Why choose the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
This course scored 100% student satisfaction for 11 of the 27 questions in the NSS 2025, including teaching staff explaining things, fair marking of assessments and teaching knowledge and skills for the future.
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.
They 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).
About the course
This course trains you to be an exercise-based rehabilitation and fitness specialist, able to apply clinical reasoning to sport- and fitness-related injuries while you develop practical skills in rehabilitation. You complete at least 400 hours of practice placement in settings ranging from elite sports teams to private clinics and independent practitioners. You also put learning into practice via real-life opportunities at our on-site Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, Community Exercise Clinics.
Course accreditation
This course is accredited by the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT), providing the academic foundation required to apply for BASRaT registration as a Graduate Sport Rehabilitator (GSR).
Please note that successful completion of the degree alone does not automatically confirm BASRaT registration. Eligibility for professional status is determined by BASRaT and includes additional requirements beyond the academic award.
For full details on membership types, registration criteria, and the process of obtaining professional status, please visit the BASRaT website.
The course is also endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), allowing you to gain additional qualifications as a Strength & Conditioning Trainer.
Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 2
As part of the course, you will have the opportunity to complete a Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 2 qualification, one of the eligibility criteria required by BASRaT for professional registration.
This qualification is delivered internally at the University, providing a convenient way to meet this BASRaT requirement. Please note that completion of the PHICIS qualification is competency-based and not guaranteed, as it requires you to demonstrate the necessary practical standards for successful certification.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- A fully supervised, state-of-the-art sports therapy and rehabilitation centre with a sports injury clinic, open to staff, students and external athletes/clients
- Sport massage rooms
- Put learning into practice via real-life opportunities in our Community Exercise Clinic
- Six CASES-accredited laboratories
- Human Performance Centre
- Purpose-built strength and conditioning facility
- Free gym and Olympic weight room
- Sports arena; Alexander Sport Centre; multi-use games areas and external sports pitches
- Industry-standard equipment and techniques
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.
We are a Higher Education Partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
Your student experience
- Benefit from on-campus opportunities to extend your knowledge and put your learnt skills into practice through our fully supervised, on-site Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic and Community Exercise Clinic
- Benefit from the support of your own personal academic tutor who will guide and support you throughout your student journey.
- Enhance your learning and build your experience through field trips to destinations such as Northampton Saints physio centre and King’s College London's anatomy rooms.
- Gain free, additional fitness qualifications endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) in gym instruction, group exercise and working with people with long-term conditions.
- Take further additional qualifications in sports massage and subsidised Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 2 qualification.
- Undertake a minimum of 400 hours of supervised placement, with opportunities including our official partners and other sporting organisations such as Bedford Tigers RLFC, MK Dons, Cricket East, Be Active and many others.
- Benefit from industry links that include schools and colleges; borough councils; Bedfordshire Police; Luton Town FC; MK Dons; Bedford Tigers RLFC; Bedford Blues; Northampton Saints; and Bedfordshire County Cricket.
- Guest speakers have included Jack Wells (PGA); Tom Bromley (MK Dons); Jack Wells (PGA); Akash Modhwadia (Strength and conditioning coach at MK Dons); Mark Finney (former head of S&C at Northampton Saints; Phil Pask (former head of physio for England Rugby).
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 - Cheryl Barford
I have been in the health and fitness industry for 20 years. Originally inspired by a passion for enhancing health through fitness and understanding theoretical principles behind it, I have taught group exercise classes and coached personal training sessions throughout this time. I have had varied industry experience from working on cruise liners to teaching at local leisure centres and health clubs.
Course Leader - Cheryl Barford
I have been in the health and fitness industry for 20 years. Originally inspired by a passion for enhancing health through fitness and understanding theoretical principles behind it, I have taught group exercise classes and coached personal training sessions throughout this time. I have had varied industry experience from working on cruise liners to teaching at local leisure centres and health clubs.
What will you study?
Throughout the three-year degree, you undertake 400 hours of placement. To prepare for your final-year dissertation, you also take two research units: Introduction to research methods (Year 1) and 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. Human physiology (rehab) – Understand how the body works and adapts to exercise. Sports massage – Learn essential manual therapy and soft-tissue techniques. Normal anatomical structure and function – Study bones, joints and soft tissues, and how they sustain movement. Structural assessment and professional practice (rehab) – Develop the key practical skills to practise as a professional within a range of placement settings. Gym instruction (rehab) – Develop skills in exercise prescription and coaching in a gym setting.
Year 2
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. Altered anatomical structure and function (rehab) – Explore how health and lifestyle affect the body’s anatomy and movement.
Year 3
Advanced manual therapies - Confidently use advanced techniques like joint mobilisations and manipulations in modern sport rehab settings. Clinical practice and business – Complete supervised practice, and gain the business and clinical reasoning skills of a graduate sport rehabilitator. Corrective exercise – Use movement screening to design safe, effective corrective programmes. Clinical exercise – Develop advanced assessment skills for sport rehab and clinical practice. Sport injury prevention and rehabilitation - Identify and assess muscle or joint issues in injured athletes, then create effective personalised recovery plans. 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 injury treatment and rehabilitation strategies.
Careers
Sports rehabilitation graduates will be trained to take on a rewarding career in environments that diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injury and clinical conditions. Sport rehabilitators will be capable of working within multi-disciplinary health-care teams, both private and public (NHS), as well as taking up careers in sport clinics.
The course also embeds wider transferable skills and qualifications, including those to facilitate working pitch side or in the health and fitness industry.
Finally, you develop the skills and knowledge to start and run a business, which many of our students go on to do, or continue with postgraduate study in areas such as strength and conditioning, clinical exercise physiology or physiotherapy.
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
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.
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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