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 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 our applicant portal.

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-relevenant 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
• Exercise and Health Promotion in Physiotherapy Practice
• Applied Anatomy
• Foundations in Physiotherapy 1
• Foundations in Physiotherapy 2
• Clinical Reasoning in Contemporary Healthcare

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 equivalencies

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

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

It is important for you to have the opportunity to visit the school so that you are able to make an informed choice about your chosen university. Selection events/interviews are held once a month from November to March preceding the September of entry.

The afternoon begins at 1pm, and consists of a guided tour of the Eastbourne campus, a presentation about the course and an opportunity to meet staff and students. This will be followed by an individual interview with a member of staff or one of our physiotherapy clinicians. The event is normally finished by 5pm.

Fees

Funding arrangements for students starting this course from September 2017

From 1 September 2017, new students from England starting this course will have access to the standard government student finance support package which consists of loans to meet the cost of tuition fees and a means-tested loan for living costs. In addition, supplementary funding that is means tested as appropriate includes: travel costs for practice and clinical placements, dual accommodation costs during practice and clinical placements, childcare allowances and exceptional hardship fund. You can find helpful and up-to-date information about these changes on the Funding Clinic website.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

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/EU 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Eastbourne campus map