Sports Therapy
This full-time BSc Hons in Sports Therapy gives you the opportunity to qualify and work as a professional sports therapist with the option to progress to study a Masters in Physiotherapy and become a qualified physiotherapist.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | |
| Awarding Body | University of Essex |
| NFQ Level |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 | University of Essex |
Duration
3 years full-time or blended learning.
Entry Requirements
With a Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate requirements – Minimum of grade C or O6 in ordinary level Biology* or Physical Education, English and Maths with a pass in 3 other subjects.
Sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2023
Students may apply and be granted a “Conditional Offer” prior to completing the Leaving Certificate.
Step 1 – Submit application
Step 2 – Review of application and confirmation of eligibility criteria and entry requirements
Step 3 – Conditional Offer issued on the basis of successful achievement of LC requirements
Step 4 – Confirm acceptance of a place and pay deposit as detailed
Places cannot be held open for applicants awaiting leaving certificate results, however, should a student accept a place and then choose not to progress with this course having received a CAO offer, a refund of 75% of fees paid will be made. Refunds must be requested in writing within 48 hours after the first-round offers have been made. This will only be accepted by emailing refunds@portobelloinstitute.com. Evidence of CAO offer acceptance must be provided along in order to apply for a refund.
Applicants who have previously completed the Leaving Certificate;
Minimum of grade C or O6 in ordinary level Biology* or Physical Education, English and Maths with a pass in 3 other subjects.
*Applicants who do not hold LC Biology or Physical Education, are required to undertake the QQI level 5 Anatomy & Physiology and use this award in place of LC Biology. This course is available through Portobello Institute, further information available here.
Without a Leaving Certificate
Students are accepted on to this programme without a leaving certificate however applicants must meet one of the following criteria;
QQI level 5 major award containing a biology subject
ITEC level 2 award containing anatomy & physiology
An undergraduate degree in another subject
QQI Level 5 Anatomy & Physiology – available through Portobello Institute
Mature entry at 21 years. Mature students are reviewed on a case by case basis and entry is via interview. Those without a grounding in science and a previous academic qualification in science or biology, must complete QQI Level 5 Anatomy & Physiology or equivalent. This course is available through Portobello Institute, further information available at https://portobelloinstitute.com/courses/blended-learning/anatomy-and-physiology/
Equivalent qualifications with biology/anatomy & physiology module
Careers / Further progression
Career prospects
Employment opportunities for graduates in sports therapy are diverse. Many of our graduates continue to pursue careers directly in Sports Therapy, working as allied support teams for sport or as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams specializing in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Over the course of the three years students develop proficiency in therapeutic skills and modalities as well as business development in health sciences for those wishing to pursue private practice.
Work as a sports therapist in private clinics
Currently, many of our graduates’ work in private clinics or with sports clubs/ teams either individually or as part of a multi-disciplinary medical team. Private sector employment is offered by health and fitness organisations, including those operating leisure and fitness centres. Larger private companies and hotels, frequently offer sports and leisure facilities ‘in house’ and recruit Sports Therapists to run injury clinics.
Gain employment in Clinical Exercise Clinics
Many graduates have taken up employment or further education in clinical exercise physiology settings, working to promote safe exercise prescription and management for rehabilitation for populations with cardiovascular, respiratory or cancer.
Progress to MSc Physiotherapy
In this course there is also a heavy emphasis on research skills to support those who wish to pursue a combined career in applied practice and academia at MSc or PhD level. Many graduates of this course have gained successful entry to Masters programmes in physiotherapy and are now working as professional physiotherapists.
Portobello Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AECC University College. We are currently working through the validation processes towards delivering the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) programme in Dublin, with an expected start date of autumn ’24. This will be a natural path of progression from sports therapy for students seeking to progress their studies to physiotherapy.
Our graduates also go on to teaching and tutoring in roles Sports Therapy at third level.
What is the role of a Sports Therapist?
If you are interested in working with athletes to support the prevention of injury and rehabilitate them back to peak fitness, then a role in Sports Therapy will be of interest to you. When working in this particular aspect of healthcare, you will support athletes to return to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of their age and ability. As a sports therapist, you will utilise the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes.
Sports Therapy as an alternative route to Physiotherapy
Many of our students use the BSc Sports Therapy degree as an alternative entry pathway to becoming a Chartered Physiotherapist. With the points ever increasing for professional degrees such as Physiotherapy, many Universities have opened graduate entry professional qualifications for students who have graduated with a level 8 BSc honours degree in Sports Therapy or other affiliated areas.
We provide individual support to each student who is hoping to pursue graduate Physiotherapy Qualifications in preparing their applications and for interview to ensure students chances of success are optimized. Our BSc Sports Therapy degree also provides students with supervised clinical practice hours and clinical research skills that are imperative for progressing to achieving the MSc in Graduate Physiotherapy.
Graduate Physiotherapy courses are accredited by CORU and by IACP, most offer the qualification over a 2-year period. The main Universities in Ireland/UK that offer graduate routes for Physiotherapy are University of Limerick, University College Cork, RSCI, University College Dublin. There are similar progression routes to Graduate Physiotherapy available in the UK.
Portobello Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AECC University College. We are currently working through the validation processes towards delivering the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) programme in Dublin, with an expected start date of autumn ’24. This will be a natural path of progression from our sports therapy programme for students seeking to progress their studies to physiotherapy.
Further information
Start Date: 30th September 2023 - Blended Learning Option.
Start Date: 2nd October 2023 - Full-time option.
Fees (Year1)
Course Price
Per academic year.
€5,885.00
Exam Body Reg. Fee
Per academic year.
€600.00
Entry to this course is by direct application to the college.
Are you interested in becoming a professionally qualified sports therapist with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy?
This full-time sports therapy degree programme encompasses the skills and knowledge that are necessary to succeed as a therapist working to prevent and treat injury among athletes.
Essential knowledge for a career in the treatment and prevention of sports injury
This degree programme develops your clinical skills and knowledge of how to work as a sports therapist. Over the course of the three years, you will develop proficiency in therapeutic skills and modalities as well as business development in health sciences to support you should you wish to set-up a private practice..
Areas of study include sports therapy techniques – from foundation to advanced, human anatomy and biomechanics, sports injury treatment and rehabilitation, to psychological factors impacting sports athletes.
Develop practical skills and techniques
Developing the practical skills and techniques of sports therapy is a particular focus of this programme . You will learn the techniques to support athletes to return to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of their age and ability. As a sports therapist student, you will learn to utilise the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prevent, treat and rehabilitate injury.
Progress to Physiotherapy
Many of our students use the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree as an alternative entry pathway to becoming a Chartered Physiotherapist. Our BSc Sports Therapy degree provides students with supervised clinical practice hours and clinical research skills giving an excellent preparation for interview process when applying to an MSc in Physiotherapy.
Portobello Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AECC University College. We are currently working through the validation processes towards delivering the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) programme in Dublin, with an expected start date of autumn ’24. This will be a natural path of progression from sports therapy for students seeking to progress their studies to physiotherapy.
Alternatively, with the points ever increasing for undergraduate entry to physiotherapy, many Universities have opened graduate entry professional qualifications for students who have graduated with a level 8 BSc honours degree in Sports Therapy or other affiliated areas.
We provide individual support to each student who is hoping to pursue graduate Physiotherapy Qualifications in preparing their applications and for interview to ensure students chances of success are optimized. Many of our graduates have pursued this path and you can read about their journey in our student success section.
Who will recognise my qualification?
Upon completing this level 8 honours degree, you will hold a BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy awarded by University of Essex (UoE).
You will be registered as a student of the University of Essex.
When you begin this course you are invited to become registered as a student member of The Society of Sports Therapists. You may become a full member of the society when you complete your degree. Sports Therapists who are members of SST are recognised globally for the high standards they have attained during their training and are employed by leading clubs throughout the sporting world. Members of the Society of Sports Therapy are eligible for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.
This BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy is recognised by AECC University College. for the purposes of applying to progress to MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) . We are currently working through the validation processes towards delivering the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-reg) programme in Dublin, with an expected start date of autumn ’24.
Qualifications Frameworks in Ireland and the UK
The Irish and UK qualifications authorities have collaborated on initiatives that promote the transparency, recognition and mobility of qualifications between our respective jurisdictions. The qualifications authorities in the UK and Ireland have agreed the qualifications frameworks in operation, Brexit will not impact this agreement. Further guidance on this framework is available at https://www.qqi.ie/
During this programme, you will learn to assess, treat and where appropriate refer athletes for specialist advice and intervention. You will learn to provide immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training and competitive sporting environment. You will learn to plan and implement a unique rehabilitation programme for each athlete you treat. The practical techniques you will acquire, include sport and remedial massage for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Year 1
Foundations of Sports Therapy – 30 Credits
Human Anatomy & Biomechanics – 30 Credits
Human Physiology and Training Principles – 30 Credits
Sports Research Skills – 30 Credits
Year 2
Sports and Exercise Physiology – 30 Credits
Sport Rehabilitation – 30 Credits
Clinical Examination and Assessment in Sports Therapy – 15 Credits
Peripheral Manual Therapy – 15 Credits
Sports Science Research Methods – 15 credits
Psychological Factors in Sporting Teams & Individuals – 30 Credits
Year 3
Advanced Sports Therapy Techniques – 30 Credits
Sports Therapy Work Placement – 30 Credits
Business Development in Health Studies – 15 Credits
Sports Science and Therapy Dissertation – 30 Credits
Clinical Exercise Physiology – 15 Credits
Delivery Mode
This programme is delivered full-time; in third level education this means 12- 16 hours of lectures per week. Portobello ensures scheduling of course timetables is considerate of students travel and accommodation arrangements, part-time working and study-life balance. The course timetable is condensed to be delivered with onsite classes 2-3 days per week over 2 semesters. Examinations are held at the end of each semester.
Practical classes are delivered in a fully equipped therapy training room with theory classes taking place in one of the many theory rooms within Portobello Institute. There is also a fully equipped gym with strength and conditioning equipment available for use as part of your course.
The Difference between Blended Learning and Full Time Delivery Modes
There are two delivery mode options for this degree available in Portobello Institute giving you the freedom to choose how you will learn and making education accessible around work and life commitments.
Full-Time delivery offers you the opportunity to study with a more traditional schedule with lectures delivered on-site in Portobello during weekdays. Typically, those lectures are generally scheduled between Tuesday and Thursday. Monday’s lectures are delivered online.
Blended Learning is essentially the same, with a blend of online and on-site lectures taking place at the weekends. This makes it easier for you to study while working full-time. It also makes studying for a degree more accessible if you live outside of Dublin.
With both delivery modes, there will be lectures you need to attend on-site due to the nature of the content – practical skills etc. All online only lectures are recorded for you to catch up later. Where lectures are delivered onsite – these will simultaneously be delivered online and will also be recorded so you can customise your learning journey – attend on-site, online, or catch-up later.
Having the flexibility to choose whether you attend a lecture as it is taking place or to catch up later means you can seamlessly access and fit education into your life whilst still continuing with your everyday life.
SMART assessments – we use a range of assessments for each module designed to support a broad range of learning styles, giving you the opportunity to excel.
The primary aim of the varying assessment styles is to support you to demonstrate your knowledge of theory and practical as a result of a range of assessments.
The final year project provides the opportunity for an extended piece of formal scientific writing preparing you for your future career and the need to keep scientific based patient notes. We encourage you to reflect on your knowledge gain with a number of assignments designed to explore your learning journey.
All of these assessment methods are seeking to support you to combine theory with scenario-based learning and how to practically implement these methods into your everyday practice.
Tel: +(353) 1 892 0000
Email: info@portobelloinstitute.ie