Book for Beds Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation and Clinical Exercise Therapy

STUDYING SPORTS THERAPY & REHABILITATION AND CLINICAL EXERCISE THERAPY

Faculty of Education, English & Sport

School of Sport Science and Physical Activity

WELCOME TO SPORTS

THERAPY & REHABILITATION AND CLINICAL EXERCISE THERAPY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS

Course coordinators

BSc Clinical Exercise Therapy

• Dr Cheryl Barford cheryl.barford@beds.ac.uk

BSc Sport Therapy & Rehabilitation

• Michael Dwyer michael.dwyer@beds.ac.uk

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Student Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk

Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport

BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk help@bedssu.co.uk

Welcome to the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity at the University of Bedfordshire.

I am delighted that you will be studying with us in September. Our campus has a rich heritage in physical training that dates back to 1903, something we are very proud of. Today, Bedford is a modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant academic and student community.

We have developed strong relationships with sporting organisations across the county and beyond that benefit all our students. I believe our placement opportunities with these partners are a key factor in our high graduate employment rates.

We know how important it is to give you the best possible start to academic life. That’s why we have created this booklet which provides you with important information to prepare for your course and your first few weeks and months at University.

I look forward to meeting you during Welcome Week.

Dr Martyn Morris Head of School

We are excited that you will be joining us in September. We are looking forward to meeting you for your induction during Welcome Week, which will focus on introducing you to your course, the academic team and your fellow students. You will have a personal tutor who is there to support you throughout your course. They run weekly office hours so you can book an appointment if you need to chat to them. Remember that we are all here to support you every step of the way as you begin your academic journey. If you have any questions, just ask.

Dr Cheryl Barford & Michael Dwyer Course Coordinators

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING WELCOME WEEK

It is very important to start your course well. Welcome Week is an essential part of navigating student life and your studies, and it’s a brilliant way of getting to know staff and students. It includes a cross-School activity, key information, and plenty of fun too!

The following is a typical Welcome Week schedule (the exact schedule will be available to you prior to starting).

am Introduction to student support services, the Students’ Union and library services

Day 1

Meet your course team

Day 2

pm

Gather important starter information about your uniform, timetable, course details and placement

Treasure hunt

am A day in the life – what to expect

Getting the most from BREO (our virtual learning environment)

Q&A with current students

Campus and sports facilities tour pm

First meeting with your personal academic tutor

Order your uniform

Meet your placement coordinator

Day 3

Clinic induction and professional standards and employment opportunities

Day 4 & 5

Drop in sessions – chat to your tutors and get to know your student community

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY IN YOUR FIRST YEAR

Here is an example of a programme for your first year:

Sports Massage

Anatomy and Biomechanics

Gym Instruction

Normal Anatomical Structure and Function

Human Physiology

Reading and Interpreting Research

Structural Assessment and Professional Practice

PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE

You will have the opportunity to gain significant professional experience during your studies. We have extensive networks across the sport and physical activity sector including Luton Town Football Club, Bedford Blues RFC/Blues Foundation, Ampthill Town RFC and Bedfordshire School Partnerships to name a few.

How one of our students helped prepare Luton Town FC for premiership promotion final Meet Jake Scott!

Jake is in the final year of his PhD with the School of Sport Science and Physical Activity and works part time as a sports science assistant at Luton Town FC.

He has been working at Luton Town FC since September 2022. His day-to-day responsibilities include supplementing the sport science team with nutritional and hydration strategies for the players, generating individual physical performance plans, and monitoring external and internal training and match load throughout the Hatters’ successful 2022/23 campaign. In May, his expertise was required for Luton’s Championship play-off final against Coventry City, which saw temperatures soaring higher than average for the time of year. This meant Luton’s sports science team needed to ensure the players were prepared for the environment they were going to face, by implementing cooling techniques and strategies. Here’s what Jake had to say about his experience:

To be able to apply my practices and evidence-based research to elite athletes while travelling up and down the country has made me grow and develop tremendously as a practitioner and person this season. It has been great seeing the hard work pay off, which is a credit to the players and the staff who exude humility, desire and hunger to better themselves every day. It feels amazing to be amongst the country’s elite and we thoroughly deserve to be in the Premier League next season.

The University has a long-standing partnership with Luton Town FC and is the club’s official Academy sponsor. Our strong partnership with them means there are opportunities for our students to get involved in work experience with the club.

HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED

The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:

• Have an immediate relevance to practice

• Draw on expertise by experience

• Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach

A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks, including those that allow you to undertake workplace relevant assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and increases your confidence.

RANGE OF ASSESSMENTS

These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:

Practical assessments

Essays and reports

Leaflets and posters

Case studies

Portfolios

Presentations

In-class tests

Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.

PREPARATION FOR YOUR

FIRST WEEK

REGISTERING FOR YOUR COURSE

Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!

SOMETHING TO WATCH

• Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus

SOMETHING TO READ

To help prepare you for your first week, we have included links to some useful information

• Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

• Clinical Exercise Therapy

ABOUT THE CAMPUS

Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.

• Bedford campus

SOMETHING TO EAT

• Eating and drinking on-campus

TEACHING TIMETABLE

The timetable shown below is a sample, and does not necessarily reflect the exact times or days we expect you to be committed to your course. As a first year student, you will typically have scheduled taught sessions over four days every week, with one day free for reading and research. We work towards timetabling to enable sports students to engage with sport and other placement opportunities on Wednesdays. Your timetable will be available online prior to arriving on campus, or you can contact your course coordinator to ask them to let you know when it is available. To find out how to access your timetable go to beds.ac.uk/timetable

Sample timetable for semester one:

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

What happens if I miss class due to illness or have difficulties with childcare or travel?

We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit coordinator.

Who can help me with my assessments?

The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit coordinator or tutor. If you need more time to complete an assignment due to specific circumstances, illness or additional learning needs, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with extensions for assessments. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk

What support do you provide for learning differences such as dyslexia?

There is plenty of help available. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. There is also help available for practice based learning, so please make us aware in advance.

Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?

Yes! The Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk

Do I need to wear specific clothing for practical sessions?

Yes, all our students will need to wear uniform in the clinic spaces when treating clients, in practical sessions and on external placements. You can buy university branded kit on the Akuma Shop website. You’ll need to use the password ‘Beds-2020’ to view items.

Will I have to find my own external placement?

You may already have an idea of where you would like to do your external placements, or you may not have had the chance to think about it. Either way, our coordinator can help you navigate your placement. Our administrator regularly advertises relevant placement and employment opportunities, so you will get plenty of information and support from our team.

THOUGHTS FINAL

You will work with internal British Universities and Colleges Sports league athletes, external athletes and Bedfordshire Police Officers to return to training, play and work.

You will progressively develop your client-handling skills in active and passive rehabilitation treatments and equipment based rehabilitation techniques.

During your studies you will experience different working environments to help you decide your area of specialism.

10 reasons you will love studying and working in sport therapy & rehabilitation and clinical exercise therapy

Always remember, our team is here for you!

We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.

We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.

You will have opportunities to gain industry-recognised qualifications such as gym instructor, group exercise and working with long-term conditions and prehospital immediate care in sport Lv2 certificate (subsidised cost).

You will focus on musculoskeletal assessments and develop injury management skills specifically aligned to sports and recreational athletes.

You will coach people to develop their knowledge and personal awareness of their health, injury and wellbeing.

Our links with external agencies mean that you will work with a variety of clients of different ages and abilities and with different conditions.

You will help people manage long-term medical conditions by helping them improve their physical capacity and mental wellbeing.

Our courses are endorsed by BASRaT and CIMPSA which means you will become part of a wider rehabilitation and therapy community.

Our friendly and supportive teaching team have worked in the sport and physical activity sector for many years, adding an enriched ‘real world’ perspective to your learning experience.

Luton campus

University Square

Luton

Bedfordshire

United Kingdom

LU1 3JU

Bedford campus

Polhill Avenue

Bedford

Bedfordshire

United Kingdom

MK41 9EA

Aylesbury campus

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Mandeville Road

Aylesbury

United Kingdom

HP21 8AL

Milton Keynes campus

2nd Floor Exchange House

Midsummer Boulevard

Milton Keynes

Buckinghamshire

United Kingdom

MK9 2EA

Putteridge Bury campus

Hitchin Road

Luton

Bedfordshire

United Kingdom

LU2 8LE