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.
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.
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Immerse yourself in the world of sport, exercise and injury rehabilitation. Get hands-on practice as a sport therapist in our clinic and set yourself up for an exciting career.
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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).
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Learn from highly skilled lecturers with hands-on experience working as sport therapists.
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Develop essential skills and experience in our public-facing Sport and Exercise Therapy Clinic.
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Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs, developed with employers to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.
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Learn with experts – 100% of our Sport Science research is recognised as internationally significant in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
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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.
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.
Course options
Key facts
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 *.
- 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
- 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)
- 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)
To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.
- Foundation in Sports Science
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.
- Work Placement - Psychology and Sport Sciences (120 credits)
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.
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Jade PerkinsLecturer Practitioner
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Mike FerrandinoSenior Lecturer
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Paige BarnardLecturer Practitioner
Facilities
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.
Accreditation
Our degree course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists, the leading professional body in the UK.
Careers
You'll 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, with an increasing number of graduates taking positions within the NHS supporting physiotherapists.
You could pursue a career in a sports medicine team, supporting professional players back from injury. Or you might choose to work with the increasing number of 'weekend warriors' and recreational athletes, who also need support to recover from injury. Alternatively, you could focus on working with the wider community – perhaps those who are inactive or older and need assistance to get back to functional fitness.
While you're studying at ARU, we'll encourage you to make connections with industry. We have links with a range of sporting organisations, such as:
- Living Sport (Cambridge and Peterborough Sports Development)
- Addenbrooke's Hospital
- British Paralympic Association
- Local sports clubs
- British Cycling
- England & Wales Cricket Board
When you first register as a student, you'll become a student member of The Society of Sports Therapists, which provides guidance and advice for the profession. Our course will also signpost opportunities to gain wider qualifications, such as CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activit) courses, to strengthen your CV.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study a postgraduate degree such as our MSc Sport and Exercise Science. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
Employability and personal career development
Informed by the Society of Sports Therapists, our course supports an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities employers are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.
To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.
Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.
As a university, sport is in our DNA. There’s a packed programme of activities including health and fitness classes and fun, social sport. Cambridge boasts a well-equipped campus gym and an array of sports clubs and societies. And, if you’re a keen athlete, you could even represent ARU in national competitions.
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