
“I never imagined I’d be stepping into professional sport straight out of uni. It's an achievement I’m very proud of.”

Unlock your potential in sport and exercise therapy with our accredited degree. Gain hands-on experience through placements with the NHS and elite teams. Help patients recover and reach peak fitness.
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Email: Call:This dynamic sport and exercise therapy degree will help provide you with the essential professional skills and musculoskeletal expertise you'll need to secure an exciting career working as a graduate Sports and Exercise Therapist. The scope of practice is not limited to sporting injuries alone; we treat all musculoskeletal injuries including chronic and work-related injuries.
We utilise the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes to ensure that you can return your patients to their previous levels of training, competition and/or work.
This highly practical course is specifically tailored for you to study a combination of Sports Therapy and Sport and Exercise Science modules, which will include acute sports trauma management, innovative examination and assessment techniques, therapeutic exercise prescription, interventions to reduce the risk of injury, return to or monitoring of sports specific fitness, fundamental principles of how to coach/instruct in sporting and exercise settings, manual therapy techniques, electrotherapy, exercise physiology, nutrition, psychology and biomechanics.
You’ll have the option to undertake a placement year at a professional sporting club or organisation for a complete season/performance cycle. The programme has excellent links with professional sporting clubs and organisations. This hands-on practical course is delivered in state-of-the-art facilities by internationally renowned research and clinically active staff.
If you’re looking to study our sport and exercise therapy degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the sport foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the sport foundation year.
This course also offers the option of a placement year. A placement year allows you to put what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.
Accredited by:
Recognised by:
Industry links with high-level sports teams, enables students to gain first-hand experience in a high-performance environment.
This popular course is well-suited to those interested in how the body works, and how this applies in a sporting context.
The practical elements of the course will appeal to those looking to gain hands-on experience in dealing with the treatment of sporting injuries, as well as prevention and rehabilitation.
Upon graduation, you'll earn the title of Sports Therapist, with a clearly defined scope of practice. As a member of The Society of Sports Therapists, you'll be an allied health professional equipped to:
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
“I never imagined I’d be stepping into professional sport straight out of uni. It's an achievement I’m very proud of.”
Throughout your study you'll be supervised by an experienced teaching team who are at the forefront of cutting-edge research and have an established record of working with athletes of all levels, from international to recreational sportspeople. You'll also get the chance to hear guest lectures from leaders in academia and the sport and exercise therapy industry.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Students have access to the University’s professional sport and exercise science facilities, including fully equipped physiology, psychology, and biomechanics labs, health and exercise gyms, and sport and exercise therapy teaching spaces. Students can also practise their skills in our state-of-the-art teaching rooms and our student-led therapy clinic based in the Sports Complex.
Our physiology laboratory is officially accredited by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES), marking it as one of the UK’s leading sport and exercise science facilities. As well as being a teaching and research building our Sports Complex has three gyms, fitness studios and multi-purpose and performance sports halls, which are open to everyone. Our multi-purpose sports hall can be used for basketball, futsal, badminton, netball, wheelchair rugby and volleyball.
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
During this module you will learn about key definitions, theories and concepts of leadership including: leadership styles, theories of learning, becoming a leader, creating an environment, reflective practice, leading individuals and teams, how to develop athletes and safe and inclusive practice.
In addition to learning the theories that underpin the subject of fitness in sport, you will engage with various topics and learning styles and opportunities.
This module will introduce you to the wider sport, health and football industry and enable you to focus on the environments that relate more closely to your chosen degree in sport, health, or football.
Studying this module will provide you with a broad overview of the sport business and will enable you to develop subject-specific knowledge in several key areas such as operations, management, finance and marketing.
The module will focus on the personal and professional development opportunities available to enhance the key attributes that employers demand, covering both customer-facing and business-facing experiences.
In this module will focus on the contemporary issues in sport. Teaching and learning will be led by issues highlighted in the academic arena, trade press and general media.
On this module you'll be guided through progressive depths of detail pertaining to the musculoskeletal system, including that of the upper and lower limbs and an introduction to the anatomy of the spine. You’ll become comprehensive in your knowledge of the structure of the key peripheral joints and their available movements in the three planes.
This module aims to introduce you to the role of the Sports Therapist in the clinical assessment and treatment of lower limb injury. The practical component will enable you to develop your clinical handling and communication skills.
On this module you'll learn about different types of massage and soft tissue interventions, appraising when these would be most beneficial. This, alongside an introduction to the effects of the techniques, will enable you to begin developing into an autonomous practitioner. You'll explore the biological and cellular process in the body when an injury occurs, and how this may affect treatment techniques.
By the end of the module, you'll have developed an evidence based and scientific awareness of clinical human physiology and pathophysiology through the review of current literature and theory. You’ll be able to describe the basic structural and functional requirements of a variety of relevant cell types using technical terminology.
In addition to learning the theories that underpin the subject of sports coaching and fitness instruction in sport, you'll engage with various topics and learning styles and opportunities. These topics range from coaching topics such as coaching and learning styles, needs analysis, differentiation and progression, long term athletic development and fundamental movement skills.
This module will orientate you in the key skills associated with that of an “informed citizen”. You’ll be encouraged to demonstrate the steps required to undertake a small-scale sport performance-related research project. This will include recognising the need for the research and the acquisition of high-quality evidence to support the work. In short, you'll be taking the role of a project-manager.
On this module you’ll learn about the structure of an exercise rehabilitation plan and will be given the opportunity throughout the module to plan, implement and evaluate your own programmes. You'll be given the knowledge that will allow you to progress and make modifications to sessions while also identifying when a regression may be necessary. This module will give you the baseline knowledge to justify the use of your chosen exercises and allow you the opportunity to utilise specialist rehabilitation equipment.
This module will develop your critical awareness of manual therapy and mobilisation techniques to the vertebral joints of the body. Topics covered will include: Common conditions/ injuries of the spine, including aetiology, appropriate clinical features and their management and clinical reasoning skills to develop a rational approach to the selection of manual techniques.
This module will develop your critical awareness of the assessment and management of upper limb peripheral joints of the body. Within the practical component you will develop your clinical handling skills and communication skills with injured athletes. You'll have the opportunity to develop your knowledge of anatomy, mechanisms of injuries, signs and symptoms, findings on examination and assessment, and treatment of injuries.
This module builds upon the knowledge learnt in level 4 and develops this further through the application of knowledge to a sporting environment. You'll be introduced to the critical processes of writing a needs analysis, data collection and appropriate testing protocols for a range of athletes and sports.
On this module you’ll investigate underpinning theory concerning the protocols used, as well as gain practical awareness of related software and techniques. You will also learn to process the resulting data in order to make meaningful and appropriate interpretation of athletes’ actions in relation to injury occurrence and/ or injury prevention.
On this module, you'll learn how to investigate discipline specific issues using both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. Building on the work covered at level 4, you will demonstrate how to formulate an ethically sound and objective research question based on a comprehensive review of the literature.
This module will look at injury prevention and the different techniques used to detect the likelihood of injury and prevent injury. It will introduce common surgical procedures and how this may affect your approach to rehabilitation.
This module provides an opportunity to draw together key aspects of sports therapy with applied and advanced clinical practice to achieve a synthesis of learning. It also provides an opportunity to build on the knowledge, understanding and practical competencies gained across your degree enabling you to apply the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation skills developed in previous modules to manage sports injuries.
The content of this module builds on previous modules, chiefly Lower & Limb Sports Injuries Assessment and Spinal Assessment and Mobilisation. Topics covered will include: Research findings and current trends in mobilisations and manual therapy; principles of examination and assessment.
You’ll be expected to undertake a period of professional experience that enables you to develop, apply and reflect on your clinical practice across the core areas of sport and exercise therapy. The indicative content will ultimately vary upon the nature of the clinical placement. You'll be expected to take responsibility for a patient caseload; examining, assessing, treating and managing athletes under the supervision of a specialist clinical mentor.
This module will provide you with an opportunity to gain experience of undertaking a degree-related independent investigation in either a work-based, or academic environment. In both instances, your work will need to be underpinned by evidence-based theory and will contribute to the existing body of knowledge relating to that area of research.
Contact international admissions
Email: Call:Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out moreThe student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
The disability advice team provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
You'll have the opportunity to acquire industry-specific fitness (REPs) and discounted coaching (NGB) qualifications as you study. The broad, practical subjects you’ll study will help build a strong foundation for an exciting career.
Per hour: £20 to £40
Freelance personal trainers can expect to earn between £20 and £40 an hour. Some locations and high-profile clients make it possible to earn up to around £50 to £75 per hour. A full-time personal trainer with a good client base may be able to achieve an annual income of circa £30,000 to 40,000 depending on experience and location.
Typical salary: £30,000
If you work in a clinic, salaries start at around £18,000. With experience this can rise to in the region of £30,000. Work within the private sector typically pays more and you could earn £40,000 to £45,000 in some private clinics or with professional teams.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk. Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
“I never imagined I’d be stepping into professional sport straight out of uni. It's an achievement I’m very proud of.”
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
We also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
Explore the science behind physical health and exercise and the impact it has on individuals with clinical disease on this industry-led, practical course.
Find out moreLearn to develop and apply your sport and exercise therapy, physiotherapy, or sports rehabilitation expertise to work with injured and non-injured athletes across all sports.
Find out moreThe tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are not yet available. For guidance, the 2025/26 fees were:
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2026/27 additional costs are not yet available. For guidance, previous additional costs have been:
Compulsory costs
Optional costs
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Solent EU Welcome Scholarship (Fee Discount)
This scholarship is available to students from an EU country, with EU nationality, who are applying for an undergraduate course starting in September 2025. The scholarship will reduce your tuition fees to £10,500 per year - this includes foundation years.
Find out more about the scholarship
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £20. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
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As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Find out more about Solent's contextual offers
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
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