BSc (Hons) Sports Rehabilitation

Physical activity is considered an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. The positive effects of physical activity on physical and mental wellbeing are well established. Sport and physical activity also, however, carry some inherent injury risk. Graduate Sports Rehabilitators (GSR) are musculoskeletal specialists who use skills and knowledge of exercise, movement and manual therapies in order to diagnose, prevent and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries.

This course will allow you to develop a broader understanding of the prevention and management of injury and disease in an exercise and physical activity context.

The course recognises that sport includes all forms of physical activity which may be either casual, organised, or at a professional, competitive level.  Activity is undertaken to improve physical fitness and mental wellbeing, to develop social relationships or to perform at a professional level and obtain results in competition. Therefore you will work with a range of clients from professional sportspeople to those solely undertaking sport for personal and enjoyment reasons.  This could include special populations such as older adults, disabled people, people with a chronic disease and children.

The overarching aim for the BSc (Hons) Sports Rehabilitation is to produce graduates who are skilled, resilient, autonomous, collaborative, critical and reflective problem solvers, who can make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of individuals and of society.

On completion of this course you will: 

• Be able to apply for registration with BASRaT (British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Therapists) and upon graduation practise as a Sports Rehabilitator.
• Be able to confidently deliver safe, effective and person-centred sports rehabilitation care on graduation.
• Become part of a community of learners, working collaboratively with lecturers, clinical staff, service users and other students on a transformational journey towards registration.
• Carry out invaluable practice-based placements in each year that will enrich your learning. Placements will take place in a range of settings which could include private practice, NHS, third sector, sports clubs or sporting events.

Year One

You should apply to either City of Glasgow College or Edinburgh College to study HNC Sports Therapy.

Year Two

You should continue your HNC studies to HND level at either City of Glasgow College or Edinburgh College.  You will then be required to submit a competitive application for one of the places available to continue your studies on the BSc(Hons) Sports Rehabilitation degree with QMU.

Year Three

You will:

• Demonstrate professional behaviours in according with professional body guidance.
• Critically appraise evidence from a range of sources and make reasoned decisions about its value in supporting evidence-informed practice.
• Select, justify, and apply a range of assessment techniques in order to make a reasoned person-centred decision. 
• Select, justify, and apply manual therapy techniques as part of a person-centred approach to the management of upper- and lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions in a sport rehabilitation context.
• Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics in order to design, deliver and evaluate exercise and physical activity intervention programmes to meet the needs of a range of individuals. 
• Critically reflect on your own learning and professional development.
• Complete 100 hours on placement, further expanding your practice knowledge.

Modules:

• Exercise Testing and Prescription for Rehabilitation
• Musculoskeletal Management in Sports Rehabilitation 1
• Understanding and Appraising the Evidence for Practice
• Environment and Society in Sports Rehabilitation
• Population, Health and Lifestyle Considerations in Sports Rehabilitation
• Practice-based Learning in Sports Rehabilitation

Year Four

You will:

• Demonstrate and critically reflect upon the core values and behaviours of a graduate sports rehabilitator, in order to apply the principles of rights-based, compassionate, person-centred care.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles, concepts, theories and methods which underpin sports rehabilitation practice.
• Demonstrate and apply detailed knowledge of evidence-based assessment and interventions, in order to make an effective contribution to the management of wide range health conditions in people who commonly present to sports rehabilitators.
• Demonstrate critical understanding of the political, social, economic and legal factors that may influence the health and wellbeing of populations and use this knowledge to critically appraise the developing role of sports rehabilitation.
• Lead the development of innovative, enterprising and creative problem-solving approaches to sports rehabilitation practice which integrate the effective management of knowledge, resources, people and priorities.
• Complete 100 hours on placement, further expanding your practice knowledge.

Modules

• Musculoskeletal Management in Sports Rehabilitation 2
• Reasoning and Decision Making in Sports Rehabilitation
• Leadership and Enterprise for Practice
• Applying Skills of Critical Enquiry (project)
• Practice-based Learning in Sports Rehabilitation

Structure

This course is delivered in partnership with Edinburgh College or City of Glasgow College and offers an articulation route for students who have already achieved an HND Sports Therapy at one of these two colleges. It enables you to convert the HND into a degree and is equivalent to Years Three and Four of an honours degree. You will complete a range of modules each year as outlined.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will be taught in lectures, seminars, practical workshops, placements and laboratories. Outside these timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning through both directed and self-directed study. You will be assessed using a range of methods including practical exams and written course work at the end of each module or semester.

Placements

You will complete 100 hours of practice placements in each year.

Placements are invaluable in consolidating theoretical study into practical expertise by working directly with clients and practice educators.

Placements will take place in a range of settings which could include private practice, NHS, third sector, sports clubs or sporting events at various locations across the central belt of Scotland.

Edinburgh College and City of Glasgow College manage the sourcing and allocation of placements for each student.

Any additional costs associated with placement travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. Students who receive SAAS funding may be able to claim for some of these expenses to be reimbursed.

You can work as a Sports Rehabilitator in a variety of settings which could include private practice, NHS, third sector, professional sports clubs or teams.

Entry requirements

You will be required to pass your HNC and HND with an A grade in both years, and submit a competitive application. The applications for this course are handled directly by Edinburgh College and City of Glasgow College. 

Other requirements

• A satisfactory criminal records check
• All students are required to obtain personal indemnity insurance, usually through membership of the professional body.

Other costs

• The cost of the PVG check and the professional indemnity insurance are the responsibility of the student. For more information on this, visit the UG 2025 fees page on our website.
• The additional costs associated with placement including uniform, travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. Students who receive SAAS funding may be able to claim for some of these expenses to be reimbursed.

Terms and Conditions

• The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2025/26 Entry Terms and Conditions (Undergraduate).
• The course information on this page is correct at the time of posting (Feb 2024) but may differ slightly for 2025 entry. Please check back here for updates.

QMU. More information is in the 'External review' section of our ‘How we teach and how you’ll learn’ page.

The applications for this course are handled directly by Edinburgh College and City of Glasgow College.