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Sports Therapy or Physiotherapy?

I am completely stuck. I have found the perfect university for me- University of Gloucestershire that doesn't offer physiotherapy. Although I have previously considered Sports Therapy I had decided on physiotherapy for the better employment prospects even though I eventually want to work for a sports team. So does anyone have any ideas on how to apply to both subjects without a personal statement that shows I am not decided?
Reply 1
Physio is that competitive you would really hurt your chances if you even gave a sniff of the fact you were considering another course.


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Reply 2
Original post by Fenzinho
Physio is that competitive you would really hurt your chances if you even gave a sniff of the fact you were considering another course.


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That's what I was thinking, it all comes down to what happens on Thursday now...
Hi shrublemaker, I had the same problem and I created a thread a few weeks back on my second account. I got some very helpful responses and I will break it down for you.

Sport and exercise science is a good course and I found it more interesting because I am a semi-pro footballer who also wanted to desirably work in a football team. I loved the physical side of it and the latest technology used in most universities. I went to Birmingham Uni open day and looked at Sport science and physio, sport science appealed to me much more by far. The problem with sport science is that if you pursue this degree you will be a lost lamb in a massive herd. This is because sport science is seen as 'the easy alternative' to BTEC students (I have nothing against them) and other people. If you do A-level's like me you will be seen as taking the 'harder route' as opposed to BTEC students who can end up on the same course as you.

On the other hand, Physiotherapy is a professional career which guarantee's you a job which sport science does not do. That's another thing I need to mention, sport science is a degree which has low job prospects. There's no way you can appeal to employers compared to other students with the same degree. Physiotherapy is also funded by the NHS which is another appealing measure. Meaning no 60k+ debt and a student bursary of 1k also from the NHS.

So it's up to you. A bit about me: I have chosen to do physiotherapy and I am just about to collect my AS level results in a few days time then go onto a2. I take a levels which are Biology, PE, Psychology and Economics.


Hope this helped.
Reply 4
Original post by NaturallyDumbKid
Hi shrublemaker, I had the same problem and I created a thread a few weeks back on my second account. I got some very helpful responses and I will break it down for you.

Sport and exercise science is a good course and I found it more interesting because I am a semi-pro footballer who also wanted to desirably work in a football team. I loved the physical side of it and the latest technology used in most universities. I went to Birmingham Uni open day and looked at Sport science and physio, sport science appealed to me much more by far. The problem with sport science is that if you pursue this degree you will be a lost lamb in a massive herd. This is because sport science is seen as 'the easy alternative' to BTEC students (I have nothing against them) and other people. If you do A-level's like me you will be seen as taking the 'harder route' as opposed to BTEC students who can end up on the same course as you.

On the other hand, Physiotherapy is a professional career which guarantee's you a job which sport science does not do. That's another thing I need to mention, sport science is a degree which has low job prospects. There's no way you can appeal to employers compared to other students with the same degree. Physiotherapy is also funded by the NHS which is another appealing measure. Meaning no 60k+ debt and a student bursary of 1k also from the NHS.

So it's up to you. A bit about me: I have chosen to do physiotherapy and I am just about to collect my AS level results in a few days time then go onto a2. I take a levels which are Biology, PE, Psychology and Economics.


Hope this helped.



Thank you for the advice! :smile:

I'm going to collect my AS results in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, with a BTEC in sports as my college didn't offer it as an A level :frown:

What universities are you thinking of applying to?
Original post by shrublemaker
Thank you for the advice! :smile:

I'm going to collect my AS results in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, with a BTEC in sports as my college didn't offer it as an A level :frown:

What universities are you thinking of applying to?


No problem! And they're good a levels for physiotherapy. I am applying to Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff and Brunel, wbu?


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Reply 6
Original post by NaturallyDumbKid
No problem! And they're good a levels for physiotherapy. I am applying to Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff and Brunel, wbu?


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I'm not completely sure at the moment but it's looking something like: Brighton, Southampton, Bournemouth, Coventry, UWE, Plymouth and Nottingham at the moment.

How are you feeling about Thursday?
Original post by shrublemaker
I'm not completely sure at the moment but it's looking something like: Brighton, Southampton, Bournemouth, Coventry, UWE, Plymouth and Nottingham at the moment.

How are you feeling about Thursday?


Ah. I was looking at Brighton and Southampton too!

I'm feeling quite nervous if I'm honest. A bit of excitement too. Wbu? And what are you expecting?


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Reply 8
Original post by NaturallyDumbKid
Ah. I was looking at Brighton and Southampton too!

I'm feeling quite nervous if I'm honest. A bit of excitement too. Wbu? And what are you expecting?


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The exact same! I really want A's but I'd be happy with B's :smile: What exam board for Biology are you?
Original post by shrublemaker
The exact same! I really want A's but I'd be happy with B's :smile: What exam board for Biology are you?


Ah that's good! Hopefully you get the grades! I do AQA, wbu?


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I'm actually OCR, what are you hoping for?
Original post by shrublemaker
I'm actually OCR, what are you hoping for?


I'll be happy with BBB and then at least an E in economics (I flopped). But I'm hoping for AAB and E in economics, because I know I can get it up second year


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Reply 12
Original post by shrublemaker
That's what I was thinking, it all comes down to what happens on Thursday now...


Best of luck hope you get what you're after.


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Original post by Fenzinho
Best of luck hope you get what you're after.


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Thank you, physiotherapy is definitely my first choice now :smile:
Original post by shrublemaker
Thank you, physiotherapy is definitely my first choice now :smile:

How did your results go shrublemaker? :smile:
Original post by NaturallyDumbKid
How did your results go shrublemaker? :smile:



Not too bad, but not what I wanted :frown:

I got BBC, in Biology, Maths and the C in Chemistry.

Then I got a Distinction* in Sport :smile:

How did you get on? :smile:
Original post by shrublemaker
Not too bad, but not what I wanted :frown:

I got BBC, in Biology, Maths and the C in Chemistry.

Then I got a Distinction* in Sport :smile:

How did you get on? :smile:


Oh wow, that's still brilliant :biggrin:
I got as follows;
PE: A
Psychology: A
Biology: C (1 mark off a B, getting a remark)
Economics: D (dropped)

What grades did you want* btw?
Original post by NaturallyDumbKid
Oh wow, that's still brilliant :biggrin:
I got as follows;
PE: A
Psychology: A
Biology: C (1 mark off a B, getting a remark)
Economics: D (dropped)

What grades did you want* btw?


That's amazing! I'm disappointed that I didn't get As and a B in Chemistry would've been good. It's safe to say I won't be doing it at A2, I'm thinking of an EPQ instead :smile:
Original post by shrublemaker
That's amazing! I'm disappointed that I didn't get As and a B in Chemistry would've been good. It's safe to say I won't be doing it at A2, I'm thinking of an EPQ instead :smile:


Thanks. An EPQ is a good idea because it's easy to get a high grade if it's a subject of your choice! Good luck with that!

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