Physician Associates are skilled members of the health care team who are qualified to provide a wide range of medical services in practice with a licensed physician. Training as a Physician Associate allows you to develop and direct your healthcare career in a primary care setting or almost any medical specialty. This flexibility is unique to the Physician Associate role and makes it an exciting new career choice. Physician Associate training is based on a ‘fast track’ medical school model that was developed in the U.S in 1965.
UK/EU Physician Associate students may be eligible for a bursary to cover a proportion of their fees. Find out more.
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Associate Studies is delivered within the University’s Institute of Medical Sciences at the Medway campus where students have the added benefit of training in a specialist facility with qualified medical practitioners engaged in postgraduate education and research.
You will spend a significant portion of the first year in the simulation suite learning hands on skills. The simulation suite is equipped with mock wards as well as a surgical suite with anesthesia and laparoscopic equipment. Highly sophisticated human simulation models will be used in the teaching of hands on skills to prepare you for your second year clinical based modules.
Visit the website:
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/physician-associate-studies.aspx Course detail
The Physician Associate curriculum begins with a year of rigorous medical science, pharmacology and clinical reasoning taught by a qualified team of specialist physicians and Physicians Associates. One day per week in the first year is spent in a general practice clinical setting. The second year is comprised of six specialist clinical placements and intensive classroom teaching in advanced skills and concepts.
Upon successful completion of the Postgraduate diploma in Physician Associate Studies, you are eligible to take the National Exam for Physician Associates and be part of the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Registry (PAMVR) which allows you to be employed by the NHS. The profession is currently working towards regulation in the UK and is overseen by the Royal College of Physicians Physician Associate Faculty.
All modules are taught using a combination of teaching methods, including lectures, problem based learning, short case review and hand on/skills practice.
Lecture, practice based learning, case review and skills application are incorporated in each module to ensure students assimilate clinical knowledge and skills in all areas.
Suitability
The course is aimed at people interested in pursuing a healthcare career in a primary care setting or almost any medical specialty.
It is designed for people with a strong science background. Please see more details under 'Further entry requirements'.
Content
Year one
Students complete all modules
• Clinical Medicine (1) (20 credits)
• Clinical Medicine (2) (20 credits)
• Clinical Medicine (3) (20 credits)
• Clinical Skills and Professional Development (20 credits)
If you are unsuccessful in completing all modules in Year One you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Studies (providing that you successfully complete 3 out of 4 modules).
Year two
Students complete all modules
• Advanced Clinical Medicine (20 credits)
• Advanced Clinical Skills and Professional Development (20 credits)
Total = 120 credits
What can I do next?
Physician Associates in the UK work in a wide variety of healthcare settings which include:
• GP surgeries
• Accident and Emergency departments
• Inpatient medical and surgical wards
• Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Mental Health
• Paediatrics
• Hospital Operating Theatres
How to apply
For information on how to apply, please follow this link:
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/how-to-apply/how-to-apply.aspx Funding
-Masters Loans-
From 2016/17 government loans of up to £10,000 are available for postgraduate Masters study. The loans will be paid directly to students by the Student Loans Company and will be subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.
For more information available here:
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/funding-your-postgraduate-degree.aspx -2017/18 Entry Financial Support-
Information on alternative funding sources is available here:
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/2017-18-entry-financial-support.aspx
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