Physiotherapy BSc(Hons)

Course structure

Year 1 of the course focuses on the core theory needed to start your career as a physiotherapist such as anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, health psychology, exercise prescription, surgery and orthopaedics before you start your clinical placements in year 2.

Years 2 and 3 of the BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy degree are a mixture of clinical practice and university-based studies. On your placements you’ll work with senior physiotherapists and other health professionals such as nurses, doctors and occupational therapists. You could be based in settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centres and patients’ homes.

You’ll share learning with other health professionals, allowing you to benefit from interprofessional collaboration, sharing knowledge and expertise.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 1

Year 1 focuses on the underpinning theory needed to be a physiotherapist, such as anatomy. You will be introduced to core physiotherapy skills such as exercise prescription and massage. Running through the first year is a professional module which explores what it is to be a physiotherapist.

In the second semester you will gain physiotherapy-relevant work experience and have the option to work with a voluntary organisation. This will develop your interpersonal and professional skills and enable you to start work with service users.

Modules

• The Physiotherapist as a Professional

  In this module you will be introduced to some of the key concepts that underpin professional behaviour/practice and interprofessional working. The module will provide you with the academic skills required to search, record and structure information from a wide range of sources. You will develop your abilities in scientific writing, critical appraisal, basic statistics and presentation skills.

  The experiential component will give you the opportunity to observe physiotherapy relevant practice with the aim of developing confidence, improving communication and team working skills, encouraging reflective practice and promoting professional behaviour. You will develop the knowledge necessary for the safe moving and handling of patients. The module also explores health psychology and how this applies physiotherapy practice.

• Exercise and Health Promotion in Physiotherapy Practice

  This module will provide you with a foundation in exercise prescription and health promotion principles across the lifespan, in both healthy populations and as part of rehabilitation programmes. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to design safe and effective exercise programmes (individual and group) to maintain and improve fitness components. You will gain an understanding of exercise physiology and be able to prescribe exercises in line with current guidelines. You will learn about and apply the principles of health promotion and physiotherapists’ role in public health to your practice.

• Applied Anatomy

  This module will cover the study of anatomy, including basic terminology, and progresses to a detailed study of the bones, joints and muscles of both the upper and lower quadrant along with the trunk. The module will cover knowledge of nerves, blood vessels and lymph nodes in the living body. You will be introduced to clinical assessment tests of joints, ligaments and muscles, and nerve integrity testing, and the practical skills of identifying the relevant structures in the living body. Revision sessions will support your understanding of the whole anatomy module.

• Foundations in Physiotherapy 1

  This module will develop your understanding of normal human physiology, and pathophysiology throughout the lifespan. The module will focus on musculoskeletal system disorders and developing associated physiotherapy skills. Pharmacology will also be introduced.

• Foundations in Physiotherapy 2

  This module will introduce you to the structure and function of the cardiorespiratory and neurological systems. You will be facilitated to develop your knowledge and practical skills related to assessing and managing conditions within cardiorespiratory and Neurological Physiotherapy.

• Clinical Reasoning in Contemporary Healthcare

  This module will introduce you to the concept of clinical reasoning and clinical decision making and how the context of care, sociocultural factors, and policy influence this in delivering ethical, patient-centred care within current physiotherapy practice.

Year 2

In year 2 you will go out on your first clinical six-week placement.

Modules

• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Outpatient Settings
• Physiotherapy Management in Acute Care Settings
• Physiotherapy Rehabilitation and Management of Long-term Conditions
• Research Methods in Healthcare
• Healthcare across Practice Settings
• Practice Placement 1

Final year

During your final year you will consolidate your clinical practice on placement (by the end of the course you will have completed a minimum of 1,000 hours) while working on your dissertation. The dissertation gives you the opportunity to evaluate an area of physiotherapy practice in-depth.

The final module prepares you for professional physiotherapy practice and develops your professional portfolio. Local managers and clinicians from the NHS, private practice, sports and local companies contribute to this module.

Modules

• Clinical Practice Placements 2, 3, 4 and 5
• Research for Evidence-based Practice
• Professional Development in Contemporary Physiotherapy

Facilities

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Other requirements and interview

All candidates must be able to demonstrate good knowledge of physiotherapy as a profession, acquired for example through visits to departments, talking to qualified physiotherapists, or reading relevant material. This should provide an insight into how this experience has informed their decision to become a physiotherapist.

Observational experience of physiotherapists working within an NHS or hospital setting is essential but this may be complemented by observing physiotherapists in other settings such as private practice, private hospitals or sports clubs. Experience of working in other caring environments and/or voluntary work is also beneficial.

A minimum period of one week is preferred but this may be accumulated, and consideration will be given to applicants who have been unable to fulfil this requirement due to local circumstances.

Interview

Successful applicants will be invited to an interview. These are currently being held online. 

Course fees

Additional funding support

UK students studying nursing, midwifery and some allied health professions subjects receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each academic year. Find out more on the NHS website.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

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