Sport therapists working with patients
BSc (Hons) Available in Clearing

Sport and Exercise Therapy

Train to become a sports therapist, using evidence-based practice to bring people back to optimal levels of fitness and performance.

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
3 years
UCAS course code
C604

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with foundation
UCAS course code
C606

Start date
September
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with placement
UCAS course code
C605
Top 10

Study on one of the leading Sports Science courses – ranked top 10 in the UK, 2021-24.

Source: Guardian University Guide

Our highly practical, accredited course covers injury identification, rehabilitation techniques and exercise science. It will give you the skills to work with a range of individuals, from professional athletes to the general public.

Based in our specialist clinic and CASES accredited labs, you’ll learn about pitch-side first-aid, sport massage, injury rehabilitation, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning training, and more.

With accreditation from the Society of Sports Therapists, you’ll graduate ready to work as a professional sports therapist.

We welcome talented athletes and offer financial support through our Sport Scholarship.

The Society of Sports Therapists

Our degree course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists, the leading professional body in the UK.

Society of Sports Therapists logo
Why ARU?
  • Study on a leading Sports Science course – ranked 17th in the World (Shanghai Rankings 2023) and fourth in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2022-24).

  • Learn from highly skilled lecturers with hands-on experience working as sport therapists.

  • Develop essential skills and experience in our public-facing Sport and Exercise Therapy Clinic.

  • Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs, developed with employers to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.

  • Learn with experts – 100% of our Sport Science research is recognised as internationally significant in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

  • We’re delighted to be Cambridge United Football Club’s Official Education Partner which supports opportunities such as work experience at the club or volunteering with the Cambridge United Foundation.

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Careers

Graduate as a healthcare professional from a course accredited by The Society of Sport Therapists.

Sports therapy professionals are increasingly in demand. They can work for sports teams or organisations or be self-employed.

While you’re studying at ARU, we’ll encourage you to improve your employment prospects by making connections with industry, gaining wider qualifications such as CIMPSA courses, and becoming a student member of The Society of Sports Therapists.

Teaching and modules

Paige Barnard

You will be hands on quickly, which will enable you to learn how to assess and treat patients.

Paige Barnard, Lecturer Practitioner

Explore how the body performs, and responds to, physical activity.

Through lectures and practical sessions, you’ll gain skills in assessment, recognition, diagnosis, treatment, management and rehabilitation; and learn to create sport-specific exercise programmes.

You’ll also look at data collection and interpretation; sports coaching; strength and conditioning; and the considerations involved when working with different populations – whether that’s professional athletes, or other groups such as older or younger people.

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1 (Level 4)
  • Multidisciplinary Sport and Exercise Science 1 (30 credits)
  • Foundation Skills in Sport and Exercise Therapy (30 credits)
  • Anatomy and Joint Assessment for Sports Therapists (30 credits)
  • Multidisciplinary Sport and Exercise Science 2 (30 credits)
  • Professional Development - Level 4
  • Into ARU
Year 2 (Level 5)
  • Physiological Profiling for Strength and Power (15 credits)
  • Functional Rehabilitation - SST (15 credits)
  • Applied Sports Therapy (30 credits)
  • Applied Research Skills (15 credits)
  • Physiological Profiling for Endurance (15 credits)
  • Strength and Conditioning (15 credits)
  • Professional Development - Level 5
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Year 3 (Level 6)
  • Rehabilitation for Performance - SST (15 credits)
  • Contemporary Issues for Sport and Exercise Therapy Practice (30 credits)
  • Professional Practice in Sport Therapy (30 credits)
  • Undergraduate Research Project (30 credits)
  • Advanced Strength and Conditioning (15 credits)
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1 (Level 3)
  • Foundation in Sports Science
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Year 3
  • Work Placement - Psychology and Sport Sciences (120 credits)
Module details

At ARU, you’ll learn from expert staff including practising sport therapists, coaches, psychologists, nutritionists and conditioning specialists. There’s the chance to hear from world-leading guest speakers too, through our Excellence in Sports seminars.

Facilities

CASES Registered Laboratory logo

At ARU you’ll be based in our Cambridge Centre for Sports and Exercise Sciences, which houses specialist exercise testing and human movement labs.

The labs feature:

  • a dedicated sports therapy teaching and clinical suite
  • 3D motion capture suite
  • notational analysis software
  • heart-rate monitors
  • GPS monitoring equipment
  • breath-by-breath oxygen-analysis systems
  • haematology suites
  • accelerometers
  • a strength and conditioning suite.

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Sport and Exercise Therapy

Clearing places available

UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

Apply by phone

UK students, call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

International students

Apply direct