Internship details
Closing Date: Friday 31st July 2026
Interview Date: Monday 10th August 2026
Start Date:
- Monday 24th August 2026: Induction with Sport & Physical Activity – Performance Programme. You will attend the Team Derby scholar camp to meet staff and athletes.
- Week commencing 7th September 2026: MSc induction at University of Derby
Please read the following information in full before applying. Emails requesting information contained within this specification will not be answered.
Departments: Sport and Exercise Science / Sport & Physical Activity
Role title: University of Derby Internship (Sports Medicine)
Fees: Fee contribution of £2430 (applicant will need to fund the remaining £7290)
International applications are welcomed; however, applicants should be aware that the bursary is only to the amount of UK fees.
Responsible to: Strength and Conditioning Lead + Physiotherapy Lead (Sport & Physical Activity) / Assistant Head of Subject (Sport and Exercise Science)
Start Date: Performance Sport Programme Induction with Sport & Physical Activity – Monday 24th August 2026
MSc enrolment will be week commencing 7th September 2026
Ref: MSc TD SM
Sport & Physical Activity (Performance) and the Sport and Exercise Science department at the University of Derby are providing a partial bursary award toward postgraduate fees as part of an ongoing initiative to enhance athletic performance and rehabilitation support within the University.
In this unique opportunity, the successful candidate will support the delivery of sports medicine and rehabilitation to performance athletes and competitive teams primarily within the University’s Performance Sport Programme.
The candidate will be required to collect data to support their MSc Independent Research project and will be able to use the experience to contribute towards their compulsory placement.
The candidate will operate under the supervision of the Sport & Physical Activity S&C Coach and Physiotherapist (Discipline Lead) as well as being supported in their studies on the MSc programme.
This opportunity is designed to support career development and will ensure that the necessary skills needed to progress into sports medicine roles are developed.
The successful applicant will:
- Gain valuable experience of working with athletes and providing sports medicine support.
- Be able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and contribute to team meetings where appropriate.
- Be able to collect data for their Independent Research project
- Have the opportunity to engage with additional CPD opportunities where available.
The successful candidate will be expected to
- Fully commit to the MSc course, attending modules of study and meeting expectations of attendance throughout
- Engage in up to 10 hours of internship activity and delivery of sports medicine support to athletes/coaches per week
- Help coordinate and mentor the associated undergraduate workforce, which represents an opportunity to develop additional leadership skills
- Conduct a dissertation linked to their internship
- Dissertation topic to provide value to the University’s Performance Sport Programme. Sport & Physical Activity to be acknowledged in the research outputs.
- Attend monthly update meetings with the Discipline Lead
- Review progress with the Discipline Lead at the end of each semester
- Share key findings from their research with the internship provider if requested.
- Support the production of an internship Case Study to support future recruitment activities and showcase the MSc opportunity.
Criteria for the role
Our tables show you whether criteria are essential or desirable for this role and whether evidence of this is required on application and/or at interview.
Qualifications: vocational, professional, academic
| Criteria |
Essential or desirable |
Evidence required on application |
Evidence required in interview |
|
A minimum 2:1 BSc Hons degree in a related subject, such as Sport Therapy, Physiotherapy or Sports Rehabilitation.
|
Essential |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Evidence of SST or CSP membership
|
Desirable |
Yes |
Yes |
| IELTS 6 (if non-English speaking) |
Essential |
Yes |
No |
Experience and knowledge
| Criteria |
Essential or desirable |
Evidence required on application |
Evidence required in interview |
|
Experience of delivering sports medicine related support to athletes
|
Essential |
Yes |
Yes |
| Experience of undertaking academic research, research methods and data analysis |
Essential |
Yes |
Yes |
| Experience of working in elite sport or undertaking research in an elite sport environment |
Desirable |
Yes |
Yes |
Skills and abilities
| Criteria |
Essential or desirable |
Evidence required on application |
Evidence required in interview |
| Excellent written and oral communication skills |
Essential |
Yes |
Yes |
| Excellent inter-personal skills |
Essential |
No |
Yes |
| Competency in a range of laboratory and practical skills as relevant |
Essential |
Yes |
Yes |
| Competency in relevant IT skills |
Essential |
Yes |
No |
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION VERY CAREFULLY
There are two tasks to complete as part of your application:
- Interested applicants are required to complete the MSc application form available through the course page by the closing date detailed above:
Please ensure evidence of undergraduate degree classification is appended to the application where available.
- Interested applicants must also email a copy of their personal statement to Dr Charlotte Chandler (details below) by the closing date. Applicants should quote the reference MSc TD SM at the start of their personal statement; failure to do so will invalidate your application.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited to interview as outlined above. Applicants should inform Charlotte (details below) if they are unavailable on the interview date.
Selection
Shortlisted candidates will be required to deliver a presentation as part of the interview process. Further guidance will be made available within interview invites.
The panel will endeavor to make decisions on the interview date and inform successful applicants accordingly.
If you require any further information regarding the MSc programme and content, the internship position, or the research project, please contact:
Dr. Charlotte Chandler
Assistant Head of Subject (Sport and Exercise Science)
Tel: 01332 593373
E-Mail: c.chandler@derby.ac.uk