Physio or international relations?
I’m a Year 13 Student studying BTEC Sport Extended Diploma, I’m in a predicament between picking physiotherapy or international relations + politics at university (barely any correlation to my course but I have an interest in it). One if the reasons I’m leaning away from picking physio is because of the placements at university which are at hospitals (I hate hospitals) and I’m leaning towards the msk/sport physio route. I’m mainly picking IR+Politics due to the careers which it can lead to and I find it really interesting. Which one should I go for?
Reply 1
20
There are many other Sports courses that do not have a connection to hospitals etc - Sport and exercise degrees (Brighton) for examples.
Have you checked the entry requirements for Politics and IR courses at a range of different Universities - they may want a 'relevant subject' or an 'essay based subject' at BTEC. And they will want a PS that shows you have some awareness of this as an academic subject, with comments on relevant reading you have completed etc.
Have you checked the entry requirements for Politics and IR courses at a range of different Universities - they may want a 'relevant subject' or an 'essay based subject' at BTEC. And they will want a PS that shows you have some awareness of this as an academic subject, with comments on relevant reading you have completed etc.
Reply 2
18
How much do you hate hospitals? This is all just based off my own research into physio, so I'm sure you know most of it already, but if you want to qualify as a physiotherapist, you'll have to study and do a lot that isn't MSK/sports-related at all (the majority of any course, really). And as with most healthcare roles, burnout is high and the current graduate market is abysmal, frankly competitive, so it's probably extra important to be open minded and willing towards everything physiotherapy entails, even if you ultimately plan on specialising into sport (which, in and of itself, is perfectly fine).
Reply 3
Original post
by leonathegoatI’m a Year 13 Student studying BTEC Sport Extended Diploma, I’m in a predicament between picking physiotherapy or international relations + politics at university (barely any correlation to my course but I have an interest in it). One if the reasons I’m leaning away from picking physio is because of the placements at university which are at hospitals (I hate hospitals) and I’m leaning towards the msk/sport physio route. I’m mainly picking IR+Politics due to the careers which it can lead to and I find it really interesting. Which one should I go for?
Hey there, It’s completely normal to be torn between two very different paths, especially when you’re interested in both for different reasons. Lots of students feel this way in Year 13, so you’re definitely not alone.
If you’re leaning away from Physiotherapy mainly because of the hospital placements, that’s a very real thing to consider. Physio always includes NHS placements because it’s part of the professional training, even if you want to specialise in MSK or sport later on. If hospitals make you uncomfortable, it’s worth being honest with yourself about whether you’d feel okay doing those blocks of placement.
On the other hand, if you enjoy learning about politics, global issues and how the world works, then International Relations and Politics could be a great fit. At LSBU, the course is very real world focused, with debates, practical projects and opportunities linked to London based organisations. It also opens a lot of doors into careers like public policy, government work, NGOs, international development, community work and research. You don’t need A levels in politics to do well either. Interest goes a long way.
What’s also nice is that if you stay connected to sport, LSBU has a really active sports community no matter what you study. You can take on roles like coaching a sports team, becoming a captain or vice captain, or even becoming a Sports Ambassador. There are also opportunities to run kids’ clubs, join events, and get hands on experience that looks great on your CV. And as a bonus, sport students get free gym access during certain hours, and even non sport students can get very affordable membership, so you can still keep the sporty side of your life active while studying something like IR + Politics.
In the end, it’s about asking yourself which environment you’ll feel happier in for the next three years. If you love the idea of helping people physically recover and can tolerate the early placements, physio is still a great route. Interest and enjoyment matter just as much as career paths.
You’re always welcome to explore LSBU further. We have a virtual open day on 9th December from 12:30 to 1:30 pm or you can book a campus tour https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days/campus-tours to get a proper feel for our spaces. You can also chat with our current students on Unibuddy https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/chat to get an insight into the courses you’re curious about.
LSBU Admissions Ambassador
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