Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage
Course details
| NZQF Level | 7 |
|---|
About the course
The Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage is a three-year degree that combines hands-on practice with in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and massage techniques.
Develop advanced skills to support recovery, performance, and wellbeing—ready for work in clinical, sports, or wellness settings.
SIT now offers our Year 2 / Level 6 and Year 3 / Level 7 programmes through HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible'), using a mix of online classes for the theoretical papers, and face-to-face classes on the Invercargill campus for the practical components during block weeks.
Year 1 / Level 5 is an on-campus course in Invercargill.
The programme specifically aims to prepare graduates who as independent health care professionals will work with people of all ages and varying stages of health and wellness.
You will learn:
- To become an empowered self-directed learner who can reflect on self and practice.
- Comprehend, critique, and apply knowledge from therapeutic and sports massage and other related disciplines in an appropriate and safe practice context.
- Actively contribute to the profession of massage therapy, demonstrated by ongoing personal and professional development.
- Recognise, value, critique and apply research to massage therapy practice and knowledge.
- Develop professional competence within the ethos of a multi-disciplinary approach to health care.
SIT's Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage was the first named massage degree programme to be approved in New Zealand. It has been taught since 2002, and students have been graduating since 2004. Health care delivery has moved beyond clinical competence and beyond copying previously successful clinicians. Today's practitioners need to relate to a wider health care team and respond to the expressed needs and expectations of families, pressure groups, professionals and the wider community (Higgs & Edwards, 1999).
Backed by SIT's recognised infrastructures and academic community, the programme promotes research driven education, strong training in a community-based clinic, and exceeds suggested industry requirements in both academic areas and clinical practice.
Graduating students from this degree have good opportunities for employment, both nationally and internationally.
Graduates are critical thinking, reflective practitioners with technical and professional competence, sound reasoning and research literacy, and have a capacity to manage knowledge and its acquisition during their working lives.
In the first year, the degree is taught with a combination of online and face-to-face classes at our Invercargill campus. For those not residing in Invercargill, alternative options may be available—please contact the Programme Manager. In the second year, classes are delivered via the HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') model. HyFlex allows students to stay in their hometown massage therapy clinics and communities. The teaching approach includes a mix of online learning, practical experience, and traditional classroom instruction during compulsory block courses in Invercargill. In the third year, 100% of the teaching and learning occurs online.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
School leavers and applicants under 20
You’ll need NCEA Level 3, including:
- 14 credits in each of three approved Level 3 subjects
- Literacy: 10 credits at Level 2 or above, including 5 credits in reading and 5 in writing
- Numeracy: 10 credits at Level 1 or above from approved achievement standards, or all three numeracy unit standards: 26623, 26626 and 26627
Mature applicants
If you’re 20 or older by 1 March in your first year of study, you may apply through the mature entry pathway.
You’ll need to provide evidence of relevant previous learning and experience.
Provisional part-time admission
If you don’t meet the standard academic requirements, you may be able to enrol provisionally in one or more Year One courses.
After successfully completing these courses, you can apply for special admission or admission through the mature entry pathway.
Additional requirements
All applicants must also:
Provide two confidential references from people who can confirm that you are of good character and suitable to work with vulnerable clients
Complete a confidential declaration about any previous criminal convictions. A previous conviction does not necessarily prevent you from being admitted
Complete a health declaration confirming that you have the health and abilities needed to meet the programme's practice requirements. Further health information may be requested with your consent
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
Accepted evidence may include eligible previous study completed in English in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or an approved English language test.
Common test requirements include:
- IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall, with no band below 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: 60, with a writing score of 18
- TOEFL pBT: 550, with TWE 5
- PTE Academic: 50, with no band below 42
- Cambridge English: B2 First, B2 First for Schools, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, score 169, with no skill below 162
- OET: Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
- NZCEL: Level 4 Academic
- LanguageCert: C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) Pass, with at least 25/50 in each skill, and Spoken (S) Pass
- Trinity ISE: ISE II, with at least Distinction in each band
Other recognised evidence of English proficiency may also be accepted. Test scores must be achieved in a single test within the two years before enrolment.
*This course is not available to international students.
About the provider
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) provides quality tertiary education and training across a wide range of subjects and qualifications. From certificates to postgraduate studies, we offer NZQA programmes for students to learn at a level and pathway that suits them.
We are home to the Zero Fees Scheme and are the only tertiary provider in New Zealand to offer a no tuition cost education to domestic NZ students for every year of study, at all levels.
We offer SIT programmes at campuses in Invercargill, Queenstown, Gore, and online through SIT2LRN Distance Learning.
We also have a specialised faculty in rural education at Telford in Balclutha, South Otago.