MSc PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE STUDIES
MSC PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE STUDIES
Train for a Master’s in Physician Associate Studies and you’ll be set for a career as a versatile, dynamic healthcare professional. You’ll play a vital role in supporting doctors in both hospital and community settings, working closely with patients, and helping to diagnose and manage their conditions.
On this two-year course you’ll learn how to deliver the highest standards of care to your patients, working within an interprofessional team of aspiring medical and health professionals. Our programme is split 50/50 between theory and practice and, thanks to strong relationships with local healthcare providers, you’ll benefit from placements that have been carefully tailored to be meaningful and rewarding to you.
You’ll study in the first-class facilities at Norwich Medical School, and at a level that will give you a more rounded experience and a deeper understanding of the needs of both patients and healthcare providers.
About
Our MSc Physician Associate Studies is a two-year, full-time, intensive postgraduate course in medical science and clinical reasoning. It consists of approximately 50% theory and 50% practice, including over 1,400 hours on clinical placement in both acute and community settings, starting from your second month.
Norwich Medical School has a reputation for pioneering teaching and research. You’ll have access to our first-class facilities, which include the Bob Champion Research and Education Centre and our bespoke Anatomy Suite. And we’re located next to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on the Norwich Research Park.
We focus on ensuring our graduates are ready to enter and excel in the healthcare profession. So we ensure that you not only get plenty of hands-on experience across a wide range of placements, you’ll also work within a mixed team of trainee medical professionals on campus, giving you a unique understanding into other people’s working roles.
The course is divided into six modules, the first five of which are clinical in content, enabling you to acquire skills in theory, communication, clinical and procedural practice. Each module will then be followed by a placement when you can put your new skills into practice. Your sixth module will focus on health improvement and is a requirement for Master’s-level qualification.
Studying for an MSc will give you greater understanding of your future employers – and your future patients. Combine this depth of knowledge with placements tailored to your individual requirements, and you’ll have everything you need to get your career off to a brilliant start, benefiting from many and varied job opportunities both locally and nationally.
Our first cohort graduated in December 2017 and achieved a 100% pass rate in the PA National Examination with the UEA average well above the national average.
Our second cohort also graduated in December 2018 achieving a 100% pass rate.

Discover our student stories

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER CHOICES
- SHARE
- Facebook
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.After the Course
Our course was created as a direct response to new healthcare job opportunities at local acute hospitals in Norfolk and Suffolk. We developed the programme in partnership with these hospitals. They include Ipswich Hospital, James Paget University Hospital, The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trusts, as well as general practitioners in the area.
The course has been developed with your future career and the demands of the healthcare system in mind, and after graduation you’ll benefit from many job opportunities both locally and nationally.
Career destinations
-
Acute hospital trusts
-
General Practice/primary care
-
Mental health care
-
Research
-
Management
-
Education

Discover our student stories

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER CHOICES
Assessment for Year 1
You will also have formative written and OSCE (clinical) exams in the middle of your first year, with summative written and OSCE examinations at the end of the year. You will need to pass these exams, as well as the required clinical procedures and case presentations in order to progress onto your second year of study.
You’ll be assessed with mid and end of year exams and further case presentations again in year two.
Your Module 6 - Health Improvement Project will be assessed through a combination of a literature review, a formative poster presentation and a final written dissertation.
Once you have passed the UEA final examinations you’ll be able to sit the national United Kingdom Academy of Physician Assistants (UKAPA) examination. Pass it, and you’ll be eligible for listing on the National Managed Voluntary Register of PAs.
For more about the national exam visit: The Faculty of Physician Associates.
Assessment for Year 2
You will also have formative written and OSCE (clinical) exams in the middle of your first year, with summative written and OSCE examinations at the end of the year. You will need to pass these exams, as well as the required clinical procedures and case presentations in order to progress onto your second year of study.
You’ll be assessed with mid and end of year exams and further case presentations again in year two.
Your Module 6 - Health Improvement Project will be assessed through a combination of a literature review, a formative poster presentation and a final written dissertation.
Once you have passed the UEA final examinations you’ll be able to sit the national United Kingdom Academy of Physician Assistants (UKAPA) examination. Pass it, and you’ll be eligible for listing on the National Managed Voluntary Register of PAs.
For more about the national exam visit: The Faculty of Physician Associates.
Assessment for Year 1
You will also have formative written and OSCE (clinical) exams in the middle of your first year, with summative written and OSCE examinations at the end of the year. You will need to pass these exams, as well as the required clinical procedures and case presentations in order to progress onto your second year of study.
You’ll be assessed with mid and end of year exams and further case presentations again in year two.
Your Module 6 - Health Improvement Project will be assessed through a combination of a literature review, a formative poster presentation and a final written dissertation.
Once you have passed the UEA final examinations you’ll be able to sit the national United Kingdom Academy of Physician Assistants (UKAPA) examination. Pass it, and you’ll be eligible for listing on the National Managed Voluntary Register of PAs.
For more about the national exam visit: The Faculty of Physician Associates.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.Assessment for Year 2
You will also have formative written and OSCE (clinical) exams in the middle of your first year, with summative written and OSCE examinations at the end of the year. You will need to pass these exams, as well as the required clinical procedures and case presentations in order to progress onto your second year of study.
You’ll be assessed with mid and end of year exams and further case presentations again in year two.
Your Module 6 - Health Improvement Project will be assessed through a combination of a literature review, a formative poster presentation and a final written dissertation.
Once you have passed the UEA final examinations you’ll be able to sit the national United Kingdom Academy of Physician Assistants (UKAPA) examination. Pass it, and you’ll be eligible for listing on the National Managed Voluntary Register of PAs.
For more about the national exam visit: The Faculty of Physician Associates.
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2:1 or equivalentDegree subject
Science or Health-related disciplineAdditional entry requirements
If a student has a bachelor’s degree but does not meet the normal admission requirements for the PA course they may sit the GAMSAT. This was developed and validated by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and is used to assist in selection of students for graduate-entry programs and to assess capacity to undertake high level intellectual studies in a demanding course. The minimum admission requirement for the PA course is an overall GAMSAT score of 50 within the last two years. Please see the website for further details. https://gamsat.acer.org/
Special Entry Requirements
Applicants will normally have 3 A-levels at grade C or above, including at least one science subject or equivalent.
Applicants are required to submit two references with their application - one related to their most recent Academic study, while the other may be a professional reference.
Academic study should have been completed within the last 5 years.
Students for whom english is a foreign language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English. To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. We also will require a certain standard to be achieved on the written element of the test. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
-
IELTS: 7.5 (minimum 7.0 in all component)
-
PTE: 75 (minimum 70 in all components)
All scores must be less than two years old.
Interviews
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview. Interview dates to be confirmed for 2021 intake - likely to be July, October and November.
Intakes
This course is open to UK and EU applicants only. The annual intake for this course is in January each year.

Discover our student stories

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER CHOICES
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2021-22
Living expenses
We estimate living expenses at £1,015 per month.
Scholarships and bursaries
Students starting the MSc Physician Associate Studies in January 2022 will be eligible to receive a Bursary support from Health Education East of England (HEEoE), amounting to £2,500 per annum. All students must be either UK or EU nationals, or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK. There is an expectation that graduates from this programme would work within the National Health Service (NHS) on completion of their course.
The University of East Anglia offers a range of a range of scholarships. Click the link to see who is eligible, how to apply and closing dates.
Course related costs
You can find information regarding additional costs associated here: Additional Course Fees

Discover our student stories

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER CHOICES
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Early applications are strongly encouraged for this course. Complete applications, including all supporting documents, references and qualification certificates, must be submitted a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the preferred interview date in order to be considered. Applications submitted less than 2 weeks before the preferred interview date, may be considered for the next available interview session.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to request further information or to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us.
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk

Discover our student stories

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER CHOICES

Discover our student stories

ENHANCE YOUR CAREER CHOICES
Related Courses
Not quite right? Search for other courses below: