Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc

Entry requirements

• You will have completed an honours degree in the last five years, achieving 2:1 or 1st class award or be predicted to achieve this grade. Your previous degree should be in biological sciences, sports science / therapy, or a healthcare course with significant anatomy and physiology components.
• You will need to hold GCSE or equivalent in English Language and Mathematics C grade or above (grades 4-9).
• In addition, you will need to demonstrate and discuss your work experience in physiotherapy, ideally within the NHS or hospital setting. This can be evidenced in a personal statement that forms part of the application process and will be discussed during interview.
• If you meet the entry criteria detailed above you will be offered an interview with an academic member of staff either in person or online. You will have the opportunity discuss your knowledge of the Physiotherapy profession and how you would uphold the values of the NHS constitution and demonstrate your suitability for a career in Physiotherapy.
• If English is not your first language you are required to provide a language test certificate as evidence of proficiency that is at International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 7.0 with no elements below 6.5

If you are offered a place on the course you will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to commencing the course. The current cost for this check is £54.40 which is undertaken by yourself. Disclosures on this record may affect your ability to obtain a place on the Physiotherapy programme.

If you are offered a place on the programme you will be required to complete a ‘Fitness to Practice’ health declaration to ensure you declare your health status and immunisation records. The cost of this is met by the University and managed by local NHS Trusts occupational health team (Working Well). When offered a place on the programme study you can initiate the screening and vaccinations through Working Well.

Months of entry

September

Course content

‘Physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability’ (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, nd.)

As a physiotherapist you can make a valuable contribution to the health and wellbeing of people affected by illness, injury or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. The programme adopts a holistic, person-centred approach that places people at the centre of decision making and empowers patients and their families through education and engagement.

On this course you’ll study the core areas of physiotherapy, drawing on the evidence-base in the discipline and apply them to a variety of clinical situations and healthcare settings. These include clinical placements in a variety of NHS and private providers to help you prepare for your future career as a physiotherapist. You’ll also build up valuable experience supporting long-term condition management programmes and a musculoskeletal clinic at the university or in the local area. You’ll use facilities such as– treatment rooms, rehabilitation spaces, a demonstration hospital ward, a skills laboratory, a strength and conditioning suite, fitness suite and a simulated ‘home’ environment.

The course is accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and validated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). On completion of the course you will be eligible to apply for membership of the CSP (Chartered Status) and HCPC Registration, to practice as a Registered Physiotherapist.

Through our excellent links with local healthcare partners, you’ll have access to a variety of high quality placements throughout your studies. We also act as an NHS ‘hub’, with some rehabilitation programmes being delivered on campus, providing regular placement experience for students. And we’re developing an internal musculoskeletal clinic to support clinical education for Master’s students.

Study style

Your academic year will be split into blocks of taught delivery interweaved with internal placement and blocks of placement activity. Teaching and placement activity will run Monday to Friday throughout the academic year – and may include placements in other counties within the UK. In keeping with many preregistration programmes, the academic year for the MSc Physiotherapy is longer than that of a typical undergraduate degree with teaching and learning activities, including placements, extending into the summer months.

Methods of teaching and learning include:

• lectures & seminars
• group work & discussions
• tutorials
• skills practice in the clinical skills laboratory
• Practice-based learning (placements)
• reflective logs
• case based discussions
• assessment of competencies
• self-directed study

Fees and funding

Students applying for this course may be eligible for the NHS Learning Support Fund, which provides a non-repayable training grant of £5,000 per academic year, plus an additional £2,000 for students who have parental responsibility. An additional £1,000 allowance is available for students studying a specialist subject. Contact our Money Advice Team for further information.

Postgraduate students in England applying for this pre-registration course will have access to the same student loans system as undergraduate students. This means you’ll be able to apply for student finance that will help to cover your tuition fees and living costs for each year of study.