Sports Therapy Foundation Year - Foundation *
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
If you apply for entry onto BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy and your actual or predicted grades fall below the minimum UCAS entry tariff set for entry onto the first year of that degree, we may choose to consider you for a place on the Foundation Year stage instead....
- Level Foundation
- Study mode Full Time
- Award Foundation
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subjects
- Location City South / Alexander Stadium
This course is:
Overview
If you apply for entry onto BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy and your actual or predicted grades fall below the minimum UCAS entry tariff set for entry onto the first year of that degree, we may choose to consider you for a place on the Foundation Year stage instead.
The Foundation Year option gives you extra time and support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence before starting a full degree. It is designed to prepare you for a range of Sports courses, not one particular degree, so you will study a broad range of subjects to prepare you to progress to successful degree-level study. You'll develop a range of practical and analytical skills that will prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in Sport and Physical Activity.
Why study a foundation year course?
On the Foundation Year in Sport and Physical Activity, you will study broad subject areas which then open up opportunities for you to specialise further in your next year – which would be the first year of a full degree programme.
This flexibility is one of the great things about the foundation year - it allows you to find out more about your interests and talents before focusing on a three year degree.
Please note:
Upon completion of your Foundation Year, if your chosen course is regulated by a professional body such as The Society of Sports Therapists, you will be required to successfully complete the University’s selection process for the specific programme which will include an interview in order to proceed onto year one of the full degree programme. Entry onto year one of the degree programme will also be subject to a satisfactory DBS and Occupational Health Assessment.
Why Choose Us?
- You will have extra time and support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence before starting a full degree.
- Birmingham is one of the UK’s most diverse cities outside of London, which will provide you with a wide variety of experience that will be valuable to take forward into your future career.
- Our staff come from the professions they teach, maintaining their links to ensure you get the most up-to-date learning during your course.
- Our sports students split their time between our campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham. State-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources include physiology labs and a sports therapy suite.
Open Days
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open yet for this event, register your interest and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Open Day: 22 March 2025
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
Essential requirements
Details of the entry requirements can be found on the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy course page.
Please note: If your Level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff we require for entry onto our BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy course, you may be considered for a place on our Sports Therapy Foundation Year instead, which offers an alternative pathway onto the course. This is a decision made by us once your degree application has been assessed.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: Foundation
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
- £9,535 in 2025/26 ✱ Important note for this price
(↩Back to price) * The Government is proposing to increase the cap on full-time regulated tuition fees to £9,535 for 2025/26 and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once legislation is enacted. Part-time fees are charged pro-rata, where applicable.
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
The below costs relate to the foundation year, you are advised to check the ‘Fees and How to Apply’ section of the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy course page for any specific costs for years 2-4 of study.
You should apply specifically for your chosen degree course, rather than a Foundation Year. You do not need to submit a separate application for the Sports Therapy Foundation Year but may automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff.
Please select the course you wish to apply for:
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
- Register with UCAS
- Login to UCAS and complete your details
- Select your course and write a personal statement
- Get a reference
- Pay your application fee and submit your application
Course in Depth
Foundation Year
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University. Through a range of class-based group and individual activities, discussions, debates, personal reflection and wider reading and research, you will have opportunities to consider academic conventions, which include: effective use of literature; sourcing and reviewing information; various forms of academic writing; developing reflective capacity. You will also receive guidance on study skills and strategies, which will enhance previously acquired skills.
These professional skills are transferable and will be valuable not only in the immediate context but throughout your continued education and employment. By engaging with this module, we have set out clearly what we expect of you at foundation and undergraduate level, and will equip you with the confidence, competence and capacity to utilise resources to be able to meet expectations in this environment.
An essential element of this module will be your ability to analyse and reflect on your own learning and the way in which you have applied your knowledge, skill and understanding to any academic context in which you have engaged to date. Communicating effectively through a variety of academic conventions is a key skill for any student and this will be a feature of this module.
This module is designed to help you gain awareness and understanding of current challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and how this impacts upon the Health, Education and Social Sciences sector, preparing you for your future education and journey into practice.
Introducing the Equality Act 2010 as the overarching legislation that focuses on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, the module is based on themes that are covered by this Act. The nine protected characteristics, upon which a person can be discriminated, as laid down in the Equality Act, will be discussed throughout and you will be introduced to case studies relevant to your chosen pathways.
The module will give you the opportunity to discuss debate and reflect upon how challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity may present themselves. Using problem and inquiry based learning you will have the opportunity to explore and discuss ways of working which can help to minimise discrimination in your own practice. The module will be made up of lead lectures, taught sessions, group work and individual study.
This module will focus on enabling you to gain a deeper understanding of the interpersonal skills and behaviours required to work in your chosen area. Through a range of class based and student focused activities you will explore the different concepts of effective interpersonal and professional behaviours essential to your own personal development and progression. By engaging in this module you will reflect on your own and others values, beliefs and behaviours identifying how this can impact on the way in which you will be viewed by others. You will also address the importance of effective communication and how this can lead you to have a more professional approach in your chose area of work.
This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University, allowing you the opportunity to negotiate learning of a bespoke subject. Under the guidance of tutors, you will be able to direct your learning and identify relevant learning opportunities that you feel enable you to learning more about a specific field of study.
The subject area within this module is student-led, with guidance and facilitation from designated academic and practice support. You will identify an area of study that you would like to review and evaluate, and which relates to your foundation year pathway and indicate programme.
A significant proportion of the module is based around negotiation with academic facilitators to identify extended areas of study and opportunities that are possible to enhance your towards completion of the study.
An appreciation of the principles of Human Biology plays a central role in the understanding of the workings of the human body. This module is organised into three distinct phases from fundamental principles, to physiological processes, and then disruption of the interplay of such systems in human disorders. This understanding provides a solid foundation for the subsequent study in a range of disciplines from healthcare, allied healthcare, and other disciplines requiring an understanding of human biology. The topics covered will also be underpinned by practical activities. Pre- and post-session activities will help to develop your key transferable skills such as being able to reflect and ask probing questions as well as being able to think independently. Development of these skills will ensure a growth in maturity and boost your confidence which will lead to unlocking your learning potential.
This module will consider the complex nature of sport, and how the disciplines associated with the scientific study of sport can interact to enhance knowledge and problem solving. Problems will be considered from across the range of sport, physical activity and exercise disciplines with demonstrations of how research can be enhanced through inter/multi-disciplinary investigation.
The initial stages of this module will include an introduction to the four BSc courses that are run by the department. These are, Sport and Exercise Nutrition; Physical Education and School Sport; Sports Therapy and Sport and Exercise Science.
Download course specification
Download nowEmployability
If you progress on to and complete BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, you will be fully equipped with the clinical skills to work with professional sports teams, as well as with individual elite performers. Alternatively, you may wish to work in private practice, treating a wide variety of individuals in a musculoskeletal injury clinic.
Facilities & Staff
The Foundation Year is taught primarily at our City South Campus in Edgbaston. Then from Year 1 of your degree, your time will be split between City South and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.
The Stadium was home to the Commonwealth Games in summer 2022, and the University is investing an additional £5m to develop space in the East and West stands as a home for our students.
Our new home at Alexander Stadium
Biomechanics Lab
Our biomechanics laboratory features pressure plates in the floor and cameras mounted at the side. Sensors linked to a computer are used to record motion, evaluate people’s movements and analyse gait. Also in this space is an Isokinetic Dynamometer, which is used to assess limb strength.
Nutrition Kitchen
Our kitchen has several workstations to allow students to wash, prepare and cook food. This is where students analyse the effect of supplements or food groups on performance, and prepare recipes for athletes to support their training and fitness regime.
Performance Analysis Space
In our Performance Analysis Space, students are able to review data and video footage in order to develop strategy and provide advice to enhance athletes’ performance.
Physiology Lab
Our physiology lab contains an anti-gravity treadmill, environmental chamber and a range of equipment used for testing and analysis of athlete performance.
Sports Therapy Clinic
We have two Sports Therapy classrooms, as well as clinic spaces. The classrooms are set up with several therapy stations, each with a treatment couch. This is where we teach practical sessions, with students working together to build their skills. Our students also run a Sports Therapy Clinic for staff and students, where they are able to apply the skills they have learnt.
Strength & Conditioning Gym
This high-performance gym allows you to deliver hands on coaching and use state of the art equipment to measure performance and inform practice.
Our staff
Julie Davis
Foundation Year Lecturer
Julie joined the ADD (Academic Development Department) in 2018 as a Lecturer on the HELS Foundation Year programme. Prior to joining Birmingham City University, she worked at a number of local FE and HE institutions where she developed and delivered a range of Early Years and Education programmes.
More about JulieJessica Lowe
Foundation Year Lecturer
Jessica joined the ADD (Academic Development Department) in 2019 as a Lecturer on the HELS Foundation Year Programme. Her role is to lead and develop modules to support students on their journey on the Foundation Year Programme. Prior to joining BCU, she has worked in a FE and HE institution teaching students on a range of courses in Early Years...
More about Jessica