Physician Associate Studies

Get the knowledge and skills to support doctors in all aspects of health care, in general practices or hospitals. We place the patient at the centre of care and help you develop your skills as a rounded clinician.

Course description

Physician Associates (PAs) are health professionals who address patients’ health needs while working under the supervision of doctors. Qualified PAs have direct contact with patients by taking histories, performing examinations, making diagnoses and considering management plans as part of the wider clinical team.

This course is designed to give you the skills, knowledge and experience to qualify as a PA through completion of the Physician Associate National Examination. It is aimed at graduates who are passionate about working in a frontline clinical environment as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Your training will give you a solid foundation in generalist medical care so that you can deliver ‘first contact’ health care in multiple health settings including general practice and secondary care trusts.

The course has an integrated, systems-based approach that places the patient at the centre. The first stage is mainly based on the University of Sheffield campus. In the second stage, you will apply your knowledge and skills to placements in our partner hospitals and GP surgeries.

The University of Sheffield works closely with local acute trusts (hospitals, mental health) and primary care providers (General Practice) so that our graduates are equipped to meet the needs of potential employers and the public as a whole. Our course team has a majority of practising Physician Associates as leads and tutors and has an excellent rate of students passing the Physician Associate National Examination.

Professional bodies

Physician Associate is a relatively new role in UK healthcare. PAs are supported by the Faculty of Physician Associates (part of the Royal College of Physicians) as it works toward the profession becoming registered with the General Medical Council. At present, a UK Physician Associate qualification does not automatically allow you to work as a PA in other countries.