MSc Physiotherapy (February Start)

Key Details

Attendance: Full Time
Award: Degree of Master of Science
Course Length: 2 years
Course Start Date: February 2024

Other Start Dates

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Course Overview

Gain a Master’s in Physiotherapy and you could have an incredibly positive impact on people’s lives, helping them overcome physical setbacks and get back on their feet – often literally. It’s a career ideally suited to great listeners – able to piece together the physical with the emotional to build a complete picture of a person’s situation– and to those who like to understand theories and apply them to improving real life situations. 

Our innovative approach is based on the very latest research. Through our rigorous programme, you’ll develop sound knowledge of the clinical sciences underpinning human movement and function. You’ll have access to our superb, dedicated learning facilities, including our anatomy room and assistive technology suite. And you’ll have early patient contact and benefit from small group taught sessions. We are renowned for our excellent teaching and research in the field. 

About

Our MSc Physiotherapy course is fully approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Enroll with us and you’ll be based at our School of Health Sciences, where you’ll receive an academic and a practice-based education that’s second to none. 

During taught sessions, you’ll spend your time using case studies, focusing on the needs of individual clients or client groups. Through a combination of self-directed learning, workshop activities and Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL), you’ll build up the knowledge you need to identify issues and make decisions on how to address them. 

You’ll become expert in understanding specific psychological, cultural and social factors in the context of patient care. You’ll also learn about due consideration of the needs and abilities of others involved with the client, including carers and other health and social care workers. You will also consider how, as a physiotherapist, you can use your expertise to advise and teach groups, and promote health across whole communities. 

In addition to your campus-based learning, you’ll undertake four placements across your two years. These will be between seven and eight weeks in length. Working under close supervision, this is your opportunity to put your knowledge and skills into hands-on practice. 

Our interdisciplinary ethos means that you’ll spend some of your time studying alongside Occupational Therapy and Dietetics students – professionals you’ll work with as a qualified physiotherapist. Inter-professional teamwork will be a central element of your career, and UEA remains one of the only UK universities to offer this approach. 

During the course, you’ll have the opportunity to work on your Master’s dissertation project, working with a member of our faculty on a subject that interests you. This will take the form of a structured literature review. 

We are very proud of our innovative teaching methods and the passion and dedication of our staff. Our approach is creative, challenging and engaging. And our students tell us that they find our programmes professionally dynamic and personally transforming. 

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Entry Requirements

Degree Classification

Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2.1 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Strong biological, human or health science content. Examples include: Anatomy, Physiology, Biological Sciences (excluding purely plant-based biology degrees), Sports & Exercise Science (or related subjects such as PE or Coaching), Nursing or other Allied Health Professional degrees.

GCSE

Applicants will be required to have a minimum of GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4 / C or equivalent.

English 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.

Our minimum entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components
Pearson (PTE): 76 overall with a minimum of 67 in all components.

All test scores must be less than two years old.

Interviews

The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview. Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your application.

Note that we will not disclose interview questions in advance of the interviews, but in general terms the interviews will explore a range of issues, including your suitability for the profession and the NHS values (as reflected in the NHS constitution). We’ll look to consider your motivation to study this course, as well as whether you have an interest in people and a clear understanding of the profession (ideally with relevant voluntary or paid work in healthcare).

Applicants will be offered an online interview.

Experience of Healthcare

We are aware that it is a difficult time to try to gain relevant experience in healthcare. We will take this into account and will adapt our expectations.

Keep in mind that clinical work experience is not generally a requirement for applying to train in healthcare, but it is important to show that you are able to work with people and appreciate the health and social care setting. It is important to remember why we look for work experience in an application; this in turn can help you think of the numerous ways that you might be able to demonstrate how you have acquired relevant experience.

We will want to see that you understand what a career in Health involves. Work experience, and other related experiences, are only as valuable as the way you talk about them and what understanding you take from them. While we will expect you to show some understanding of what it is like to be the professional of your choice, part of this involves demonstrating that you know what it is like to work in a responsible role, particularly with the public.

Any activity or life experience that helps you to prepare for training to be a healthcare professional will help. This means any activity that allows you to demonstrate that you have:

- Had people-focused experience of providing a service, care, support or help to others, and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
- Developed some of the values, attitudes and behaviours essential to being a Nurse, Midwife or Allied Health professional such as conscientiousness, effective communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people. The values that we are looking for are set out in the NHS Constitution.
- A realistic understanding of Health and Social Care and in particular the physical, organisational and emotional demands of the career.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in February each year.

Additional Information or Requirements

You must have graduated within 10 years of the start date of the course which is in February each year, or be able to provide evidence of further relevant degree-level study during that period.

Applicants should have a strong profile of secondary qualifications in arts and/or sciences (we will look for good A-level grades, or equivalent).

Applicants should also have a minmum grade 4/C in GCSE Maths and English.

Our admissions criteria also include: a clear understanding of physiotherapy and the role of physiotherapists within various clinical settings; a broad range of relevant work shadowing; an interest in people and a strong academic attainment. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant. Please note that experience only in sports settings is not considered relevant.

If you already are a qualified Physiotherapist this course is not suitable and you may wish to consider our other professional health courses delivered at Degree and Master’s level.

International students

We have a number of places available to applications from students outside the UK/EU for Physiotherapy. The School of Health Sciences offers a high quality educational experience for international postgraduates. Potential international candidates need to be able to demonstrate the high academic credentials required for the course, as well as good English Language qualifications.

The pre-registration courses offered in the School of Health Sciences are approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and after successfully completing an accredited pre-registration programme such as ours you must apply to register with the HCPC in order to work as a registered healthcare professional in the UK. This course equips you with the skills necessary to practise as a physiotherapist both internationally and in the UK. International students who complete the course will be eligible to apply to the HCPC.

Special Entry Requirements

Places on this course are subject to police (DBS) and occupational health checks.

PLACEMENTS

As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:

UK Students: £18,500 (Full-time on a two-year basis. Course fee charged £9,250 per academic year)
International Students: £39,600 (Full-time on a two-year basis. Course fee charged £19,800 per academic year. 2022-23 entrants are liable for £18,500 in 2023-24.)

We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.

Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.

Course Related Costs

Practice placements will be based in a variety of locations around East Anglia. You will be responsible for covering any additional travel and accommodation costs. You will also need to pay for a DBS check and a health screening – plus any necessary vaccinations – prior to commencing the course. 

UK students may be able to claim back placement costs for travel and accommodation from a Department of Health bursary fund, but this will not be available to International students. 

How to Apply

Please note - this course is now closed for applications for the 2023-24 cycle.

Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.

The closing date for receipt of complete applications is 1 June 2023.

To apply please use our online application form.

FURTHER INFORMATION

To request further information & to be kept up to date with news & events please use our online enquiry form.

If you would like 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

International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.

Employability

After the Course

Complete this course successfully and you’ll be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You’ll then be able to practice as a qualified physiotherapist in a vast range of settings. 

Once registered, there will be numerous roles available to you within the NHS, private sector, voluntary sectors, industry, research and education: the opportunities are endless. 

Careers

A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.

Examples of careers you could enter include:

NHS 
Private/independent practice 
The Armed Forces 
Industry/occupational health 
Sport and leisure 
Charity and voluntary organisations 
You can find out more about the career here

http://www.uea.ac.uk/health-sciences/careers-and-employability/your-career 