taught lectures covering the management of a research project. The research projects are then conducted with the supervision of a tutor who will advise the student on issues such as methodology, analysis and presentation. It is the student’s responsibility to organise, conduct, analyse and present the research as required. The research project may comprise an experimental laboratory based dissertation, or a systematic review of the literature.
This module will enable students to apply the principles of rehabilitation to different tissues and injuries within the body using specialised equipment and techniques and build on their knowledge from previous modules. Students will be able to apply their prior knowledge to different rehabilitation equipment, pre and post operation and specialist areas and formulate sports specific rehabilitation sessions and programmes for their athletes and clients. Students will learn how to screen athletes and how to formulate group based exercise sessions and programmes. Students will study how rehabilitation progresses and how outcomes are measured and assessed.
This module will allow students to develop knowledge in epidemiological analysis of common injuries in different sports and exercise activities and risk factors for injury in specific populations. Students will develop an understanding of an athletes needs analysis and profiles of specific sports and athletic populations. Students will apply this knowledge to design and implement screening and prevention programmes. Students will evaluate injury prevention and return to play programmes by using outcome measures. Students will learn about return to sport criteria for different components of fitness and rehabilitation. These will include strength, proprioception, speed, agility, Range of Movement (ROM), flexibility, cardiovascular. A range of both clinical/lab and field based tests will be covered during the module. Specialised issues relating to specific sports and body regions will also be covered.
Module information to be confirmed.
The programme involves taking part in practical therapy sessions, clinical practice, designing training, small group seminars and private study. You are taught by a combination of lectures, practical sessions and seminars each week. You also spend additional time developing your clinical skills and experience through placements and in the student clinic.
The methods of assessment vary and predominately involve coursework, observed assessment, practical tests and clinical assessments. Some modules also feature written examinations.
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the programme specification.
You graduate with an excellent grounding in rehabilitation knowledge and extensive hands-on experience. In addition, you also develop the key transferable skills sought by employers, such as:
This means that our graduates are well equipped for careers across a range of fields and have gone on to work for companies such as The King’s School, NHS, and for Oxford United Football Club.
The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Many of our sports scholars go on to earn incredible achievements in their chosen sport. Here they tell us their favourite thing about the University of Kent.
Next steps
If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.
We welcome applications from students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
Student life
Kent was ranked top 50 in the The Complete University Guide 2023 and The Times Good University Guide 2023.
Kent Sport
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
Accommodation