Why choose the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
Our sport and exercise sciences courses rank in the UK top 5 in their subject field for learning resources and learning opportunities, including developing knowledge and skills for the future (NSS, 2025).
94% of our sport and exercise sciences students were satisfied with their teaching and academic support while studying with us (NSS 2025).
Our sports science courses rank in the UK top 10 in their subject field for teaching quality in both The Guardian and The Times 2026 university leagues.
About the course
This course gives you the skills and evidence-based knowledge you need to progress into a career as a graduate clinical exercise therapist (GCET). Course units include physiology and anatomy; sports massage; manual therapies; sports injury management; and working with those living with long-term conditions. You apply your knowledge and skills through a minimum of 150 hours of work-based learning opportunities in a range of settings. This includes our on-site Community Exercise Clinic, working with a range of clinical populations including neurological, cardiac, dementia and hypotensive, with further work-based placement opportunities with industry experts.
Course accreditation/endorsement
Gain additional free qualifications through our partnership with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) including Gym Instruction, Group Exercise, Working with People with Long Term Conditions. You also have the option to take a further subsidised Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 2 qualification.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- State-of-the-art sports therapy and rehabilitation centre with a sports injury clinic, open to staff, students and external athletes/clients
- Put learning into practice via real-life opportunities in our Community Exercise Clinic
- Sports massage rooms
- Purpose-built strength and conditioning facility
- Free gym and Olympic weight room
- Sports arena; Alexander Sport Centre; multi-use games areas and other external sports pitches.
Industry links
We are official partners of Luton Town FC and Bedford Blues RFC as well as other sporting organisations in the region such as Bedford Tigers RLFC, MK Dons, Cricket East and Be Active, giving you opportunities to build your employability through work placements.
Your student experience
- You are taught by practising therapists, coaches and injury rehabilitation professionals as well as a highly experienced academic team.
- Hear from visiting experts in the field of clinical exercise therapy and sport therapy.
- Enhance your learning and build your experience through field trips to destinations such as Luton Town Football Club; Northampton Saints physio centre; and King’s College, London's anatomy rooms.
- Benefit from NHS and social care placement opportunities working in a clinical setting with industry experts such as neurophysiotherapists and clinical exercise physiologists.
- Put your skills into practice and broaden your employment opportunities via visits to local community projects; local health trusts; and venues offering exercise and rehabilitation sessions.
- Benefit from the support of your own personal academic tutor who will guide and support you throughout your student journey.
- Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Tarryn Mutch
I have been a Biokineticist in South Africa for more than 10 years. I completed my studies at the University of Johannesburg in 2009 with an undergraduate degree in Sport Psychology and an Honours degree in Biokinetics.
What will you study?
Throughout the three-year degree, you undertake 150 hours of placement. To prepare for your final-year dissertation, we also include two units focused on building your research skills: Introduction to research methods (Year 1); Planning and conducting research (Year 2).
Your subject-specific units are:
Year 1
Anatomy and biomechanics – Learn the basics of human movement, biomechanics and anatomy in sport and exercise. Human physiology – Understand how the body works and adapts to exercise. Normal anatomical structure and function – Study bones, joints and soft tissues, and how they sustain movement. Structural assessment and professional practice – Develop the key practical skills to practise as a professional within a range of placement settings. Sports massage – Learn essential manual therapy and soft-tissue techniques. Gym instruction – Develop skills in exercise prescription and coaching in a gym setting.
Year 2
Altered anatomical structure and function – Explore how health and lifestyle affect anatomy. Manual therapies – Build on massage skills with advanced techniques and joint mobilisations. Physiology of exercise and training – Understand how the body responds to training and different environments. Management of lower extremity injuries – Assess and manage injuries to the lumbar and sacral regions. Management of upper extremity injuries – Assess and manage injuries to thoracic and cervical regions.
Year 3
Clinical exercise – Develop advanced assessment skills for sport rehab and clinical practice. Corrective exercise – Use movement screening to design safe, effective corrective plans. Practice placements and business – Complete supervised practice and gain business and clinical reasoning skills. Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health – Analyse the impact of activity on health and recommend prevention or treatment strategies. Dissertation – Conduct original research in your chosen area.
How will you be assessed?
Lectures seek to provide students with underpinning theoretical research informed knowledge to allow them to critically justify their clinically reasoned assessment treatment and rehabilitation strategies within a health and wellbeing context.
Careers
Graduates can expect to enter graduate-level employment within the field of health, fitness, sports and exercise medicine including exercise referral and injury rehabilitation.
The course also embeds wider transferable skills allowing graduates the option of achieving employment in the wider market at a similar level in private (health clubs, clinics, referral schemes) or public (NHS) employment.
If you wished to progress to study at postgraduate level, there are options in related fields such as our MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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