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From Vocationals to a career in Sports Science

March 12, 2019

Dan Maru

Former student Daniel Maru has spoken about how Havant & South Downs College (HSDC) ‘provided him with the knowledge’ to pursue a successful career as a Sports Therapist for a professional rugby union team in Wales.

Daniel came to HSDC in 2012 to study a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science. After gaining the qualifications he needed to take the next step in his education, Daniel completed an Integrated Masters in Sports Therapy at the University of Chichester.

Whilst at the university, Daniel also took part in volunteer work experience, working as the Sports Therapist for the university rugby team, as well as working as the student union sports therapy coordinator.

Daniel’s successes lead him to securing a full-time position as a graduate Sports Therapist at the Welsh professional rugby union team, Ospreys.

Speaking about his time at HSDC, Daniel said: “The knowledge I gained from completing my course at HSDC helped me out massively during my time at university.

“I had already learnt skills within modules such as sports massage, exercise physiology and lab methods, which I could incorporate in to my Sports Therapy degree. This put me in a much better position than most other students starting my degree, as I already had the foundation knowledge and skills to then build upon.”

He added that his favourite part of the HSDC experience was ‘meeting new people and being able to study the course he was interested in’.

Offering advice to future Havant & South Downs College students, Dan said: “Work hard and take every opportunity possible such as placements.

“College and university can only teach you so much – you have to go to the outside world and put your skills learnt into practice. You must maintain the desire and willingness to learn to progress through your career. At no point will you know everything, current information is constantly being updated.”

Find out what else our successful alumni have gone on to do!