MSc Physician Associate Studies
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2024
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Course Overview
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 the multidisciplinary team 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 our 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.
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, but 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 a 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 pass rate in the PA National Examination is 100% for theory and very high for the OSCE component, with the UEA average for both elements well above the national average.
Study and Modules
Compulsory Modules
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.
Structure
Your time with us will be evenly split between theory and practice. Our two-year course is made up of six taught modules, each of which will be followed by a clinical placement.
Compulsory Modules
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.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Your teaching will include lectures, seminars, case-based learning, group work and online resources, provided by our expert Physician Associate team, as well academics from within the wider Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and senior clinicians from the surrounding general practices and hospitals. Your learning will be supported by electronic resources including Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment, in which you’ll find presentations, supporting material and reading lists to accompany lectures and seminars. You will have access to additional online resources including clinicalkey, Capsule and Clinically speaking. The critical components will preferably be delivered face to face otherwise live online, depending on the circumstances at the time. Other material will be available online to complete in your own time. We anticipate 2-3 days per week on campus during the theory blocks for face to face teaching and other sessions as below. The workload will still require full time study to complete the weekly online material and tasks on the off campus days.
You will be taught communication skills in small groups, with expert facilitators and trained actors. This will be online if unable to do face to face on campus.
As well as theoretical sessions, you will be taught examination and procedural skills in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Resource Area (CSRA), next to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in the Bob Champion Research and Education Building (BCRE). The CSRA is equipped with high-fidelity simulation equipment (SIMMAN), which you will use for at least one session per module during your training. You will also have access to our skills laboratory area, providing it is not being used for teaching or OSCEs (observed clinical examinations), enabling you to use the equipment for self-directed practice in your own time. What’s more, you’ll have the opportunity to use a range of training facilities when on placement at our partner teaching hospitals.
Independent study
As a Master’s student, you’ll be expected to identify and address your own learning needs. And, in order to optimise what you take away from each session, you’ll be strongly advised to read up on topics before your lectures, and supplement your formal teaching with group work and independent study.
Assessment
You will also have formative written and OSCE (clinical) exams during 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 on to your second year of study.
In the second year you’ll be assessed with mid- and end-of-year exams and further case presentations.
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 Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) examination. UEA has a 100% pass rate on the theory component and very high pass rates for the OSCE, all well above the national average. Pass it and at present you’ll be eligible for listing on the National Managed Voluntary Register of PAs, but in 2023 this will be replaced by regulation and registration by the GMC.
You can find out more about the national exam on the Royal College of Physicians website.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Science or Health-related discipline
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Interviews
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview.
- Intakes
- This course is open to UK applicants only. The annual intake for this course is in January each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
If a student has a bachelor’s degree but does not meet the normal admission requirements for the MSc Physician Associate Studies 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. Gamsat
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.
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.
BURSARY SUPPORT
Students starting the MSc Physician Associate Studies in January 2024 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 UK 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.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £19,800. Two year full-time course, £9900 per academic year.
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
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
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.
Applications for January 2024 will close on 30th November 2023.
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
Employability
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 partnered 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 the very many job opportunities both locally and nationally.
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:
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Acute hospital trusts
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General Practice/primary care
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Mental health care
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Research
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Management
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Education