Intro

The Podiatry (Pre-Registration) MSc is aimed at graduates wishing to gain both a professional and academic qualification and start a career in this challenging and highly rewarding field.

In this accelerated course, we offer our students a balance of theory and practice experience. You will graduate as a qualified podiatrist who is competent in your clinical skills and able to use contemporary clinical evidence to inform your practice.

The University of Brighton developed and awarded the first degrees in podiatry in the UK and we have been recognised by podiatry's professional bodies for the standard of our teaching. You will have access to our excellent facilities including our own Leaf Hospital with licensed anatomy laboratory and our human movement laboratory.

During the course you will accumulate 1,000 hours of clinical practice, giving you essential experience of working with NHS patients and managing your own caseload before you qualify as a podiatrist.

You will also have the opportunity to experience podiatry abroad with an optional short placement in Malta.

Our expert lecturers are all active members of the Royal College of Podiatry, ensuring that both the team and the curriculum stay up to date with podiatry policy and practice.

Our high quality teaching and research are renowned in the sector, 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 Eastbourne

Full-time 2 years

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Podiatry

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

Course structure

You will study the core areas necessary for professional practice: the clinical sciences, health psychology, medicine, pharmacology, surgery, orthopaedics, research methods and clinical practice.

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. Formal lectures are an integral part of the curriculum and you also learn through seminars, student presentations and interactive workshops, some of which will be shared with students on the undergraduate program. You will be assessed through essays, exams, practical reports, presentations and your professional development portfolio.

As a podiatry student you will also share some teaching with students on physiotherapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy courses, allowing you to exchange knowledge and expertise with students from other disciplines.

Your practical placements will be mainly at our own Leaf hospital and the local NHS trusts. Day placements for students are arranged with clinics and hospitals across the south-east England and London.

Podiatry students looking at results on a clipboard

Syllabus

Modules

Year 1

Foundations of Podiatric Practice
Pre-registration Clinical Practice 1 (shared with undergraduate students)
Dermatology, Local Anaesthetics and Surgery
Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Foot and Lower Limb
Clinical Sciences
Research Design and Ethics
Health Psychology and Professional Practice
Pre-registration Clinical Practice 2 (NHS)

Year 2

Pre-registration Clinical Practice 2 (continued)
Experiencing Research
Medicine and Pharmacology Applied to the At-risk Foot
Consolidation for Professional Practice: Governance, Health and Social Contexts
Pre-registration Clinical Practice 3
Pre-registration Clinical Practice 4 (NHS)

Podiatry student looking at patients notes with frown on her face

Study advice

There are lots of resources to support you with postgraduate level study. Our Build your study and digital skills page contains advice and tips for developing your key skills, alongside guidance on how to make the most out of your learning experience.

For further support and resources make sure to visit the library support pages and our LinkedIn Learning site.

Students discussing their work over coffee

Facilities

Leaf Hospital

You will have access to the Leaf Hospital in Eastbourne, our own fully-staffed clinical facility, which offers a podiatry service and a private practice physiotherapy service. This gives you a further opportunity to gain practical experience treating patients throughout your degree.

The Leaf Hospital has two main clinics and three further consulting rooms, allowing up to 28 patients to be seen at any one time. Clinical practice is supported by a complete range of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including gait analysis, imaging and more.

You will benefit from use of the orthotics department, where you will produce high quality orthotics and insoles for patients as part of the practical element of your course.

On the first floor there is a fully equipped operating theatre for minor surgical procedures and a human anatomy lab where you will study prosection and take part in lower limb dissection.

Click on the image above to take a virtual tour of the Leaf Hospital

Research Suite

The Research Suite is used widely by our physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry students, 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 equipment for conducting cardio-pulmonary investigations including Cosmed metabolic system and spirometry.

Patient exercising in the human movement lab

Patient feedback

Read what Leaf Hospital patients have said about treatment from our students. All feedback is anonymised for patient confidentiality.

"Over a long period of time I have received 100% treatment for my feet and am most grateful to the wonderful students and tutors. I am very fortunate to have the facilities available at the Leaf Hospital, so I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone."

"I just want to say thank you very much for all the kindness and care I have had while having ongoing treatment for my verrucas. It has really encouraged me to study podiatry."

"I am pleased to say that your service is outstanding – the staff are all very friendly and efficient. Thank you very much, it gives us great pleasure having services like this."

"I am amazed at the amount of time and care you have given me. I have lots of problem with my feet but you have made great improvements for me, thank you."

"I have the highest praise for the treatment I receive at the Leaf Hospital. I have difficult feet but I always come out feeling much better than when I went in."

"The service from students and tutors has been excellent – the provision of insoles to suit my needs has enabled me to want to walk without having to rest. Thank you very much."

"I was sent here by my GP as I was complaining of pain in my feet and hammer toes; I have been given exercises and encouragement and feel so much better. Thank you for your help."

"I appreciate the team of students as they do an excellent service. Without Leaf Hospital, so many patients would not be able to get out and about."

"I have been attending the Leaf Hospital for many years and have always received the best of care and consideration at all times."

Our latest news

Explore your subject at one of our events

We have a range of upcoming events where you can explore studying your chosen subject at Brighton.

Meet us at our postgraduate event

There’s no better way to explore your future study opportunities than by meeting lecturers and researchers at a postgraduate event.

Placement workshop day for Diagnostic Radiography students

Students studying on our new Diagnostic Radiography BSc(Hons) and Diagnostic Radiographer Degree Apprenticeship benefitted from a day preparing them for their first two-week placement.

Our first Diagnostic Radiography cohort

Our first cohort of undergraduate and apprenticeship diagnostic radiography students are settling in well.

Careers

Our graduates enjoy excellent employment prospects, typically securing roles in advanced practice, clinical teaching, research, education and training, and a variety of positions in the NHS and private sector.

They are working in the UK and worldwide in Europe and Canada, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Singapore.

Podiatrists engage with patient care in a wide range of practices from independent work in the community or private practice to multidisciplinary work in a hospital setting. The scope of podiatry practice varies from general foot care (nail, callus, corns) to musculoskeletal care (for example, tendinopathy, provision of insoles, orthoses and footwear), minor surgery (for example, toenail removal) and wound care (for example, diabetic foot ulcers).

With further study and extensive training, graduates can train to become a podiatric surgeon, who is allowed to perform the surgical treatment of the foot and its associated structures.

Graduates of this course are also equipped for further study at MPhil and PhD level.

You can find lots of information about training to be a podiatrist, career opportunities and life as a Brighton podiatry student on the More than Feet website.

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.

Podiatry student looking at results on a computer

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience

Typical entry requirements are an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or above.
Applicants without a first degree in a healthcare or science-related degree should provide evidence of study in biological sciences, behavioural sciences or other health professional education (this may include Open University course or HE access for example).
Evidence of work experience in a podiatry setting, either in the NHS or private sector.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend an online interview.

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

COVID-19 vaccine requirement

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

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.

Fees

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. Shortage specialisms, such as podiatry, receive an additional £1,000. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Accommodation

Eastbourne

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

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 bedroom in Welkin halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

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.

Maps

Eastbourne campus map

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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.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

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

01273 644644

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Podiatry (Pre-Registration) MSc