Sports Therapy BSc (Hons)

About the course

Sports Therapy is both an academic and practical based subject. We ensure that our students have a strong theoretical and evidence based approach to Sports Therapy, and we feel that hands on practical experience and well equipped learning facilities, such as our Sports Injury Clinic, are essential in producing a competent and well qualified graduate.

Year 1 -  The first year has a strong emphasis on the immediate management of sports injuries. During the first weeks of the course, you will complete a nationally recognised first aid qualification, and you will be given the opportunity to work alongside one of the University sports teams as their appointed first aider. This provides fantastic experience of acute injuries and of working with a competitive team. You will develop theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in the implementation of sports massage, and study the mechanisms and pathologies of lower limb injuries whilst gaining skills in joint assessment.

There is a focus on building a good foundation in human anatomy and physiology, in developing skills in scientific writing and research, and in relevant areas of sport and exercise science, such as implementing training regimens and studying patterns of human movement during sport. Sport psychology and nutrition are studied within the context of Sports Therapy.

Year 2 - The second year brings the study and assessment of sporting injuries of the upper limb, along with the implementation of appropriate treatments including electrotherapy and joint mobilisations. During this year, you will become skilled at planning and delivering rehabilitation programmes, which are sport specific and return athletes from injury back to full elite fitness. You will also consider injury assessment and treatment for athletes with disabilities.

Sports science modules provide you with understanding of how the body's physiological systems adapt and function during sport and exercise, and you will be able to choose a specific area of Sports Therapy to develop your research skills in preparation for your final year project.

Year 3 -  During the final year, the assessment of spinal injuries is introduced, along with the application of vertebral mobilisations. There is a focus on clinical biomechanics, studying mechanisms of sporting injuries and the correction of biomechanical problems, and you will learn how to implement strength and conditioning programmes in the prevention and rehabilitation of injury. You will also complete an independent project with the assistance of a supervisor, which includes research and testing in your chosen area of Sports Therapy, which is written up as your dissertation.

For the duration of the year, you will carry out clinical placement in our own Sports Injury Clinic, and also externally at sports clubs and independent sports injury centres and clinics nationwide. You will apply everything you have learned to real patients under the supervision of fully qualified staff. We have over 200 clinical placement opportunities in a diverse range of sport and exercise environments, allowing varied and invaluable experience with injured athletes.

Download our Sports prospectus 

Why choose this course?

• The degree in Sports Therapy is an ideal course for those who wish to train in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of sporting injuries.
• We offer a sandwich year enabling you to go on a full year placement to gain invaluable clinical experience with professional sports teams, either within the UK or overseas.
• Graduates are eligible for full membership with the Society of Sports Therapists.
• Additional opportunities include visits to observe human dissections, massaging at events such as the London Marathon, and presenting research at national conferences.

Sports Therapy graduates can go on to study a MSc in Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation

Study routes

• Sandwich, 4 Years
• Part Time, 5 Years
• Full Time, 3 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

The Sports Therapy degree has led graduates to a wide variety of employments. Opportunities may be found working with professional sports teams, in independent sports injury clinics, in health centres and gyms, or on a self-employed basis. We also employ our own graduates to work for us in our Sports Injury and Rehabilitation Centre. In addition, graduates have gone on to study for a MSc or PhD, complete a PGCE to become a teacher, or found opportunities with athletes with disabilities or in schools and youth sport. The skills that are developed throughout the course give the graduate many choices as to where to take their career, with the strong vocational element of the degree and the extensive clinical experience giving a head start in the jobs market. 

Teaching methods

Due to the nature of Sports Therapy, each module has both theoretical and practical components. You will learn through a variety of lectures, practical classes, workshops, tutorials and clinical placements. Our lectures are interactive and encourage applying theories to relevant real life situations, and in the practical classes you will learn your clinical techniques. During workshops your skills are put into problem solving and sports specific scenarios, and individual tutorials enable you to discuss areas of your choice. Along with clinical placement, in your own time you will be directed towards the university's vast learning and research resources for independent study.

As everybody learns differently, methods of teaching and assessment are varied. Modules may require written coursework, practical assessments, and written exams at the end of each semester. Some modules also have oral presentations, group work, portfolios, and poster sessions to ensure that all key skills of the graduate Sports Therapist are evidenced.

On the full time programme, you will study four modules at a time. Each module typically consists of four hours contact time per week, with further reading, research and coursework completed independently. On the part time programme, the course structure is considered on an individual basis with the Programme Tutor, depending on your needs and other commitments.

Clinical placements are completed in your own time, allowing flexibility to gain experience during usual working hours, at evenings or weekends, and during University vacations if preferred. Extensive extra-curricular opportunities are encouraged to supplement your standard programme. Visits and excursions to develop your skills and experience are offered, along with short courses and qualifications including first aid and personal training.

Work Placement

The optional year on placement provides a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, gain incredible experience, enhance your employability, and travel. Whether abroad or in the UK, working with professional athletes in state of the art facilities gives you an amazing insight to the world of Sports Therapy, improving your practical abilities, theoretical knowledge and understanding, and personal skills such as communication and confidence.

Previous year placements have included Queensland Reds RFC, Australia, Nelson Giants Basketball, New Zealand, Georgia State Athletic Training Room, USA, and in the UK at Worcester RFC, Newport Gwent Dragons RFC, Charlton FC and Watford FC to name just a few.

 Sports Therapy student Sarah Gallacher did her placement at the Sports and General Injuries Clinic in Bournemouth.

'The main benefit I have gained is being able to put theory into practice. I have been able to deal with real patients who have a wide variety of injuries. Being able to observe treatments and having practical sessions with feedback from a Sports Therapist has allowed me to gain confidence in carrying out treatments with clients. I was therefore able to undertake sports massage appointments with clients giving me the chance to see regular members. Following this I was able to carry out the assessment and treatment of other clients. I have also learnt a lot about the general running of a business which is essential if you want to set up your own clinic after graduating. I have always thought I'd love to run my own clinic and not only has the placement year confirmed that but it has also shown me that it is possible to set up your own clinic after doing a sports therapy degree.'

Professional Accreditations

The BSc Hons Sports Therapy is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Personal Transferable Skills 1 - Sports

  Students will complete assignments, within their discipline of choice, that include opportunities for development of their personal transferable skills. They will reflect on their development with the assistance of a personal tutor and will produce a portfolio of evidence based on the set assignments and wider experience such as from the work place or other areas of responsibility. Skills assessed are: autonomy - taking responsibility for themselves (A), group working (GW), oral and written communication (COM), information management (IM), problem solving (PS), numeracy (NUM), self evaluation and reflective practice (SERP)

• Study & Research Methods

  This module primarily provides an introduction to the academic and communication skills that students will require to become effective learners in Higher Education. It has also been designed to give students an introduction to the LRC and IT. It is concerned with the acquisition of fundamental academic skills, awareness of basic research methods, data analysis and presentation, approaches to reading appropriate source material and academic standards of referencing. It will involve the use of journal searches linked to academic writing. Sport/exercise related research will be examined with the help of study skills including written and oral communication of issues. Applied mathematics related to the study of sport/exercise and application of computer software packages linked to basic statistics will also be studied. Overall, this module provides the foundations which will be built upon at later stages in order for students to develop into effective and reflective learners.

• Foundations of Human Physiology

  Foundations of Human Physiology will provide students with an introduction to human physiology applied particularly to sport and exercise. In particular, this module will involve fundamentals of structure, function and biochemistry from cellular, to tissue,organ, and organism levels. A basic understanding of muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, endocrine and nervous systems will be developed.There will some coverage of applied sporting topics of relevance to physiology, such as the principles of training and periodicity, and the design of training programmes. Practical work will used to provide additional insight into specific physiolological systems.

• Examination and Management of Sports Injuries 1

  The functional anatomy of the lower limb will be embedded within all lectures and practical classes. Sporting injuries to the lower limb, their mechanisms, pathologies, and signs and symptoms will be introduced during lectures and this knowledge will be implemented during practical classes. Appropriate treatment options for lower limb sporting injuries will be discussed. Skills in appropriate, safe and effective examination and assessment techniques for the lower limb, focusing on the ankle, knee and hip joints, will be taught in practical classes. During workshops knowledge and skills will be applied to sports specific clinical scenarios.

• Anatomy and Biomechanics

  The module has been designed to give students an introduction to human anatomy and biomechanics, relating to structures, properties and functions of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscle in relation to the physical laws which govern human movement. The axial and appendicular skeleton will be studied in regard to joint type and associated movements, while the skeletal muscle system will be analysed in terms of the origins and insertions of selected muscles and the movement they produce. Human movement will be studied in terms of the basic variables and units associated with concepts in linear kinematics and kinetics, including calculations and quantification of human movement. Measurements of human movement (goniometry), muscle mechanics and human stability/mobility will be explored, while biomechanics and injury will be introduced.

• Fundamentals of Sports Therapy

  First aid relevant to sports therapy will be taught as workshop sessions: aims and responsibilities, emergency incident management and illness management. Semester A will focus on remedial soft tissue massage techniques including effleurage, petrissage and tapotement: physiological and therapeutic effects, contraindications, practical application of techniques and sports injury treatment protocols. Semester B practicals will develop further soft tissue techniques, and will introduce basic examination and assessment skills, along with lecture sessions including subjective assessment, observational skills and palpation of relevant anatomical structures. Professional standards appropriate to sports therapy will be addressed throughout the module: hygiene, conduct, communication, legalities and ethics. Lectures will introduce the pathophysiology of tissue injury and healing processes, along with basic sports injury treatment and management such as pitch-side skills, P.R.I.C.E.R., and thermal treatments. Workshops will address taping and strapping skills. Sports nutrition and sports psychology, relevant to sports therapy will be included within the lecture programme.

• Examination and Management of Lower Limb Sports Injuries

  Sporting injuries to the lower limb, their mechanisms, epidemiology, aetiology, pathologies, typical symptoms and common clinical signs will be introduced during lectures and this information will contribute to practical classes. Appropriate treatment options for lower limb sporting injuries will be discussed. Functional anatomy of the lower limb will be embedded within all lectures and practical classes. Skills in appropriate, safe and effective examination and assessment techniques for the lower limb (including observation, touch, active, passive and resisted movements, muscle and ligament tests, palpation, function, special tests), which focus on the hip, knee, ankle joints and lumbar spine, will be taught in practical classes. Taping and strapping of the lower limb will be addressed. During workshops, knowledge and skills will be applied to sports specific clinical scenarios.

• Therapeutic Modalities

  Semester A will focus on the indications, physiological effects and contraindications of remedial soft tissue massage techniques. Practical sessions will focus on the safe, effective and appropriate application of remedial soft tissue massage techniques. The lecture programme will address subjective and objective assessments, thermal treatments, the inflammatory response, healing processes and pain mechanisms that occur as a result of sports and exercise injury. An introduction to Sports Psychology to support the Sports Therapist is embedded within the module. Semester B workshops will focus on the indications, physiological effects and contraindications of electrotherapeutic modalities, and the safe, effective and appropriate application of ultrasound, interferential and TENS.

• Foundations of Human Physiology

  Foundations of Human Physiology will provide students with an introduction to human physiology applied to sport and exercise. In particular, this module will involve fundamentals of structure, function and biochemistry from cellular, to tissue, organ, and organism levels. A basic understanding of muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, endocrine and nervous systems will be developed. There will some coverage of applied sporting topics of relevance to physiology, such as the principles of training and periodicity, and the design of training programmes. Practical work will used to provide additional insight into specific physiological systems. Practical work will include instruction in the use of physiological interfaces, transducers, and recording and analytical software, basic studies on the respiratory (spirometry and off-line techniques) and cardio-vascular system (ECG and blood pressure) and measurement of spinal reflexes and reaction times.

• Foundations of Nutrition

  This module introduces students to basic components of human nutrition, with applications to sport, health and exercise. The module involves the study of human digestion and absorption, including aspects of endocrine control of metabolism. There is also an introduction to essential themes underlying dietary macro- and micro-nutrients, and explores basic applications of nutrition pertinent to dietary assessment and problem-based learning scenarios.

• Foundations of Anatomy and Biomechanics

  The module provides an introduction to human anatomy and biomechanics, relating to structures, properties and functions of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscle, in relation to the mechanical principles which govern human movement. The axial and appendicular skeleton will be studied in regard to joint type and associated movements, while the skeletal muscle system will be investigated in terms of the origins and insertions of selected muscles and the movement they produce. Human movement will be studied in terms of the basic variables and units associated with concepts in both linear and angular kinematics and kinetics, including calculations and quantification of human movement.

• Foundations of Anatomy and Biomechanics: Sports Therapy

  The module provides an introduction to human anatomy and biomechanics, relating to structures, properties and functions of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscle, in relation to the mechanical principles which govern human movement. The axial and appendicular skeleton will be studied in regard to joint type and associated movements, while the skeletal muscle system will be investigated in terms of the origins and insertions of selected muscles and the movement they produce. Human movement will be studied in terms of the basic variables and units associated with concepts in both linear and angular kinematics and kinetics, including calculations and quantification of human movement.

• Graduate and Professional Skills 1: Sports Therapy

  Students will complete assignments, within their discipline of choice, that include opportunities for development of their transferable graduate and professional skills. They will reflect on their development with the assistance of a personal tutor and will produce a portfolio of evidence based on the set assignments and wider experience such as from the work place or other areas of responsibility. Skills assessed are: autonomy - taking responsibility for themselves (A), group working (GW), oral and written communication (COM), information management (IM), problem solving (PS), numeracy (NUM), self-evaluation and reflective practice (SERP). Students will also document their continued professional development, such as the gaining of additional qualifications, work experience or attendance at external events such as conferences or workshops.

Optional

Year 2

Core Modules

• Exercise Physiology

  Cardiovascular aspects of exercise, blood pressure and haemodynamic response at rest and exercise, exercise and cardiovascular disease. Respiratory aspects of exercise: haemoglobin and respiratory variables, acid balance and asthma. Basic laboratory testing in athletes and metabolic responses to training. The endocrine system during exercise, exercise-induced endocrine secretions/catecholamine response. Endocrinology-fluid balance. The immune system and exercise. Fatigue and exhaustion; de-training and the human body. The effect of exercise in different environmental conditions and on different populations such as ageing; energy supply and systems.

• Research Design

  In this module students will explore the principles and methods that underpin scientific research in sport and exercise science and sports therapy. The module will enable students to comprehend, critique, and effectively utilise existing scientific research in their studies and professional practice, either as sport and exercise scientists or sport therapists. The knowledge gained will also provide a foundation upon which to design and develop an appropriate research proposal in order to successfully complete the final year project.

• Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation

  This module will cover the principles of rehabilitation and exercise therapy in the early, intermediate, late and pre-discharge stages of recovery from injuries sustained in a sports and exercise environment. Students will be taught how to increase and maintain muscular strength and endurance, joint range of motion and proprioception in the lower and upper limbs, trunk and neck. Rehabilitation and exercise techniques such as core stability, functional and sports specific programmes, hydrotherapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitated stretching and strengthening will be taught, as will crutch walking, gait re-education, gait analysis, return to running and sports specific function, circuit training and remedial games. There will also be coverage of commonly used procedures in orthopaedic surgery for the treatment of sports injuries and the effects of inactivity and immobilisation on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems.

• Examination and Management of Upper Limb Sports Injuries

  Sporting injuries to the upper limb, their epidemiology, aetiology, pathologies, typical symptoms and common clinical signs will be introduced during lectures and this information will contribute to practical classes. Appropriate treatment options for upper limb sporting injuries will be discussed. Functional anatomy of the upper limb will be embedded within all lectures and practical classes. Skills in appropriate, safe and effective examination and assessment techniques for the upper limb (including observation, touch, active, passive and resisted movements, muscle and ligament tests, palpation, function, special tests), which focus on the wrist, elbow, shoulder joints and cervical spine, will be taught in practical classes. During workshops, knowledge and skills will be applied to sports specific clinical scenarios. Taping and strapping for the upper limb and diagnostic imaging will be addressed.

• Applied Manual Therapy

  This module will further develop the understanding of peripheral joint biomechanics, in particular the relationship between accessory and physiological movements between normal/ altered function and in the presence of sport and exercise related injuries. The ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist joints will be given particular attention as the module explores the role of manual therapy in the restoration of normal biomechanics of these joints. This includes the indications, benefits, precautions, and the practical implementation of manual therapy techniques. The major part of the module will concentrate on the Maitland principles and techniques of peripheral joint manual therapy, which will also be compared and contrasted to those of other philosophies. Clinical reasoning skills will be developed and integrated within the practical sessions to ensure safe, effective and appropriate assessment and implementation of peripheral joint manual therapy techniques.

• Sports Trauma Management

  Students will develop and implement Emergency Action Plans for water and land-based sport and exercise activities. Individual roles and responsibilities will be explored, along with relevant legislation and documentation. The pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and management of injuries, illness and trauma associated with sport and exercise participation will be discussed. The assessment and documenting of vital signs will be addressed, along with the clinical evaluation of injuries, illness and trauma. Clinical reasoning for referral and return to play decisions will be considered. The guidelines, reasoning and practical application associated with basic life support, automated external defibrillation and airway management will be addressed. Students will discuss and rehearse the appropriate monitoring and management of head and cervical spine injury, along with use of associated equipment. Safe removal from water and land based environments will also be addressed. Students will develop awareness and skills in professional standards, communication and scope of practice.

• Graduate and Professional Skills 2: Sports Therapy

  Students will complete assignments, within their discipline of choice, that include opportunities for development of their transferable graduate and professional skills. They will reflect on their development with the assistance of a personal tutor and will produce a portfolio of evidence based on the set assignments and wider experience such as from the work place or other areas of responsibility. Skills assessed are: autonomy - taking responsibility for themselves (A), group working (GW), oral and written communication (COM), information management (IM), problem solving (PS), numeracy (NUM), self-evaluation and reflective practice (SERP). Students will also document their continued professional development, such as the gaining of additional qualifications, work experience or attendance at external events such as conferences or workshops

Optional

Year 3

Core Modules

Optional

• Sandwich Placement - Sport

  The sandwich placement will provide students with the opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills learnt in the taught years of the degree in a work-based situation. The establishment will appoint a work-place supervisor, and the student will also have a University supervisor. During the placement the student will return to the University to a one day Symposium which all placement students attend. During this day they present a poster about their placement and attend talks on future employment.

• Year Abroad - SPO

  Learning and teaching methods may include taught courses, a research project, field studies or a mixture of these components. The Year Abroad will be for two academic semesters or their equivalent. The students will therefore follow a programme negotiated by the Associate Head of School or nominee and an equivalent representative of the host institution. Prior to commencement of the Year Abroad, the student, the programme officers from the University of Hertfordshire and from the host institution will agree a learning agreement and mode of attendance.

Year 4

Core Modules

• Project - Sports Therapy

  The project is intended to offer the student the widest possible scope, within controlled parameters, to record a topic beyond the constraints of usual coursework and examinations. Guidelines on the planning, execution and presentation of projects will be given to all students before the start of level 3 study. These will be backed up by workshops on relevant issues in the projects, such as structuring and writing a literature review and collection and interpretation of data (including statistics). Students will have an individual supervisor to guide them through the project process, with regular contact between student and supervisor required.

• Clinical Biomechanics

  A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the forces involved in human movement and sporting practices will be studied. Angular kinetics and kinematics will be studied in terms of their effects on human movements. The biomechanical characteristics of selected sport and exercise related movements will be studied in relation to gait analysis and its impact on injuries. The role of biomechanics in the aetiology of sporting injury and rehabilitation will be explored as well as how to record and analyse human movement in terms of video and electromyography capture and analysis. The effects of sports equipment and techniques on human movement and the effect on type and likelihood of injury will be explored in relation to specific sports.

• Examination and Management of Sports Injuries 3

  Semester A of this module will cover indications, benefits, precautions and contraindications associated with the use of manual therapy techniques for the vertebral column and its associated structures. Clinical reasoning and decision-making skills will be developed alongside, and integrated with, teaching of the practical aspects of manual therapy. These two aspects will be the focus of the practical sessions to ensure appropriate, safe and effective assessment and management of vertebral conditions which includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar areas of the spine, and the sacro-iliac joint. Semester B will incorporate and combine problem-based learning techniques and practical workshop teaching sessions. The focus will be on common injury conditions encountered in a sporting environment. Assessment of these conditions will highlight subtle clinical signs and symptoms by introducing advanced clinical techniques. The underlying pathophysiology of presenting problems will be considered together with the implications for treatment and rehabilitation. The aim is to further develop practical sports therapy skills alongside clinical reasoning and decision-making processes. This is so that successful students will be able to devise and implement appropriate, safe and effective advanced treatment and rehabilitation protocols in the light of up-to-date evidence-based practice.

• Strength and Conditioning

  This module has been designed to allow students to further develop skills related to optimisation of human physical performance. It will involve the screening, monitoring and development of factors that impact on helping or hindering human physical performance. The module aims to look at the scientific rationale behind strength and conditioning practices and help students critique common training modalities, with the aim of developing their own practical skills, supported by a strong scientific rationale. In particular programme periodisation and recovery/injury prevention will be covered, as well as looking at the training modalities which make up concepts in human performance such as strength, power, speed, endurance and flexibility.

Optional

• Sports Therapy Clinical Placement

  Seminars starting at the end of level 2, and continuing into level 3 will focus on the development of critically reflective skills, and evidence-based practice in the context of the experiences gained by the students in their clinical placements. Students will experience 200 hours of supervised clinical placement in a sport and/or exercise- related clinical environment. Fifty of these hours will be provided within the university. The student is supported in obtaining and completing further supervised placement outside the university, at any time from July on completion of their level 2 study, until May of their level 3 study.

Year 5

Core Modules

Optional

• Work Experience in Sport, Health and Exercise

  This module aims to provide opportunities for the student to transfer academic and vocational learning into a work-related setting, and vice versa to bring work-place skills and issues into the academic and vocational learning environment. Thus, the module should help to develop good evidence based working practices, and enhance associated knowledge and skills, with a view to improving both student employability and critical reflective practice.

• Advanced Exercise Psychology

  The module aims to extend year 2 by demonstrating how the integration of alternative theoretical perspectives might influence practice with regard to specific populations. In particular, there is increasing research evidence that exercise and physical activity might be effective in terms of enhancing psychological health and well-being in different populations. Therefore, the module will examine the relationships between exercise, physical activity, and various indices of psychological health and well-being across various populations. Appropriate theory and literature will be used to explore potential mechanisms of change. Students will study: Effects of exercise on well-being: research design and measurement issues Motivation, and behaviour change, in physical activity contexts Psychology of chronic mental illness Approaches to exercise and physical activity behaviour counselling

• Advanced Sport Psychology

  This module is designed to develop a critical understanding of theories of sport psychology introduced at level two. In addition, the module has a strong applied element whereby students are made aware of how to effectively deliver such theories so that athletic performance is improved. There is a particular emphasis in this module on the importance of managing the athlete/sport psychologist interaction effectively. Students will cover a number of areas, including framework for consultancy, models of applied sport psychology, athlete assessment, implementation and evaluation of psychological skills programmes, career termination and working with young athletes.

• Sport and Exercise Nutrition

  Sports nutrition integrates the fields of applied biochemistry, exercise physiology, nutritional and ergogenic aids. The importance of nutrition and ergogenic aids specific to enhancing sports and exercise performance will be demonstrated. This will be implemented through lectures in the areas of: macro and micronutrient requirements; carbohydrates pre, during and post exercise; fluid replacement and electrolyte strategies; importance of proteins to performance; fats for performance; blood alkaliners; diet for the immune system; ergogenic aids including creatine and glutamine.

• Biomedical Implications of Exercise

  Exercise and the disease state: the role of exercise both as a prophylactic and causative factor in various cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases. More specifically, topics such as the coronary heart disease, haemostasis, dyslipidaemia, sudden cardiac death, obesity, metabolic syndrome diabetes. Furthermore, the role of rehabilitation, regular exercise and increased activity will be addressed with particular emphasis on the above related disease. The role of activity and exercise in the promoting health in diverse groups and conditions such as the elderly, mental health, pregnancy and HIV/AIDS will be covered. In addition, the implementation of exercise prescription in the general population will be examined in the context of health initiatives.

• Integrative Physiology

  The physical characteristics of a range of environmental situations and the physiological responses to these, with particular reference to exercise in these conditions; hypobaric (diving) and hyperbaric (high altitude and simulated) environments, hypobaric strategies for the enhancement of performance, hot, cold, high and low humidity environments. Space and aviation physiology. Body rhythms and chronobiology, and influences on performance. Limitations of performance, genetic and ethnic influences on performance. Human ageing and the master athlete, the young athlete, physiological and bio-chemical aspects of detraining. Drugs in sport: physiological mechanisms, detrimental effects.

• Project - Sport and Exercise Science

  The project is intended to offer the student the widest possible scope, within controlled parameters, to record a topic beyond the constraints of usual coursework and examinations. Guidelines on the planning, execution and presentation of projects will be given to all students before the start of level 3 study. These will be backed up by workshops on relevant issues in the projects, such as structuring and writing a literature review and collection and interpretation of data (including statistics). Students will have an individual supervisor to guide them through the project process, with regular contact between student and supervisor required.

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £8,500 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Scholarships

• National Scholarship Programme
• University of Hertfordshire Sports Scholarships

Find out more about scholarships for UK/EU and international students

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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How to apply