Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation - BSc (Hons)
with a Foundation Year

2023

2024

Standard option
with a Foundation Year

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Make a difference to people's lives through sport therapy. From diagnosis, treatment and the prevention of injuries, to treating elite athletes or teaching specialist exercise groups. Whether you're looking for a change of career, or may not have the scientific background or entry requirements for a degree in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, our Foundation Year offers the opportunity to fill any knowledge gaps and build your confidence.

Sports therapy is one of the fastest-growing careers 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.

Get hands-on experience in our excellent facilities including laboratories and custom-built teaching spaces, or complete a placement for the chance to put your learning into practice. 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.

Reasons to study Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation with a Foundation Year at Kent

Our foundation year offers you the flexibility to progress to degrees across our Division of Natural Sciences. You may choose a degree in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, but equally you could opt for a degree within another area of Sport and Exercise Sciences, or Biosciences, Chemistry or Forensic Science.
You’ll complete professional placements to put into practice the skills you learn and make valuable industry contacts.
Benefit from our new Kent Sport Clinic - the largest in the South East - where under the supervision of a fully qualified member of staff, you’ll get real-world experience supporting athletes and the general public.
Our expert lecturers have vast experience in sports training, treatment of injuries and rehabilitation.
You will benefit from the wider Kent Sport facilities on our Canterbury campus, such as the fitness suite, dance studio and indoor halls and outdoor sports pitches - as well as our new Kent Sport Clinic, which will be the most comprehensive sports performance clinic in the South East.
Team Kent, funded by the students’ union, runs more than 60 different sports clubs and our large green campus is a great place for morning/evening runs or cycling.
If you have competed at county level, you can apply for one of the University’s sports scholarships.
This course is accredited by the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT). Graduates can apply for accreditation and full membership of BASRaT, the UK regulator for sport rehabilitation.

What you’ll learn

In your foundation year, you study compulsory modules in biology, chemistry and scientific methods, plus a choice of optional modules. On successful completion of the foundation year, you will have reached a standard above A level and so be fully equipped to tackle a BSc degree course.

Then for your degree, you’ll begin by covering topics such as functional anatomy and biomechanics, sports and remedial massage, introductory techniques in therapy and rehabilitation. You then move on to study more advanced modules covering these topics as well as exercise testing and prescription for special populations and techniques for research analysis required for your dissertation.

You gain the academic, clinical and professional skills required of a sports therapist, whose role it is to diagnose, treat and prevent sporting injuries. You also learn how to create exercise and training programmes tailored to individual clients.

You have the option to gain extra professional experience by working on placement in the sports and leisure industry, or supporting ‘centre of excellence’ athletes.

See the modules you'll study

Entry requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.

A level

DDD including either a Science subject (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Sport, Psychology or Mathematics at grade D
GCSE

Maths and English Language at grade 4/C
Access to HE Diploma

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.
BTEC Nationals

MMP in Applied Science, Biomedical Science, Medical Science, Sport or Sports Coaching. All other subjects are considered on a case by case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances.
International Baccalaureate

24 points overall or 11 points from three HL subjects including HL Science subject, Sport, Psychology or Maths at 4 or SL Science subject, Sport, Psychology or Maths at 5
International Foundation Programme

N/A
T level

The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Apply now

Please contact the School for more information at studynats@kent.ac.uk.

International students

If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.

Course structure

Duration: 4 years full-time, 7 years part-time

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

The modules for Stages 1-3 of the degree course can be viewed on the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation - BSc (Hons) page.

Foundation year

Compulsory modules currently include

This module will introduce students to the fundamental components of life. Students will be introduced to the function of key cellular components and their organisation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Through the study of cellular processes, students will develop an appreciation and understanding of the key biological processes underpinning living organisms.

This module will cover chemical concepts and principles. Through lectures and workshops, student will learn about atoms and states of matter, valence and bonding, basic chemical reactions, molecular shapes and isomerism, writing chemical equations and thermodynamics. The application of these principles in chemistry, forensic science, biological and exercise science will be explored in workshops, illustrating their fundamental importance in the natural sciences.

This module will provide a fundamental academic framework the support students in the study of Natural Sciences. The curriculum will address the study of science in a higher education environment and support students in the transition to university. Within the context of the Natural Science subjects, students will undertake laboratory investigations, developing skills and confidence in experimental work. Student will also learn how to find and evaluate information relevant to scientific investigation and use key software packages and databases to do so. The module will provide training in the use of mathematics to develop skills and confidence in numeracy, mathematical and statistical evaluation and graphical presentation of quantitative information.

This module draws together different strands of biological, chemical, physiological and human sciences to explore how scientific investigations can address major global challenges. Practical experimental work involving equipment used in research investigations, creative and critical thinking workshops, and guided group work will explore the role of the natural sciences in addressing some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The module will provide insight into the degree pathways available after completion of the foundation year.

Optional modules may include

This module will build upon fundamental biological principles and processes and place them in the context of key human physiological systems. The function of human tissues will be explained and discussed. The module will explore key principles of genetic inheritance and the drivers of genetic variation. These key areas will provide the foundations for exploring homeostasis in humans, the maintenance of health and the onset of disease.

This module will introduce students to the scientific applications of fundamental sport and exercise sciences topics. This will include anatomy and physiology, as applied to sport, exercise and physical activity; the musculoskeletal system; biomechanics of human movements; psychology in sport and exercise; and how physical fitness, or components of fitness, are assessed in an objective and scientific way.

This module will cover chemical concepts and principles. Through lectures and workshops, student will learn about how chemical reactions occur and the fundamentals and uses of common transformations. This will be accompanied by an introduction to the methods by which these can be studied. The application of these concepts and techniques in chemistry, forensic science, biological and exercise science will be explored in workshops, illustrating their fundamental importance in the natural sciences.

Stage 1

Compulsory modules currently include

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.

Find out more about SPOR3450

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.

Find out more about SPOR3460

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 cover basic the management of injuries, this will include when to refer and the initial treatment.

Find out more about SPOR3510

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.

Find out more about SPOR3520

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.

Find out more about SPOR3530

The module aims to provide students with knowledge of the foundations in research methods in sport sciences. Students will explore different data collection methods in sport sciences and how that information is presented and communicated appropriately. Research and academic study skills will be developed throughout the module.

Find out more about SPOR3550

Find out more about SPOR4001

Stage 2

Compulsory modules currently include

Find out more about SPOR5001

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.

Topics include:

Deep Tissue Massage

Soft Tissue Release

Reciprocal Inhibition

Trigger Points

Positional Release

Taping techniques

Find out more about SPOR5580

The module will enable students to recognise and describe the different stages and components of rehabilitation. Students will learn how to progress athletes from one stage to the next; to recognise when an athlete needs to regress their rehabilitation programme; 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.

Find out more about SPOR5800

Therapeutic modalities for rehabilitators will enable students, to pursue inquiry into interventions in the treatment of common peripheral and vertebral dysfunction and the theory that underlies practice. The module develops the students' ability to select and use therapeutic modalities that are commonly used in rehabilitation. Students will be required to analyse current issues in the use of therapeutic modalities within a rehabilitation environment.

Indicative content includes:

Introduction to the selection and differentiation between a variety of treatment modalities including manual therapy techniques, electrophysical modalities, common bracing and taping modalities and analysis tools that can be used e.g. for gait assessment.

Introduction to the application of selected therapeutic modalities.

Current issues in the use of therapeutic modalities in rehabilitation.

Find out more about SPOR5810

Applied Rehabilitation will enable students to apply the principles of rehabilitation to different tissues and injuries within the body. Students will formulate sports specific rehabilitation programmes for their athletes and clients individually and as part of group-based rehabilitation.

Students will be required to undertake a supervised work placement in addition to the lectures and practical seminars.

Find out more about SPOR5820

What does psychology have to do with sport, exercise, and rehabilitation? In this module, students will learn how these are closely related. Students 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.

Find out more about SPOR5830

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.

Find out more about SPOR5920

Stage 3

Compulsory modules currently include

Exercise prescription for the asymptomatic older adult

Physical activity and cardiovascular diseases

Physical activity and metabolic diseases

Physical activity and neurological impairment

Physical activity and orthopedic diseases

Physical activity and pulmonary diseases

Exercise in clinical rehabilitation settings

Exercise psychology

Find out more about SPOR5230

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.

Find out more about SPOR5660

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.

Find out more about SPOR5840

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 athlete's 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.

Find out more about SPOR5850

Find out more about SPOR6001

Fees

The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course are:

Home full-time £9,250
EU full-time £16,400
International full-time £21,900
Home part-time £4,625
EU part-time £8,200
International part-time £10,950

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.*

Your fee status

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.

Additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

Scholarships

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Search scholarships

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

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.

Teaching and assessment

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.

Contact hours

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.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

enable students to implement prevention strategies, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for injured athletes and exercisers
provide students with a multi-disciplinary education and an insight into being part of a multi-disciplinary team in sporting environments
present a valuable educational experience with the opportunity to learn through the integration of theory and practice
ensure that our graduating sports therapists have developed the level of knowledge and professional competencies to meet professional regulatory requirements.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

anatomy, nutrition and physiological principles related to sports and exercise
current developments in the practice and theory of sports therapy
the theoretical basis of qualitative and quantitative research
concepts of sport and exercise therapy relevant to becoming an autonomous sports therapist
the underpinning theory of prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries.

Intellectual skills

You gain intellectual skills in the following areas:

academic study including critical evaluation
how to plan, design, execute and communicate a piece of independent work that shows critical engagement with the relevant data
the use of knowledge to solve familiar and unfamiliar problems in order to develop reasoned arguments and challenge assumptions
self-appraisal and reflection on practice
how to recognise and respond to moral, legal, ethical and safety issues related to sports therapy.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in how to:

undertake competent, evaluative and reflective sports and exercise therapy
make judgements from the verbal and physical presentation of an athlete
apply and evaluate methods and techniques to prevent, treat and rehabilitate commonly-occurring sports injuries
demonstrate safe, appropriate, confident and competent patient-handling skills.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills in:

communication, presentation, numeracy and IT
interactive skills and group-work
problem-solving
the ability to self-appraise and reflect on practice
the ability to plan and manage your own learning.

Independent rankings

Sports Science at Kent scored 88% overall in The Complete University Guide 2023.

Careers

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:

excellent communication skills
work independently or as part of a team
the ability to solve problems and think analytically
time management.

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. You can read their stories, and find out about the range of support and extra opportunities available to further your career potential here.

Professional recognition

This programme is currently accredited by the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT). Graduates can apply for accreditation and full membership of BASRaT, the UK regulator for sport rehabilitation graduates.

Apply for Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation with a Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

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.

Find out more about how to apply

Contact us

United Kingdom/EU enquiries

Enquire online for full-time study

Enquire online for part-time study

E: studynats@kent.ac.uk

International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

School website

School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Full-time

Part-time

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*Where fees are regulated (such as by the Department for Education or Research Council UK) permitted increases are normally inflationary and the University therefore reserves the right to increase tuition fees by inflation (RPI excluding mortgage interest payments) as permitted by law or Government policy in the second and subsequent years of your course. If we intend to exercise this right to increase tuition fees, we will let you know by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which we intend to exercise that right.

If, in the future, the increases to regulated fees permitted by law or government policy exceed the rate of inflation, we reserve the right to increase fees to the maximum permitted level. If we intend to exercise this extended right to increase tuition fees, we will let you know by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which we intend to exercise that right.

Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation - BSc (Hons) with a Foundation Year

Next steps

Undergraduate Open Day

Overview

Reasons to study Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation with a Foundation Year at Kent

What you’ll learn

Entry requirements

A level

medal-empty GCSE

medal-empty Access to HE Diploma

medal-empty BTEC Nationals

medal-empty International Baccalaureate

medal-empty International Foundation Programme

medal-empty T level

International students

English Language Requirements

Form

Course structure

Fees

Your fee status

Additional costs

Funding

trophy Scholarships

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours

Programme aims

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

Intellectual skills

Subject-specific skills

Transferable skills

Independent rankings

Careers

Professional recognition

Apply for Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation with a Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

All applicants

International applicants

Apply now for part-time study

Contact us

United Kingdom/EU enquiries

International student enquiries

School website

Discover Uni information

Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation - BSc (Hons)
with a Foundation Year

GCSE

Access to HE Diploma

BTEC Nationals

International Baccalaureate

International Foundation Programme

T level

Scholarships