Sports therapy

Start your journey to become a sports therapist

As a sports therapy student at Essex, you will work as a supervised sports therapist on a placement. You’ll gain real-life experience, which will be instrumental in developing your career, and will develop confidence in using the skills and knowledge that you’re taught in order to become an autonomous practitioner. You will also have access to our professional, state-of-the-art research equipment in many of our research and teaching labs.

• In your first year, you’ll be given the opportunity to provide post-race massages and support at sporting events such as the London Marathon, Ride London and the Colchester Half-Marathon.
• During your second year, you will provide pitch-side first aid for our Students' Union sport teams, and work in our taping and massage clinics.
• In your final year, you will complete between 200 and 250 hours of placement. Some of these hours will be in our Sports Therapy Clinic, where you will consult with performance scholars, students, staff, and members of the public under the guidance and supervision of experienced sports therapy practitioners. You’ll also be given the opportunity to work with a variety of sports clubs and teams, ranging from recreational to elite levels.

Career prospects

You will gain the specialist skills and knowledge required to work as a sports therapist.

Career opportunities for sports therapy graduates range from working in a sports injury clinic to working as a therapist for a sport clubs or on behalf of a sportsperson, both professional and amateur. 94% of our Sports Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences undergraduate graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024).

Our students become eligible to register as a professional sports therapist with the Society of Sports Therapists upon graduation.

Our BSc Sports Therapy course also prepares you for postgraduate study, which could be in a range of areas including sports science, other healthcare professions (including nursing and physiotherapy) or teaching (PGCE teaching qualification).

Study a masters with us

By studying at Essex for a postgraduate degree, you will gain the specialist skills and knowledge required to work as a sports therapist or a strength and conditioning coach.

On our MSc Sports Therapy course, you will develop an excellent understanding of the science and research that underpins the practice of sports therapy. You will have a platform to develop your practical skills, participate in small-group discussions and share expertise and knowledge with your peers. Alongside timetabled classes, you will complete between 200 and 250 hours of placement as part of the course. Some of these hours will be in our Sports Therapy Clinic, but you’ll also have the opportunity to work with a variety of sports clubs and teams, ranging from recreational to elite levels.

You will have access to our dedicated labs as well as our Sports Therapy Clinic which will enable you to learn and gain skills in an environment specifically designed for practice. Our facilities kitted out with equipment that you will find in a professional clinic or sports club, ensuring that you are familiar with the tools you'll need once you’ve graduated from Essex.

Our MSc Strength and Conditioning course is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel as a strength and conditioning coach for athletes of all levels. With a focus on practical application and research-based teaching, this course is ideal for those seeking a career in sport or seeking to advance their current practice in applied environments.

Our research degrees 

In our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, we offer research supervision in sports therapy and related areas. You’ll work at the heart of our well-connected research community. A unique feature of our School is that many of our staff work with local National Health Service (NHS) Trusts and other local health agencies, which enhances our grasp of the contemporary links between academic research, the major issues of the day and practice.

Research study will allow you to work alongside our internationally recognised academics by collaborating on campus, using facilities such as our Human Performance Unit and Sports Therapy Clinic. Our multidisciplinary approach also means that you will be able to work in the field with external partners and other academic departments.

Our graduates go on to work with a wide spectrum of sporting populations from recreational athletes through to elite international performers in both clinical and management positions. They work in a large number of areas including professional and semi sporting organisations, private practice, local trusts, hospitals and care organisations. You will be able to make a difference to people lives.

Start your application with us

Explore our Sports Therapy research by theme or your area of interest and find a supervisor that can support your through your studies. More information can be found about research degrees on our school pages. Our courses below will help guide you through the various research degree programmes we offer.