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BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
Key information
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Typical offer:
Entry requirements -
Fees: See below
Full details -
UCAS code: CB63
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Institute code: H36
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Study abroad option
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Work placement option
Find out more
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Professional accreditations
The BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists.
Why choose this course?
- 2nd in the East of England for sports science (2023 Complete University Guide)
- Outstanding facilities in our Institute of Sport and experienced, practising teaching staff
- Gain a year’s clinical placement with a professional sports team
On this sports therapy degree, you will learn in our specialist facility: You’ll have access to some of the best university sports facilities in the UK, including our multi-million-pound Institute of Sport Building based at the de Havilland Campus. Our Sports Village facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, 12m high climbing wall and a 110+ station gym. The gym has both strength and cardio equipment, such as rowing machines, cable stations and a free weights area. Facilities also include match-quality courts, sports halls and new generation astro pitches and so much more.
Your learning will be enhanced by our industry connections: The University works closely with national and international researchers, coaches and athletes, giving you the opportunity of masterclasses and insights from those at the top of their game.
Benefit from our official partnerships with Watford FC and the London Mavericks: As a Herts student, you’ll have exclusive access to unique career and educational opportunities.
We offer a placement year, enabling you to gain invaluable clinical experience with professional sports teams, either within the UK or overseas.
Herts offers an Active Students and Staff programme, with free sports and exercise sessions available. You could even get a part time job working as an activator, leading your own exercise sessions or assisting with qualified instructors.
Graduates are eligible for full membership with the Society of Sports Therapists.
We have specialist labs for: Physiology, Biomechanics and Sports Therapy. You can also make use of the University’s Hertfordshire Sports Village at the de Havilland campus.
What's the course about?
The degree in sports therapy is ideal for those who wish to train in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of sporting injuries.
You will gain the knowledge and skills needed to work in the cutting-edge field of sports therapy. You’ll learn how to assess injuries, apply treatments (such as sports massage, electrotherapy and joint mobilisation), learn pitch-side injury management and design injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes. This will enable you to work in a professional sport or clinic setting.
You’ll also study the underpinning theory of practice: anatomy, clinical biomechanics, exercise physiology, sports nutrition and psychology. Our students enjoy access to specialist labs and high-tech facilities, such as our dedicated sports injury clinic, and take valuable clinical placements in a diverse range of sport and exercise environments.
Your main campus is de Havilland
You’ll share this campus with students from business, law, sport and education subjects. The student housing is close to our Sports Village which includes a gym, swimming pool and climbing wall. You can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner in our on-campus restaurant or bar (in the newly built Enterprise Hub) on days you don’t feel like cooking. You can also use the common room to play pool, video games or just to hang out with friends. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.
What will I study?
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 fitness instructor qualifications.
Part-time study
If you are studying part-time, you have six years to complete your course. You will complete 60-90 credits per year. All modules are compulsory. Your timetable will depend on which modules you pick. Certain modules must be passed at each level before progression onto higher level clinical modules.
During my placement year I was not only exposed to elite athletes but also elite coaches and performance staff. I had the opportunity to learn from the staff and to broaden my understanding not only within the rehabilitation setting but throughout the whole training programme. I was able to get hands on experience from the start, whether that was inside the gym, by the pool with an injured player, outside on the field or pitch-side on game nights. I was able to see the backbone to a premiership winning team, this placement went far beyond any expectation I had and was an experience like none other.
Alumni Stories
Nathan Benjamin-Smith
Meet Nathan Benjamin-Smith clinician, founder, and advocate for better injury care. His journey began at Herts, where a teenage injury turned curiosity into passion, and that passion into a thriving career.
Read more stories BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy| Current job role | Business owner of NBS Injury Clinic Ltd |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2017 |
| Course of study |
From his first anatomy lecture at the University of Hertfordshire to running one of Oxfordshire’s top-rated clinics, Nathan Benjamin-Smith has built a career grounded in care, expertise, and community. As the founder of NBS Injury Clinic Ltd in Bicester, Nathan combines hands-on therapy with cutting-edge rehabilitation techniques, helping people of all ages recover from injuries and lead healthier, more active lives.
Now a respected clinician and business owner, Nathan’s work blends physiotherapy, sports therapy, osteopathy, gait analysis, and strength and conditioning, offering a fully integrated, evidence-based approach to injury management. His clinic has earned a strong reputation across the local health and fitness community.
From Herts to healthcare entrepreneur
Nathan credits the University of Hertfordshire for providing the foundation and real-world experience that helped launch his career. 'Herts played a huge role in shaping both my clinical approach and providing the opportunities to build a career in the health and fitness industry. The course gave me a solid foundation in anatomy, physiology, and injury management, while also encouraging hands-on learning and practice within the university clinic and with the UH Basketball team. The lecturers were incredibly supportive and brought real-world insight into the learning.’
A major turning point occurred during his sandwich placement year, when he took on a full-time role with MK Dons Football Club. ‘One of the most valuable parts of the course was the sandwich placement year, which allowed me to work full-time with MK Dons Football Club. That year of hands-on experience not only developed my clinical and professional skills but also led directly to a full-time role with the club after graduation.’
Why Herts was the right choice
Nathan chose to study Sports Therapy after suffering a serious knee injury as a teenager, an experience that introduced him to the world of rehab and sparked a long-term interest in health and performance. ‘I chose Herts because it had a strong reputation for Sports Therapy and came highly recommended. The course being accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists gave me confidence that it would meet professional standards and open real career opportunities. My time at Herts was just a whirlwind of good times, both personally and professionally. It was a chapter of life that genuinely shaped who I am today and laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since.’
He also praises the supportive academic staff and the welcoming atmosphere from his very first visit. ‘When I attended the open day, I was impressed with the campus, the facilities, and how welcoming the staff were.’
Words of advice
Nathan’s advice to future students is clear ‘Say yes to everything. Push yourself outside your comfort zone – that’s where the real learning happens. Do a placement year! It was the single best decision I made and opened so many doors after graduation.’ A final practical tip? ‘Start using Mendeley early! Trust me, it’ll save you a ton of stress.’ He adds, ‘Make the most of your time at Herts! Join sports teams, go out! Enjoy it – it really does fly by.’
Alumni Stories
Daniel Merry
Meet Daniel, a clinician, mentor, and rising talent in elite football physio. His journey took shape at Herts, where expert teaching, hands-on placements, and lasting connections laid the groundwork for a standout career at West Ham United.
Read more stories BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy| Current job role | Lead YDP/ FP Physiotherapist for West Ham United |
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| Year of graduation | 2021 & 2024 |
| Course of study |
How Herts helped shape his career
Daniel is currently the Lead YDP/FP (Youth Development Phase and Foundation Phase Physiotherapist) at West Ham United, where he oversees the medical provision for the club’s schoolboy age groups. He works primarily with the U15 and U16 squads, providing expert care and injury management for young athletes. ‘This role requires me to implement effective and appropriate rehab for injuries in these phases, management strategies for growth-related injuries, and communicating regularly with the multi-disciplinary team, consisting of coaches, psychologists, analysts, and doctors.’
His Sports Therapy degree at Herts gave him the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to thrive in elite football environments. A pivotal moment in his journey came during his sandwich placement year. ‘As part of my Sports Therapy degree, I completed a sandwich year, which was a year-long placement with Queens Park Rangers. Here I spent time across the first team and academy, and it introduced me to the standards and expectations of working in elite football.’
Additionally, Daniel completed an internship at FSCR, a private rehabilitation provider for footballers. ‘This helped me develop my planning and coaching during rehab and build on the theory provided to me at Herts.’
During his final year, he further strengthened his clinical skills and independence through mandatory placement hours. ‘The mandatory placement hours during the final year furthered my confidence in assessment and rehab delivery. Herts did a great job of providing the foundations to take into the real world.’
Life at Herts
Daniel’s interest in rehabilitation and performance began early, and Herts stood out as the ideal place to pursue it. ‘When leaving sixth form and looking at which university would be appropriate for my next step, I left open day at Herts with the best impression of the set-up, structure, and staff.’
His time at Herts brought academic insight and personal growth, as well as lifelong friendships. ‘Living off campus with friends created lifelong memories; day-to-day practical lessons; the celebrations post exams were always brilliant.’
His advice for students
Now working at the highest level of youth football, Daniel regularly returns to Herts to speak to current students. His advice is both practical and encouraging: ‘All of your lecturers want to see you do well and know to pass on, utilise them when and where you can to maximise you’re learning.
Take advantage of all placement opportunities, the real-life experiences and learning will serve you so well post-graduation. Network in the communities you have an interest in potentially working in to help open some doors for you ahead of looking for post-grad employment.’