BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

Course description

Overview
Are you interested in becoming a professionally qualified sports therapist with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy?

This full-time sports therapy degree programme encompasses the skills and knowledge that are necessary to succeed as a therapist working to prevent and treat injury among athletes.

Essential knowledge for a career in the treatment and prevention of sports injury

This degree programme develops your clinical skills and knowledge of how to work as a sports therapist. Over the course of the three years, you will  develop proficiency in therapeutic skills and modalities as well as business development in health sciences to support you should you wish to set-up a private practice..

Areas of study include sports therapy techniques – from foundation to advanced, human anatomy and biomechanics, sports injury treatment and rehabilitation, to psychological factors impacting sports athletes.

Develop practical skills and techniques

Developing the practical skills and techniques of sports therapy is a particular focus of this programme . You will learn the techniques to support athletes to return to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of their age and ability. As a sports therapist student, you will learn to utilise the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prevent, treat and rehabilitate injury.

Progress to Physiotherapy

Many of our students use the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree as an alternative entry pathway to becoming a Chartered Physiotherapist. Our BSc Sports Therapy degree provides students with supervised clinical practice hours and clinical research skills giving an excellent preparation for interview process when applying to an MSc in Physiotherapy.

Portobello Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AECC University College. We are currently working through the validation processes towards delivering the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) programme in Dublin, with an expected start date of autumn ’24. This will be a natural path of progression from sports therapy for students seeking to progress their studies to physiotherapy.

Alternatively, with the points ever increasing for undergraduate entry to physiotherapy, many Universities have opened graduate entry professional qualifications for students who have graduated with a level 8 BSc honours degree in Sports Therapy or other affiliated areas.

We provide individual support to each student who is hoping to pursue graduate Physiotherapy Qualifications in preparing their applications and for interview to ensure students chances of success are optimized. Many of our graduates have pursued this path and you can read about their journey in our student success section.

Learn from the experts

This honours degree is delivered by a team of expert tutors who are all practicing clinicians and experienced educators. You will have personal one to one support from a personal academic tutor who is an experienced clinician and is there to to support you throughout your learning journey to achieve your personal best.

Here are some reasons to choose to study with Portobello:

Accelerated programme completing your undergraduate degree in three years, getting you out into the world of work faster.
Career focused qualifications – our courses lead to awards that offer you the opportunity of immediate employment upon graduation.
Notable university partners – our university partners are among the top-ranking universities in the UK offering you access to a qualification from a renowned university.
Reputable placements – our work experience placements are with prominent organisations, connecting you with respected employers to build your future career network.
Realistic entry requirements – our entry requirements are reflective of the academic ability needed to successfully complete this course. These are clearly stated and remain static regardless of demand for places.
Individualised support – we fit your learning model with support available when you need it throughout your learning journey.
SMART assessments – we use a range of assessments for each module designed to support a broad range of learning styles, giving you the opportunity to excel.
Industry expert tutors – our tutors are all industry practitioners connecting research and theory with industry practice throughout their lectures.
Condensed scheduling – we value your time by ensuring your timetable is optimised for delivery over the same 2 – 3 days, helping you maintain a part-time job.
Flexible delivery – we deliver theory sessions on-site, online whilst also recording the session simultaneously offering you a choice of when and how you learn.
City Centre Location – Commuting to Portobello is very accessible – the Luas stops outside our door, and we are located within minutes from the major transport hubs.
Affordable payment options – all our courses offer you the option to choose an easy payment plan supporting you to spread the cost out over your learning journey.
Why should I study this course?
Portobello Institute’s BSc Hons in Sports Therapy gives you the opportunity to attain a level 8 honours degree. Obtaining professional membership of the global Society of Sports Therapists has many unique benefits as detailed below.

Gain employment through our strong network of connections

Gaining employment as a sports therapist is the objective of this degree and it is important students have the opportunity to gain practical experience and build a network of contacts within the sector.

Portobello Institute has an established network of connections with many of the main sports injury treatment clinics. The work experience programme for this programme affords students the opportunity to gain practical working experience and engage with some of the leading clinicians in Ireland and to leverage those connections to advance their careers. Companies participating in our work experience programme invest considerable time in our students and recruit directly from this placement programme.

Accessible, affordable, achievable

There is an easy payment plan designed to make this degree affordable for you. These factors, together with the one to one tutorial support, offer you the opportunity to access a career in the business of fashion, with a qualification that is accessible, affordable and achievable.

Who will recognise my qualification?
Upon completing this level 8 honours degree, you will hold a BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy awarded by University of Essex (UoE).

You will be registered as a student of the University of Essex.

When you begin this course you are invited to become registered as a student member of The Society of Sports Therapists. You may become a full member of the society when you complete your degree. Sports Therapists who are members of SST are recognised globally for the high standards they have attained during their training and are employed by leading clubs throughout the sporting world. Members of the Society of Sports Therapy are eligible for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.

This BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy is recognised by AECC University College. for the purposes of applying to progress to MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) . We are currently working through the validation processes towards delivering the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) programme in Dublin, with an expected start date of autumn ’24.

Qualifications Frameworks in Ireland and the UK

The Irish and UK qualifications authorities have collaborated on initiatives that promote the transparency, recognition and mobility of qualifications between our respective jurisdictions. The qualifications authorities in the UK and Ireland have agreed the qualifications frameworks in operation, Brexit will not impact this agreement.

Modules Level 4
Professional Skills and Development
Biomechanics
Introduction to Sport Therapy
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Applied Anatomy and Pathophysiology for Sports Therapy

Modules Level 5
Research and Evidence for Practice
Exercise Physiology
Assessment and Evaluation of Sport and Exercise Injuries
Injury Management and Rehabilitation
Treatment of Sport and Exercise Injuries

Modules Level 6
Research Project
Electrotherapy
Strength and Conditioning
Academic and Practical Sports Therapy
Sports Therapy Placement
Advanced Sports Trauma Management