Postgraduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine
Validated by University of South Wales
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and abilities to assist not only athletes in their recovery journey but also the general public in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
This sports medicine diploma provides an in-depth understanding of injury assessment and treatment options for both athletes and non-athletes, emphasising the physical and psychological benefits of exercise as a health tool.
With sports and exercise increasing in popularity, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to develop a broad range of specialised skills for the treatment and prevention of injury. During the Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Medicine, you will receive guidance from a team of highly skilled and committed industry educators. These programme leaders and tutors are not just experts in their field but also bring a wealth of practical experience, offering you direct insight into advanced knowledge and extensive professional expertise.
Next intake: March 2025Key Facts
The programme offers a multidisciplinary learning environment, where you will benefit from the knowledge of some of the leading figures in sports and exercise medicine from around the world. The global student community also provides valuable perspectives on healthcare systems worldwide.
Our sports and exercise medicine diploma covers essential topics in sports medicine, focusing on injury prevention, management, and rehabilitation. It also highlights the importance of exercise in promoting health and well-being.
The diploma in sports and exercise medicine is perfect for you if you are a healthcare professional seeking to enhance your expertise in sports and exercise medicine, a physiotherapist who wishes to specialise in sports injuries, or an individual interested in the scientific foundations of sports medicine. Additionally, various sports medicine courses within the programme allow for a deeper exploration of specific areas, ensuring a comprehensive education in this dynamic field.
The postgraduate diploma in sports medicine is online and is designed to be practical and clinically focused. On completion of the postgraduate diploma in sports medicine, you will have obtained:
- A systematic understanding of the basics of sports medicine and exercise physiology, including the behavioural and life science basis.
- A critical awareness of current issues affecting the care of patients with certain sports related injuries and the tailored benefits of exercise.
- An advanced knowledge of sports and exercise medicine, including physiology and anatomy of exercise.
It is envisaged that most students will be in primary care or aspiring to such posts. The diploma is designed to be relevant to all health professionals who have exposure to people with sports-related injuries.
Faculty
Programme Leader
Dr Gareth Jones - Programme Lead & Tutor
Dr Jones qualified in 1976. His early postgraduate years were spent in general medicine successfully negotiating the MRCP in 1984. He then...
Validating partner
University of South Wales
The University of South Wales (USW) is a modern, industry focused University located in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd in South Wales, UK. It was rated best in the UK for the Health Professions in the Guardian University Guide 2020 and, in the latest Complete University Guide 2022, is in the top 10 in the UK for Health Studies. USW is one of Britain’s largest and most exciting new universities attracting a cosmopolitan mix of students from across the globe.
Accreditors and Endorsers
UEMS - European Union of Medical Specialists
This postgraduate course has also been accredited by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)
Frequently Asked Questions
For a full list of our FAQs visit our FAQs page.
As each Medical Council has their own rules/regulations with regard to Postgraduate study we recommend that you contact your local Medical Council with regard to recognition.
Upon completion of the course the University would invite you to a graduation ceremony and provide your certificate which makes no reference to the fact that the course was studied online and is therefore typically recognised the same as any other UK University qualification.
Rest assured, the overall Postgraduate Diploma carries a total of 1,200 CPD points, with the MSc an additional 600 CPD points, and all official certifications are issued directly by the University.
When you study one of our programmes you may be surprised to find that there are no lectures or seminars. Your learning will be self-directed meaning that rather than being told information you find it for yourself (with tutor guidance and support). We do this via a series of clinically rich scenarios which your tutor will post on our academic forum which you and your classmates will research, respond to and discuss.
You will be assessed through the Academic Forum, Reflective Journal and Assignments. Learning will be carried out using our online learning platform: Moodle.
You can study whenever and wherever you want - our programmes are totally flexible to fit around your other work and life commitments.
The course is specifically designed so that part of your study is the application of theory to practice in your day job.
We typically suggest that students aim to log into the Moodle platform daily. We recommend a "little and often" approach for reading, reflection and/or posting. High achieving students will typically spend 1-2 hours dedicated to their studies a day; 10 hours per week is sufficient time to spend on the platform.
Those who cannot dedicate more time than once/twice per week may struggle with the demands of this postgraduate programme.
Yes, everything is done entirely online through our learning platform, Moodle. You do not need to attend the University.
Postgraduate Diploma courses
In order to be eligible for our Postgraduate Diploma courses you need to hold a medical degree or undergraduate degree in a health related science and be working within the field that you wish to study, as the course is designed to further your knowledge within your chosen subject and is not designed to introduce these as new topic areas.
We have two intakes a year in March and September. Click the following link for the up to date application deadlines and module dates: Module Dates.
The Action Taker Discount offers savings based on your programme: £150 off for PGCert and £250 off for PGDip/2-year MSc programmes. To qualify, you must pay the deposit within 7 days of acceptance. This discount is not available during February and August and not available in combination with the Early Bird Discount. The Action Taker Discount will be applied to your final payment. To take advantage, act quickly after acceptance to secure your savings.
Next intake: March 2025 Key Facts
Programme Leader
Dr Gareth Jones - Programme Lead & Tutor
Dr Jones qualified in 1976. His early postgraduate years were spent in general medicine successfully negotiating the MRCP in 1984. He then elected to enter general practice obtaining the MRCGP in 1986 but was able to continue his cardiology interest as a specialty doctor. In 1993 he became the team doctor for the Welsh Rugby Union U19 squad. It was at this time he felt that his knowledge of Sports Medicine needed to be improved. He obtained an MSc in SEM at the University of Bath in 2003, later to become an examiner for their DipSEM. He has travelled as team doctor to over twenty International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Championships. Dr Jones was Match Day Doctor at the ‘England2015’ RWC at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Dr Jones has also attended four Commonwealth Games (Kuala Lumpur 1998, Manchester 2002, Melbourne 2006 and Delhi 2010), the last two as Chief Medical Officer. He retired from general practice in 2012 and is now the Sports Physician to the Cardiff Blues (rugby union) and working within the NHS as a specialty doctor in Cardiology and Trauma and Orthopaedics. As a Visiting Professor at the University, he has been involved with this course since it’s inception. He has played an important part in establishing the course with increasing numbers enrolling reflecting the needs of health care professionals with an interest in this field.
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Why Study a Sports and Exercise Medicine Postgraduate Diploma with Learna
We have over 10 years’ experience delivering online courses, giving you access to flexible, affordable distance learning in partnership with world-leading educators.
100% Flexible
Our courses are 100% online. No fixed study times mean you can log in and learn whenever and wherever.
Multidisciplinary - study in a group of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
Expert Led
All of our programmes are authored and developed by world leading experts in their field.
Our faculty are selected due to their subject expertise, experience and teaching abilities to ensure the highest standards of educational excellence.
Career Boosting
Get a University Validated postgraduate qualification in just 1 calendar year instead of 2 academic years.
40% of our alumni reported an increase in salary 2 years after studying with us.
Who is this course for?
Our Postgraduate Diploma in sports and exercise medicine is specifically designed to suit all healthcare professionals who have exposure to people with sports related injuries and is particularly relevant to:
- Physiotherapists
- Sports Therapists
- Chiropractors
- Primary Care Physicians, with a specialist interest in sports and exercise medicine.
How Will I Learn?
You'll learn through our flexible, interactive online platform, which allows you to engage with clinical cases, complete assignments, and collaborate with fellow students at times that suit your schedule. There's no fixed timetable—simply log in daily to participate in the week's activities.
Learn through engaging discussion
Our teaching approach is highly interactive, using small groups of 10-20 students to foster a collaborative environment where you can engage in thoughtful discussions and receive guidance from your tutor. You'll have access to learning resources and discussion forums that encourage ongoing interaction and deeper engagement with the material.
Throughout your studies, you'll receive support from a dedicated expert tutor and our Student Support Team, ensuring you have the resources needed to navigate the course successfully.
Curriculum
Our sports medicine diploma online course allows you to study for just one calendar year and is a part-time, distance-learning course. The course is worth 120 credits and comprises six modules of 20 credits, each running over a period of six weeks.Module Aims
- To develop an understanding of anatomy and physiology as applied to sports and exercise performance and understand the benefits and contraindications.
- To develop an understanding of the psychology of sport and exercise performance for the wider population.
Module Summary
- Anatomy and physiology of muscle, innervation, function and biochemistry.
- Role of calcium, vitamin D, protein and hormonal control of muscle.
- Types of exercise (aerobic/anaerobic) and types of exercise programmes/individualising exercise.
- Training regimes – endurance, power, HIT, improving performance.
- Psychology of exercise. How to motivate the patient to exercise.
- How to motivate the athlete.
Learning Outcomes
- Critically appraise the anatomy, physiology and psychology of sport and exercise performance.
- Individualise specific training/exercise programmes for the patient/sportsman.
- Understand and apply the motivating factors that limit exercise participation in subjects.
Module Aims
- To develop an understanding of the benefits of exercise in chronic diseases and its impact on the health of populations including behaviour change.
- To develop an understanding of how exercise can be tailored appropriately to the individual with chronic disease.
Module Summary
- Impact of reduced exercise upon the individual and across populations.
- Limitations of disease and population characteristics upon exercise or sport.
- Types of exercise appropriate for diseases.
- Evidence based benefits of exercise in specific conditions/disorders/diseases.
- Introducing sports and exercise programmes across populations.
Learning Outcomes
- Critically appraise impact of exercise upon populations and chronic disease.
- Understand and apply exercise programmes for populations and specific chronic disease states.
- Understand and apply the benefits and contra-indications of exercise for specific chronic disease.
Module Aims
- To understand approaches to the prevention of injury across a variety of common sports and exercises.
- To understand exercise techniques to reduce injury in sport and exercise.
- To develop an understanding of the evidence relating to products and equipment designed to reduce injury in sport and exercise.
- To develop an understanding of the rehabilitation of sportsmen as well as illness regarding return to play and return to exercise.
Module Summary
- Specific programmes of exercise designed to prevent injury.
- Evidence based equipment and techniques used in the prevention of and rehabilitation of injury.
- Evidence and guidelines regarding return to play following injury.
- Evidence and guidelines relating to return to exercise following acute illness/disease.
Learning Outcomes
- Critically appraise the evidence relating to prevention of injury in sport and exercise across a spectrum of health and disease.
- Have an understanding of the guidance relating to the return to play or exercise of injured sportsmen as well as subjects with acute illness/disease.
- Have an understanding of devices and equipment used for the prevention of injury across a variety of sports and disease.
Module Aims
- To develop an understanding of the common injuries sustained in sport and exercise activities.
- To develop an understanding of the investigation of common sport and exercise related injuries.
Module Summary
- Common injuries sustained whilst undertaking exercise/sport relating to musculoskeletal injuries (Muscular injury, common bone injury, neurological injury, lacerations, tendon and joint injuries).
- Common and uncomplicated injury of the entire body: head, neck, lumbar spine, cardiovascular, upper and lower limb.
- Injury associated with prescribed exercise programmes.
- Avoidance of injury and evidence based devices to reduce or eliminate injury.
- Accurate diagnosis of injury through appropriate history and examination.
Learning Outcomes
- Have an understanding of common injuries sustained in sport and exercise and an ability to apply this information to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Develop an appropriate approach to the diagnosis and investigation of a patient presenting with a sport/exercise related injury.
- Understand and apply skills in investigating the individual presenting with a sport/exercise related injury.
- Understand the investigations used in the investigation of injury and apply these to the individual.
Module Aims
- To develop an understanding of the management of common injuries associated with sports and exercise.
- To develop an understanding of the approach to rehabilitation following illness.
Module Summary
- Specific approaches to the management of exercise and sports-related injuries.
- Rehabilitation of individuals with sports related injuries.
- Role of exercise in the rehabilitation of individuals suffering illness/disease.
Learning Outcomes
- Critically appraise the appropriate management of individuals with sport and exercise related injury.
- Individualise specific rehabilitation programmes for subjects with injury.
- Understand and apply appropriate exercise related rehabilitation of individuals with illness including the role of exercise in behaviour modification.
Module Aims
- To develop an understanding of the role of constituent healthcare professionals in the management of subjects with injury.
- To develop the interaction of healthcare professionals in the management of sports and exercise related injury.
- To develop educational strategies used in the management of subjects with acute and chronic injury.
Module Summary
- Educational strategies employed in the management of acute and chronic injury.
- Role of the multidisciplinary team in the management of the injured patient.
- Multidisciplinary approaches to encouraging exercise across the population.
- The evolving role of the sports physician, nurse, physiotherapist and biomechanist in sports and exercise medicine.
Learning Outcomes
- Have an ability to critically appraise the multidisciplinary approach to the management of sports and exercise related injury.
- Understand the evolving role of the healthcare professional in sport and exercise related medicine.
- Understand and apply the educational principles of sport and exercise medicine.
Assessment Methods
This programme emphasises learning through active participation in case-based discussions, reflection, and real-life scenarios. Students engage with clinical cases that mirror everyday practice, fostering problem-solving and evidence-based application from the very beginning.
Across the modules, assessments are integrated with learning. Each week, you will work through two to three clinical cases, discussing and reflecting on them with peers under the guidance of an expert tutor. These discussions form the core of your learning and are also the basis for your assessments.
Our innovative teaching methods are designed to help you translate this learning into real-world clinical practice. You'll need to regularly log in to participate in discussions, ideally on a daily basis, and commit approximately two hours per day to your studies. Our dedicated Student Support Team is available to assist with any challenges you may encounter, from navigating our online platform to managing deadlines.
How Foundational Knowledge is Developed
The programme is structured so that foundational knowledge is introduced through carefully designed clinical cases. Each case is crafted to highlight essential concepts and progressively deepen your understanding as you apply critical thinking and evidence-based analysis. This hands-on approach ensures that you are not only acquiring theoretical knowledge but also learning how to apply it in a practical, clinical setting.
This programme is suited for professionals who thrive in an online, discussion-based learning environment. Please note that this course focuses on interactive, applied learning through peer collaboration and case discussions. You will be fully supported, encouraged and led through the programme to success and graduation!
- Every week students are presented with two/three clinical case-based scenarios that are reflective of every day clinical practice and research.
- Tutors will post a number of questions and prompts to aid students in a formal discussion of each case.
- These discussions are facilitated throughout by your tutor and are then assessed at the end of every module.
The reflective journal is used by students throughout each module to monitor personal progress. This is guided by weekly feedback from your tutor and is graded at the end of every module. The journal typically includes the following:
- Initial expectations and reasons for taking the course.
- Module and/or personal learning objectives.
- Description of events, issues and learning points within current personal practice.
- Change in every day practice due to knowledge gained on each module.
- A description of what has been learned during the module.
For this assessment, students will work on a group assignment and/or an individual assignment.
- Group assignments are designed to hone skills in the multidisciplinary, holistic approach to modern treatments and patient management by requiring group participation in a single piece of work.
- Individual assignments are designed to hone skills in academic career progression through such tasks as reviewing papers, developing scientific posters or abstracts, peer-reviewing, social media activities, patient information leaflets and essays.
- Students are provided with case-based problems in the form of a one-hour timed examination.
- The exam consists of 30 'Single Best Answer' questions.
- Students are required to complete the exam online within the set time.
Entry requirements
Since our sports medicine courses are online, they are accessible to both UK and international registered healthcare professionals without international surcharges.
Applicants will typically hold a first degree or equivalent (including international qualifications) in a relevant professional healthcare or management field.
Registered healthcare professionals working in the healthcare field, without these recognised qualifications will be considered for our sports medicine online degree on an individual basis and a wide range of prior experience may be taken into account. In some cases, applicants may be asked to submit a piece of work for assessment in order to confirm that they are able to work comfortably at postgraduate level, and demonstrate the requisite clinical and professional knowledge.
Documents Required
- A copy of your updated CV including your address and date of birth.
- A copy of your undergraduate degree certificate.
- The name and email address of someone who is able to provide a reference, this can be a work colleague, employer or former tutor.
- A detailed personal statement explaining why you would like to undertake the course.
- A copy of your proof of English competency (see below).
English Language Requirements
Proficiency in the English language is also essential to completing our courses. If English is NOT your first language, we ask for proof of competency during the application process. We are able to accept an IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 for each band) or an equivalent qualification.
If you do not meet these requirements, please don’t worry. The University of South Wales run a number of English Language Programmes at the Centre for International English to prepare you for your academic studies. You can also contact our admissions team on admissions@diploma-msc.com for more information on the qualifications we accept.
Course Fees
Option 1: Upfront Payment in full. Option 2: Interest free payments every other month for the duration of the course.
| Date | Instalments | Up-Front Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | £970 | £5,800 |
| 1st May 2025 | £966 | |
| 1st July 2025 | £966 | |
| 1st September 2025 | £966 | |
| 1st November 2025 | £966 | |
| 1st January 2026 | £966 |
† Deposits are non-refundable
†† Prices are subject to review following each intake
Option 3: Lower your monthly payments by spreading the cost for between 2 and 8 years with a loan from our lending partner Lendwise*.
*Subject to eligibility criteria.
Learna | Diploma MSc has a partnership with Lendwise which is a leading private student loan provider, to help UK students fund their course fees should they require financing. Lendwise is a UK-based education finance platform through which candidates can fund their postgraduate and professional qualification studies at leading educational institutions.
A Lendwise loan comes with a fixed interest rate for the duration of the loan (between 2 and 8 years) and no early repayment penalties. The interest rate offered will depend on the overall applicant profile and the application process is entirely online.*
*Other sources of funding are available.
Learna | Diploma MSc does not offer financial advice, recommend or endorse any financial product. You should always check the suitability of the product that is of interest to you. If you are in any doubt as to its suitability, we suggest that you seek independent professional advice.
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