Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Course overview: You become a practitioner to assess, treat, manage and prevent an array of musculoskeletal injuries. You help manage pain and dysfunction in sporting and clinical environments for athletes and sedentary people.

The course is accredited by the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT), and there are opportunities to complete other vocational certified awards including pre-hospital trauma and gym-based instruction.

The course is a mixture of vocationally relevant skills with academic underpinning, giving you the latest evidence-based practice to facilitate the skills to become a confident, professional and successful rehabilitator. You develop skills in sports massage; hands-on anatomy; manual diagnostic testing; gym-based conditioning and Olympic lifting; biomechanical and physiological screening; land and pool-base rehabilitation; peripheral and spinal mobilisations and trauma care. Academically, you develop key writing, report and statistical skills, while developing a scientific research ability. You are required to complete a CPD portfolio which is an integral part of the programme to enhance your employability skills and help you to meet professional body requirements.

At Teesside you are supported to develop your working practice via internal placements and key links with external professional football, rugby and clinical/health-based placements, giving you exposure to high level industry specific knowledge and facilities. You gain valuable experience in a range of professional environments, from internal sports massage clinics, rehabilitation clinics, pitch-side first aid, external sports teams and musculoskeletal practice.

Our meaningful industry relationships see employers access our facilities and knowledge base because they see it as pivotal to successful outcomes within industry. Your academic team are research and industry active, meaning you benefit from live case research, and cutting-edge developments in sports therapy and rehabilitation. This ensures you develop an evidence-base practice approach to your working practices, meaning you follow the science to help patients safely and effectively.

Top reasons to study this course
1. Industry-standard facilities: benefit your learning with our hydrotherapy pool, biomechanical suite, clinical practice setting, sports injury clinic, strength and conditioning spaces and physiology laboratories.
2. Experienced teaching team: our academic team are research and industry active, many with practitioner backgrounds.
3. Placement opportunities: our range of practice experience ensures you are work-ready.
4. Recognition: this course is accredited by the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT), with membership offering the ability to work in the United States of America, as well as the United Kingdom.

After the course: You have numerous options available to forge a career. Becoming an accredited member of BASRaT you can work in professional sport, clinical practice or open your own practice. Through registration with governing bodies, you can seek careers specifically within the NHS, Ministry of Defence and numerous sports environments, including rehabilitation, sport, health and exercise. Pursuing an academic route, graduates can consider master’s and PhD-level study, go in to teaching or research.

Choosing Teesside University means joining a modern, ambitious university that puts students first. Named Modern University of the Year 2026 (Daily Mail University Guide 2026) and recognised for its outstanding student experience, Teesside combines award-winning teaching with the support you need to succeed.

Based in Middlesbrough, the university has invested millions into creating a vibrant campus packed with industry-standard facilities, study spaces and social hubs. You'll also have access to Adobe Creative Campus tools, helping you build valuable digital skills alongside your degree.

From day one, you'll be part of a welcoming student community with excellent support services, societies, sports clubs and opportunities to boost your career prospects. If you're looking for a university that helps you achieve more and make the most of student life, Teesside could be the perfect fit.