Intro

The Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc – previously called the Rehabilitation Science (Physiotherapy) MSc –allows you to apply for registration as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This course is also approved by the professional body, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

It is ideal for graduates with related first degrees who wish to gain both a professional and academic qualification and start a career in this challenging and highly rewarding field.

This accelerated course follows innovative problem-based learning approach, with an emphasis on students' active learning, engagement, and practical application of skills and knowledge in the context of real life situations. Through this balance of theory and practice experience you will graduate a capable and confident physiotherapist. 

Recognising that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for service users – are embedded in our curriculum.

Our high quality teaching and research are renowned, and have an applied focus. We have established strong links with specialist practice educators to ensure the provision of support and guidance both within the university and in practice.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location 

2023 entry – Eastbourne year 1 then Brighton: Falmer from year 2

2024 entry – Brighton: Falmer

Full-time 2 years

Accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council, and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer, they should be used as a general guide.

Degree and experience

Applicants are normally required to hold a first degree, or equivalent, gained in the last 10 years with a minimum of 2:1 classification in a related subject such as biological, biomedical, behavioural, sports, exercise or health sciences or health professional education other than physiotherapy.

Knowledge of the physiotherapy profession and experience of health or social care related professional practice, will be an advantage.

EU and International students must have equivalent qualifications and English language qualification in line with University regulations for postgraduate studies and HCPC requirements.

Entry to the course is conditional upon satisfactory clearance; enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service and health screening.

COVID-19 vaccine requirement
The COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been removed. Find out more about this decision.

Interviews
Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview.

Interviews will be held online on these dates:

  • 13 December 2022
  • 19 January 2023
  • 2 March 2023

We have limited places so it is advisable to apply early to be considered for one of these dates. If the course fills the available places we will not hold later interviews. If you receive an offer you will have six weeks to accept it. After this point we may offer your place to another candidate.

Make sure that you submit your final transcript, evidence of any physiotherapy work experience and two references.

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall, with no element below 6.5; or equivalent qualification.

Deferred applications
We are not able to accept applications for deferred entry onto this course. If you wish to apply for a later year of entry, we recommend waiting until the admissions cycle for that year opens – this is usually in October of each year.

Men are under-represented in many nursing and allied health professions in the UK. We are committed to helping address the balance and particularly welcome applications from male applicants.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Course content

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 high-tech Human Movement Laboratory, and 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.

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Admissions tutor, Hazel Horobin, talks in-depth about our Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc

Syllabus

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

The Research module is an opportunity to develop an extended and rigorous piece of independent research in the context of contemporary physiotherapy theory and practice.

Year 1 modules

  • Physiotherapy in Health and Rehabilitation
  • Practice Placements (two each lasting six weeks)
  • Neurological Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy Practice
  • Musculoskeletal Management in Physiotherapy Practice
  • Cardiorespiratory Management in Physiotherapy Practice

Year 2 modules

  • Practice placements (three each lasting six weeks)
  • Research

Physiotherapy students in a simulated consultation

Facilities 

From September 2024 this course will be taught at our Brighton, Falmer campus. The Falmer campus is being redesigned, renovated and upgraded and will have lots of new facilities for sport and health science students.

Research Suite

The high-tech Research Suite is used widely in teaching and research for students in the school of health professions studying physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry, and is also used for commercial consultancy. 

In the lab you will use the latest technology to measure and assess all aspects of human movement, joints, muscles, soft tissue structure and nerves. The laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment for conducting cardio-pulmonary investigations including Cosmed metabolic system and spirometry.

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Practical Skills and Simulation Rooms

Our practical skills rooms are equipped for physiotherapy practise with fellow students. They include manual skills and exercise therapy rooms equipped with treatment couches.

Problem-based learning

Our educational philosophy mirrors the philosophy of occupational therapy. 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 occupational therapy 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 Hazel Horobin

Dr Horobin qualified as a Physiotherapist in 1984 and has taught since 2000.

Originally from South Yorkshire she moved to East Sussex in 2014 and she now forms a key member of the Respiratory Physiotherapy teaching team at the University of Brighton.

She pursues her clinical interest in long term respiratory disease by running a Pulmonary Rehabilitation service (recently moved online) from the University with the help of student volunteers.

Her approach to teaching is one of ‘active learning’ where students are encouraged to be independent in their studies and she won the University Excellence in Facilitating and Empowering Learning Award in 2019.

Other key members of the team

Hazel Horobin

More about this subject at Brighton

Guardian University Guide 2024 results

The Guardian University Guide 2024 arrived this week and we’re delighted to report that: Brighton is 1st in England, 2nd in the whole of the UK, for physiotherapy courses Brighton is 7th in the UK for sport science courses Brighton is 6th in the UK for education courses Brighton is 16th in the UK for Children’s.

Helping to train Sierra Leone’s first physios

Our Alumni Association recently caught up with alum Desmond Macaulay to learn about the work he is doing to help train the first physiotherapists in his home country of Sierra Leone and his clinic in the UK.

Podiatry placement in Thailand

Two podiatry students spent a placement like no other in Bangkok as part of their degree.

Starting at uni with us in 2023?

We know you’re going to have a brilliant time here!

Read more from our blog

Careers

This professional course prepares you to work as a chartered physiotherapist in the UK, with professional and portfolio development running from course start to finish.

Graduates are equipped for careers in the NHS and the private health sector, both in the UK and abroad.

Many graduates secure employment in the local area by developing networks through their placements.

After a period of work experience, you will also be given the opportunity to progress to PhD research programmes and contribute to the evidence base of the profession.

Want to know more about being an allied health professional?

The Springpod virtual work experience programme offers the opportunity for anyone aged 14-25 to learn more about a career as an allied health professional. You’ll develop key skills for the profession, hear from NHS professionals about their day-to-day work, complete assignments and join live workshops. Find out more about the Springpod virtual work experience programme.

Physiotherapy student

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 16,700 GBP

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 2023–24.

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

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where health course includes a placement
    • UK students – 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.
    • Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, this means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/ travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
  • An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
  • In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
  • For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
  • The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Our campus is within 15 minutes' walk of the beach, South Downs National Park and the Eastbourne's busy town centre.

Campus learning facilities include the Queenwood library, computer rooms, a media centre and a learning and technology suite – and there is a wide range of subject-specific facilities for our sport and health students. Welkin halls are also on campus.

Eastbourne Student Centre provides services including careers, volunteering, counselling and wellbeing, student advice, disability and dyslexia support and chaplaincy.

Queenwood Library at Eastbourne

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Eastbourne

Welkin halls
Located in the Meads area of Eastbourne, right next to the Students' Union and Student Services, Welkin halls are a short walk or bike ride to other areas of the campus.

  • Ensuite halls with a choice of room and flat sizes.
  • All rooms are self-catered with access to shared, fully equipped kitchen facilities.
  • Rent includes all utilities, 24/7 security and support, contents insurance and cleaning of communal areas.

Private renting
Eastbourne offers good choice when it comes to student accommodation.

There’s a good supply of affordable, high quality private rented accommodation and plenty of support and advice from us if you choose this option. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Welkin bedroom

Student bedroom in Welkin halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Falmer

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

Easy-going Eastbourne

The South Downs National Park, the bustling town centre and the beach with the pier, prom and bandstand are all within a 15-minute walk of our Eastbourne campus. Officially the sunniest place in the UK, Eastbourne has loads on offer: a year-round calendar of sporting events, the independent shops and cafes of Little Chelsea, music and arts festivals, theatres, galleries, great restaurants and high street shopping.

Every June, leading tennis players descend on Eastbourne for one of the main warm-up tournaments for Wimbledon. One of the UK's biggest free extreme sports festivals, Beach Life, takes place on the seafront in July, bringing hi-octane action on land and sea. The international airshow Airbourne is another summer highlight.

Every autumn our students and staff participate in and support the Beachy Head Marathon, one of the UK's largest off-road marathons with challenging climbs and descents along the Seven Sisters.

The beach and the South Downs provide sports opportunities including horse riding, mountain biking, paragliding, sailing, canoeing, body boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing.

The Towner Art Gallery has world-class exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and entry is free. Eastbourne also has four theatres, two cinemas and hosts a varied programme of arts and music events throughout the year.

It's only 90 minutes by train from Eastbourne to central London and less than 40 minutes to Brighton. There are also daily direct trains to Ashford International and Gatwick Airport.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Enjoying sport above Eastbourne

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Eastbourne campus map

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Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Student views  

Letitia Rabey

Letitia Rabey, 25, is in her first year of the Rehabilitation Science MSc course which enables graduates from biological sciences, behavioural sciences and other health professions to convert their first degree to a masters degree. She hopes to secure a rotational junior position in the NHS upon graduating.

Why did you decide to study at Brighton, what attracted you to the course? 
There are a limited number of universities who offer the course. When I came to an open day making my decision to study here was an easy one. Eastbourne has a very characteristic campus, the lecturers and students are extremely friendly and the facilities are ideal.

Has the course met your expectations?
 Completely. The course builds your knowledge very quickly; when they say it's an accelerated course they are not exaggerating. There is lots of work to get done but it's been manageable as the lecturers ensure it is paced correctly. You just have to balance your work with play!

Have you spent any time on placements? Where have those been? How did you find them?
 I have had one weeks' placement which was organised by ourselves, so I chose to go home to Cornwall. The placement was extremely interesting. It was great to get into a hospital to see how all our learning slots into place, I am already looking forward to the next one!

What has been the highlight of the course?
 We have been very lucky to have had many guest lecturers throughout the course, who have all been extremely motivational and enthusiastic about their profession. The main highlight for me has been the opportunity to visit Chaseley House where we spent time with some residents and physiotherapists. Chaseley was a fantastic first insight into how our skills fitted into the reality of physiotherapy practice.

What has been the greatest challenge?
 My greatest challenge has been trying to keep a cool head through the busy exam time at the end of my first term. At times it was stressful but the whole cohort was in it together and got through OK. Fingers crossed now for results day!

What do you hope to do when you graduate?
 I hope to get a rotational junior position in the NHS once I graduate. I feel my experiences so far may sway me towards neurology but, who knows, there’s still a lot more to learn!

Letitia Rabey

Davinder Chatha

"The University of Brighton has equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to progress my career and become a successful physiotherapist. The dedicated staff and up to date modern facilities are excellent and offer the highest standards of learning.

From my personal experience the problem-based learning approach has made me a more critical, thorough and efficient physiotherapist. The physiotherapy programme was very detailed and highly demanding which brought out the best in me and made me confident enough to run my own successful physiotherapy clinic."

Davinder Chatha

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

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If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

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