Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc (PGDip)

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Course structure

This intensive programme runs over 45 weeks per year for two years. Your time on the course will be balanced between campus-based study and clinical practice.

The course begins in September and consists of five campus-based modules and five practice modules. Year 1 is mainly campus-based and year 2 predominantly involves practice placements alongside the campus-based Research Dissertation Studies.

The course is delivered in a variety of ways, typically via problem-based tutorials, subject specialist resource sessions, skills workshops and simulation in our Clinical Skills and Simulation Rooms.

Completion of the Project Studies module and the submission of a dissertation lead to the masters award.

As a student on this course you’ll also get to participate in Schwartz Rounds – hour-long sessions where students come together to listen to stories and share reflections in a supportive and confidential environment. The sessions offer the opportunity to reflect on the emotional aspects of clinical practice and are designed to support students and recent graduates working in complex settings.

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.

Syllabus

Your study will focus on real-life situations, integrating subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, therapeutic skills, behavioural sciences and research methods.

Modules

• Practice Placement 1

  This placement module consists of six weeks practical experience and focuses on the development of your knowledge, skills and attitudes in a diverse range of practice settings. During the placement, you will have the opportunity to apply your previous learning, taking into consideration the four pillars of practice: clinical, education, leadership and research.

• Physiotherapy in Health and Rehabilitation

  In this module you will develop high standards of clinical professionalism and behaviour and explore your role in health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation in health and social care across the four pillars of practice: clinical practice, education, leadership and research. You will also learn general fundamental assessment and treatment skills in preparation for your clinical placement.

• Practice Placement 2

  This placement module enables you to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ve gained in the course to work with service users and professional colleagues in a wide range of contemporary practice settings, considering the four pillars of practice: clinical, education, leadership and research. You will also be able to reflect on and evaluate your practice in a health and social care setting.

• Neurological Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy Practice

  In this module you will develop and integrate your knowledge and understanding of the four pillars of physiotherapy practice – clinical, leadership, education and research – in the context of neurological rehabilitation. You will learn to discuss, plan, implement and evaluate assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and health promotion options for the health and wellbeing of people with neurological conditions in a range of health and social care contexts.

• Musculoskeletal Management in Physiotherapy Practice

  In this module you will develop, integrate and synthesise knowledge, skills, understanding and critical evaluation of physiotherapy practice for people with musculoskeletal dysfunction and concerns across the four pillars of practice: clinical practice, education, leadership and research. It will prepare you to provide collaborative, personalised care across the life span and in a variety of health and social contexts.

• Cardiorespiratory Management in Physiotherapy Practice

  This module prepares you to plan and develop assessment and management skills for people with acute and chronic cardiorespiratory symptoms using evidence-based clinical reasoning. You will employ your knowledge and understanding of physiotherapy practice in cardiorespiratory management across the lifespan and the four pillars of practice: clinical, education, leadership and research.

• Practice Placement 3

  This is a six-week placement which will enhance your knowledge, skills and attitudes within a diverse range of practice settings. It will give you the chance to develop flexible interpersonal skills and to approach working with service users, patients and colleagues in a holistic way. You will draw on your prior learning and consider the four pillars of practice: clinical, education, leadership and research.

• Practice Placement 4

  This six-week placement will enable you to focus on developing your knowledge, skills and attitudes in a diverse range of practice settings. You will get the opportunity to apply your prior learning to practice, taking into consideration the four pillars of practice, and to reflect on and evaluate your practice and that of others in an ever changing health and social care environment.

• Practice Placement 5

  This module gives you six weeks of practical experience in a diverse range of practice settings and focuses the development of your knowledge, skills and attitudes. Drawing on your previous learning, you will consider the four pillars of practice – clinical, education, leadership and research – and develop flexible interpersonal skills to work holistically with service users, patients and colleagues.

• Research

  This module offers you the opportunity to undertake an extended and in-depth piece of independent research focusing on contemporary physiotherapy theory and practice. It aims to further develop the reflection, original thinking and problem-solving skills required to develop new procedures and integrate knowledge from different fields.

Facilities

As a physiotherapy student you will use specialist facilities which will include:

• a physiotherapy exercise rehabilitation gym with the latest technology to measure and assess all aspects of human movement, joints, muscles, soft tissue structure and nerves
• physiotherapy suites with consultation and physio rooms so you can hone your practical physiotherapy skills alongside other students
• a virtual anatomy lab that houses our 3D anatomy visualisation table.

You can view our facilities when you visit us. You can also get a feel for them by taking a tour, watching the short video and checking out our Falmer campus information.

Problem-based learning

Our educational philosophy mirrors the philosophy of physiotherapy. We believe that an individual's positive engagement in learning activity leads to advanced productivity, increased perception of self-worth, improved quality of life and enjoyment of the course.

Our courses use problem-based learning (PBL), a technique recommended by authorities around the world. All subjects covered are integrated around problem-solving within a real life situation. We find that learning in this way significantly increases our students’ engagement with the subjects.

Advantages of the problem-based learning approach are:

• Students report that they feel more motivated to learn theoretical knowledge as they can see where they can apply it to real-world situations

• Teamwork and improved communication skills are developed, as students share their expertise and rationale behind their potential solutions

• Students find they are more confidently able to search for information from a wider range of sources, such as journals, textbooks and the internet, and take more responsibility for learning independently

• It encourages deeper learning, as it focuses on activities and activating knowledge in practice contexts, rather than traditional rote memory recall in a predominantly classroom-based context.

Meet the team 

Dr Nicola Allen, Course Leader

Dr Nicola Allen is the course leader for the Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) MSc/PGDip course. She completed her MSc in Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton and her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. She has experience working as a physiotherapist in the NHS in community teams and in amputee rehabilitation.

Nicola has worked as a lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Brighton since 2019. She teaches across a range of courses including Physiotherapy (pre-registration) MSc/PGDip, Physiotherapy BSc, Physiotherapist Degree Apprenticeship and post-registration modules.

Nicola also leads pre-registration modules in anatomy and physiology. Nicola is an advocate for interactive learning and problem-based learning (PBL) which underpins the Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) MSc/PGDip course. Nicola has various research interests which include neurological rehabilitation, amputee rehabilitation and interprofessional education.

Other key members of the team

• Steph Hemmings

• Colin Patterson 

• Sharon Sneddon 

• Kitty Suddick

• Krishna Garikipati 

• Tiff Blackburn (placement lead)

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.

Funding information

This course is eligible for funding via the Student Loans Company under the same terms and conditions as undergraduate tuition fee and maintenance loans. Find out more.

Where your course includes a placement, travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund. Additional financial support may available from the NHS. Find out more about the learning support fund.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

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Support and wellbeing

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