Sport and Exercise Therapy with Placement

Solent’s Society of Sports Therapists accredited BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Therapy degree develops skilled, autonomous practitioners ready to work with athletes, sports teams, and in broader musculoskeletal care. From day one, you’ll gain hands-on experience in clinical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and exercise interventions, building practical expertise in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology, and sport science.

Taught by academics with vast industry experience in clinical and research settings, the programme blends expert teaching with real-world application. You’ll critically evaluate assessment techniques, design evidence-based treatment plans, and deliver exercise interventions for injury prevention, performance enhancement, and rehabilitation. The course also develops acute care skills for pre-hospital emergency settings mapped to industry specific qualifications.

Placement opportunities are embedded throughout the course in professional sports clubs, elite teams, international competitions, NHS and military settings, and sporting events. The course is CIMSPA endorsed and modules are mapped to industry recognised fitness qualifications. Combined with the FA trauma course we aim to enhance your employability on graduation and help you build a strong, career-ready CV.

Communication, leadership, and reflective practice are central to the programme. You will learn to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, develop professional autonomy, and apply contemporary research to support safe, evidence-based care. This focus on professional skills ensures you are prepared to meet the high standards of The Society of Sports Therapists.

Who is this course for?
This popular course is well-suited to those interested in how the body works, and how this applies in a sporting context.

The practical elements of the course will appeal to those looking to gain hands-on experience in dealing with the treatment of sporting injuries, as well as prevention and rehabilitation.

What does this course lead to?
Upon graduation, you'll earn the title of Sports Therapist, with a clearly defined scope of practice. As a member of The Society of Sports Therapists, you'll be an allied health professional equipped to:

Utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation, and injury prevention programmes.
Provide immediate care for injuries and basic life support in recreational, training, occupational, and competitive environments.
Assess, treat, rehabilitate, and refer for further advice and intervention when necessary.
Deliver appropriate manual therapy and psychosocial interventions in a sports and exercise context.
Plan and implement effective rehabilitation and return-to-training/work programmes.

If you’re looking to study our sport and exercise therapy degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the sport foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the sport foundation year.

This course also offers the option of a placement year. A placement year allows you to put what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.

Solent's Clearing Fast Pass* gets you ahead, with priority support and everything you need to feel confident about your next step. Secure your guaranteed offer before results day and unlock a 20% discount on Kimber and Chantry student halls, a £100 IKEA voucher, free gold gym membership for the academic year, and a £150 campus dining voucher.

*T&Cs apply. Full details on our website.

Join the career-ready revolution this summer at Solent. Every course is designed around five things: real-world learning in every module; block teaching, so you study one subject at a time, not five assignments at once; direct links with employers and careers support for life. This isn't a tweak. It's a rethink of what university should be.

Solent's facilities are built with your future career in mind, including Warsash Maritime School, the Solent Sports Complex, science labs, animation and 3D modelling studios and applied mechanics and composites labs.

And outside class? Southampton has it all: shopping, culture, live music, football, cricket, festivals, markets, tiny Thai cafes, ghost walks and record fairs. It's friendly, walkable, and one of the UK's most affordable student cities. With a diverse community and societies for every interest, you'll find your tribe too.

Ready to secure your place? Get in touch now.