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Introduction
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David offers the first accredited Sports Therapy degree in Wales. It’s one of 32 undergraduate degrees accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists, and is unique with its bilingual offering. Students completing the full degree are eligible for professional membership of the society, including medical indemnity, public liability insurance and use of the title ‘Graduate Sports Therapist’.
Graduate Sports Therapists are clinical specialists in the field of musculoskeletal injury with expertise in the sport and exercise environment. Graduates find employment in the world of professional, semi-professional and amateur sport and in private clinical practice. Some have gone on to work in the NHS and others in the military.
You will become a competent sport and exercise therapist who can assess, diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and prevent injuries and illness in the sport and exercise environment on completion of the programme. We strive to develop clinically autonomous practitioners who work within their scope of practice and the medico-legal requirements of the profession.
The modules and assessments have been designed to ensure you will be able to show the knowledge, understanding, application and competency needed to the meet the professional body standard.
Why choose this course?
• The longest-running Sport and Exercise Therapy degree in Wales and accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists.
• Upon graduating, students will have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work as part of a team or independently as a Graduate Sports Therapist.
• In addition to the main skills required of a sports therapist, students will also gain the skills required to conduct fitness and health assessments and will have the opportunity to qualify as gym instructors and personal trainers.
• Conducting and understanding research is also a key skill developed throughout the degree and students will be constantly challenged to critically review the latest research and conduct their own studies. In the final year, students will design and conduct their own research in a specialist area of their choice.
• Teaching staff are experienced Graduate Sports Therapists, having worked in professional, semi-professional, national and international sports over a number of years.
Overview
A Graduate Sports Therapist is someone who is competent and capable of dealing with acute injuries pitchside, performing a clinical assessment to develop a diagnosis, and uses a variety of treatment methods, alongside sport-specific rehabilitation techniques, to get the athlete back to full sports participation.
Students will learn in dedicated sport therapy suites.
In the first year, students will learn the fundamental skills needed in the assessment of sports injuries, together with soft tissue techniques, including sports massage and pitchside first aid. Students will also have the opportunity to work as pitchside first aiders and gain clinical experience in our sports massage clinic. Alongside these sports therapy-specific modules, students will also study applied human physiology and personal training modules.
In the second year, students will be taught to complete a full examination and assessment of an injured player and make a diagnosis, treat the injury with manual therapy techniques and rehabilitate the athlete back to full sports participation.
In the final year of the programme, students will study sports trauma management, electrotherapy and will undertake 200 hours of clinical practice. These clinical hours will be supported by our on-site Sports Injury Clinic which offers Sports Therapy appointments to staff, students and the general public, under the supervision of the sports therapy team. Students are also encouraged to engage with local and national work placement providers to build an extensive portfolio of Sports Therapy Experience.
A dissertation style research project in an area of individual interest is also completed in this final year.
Modules
Year One - Level 4 (Cert HE, Dip HE & BSc)
• Human Physiology & Fitness (20 credits; core)
• Introduction to Clinical Assessment (20 credits; core)
• Introduction to Soft Tissue Skills (20 credits; core)
• Personal Training (20 credits; core)
• Professional Skills for Sports Therapists (20 credits; core)
• Sport and Exercise Injuries (20 credits; core).
Year Two - Level 5 (Dip HE & BSc)
• Biomechanical Assessment of Performance and Injury (20 credits; core)
• Clinical Assessment (20 credits; core)
• Early to Intermediate Rehabilitation (20 credits; core)
• Exercise Physiology (20 credits; core)
• Manual Therapy (20 credits; core)
• Research in Health, Exercise and Physical Education (20 credits; core).
Year Three - Level 6 (BSc)
• Advanced Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention (20 credits; core)
• Exercise and Specific Populations (20 credits; core)
• Professional Practice in Sports Therapy (20 credits; core)
• Research Project for Sports and Exercise Therapists (40 credits; core)
• Sports Trauma Management (20 credits; core).
Entry Criteria
Students are expected to achieve 112 UCAS points with a focus on science-based subjects and physical education. Students are also required to have a minimum of Grade C in GCSE Mathematics, English and Science.
International students are required to achieve an IELTS level 7 with no element below 6.51. Mature students without sufficient UCAS points will be considered on merit through an interview process.
Any offer of a place on the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy programme is subject to a DBS disclosure.
Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people who demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and, therefore, we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course, we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as qualifications.
If you are considering applying for the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy course at UWTSD, but you have a disability and are concerned about how this may impact on your ability to take part in practical classes and successfully complete the assessments, please contact the Programme Director.
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Assessment
The degree is vocational and so assessment of modules is always through written and practical assessments. These may be essays, reports, literature reviews, practical examinations, clinical based examinations and presentations.
Career Opportunities
Students graduating from the degree will gain the title of Graduate Sport Therapists and will be eligible for full membership to the Society of Sport Therapists. They will also be able to apply for membership of the Register of Exercise professionals. As such, students are most suited to become practising Sport Therapists or health and fitness consultants. They may also progress on to postgraduate master's programmes.
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