With accreditation from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Health & Care Professions Council, your course will provide you with the necessary expertise and skills to become a qualified physiotherapist.
As a physiotherapist, you will help people of all ages to manage pain and dysfunction. Covering the core areas of neuromusculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological physiotherapy, you will learn how to think independently and problem solve in a clinical capacity. You will acquire comprehensive hands-on experience through a selection of diverse clinical practice placements, which could be based in primary, community care or hospital settings.
You will carry out a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical placement experience under the supervision of experienced physiotherapists. A combination of campus-based learning, independent study and clinical practice will enhance your interprofessional relationships.
Research Excellence Framework 2014
Research Excellence Framework 2014: 20% of our research in the Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care unit is world leading or internationally excellent.
Our course will prepare you for work as a physiotherpaist through a combination of University based modules and clinical practice placements. You'll study the core areas of physiotherapy practice - neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy, cardiorespiratory physiotherapy and neurological physiotherapy.
Practice placements will take place in a variety of environments, including primary and community care and hospital based settings. A key benefit of our course is the use of inter-professional working, and you will share many aspects of learning with students on our MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) course. Our problem-based independent learning approach will develop you to become an autonomous practitioner and lifelong learner.
Core modules
Core modules
Our graduates are very well regarded by employers – we consistently attain a 100 per cent employability rate for students seeking positions in acute and community settings within the NHS and private sector. There will also be opportunities to work within private healthcare, school settings, hospices and in sports clubs. As a qualified physiotherapist, you will also have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as learning difficulties, mental health, sports medicine, health promotion and clinical research.
This course is for people who are working as physiotherapists, who wish to develop themselves and their profession. The MSc Advancing Physiotherapy Practice aims to help you thrive in health and social contexts where the pace of change is fast and professionals need to be dynamic and proactive to meet the needs of the individuals that they work with.
The programme of study aims to be:
Full-time with attendance: 12-18 months
The full-time study route makes use of a blended mode of learning which includes face-to-face contact supported by online resources. This is designed with international students in mind and offers attractive practical modules as well as opportunities to learn in clinical settings (see modules).
The standard duration of the full-time route is 18 months. This is valuable if your priority is to use all opportunities to develop your professional standing and employability. If you wish to prioritise quick completion of your MSc Advancing Physiotherapy Practice, and meet requirements, you can accelerate it to 12 months duration.
Part-time with attendance: 3-7 years
You can study the MSc Advancing Physiotherapy Practice part-time, with a minimum duration of three years, and maximum duration of seven years. If you study this route you can select modules which involve some attendance and some online study. For example, some modules are delivered with blocks of attendance and online study between these blocks. If you study part-time you can also choose to complete distance learning modules as part of your programme.
Distance learning (part-time or full-time):
1-7 years You can choose modules that enable you to complete your MSc Advancing Physiotherapy Practice entirely as distance learning . You can study distance learning at a full-time pace (12-18 months duration) or at a part-time pace (3-7 years).
We use a range of student-centred learning methods, including tutorials, seminars and practical classes, with facilitation of work based learning and recognition of prior learning. Further specific strategies are used to enable distance learning.
Your performance will be assessed by coursework (assignments), presentations and practical examinations, and you are provided with structured support in learning how to develop and demonstrate your academic skills at a master’s level. Class sizes are usually 5-10 students.
Each module that is studied on-campus will require you to attend classes and carry out independent work. Your attendance requirements at QMU will vary between semesters of study, but contact time might average about six hours per week over one academic year; this would be higher during taught modules. Whether you are studying distance learning or through a mixture of face-to-face contact and online work (blended learning), each 30-credit module will entail around 300 hours of student work. This includes contact with tutors (online or face-to-face), supported by independent learning. When thinking about the total amount of learning, for the full-time pace of study, you will undertake 120 credits of study over two 15-week semesters, followed by your dissertation. This suggests up to 40 hours per week of study. A student who chooses to study part-time may be undertaking, for example, 60 credits of study, which would equate to about 20 hours per week of study.
The distance learning route can be studied part-time or full-time.
In order to design a flexible, clinical and supportive course, we talked with current students, former students and employers internationally. We collaborate with many physiotherapists and managers locally to create opportunities for our students to contribute to the development of physiotherapy services during their course. This ensures the relevance of their studies, their professional development, and advancement of the physiotherapy profession. The MSc Advancing Physiotherapy Practice was developed from the MSc Physiotherapy (Post- Reg) which was accredited by the UK’s Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. The MSc Advancing Physiotherapy Practice will be renewed for the same accreditation. This course does not lead to HCPC registration. However, advice is given to assist the process of registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Course material will also help the student to develop knowledge and skills recognised by the HCPC
This course will enable you to focus your continuing professional development in relation to clinical physiotherapy practice and physiotherapy research. It is intended to enhance your clinical, research and education career opportunities both in the UK and internationally. Gaining the qualification will increase your employment potential across the world and help you gain academic recognition in Canada, USA, Australia and other countries.
The MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) is a two-year and two-month long, accelerated qualifying programme for students with a suitable first degree. Graduates from this programme will be eligible to seek registration with the Health Professions Council and membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
The ability to adapt to the changing needs of the service user and changing health and social care provision in the 21st century is embedded in the curriculum of this innovative programme. The aim of the programme is to train reflective, person-centred practitioners by covering the core skills within the areas of musculoskeletal cardiorespiratory and neurological physiotherapy and integrating them within an evidence-based context. Students will develop independent learning and problem solving skills using enquiry based learning. There is the opportunity to learn leadership skills and engage in service development projects. Hands on skills and clinical reasoning skills acquired in university will be developed further through a range of clinical placements.
The course is full time over two years and six weeks commencing January each year. There are no part-time or distance learning options.
The award for the programme is:
MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration)
The interim awards are:
Modules may include:
Modules may include:
Further information on this course is available in the programme specification. Please note that the programme specification relates to course content that is currently being studied by students at the University. For new programmes, the programme specification will be made available online prior to the start of the course.
York St John University works hard to create an inclusive environment for all our students. We offer a range of learning support services to assist students throughout their studies.
The Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc – previously called the Rehabilitation Science (Physiotherapy) MSc –allows you to apply for registration as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This course is also approved by the professional body, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
It is ideal for graduates with related first degrees who wish to gain both a professional and academic qualification and start a career in this challenging and highly rewarding field.
This accelerated course follows innovative problem-based learning approach, with an emphasis on students' active learning, engagement, and practical application of skills and knowledge in the context of real life situations. Through this balance of theory and practice experience you will graduate a capable and confident physiotherapist.
The values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – and the recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does are embedded in our curriculum.
Our high quality teaching and research are renowned, 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.
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 and consists of five campus-based modules and five practice modules. Year 1 is mainly campus-based and year 2 predominantly involves practice placements alongside the campus-based Research Dissertation Studies.
The course is delivered in a variety of ways, typically via problem-based tutorials, subject specialist resource sessions, skills workshops, and simulation in our high-tech Human Movement Laboratory, and Clinical Skills and Simulation Rooms.
Completion of the Project Studies module and the submission of a dissertation lead to the masters award.
Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.
Your study will focus on real-life situations, integrating subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, therapeutic skills, behavioural sciences and research methods.
Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules
Human Movement Laboratory
The Human Movement Laboratory 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.
Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite
Our Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite is among the best equipped in the country, and is an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.
You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates real-life professional experiences. Provided by the NHS’ South East Coast Ambulance Service, you may have access to our Simbulance, enabling you to work alongside paramedic students in an interprofessional learning environment. On board is a high fidelity mannikin with multiple uses, and a child-size mannikin for paediatric scenarios.
Learning by simulation means you will be confident in your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in your professional life.
Our educational philosophy mirrors the philosophy of occupational therapy. We believe that an individual's positive engagement in learning activity leads to advanced productivity, increased perception of self-worth, improved quality of life and enjoyment of the course.
Our occupational therapy courses use problem-based learning (PBL), a technique recommended by authorities around the world. All subjects covered are integrated around problem-solving within a real life situation. We find that learning in this way significantly increases our students’ engagement with the subjects.
Advantages of the problem-based learning approach are:
This professional course prepares you to work as a chartered physiotherapist in the UK, with professional and portfolio development running from course start to finish.
Graduates are equipped for careers in the NHS and the private health sector, both in the UK and abroad.
Many graduates secure employment in the local area by developing networks through their placements.
After a period of work experience, you will also be given the opportunity to progress to PhD research programmes and contribute to the evidence base of the profession.
This postgraduate programme integrates the clinical, academic and research components of paediatric physiotherapy practice. The emphasis is on the management of paediatric patients with cardiorespiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Flexibility in selection of modules allows for physiotherapists with particular interests to be accommodated.
This MSc offers physiotherapy students the opportunity to extend their understanding of key areas in this field, including challenging the foundations of established but poorly justified treatments, developing and undertaking clinical research, learning about new and emerging treatment options and enjoying the mentorship of recognised experts in paediatric physiotherapy.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and the research dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months, flexible study 2-5 years) is offered. Students take 75 credits of core modules and 45 credits of optional modules.
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, part-time nine months) is offered. Students take 60 credits of core modules.
Core modules
Students must take CHLDG07, CHLDGC13, CHLDGS10 and CHLDGC99 plus at least 3 more core modules from the list.
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a substantial report and an oral examination.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of teaching and self-directed learning. Assessment is through written assignments, oral presentations, multiple choice texts, submission of the literature review and research proposal, assessed coursework, unseen and prior disclosure written examinations, and the dissertation with an oral presentation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Physiotherapy Studies: Paediatrics MSc
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
The programme will enable graduates to pursue a career in academic, research or clinical practice, or to use their postgraduate qualification to be successful in applying for more senior positions within their career field.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
This programme aims to transform the way students think about expert patient care, and the theoretical foundation for paediatric physiotherapy clinical practice. The programme provides graduates with a rigorous, evidence-based training in best research and clinical practice, which will give them a natural advantage when applying for physiotherapy clinical, educational or research posts.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
UCL is a world-leading university offering well-established and popular postgraduate physiotherapy programmes which are highly regarded both locally and internationally. Our close relationship with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children means that much of our research and teaching is carried out on a joint basis.
Lectures, tutorials and workshops are delivered by recognised experts in physiotherapy practice.
Students on our physiotherapy programmes come to UCL from all over the world. This cross-fertilisation of international clinical experiences and ideas generates a powerful and inspirational platform for postgraduate physiotherapy learning.
This postgraduate programme integrates the advanced clinical, theoretical, academic and research components of paediatric physiotherapy practice. The emphasis is on the management of paediatric patients with cardiorespiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Flexibility in selection of modules allows for physiotherapists with particular interests to be accommodated.
This MSc offers physiotherapy students the opportunity to extend their understanding of key areas in this field, including challenging the foundations of established but poorly justified treatments, developing and undertaking clinical research and practice, learning about new and emerging treatment options, and enjoying the mentorship of recognised experts in paediatric physiotherapy.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits) two optional modules from twelve choices (30 credits) and the research dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 12 months, flexible 2-5 years) is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, part-time 12 months) is offered. Students take 60 credits of core modules.
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a substantial report and an oral examination.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of teaching and self-directed learning, and includes up to six weeks of clinical placements. Assessment is through clinical assessments, written assignments, oral presentations, multiple choice tests, submission of the literature review and research proposal, assessed coursework, unseen and prior disclosure written examinations, and the dissertation with an oral presentation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Advanced Physiotherapy: Paediatrics MSc
The programme enables graduates to pursue a career in academia, research or clinical practice, or to use their postgraduate qualification to be successful in applying for more senior positions within their specialist clinical career field.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
The programme aims to transform the way students think about expert patient care, and the theoretical foundation for paediatric physiotherapy clinical practice. The programme provides a rigorous, evidence-based training in best research and clinical practice. This gives graduates a competitive advantage when applying for physiotherapy clinical, educational or research posts.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
UCL is a world-class university and this well-established and popular postgraduate physiotherapy programme is very highly regarded both locally and internationally. Our close relationship with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children means that much of our research and training is carried out on a joint basis. The excellent reputation of this programme is partly due to expert tuition with lectures, tutorials and workshops delivered by recognised experts in physiotherapy practice. All students will undertake one placement as a core module. MSc students may choose to undertake a second placement as an option module.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
80%: Clinical Medicine subjects; 81%: Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care subjects rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This new programme integrates the clinical, academic and research components of neurophysiotherapy practice, with an emphasis on the management of patients with neurological disorders. The programme fosters understanding of evidence-based practice and encourages physiotherapists to develop as advanced practitioners. Students select from a wide range of modules according to their interest and complete at least one clinical placement.
This programme offers students the opportunity to extend their knowledge of the key practical and theoretical aspects of neurophysiotherapy, challenge the foundations of established but poorly justified treatments, develop and undertake clinical research and learn about new and emerging treatment options, enjoying the mentorship of recognised experts in neurophysiotherapy.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 12 months, flexible 2-5 years) is offered. Students take five core modules (75 credits) and three optional modules (45 credits).
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time one year, flexible study up to two years) is offered. Students take four core modules (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials online learning and self-directed learning. Assessment is through written assignments, online assignments, oral presentations, multiple choice texts, literature review and research proposal, assessed coursework, unseen and prior disclosure written examinations, and the dissertation with an oral presentation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Advanced Physiotherapy: Neurophysiotherapy MSc
The programme will enable graduates to pursue a career in academia or research, or to use their postgraduate qualification to be successful in applying for more senior clinical or management positions within their career field. Recent physiotherapy graduates have pursued senior careers in healthcare policy, university lecturing, private practice, management or highly specialist clinical practice. Several past physiotherapy students have used the MSc successfully to gain funding for PhD studies.
Employability
This programme aims to transform the way students think about the theoretical foundation for neurophysiotherapy clinical practice and what defines expert patient care. The programme provides graduates with a rigorous, evidence-based training in best research and clinical practice, which will give them a natural advantage when applying for physiotherapy clinical, educational or research posts.
UCL is a world-leading university offering well-established and popular postgraduate physiotherapy programmes that are highly regarded both locally and internationally.
The neurophysiotherapy degree offers an extensive range of core and optional modules in specialist areas and lectures, tutorial and workshops are delivered by recognised experts in physiotherapy practice. We have close links to the UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at Queen Square with its specialist physiotherapy department.
Our students come from all over the world. This cross-fertilisation of international experience and ideas generates a powerful and inspirational platform for postgraduate physiotherapy learning which, combined with the central London location, makes UCL an attractive choice for physiotherapy students.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
80%: Clinical Medicine subjects; 81%: Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care subjects rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
As a physiotherapist, you can make a real difference to the way people function physically, socially and psychologically. Physiotherapy aims to make the most of an individual's abilities through health promotion, preventive healthcare and rehabilitation.
Through this course you build on your prior learning to develop a critical understanding of contemporary physiotherapy practice. You gain the skills to be a safe, reflective, autonomous, professional practitioner able to manage clients across their lifespan in a variety of settings. Core skills underpinning physiotherapy include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and functional movement analysis. Appropriate intervention is underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and problem solving within the context of an evidence-based approach to clinical practice.We take a problem-based approach to learning, which includes opportunities to share aspects of learning with students from other allied health professions to promote teamwork and an appreciation of how other disciplines contribute to healthcare. Successful completion of the course provides eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Students studying this programme who obtain an NHS bursary can't also apply for a postgraduate loan from the Student Loan Company. From September 2018 funding for this programme will change. The website will be updated once this has been confirmed.
Professional accreditation
On successful completion of the course you'll be eligible to apply for membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council..
In Stage 1, you study the core sciences underpinning physiotherapy practice. You are introduced to a range of physiotherapy interventions which are responsive to client need and underpinned by evidence-based approaches to practice. You also explore professional issues in health and social care. During this stage you complete three clinical placements where you assess and treat your own patients under the supervision of qualified physiotherapists. You may be allocated placements within paediatrics, elderly care, learning disabilities and mental health services in addition to acute, medical, musculoskeletal and neurological areas. Clinical placements are arranged by academic tutors and you should be prepared to travel for some placements.
In Stage 2 you complete three more clinical placements. You must complete 1,000 hours of satisfactory clinical practice to meet the requirements of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. You also develop your knowledge of the sciences underpinning physiotherapy and further explore the professional development of the physiotherapist and research methods.
In Stage 3 you complete your dissertation.
Course structure
Stage 1 core modules
Stage 2 core modules
Stage 3 core modules
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Various learning and teaching methods are used throughout the course and include keynote lectures, seminars and small-group work as well as practical laboratory sessions. You are encouraged and supported to engage in self-directed learning to prepare for practical sessions and seminars.
How you are assessed
Assessment is varied and reflects module learning outcomes. You are assessed by written assignments, oral presentations and practical examinations. In the interests of professional safety, you must complete all modules successfully. Essential competencies for this course include:
Clinical placements are assessed at undergraduate level.
Opportunities are available for employment within the NHS, private sector or charitable trusts – in hospitals, GP surgeries, schools, industry and in the community. You could also consider a career working in clinical research or teaching, in the UK or overseas.
This is an integrated course that prepares students for the breadth of contemporary physiotherapy practice in the continually evolving Health and Social Care sector. You will study in a small cohort where staff will get to know each student, you will start learning in the clinical environment from the first semester, and you will learn in a way that makes links between theory and practice from day one.
The structure of the course is innovative; there is one module for each of the six semesters, with integrated part-time clinical placements for four of the six modules. Approximately 2/3 of the clinical placements are part-time (1-2 days per week), and there is also a five-week full-time elective placements towards the end of the course where you can choose your own clinical placement location.
You’ll be taught in our purpose built rehabilitation and assessment facilities, which includes a therapy clinic and movement analysis laboratory. We have excellent links with Physiotherapists working within the NHS and private practices across the North West. There are also links with charitable organisations and international institutions and hospitals, providing excellent opportunities for our students to gain experience of the breadth of contemporary physiotherapy practice.
YEAR 1
The first year of study will include knowledge and skill development across musculoskeletal, cardio-respiratory and neurological domains, and students start integrating their capabilities into holistic patient assessment and management.
Semester 1: Integrated Physiotherapy Practice 1
Semester 2: Integrated Physiotherapy Practice 2
Semester 3: Integrated Physiotherapy Practice 3
YEAR 2
Students will continue to develop their assessment and management skills, including using exercise concepts and pain management strategies. The modules will offer students opportunities to develop core clinical capabilities, to ensure that each student is prepared for working in a variety of clinical settings.
Semester 1: Integrated Physiotherapy Practice 4
Semester 2: Integrated Physiotherapy Practice 5
Semester 3: Integrated Physiotherapy Practice 6
OPPORTUNITIES
Our MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) course will provide the opportunity for you to undertake various clinical placements during your time at UCLan, both in traditional and contemporary settings. Previous placements include Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Ministry of Defence, and overseas experiences.
GRADUATE CAREERS
We have excellent employability rates for students graduating from our BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course, last year 100% of these students gained employment within 6 months of graduation. Through consultation with our clinical stakeholders we know that there is a demand for physiotherapists in the North West, and especially with Masters-level qualifications.
We have strong links with clinical partners in the North West, in both NHS and non-NHS settings. We organise annual recruitment events where employers from the public (NHS) and private spheres attend and network with physiotherapy students.
We have excellent employment rates for physiotherapy graduates.
The course is currently going through an accreditation process with the Health & Care Professions Council and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Students will have the opportunity to test their knowledge and skills development through a range of assessment tasks. There is particular emphasis on ‘real life’ assessments that reflect the ways in which students will learn and practice during the course. Methods include practicals, vivas, presentations, assignments and clinical practice based assessment. There is a strong commitment to providing timely and constructive feedback for all assessments.
Interprofessional working is an important part of Physiotherapy and Healthcare. Whilst you are at University, you will have timetabled sessions where you will work in partnership with several professions, including Nurses and Occupational Therapists. Learning about, with and from students in other healthcare disciplines will help prepare you for real-world clinical settings. During your time on placement, you will work with a variety of professionals and will be a part of the wider multi-disciplinary team. This will further develop your skills in communication and collaborative working to provide optimal patient care and improve health outcomes.
Throughout this course you will be working with vulnerable groups of individuals including children. In order to ensure that the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing offers places on their programmes to the most suitable candidates you will all be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB). The Faculty of Health and Wellbeing will be able to guide you through this process once you have been successfully offered a conditional place at the University. It is important to note that any unsatisfactory Enhanced DBS clearance may result in the offer of your place being withdrawn even if you have already started your course.
This programme integrates the clinical, academic and research components of neurophysiotherapy practice, with an emphasis on the management of patients with neurological disorders. The programme fosters an understanding of evidence-based practice and students are encouraged to develop as advanced practitioners. Flexibility in selection of modules allows for physiotherapists with particular interests to be accommodated.
This programme offers students the opportunity to extend their knowledge of the key practical and theoretical aspects of neurophysiotherapy, challenge the foundations of established but poorly justified treatments, develop and undertake clinical research and learn about new and emerging treatment options, enjoying the mentorship of recognised experts in neurophysiotherapy.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 12 months, flexible 2–5 years is offered). Students take four core modules (60 credits), and four optional modules (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time one year, flexible study up to two years) is offered. The programme consists of three core modules (45 credits) and one optional module (15 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials online learning and self-directed learning. Assessment is through written assignments, online assignments, oral presentations, multiple choice texts, literature review and research proposal, assessed coursework, unseen and prior disclosure written examinations, and the dissertation with an oral presentation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Physiotherapy Studies: Neurophysiotherapy MSc
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
The programme will enable graduates to pursue a career in academia or research, or to use their postgraduate qualification to be successful in applying for more senior clinical or management positions within their career field. Recent physiotherapy graduates have pursued senior careers in healthcare policy, university lecturing, private practice, management or highly specialist clinical practice. Several past physiotherapy students have used the MSc successfully to gain funding for PhD studies.
Employability
This programme aims to transform the way students think about the theoretical foundation for neurophysiotherapy clinical practice and what defines expert patient care. The programme provides graduates with a rigorous, evidence-based training in best research and clinical practice, which will give them a natural advantage when applying for physiotherapy clinical, educational or research posts.
UCL is a world-leading university offering well-established and popular postgraduate physiotherapy programmes that are highly regarded both locally and internationally.
The degree offers an extensive range of core and optional modules in specialist areas and lectures, tutorial and workshops are delivered by recognised experts in physiotherapy practice. We have close links to the UCL Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at Queen Square with its specialist physiotherapy department.
Our students come from all over the world. This cross-fertilisation of international experience and ideas generates a powerful and inspirational platform for postgraduate physiotherapy learning which, combined with the central London location, makes UCL an attractive choice for physiotherapy students.
The Master of Physiotherapy (MPhty endorsed) programme endorsed in one of the specialist areas (Neurorehabilitation, Occupational Health Physiotherapy or Sports Physiotherapy) aims to advance the student’s clinical reasoning and patient management skills beyond that of the entry level practitioner and provide one of the prerequisites necessary to achieve specialisation. The one-semester research components that may comprise the design and implementation of a small research project, a case series, a data-based clinical review, a systematic review, or a critical review under the supervision of a member of staff, will ensure that the student is research enabled and ready to embrace evidence based practice in the performance of their career.
Alternatively, students can undertake two papers from the approved schedule and a thesis to obtain a research master's (MPhty). The School of Physiotherapy has a strong postgraduate research programme currently supporting numerous master's research students working on topics that range from neurological disorders to anatomical studies. We aim to provide students with a high level of knowledge and experience in order to help them develop their own research skills whether using qualitative or quantitative methodologies for statistical analysis, lab-based studies or community work, prevalence studies or intervention trialling – our aim is to have students complete their master,s confident in their abilities to conduct research and assess relevant literature and practices, whether this leads to PhD study in the future or to more assured clinical practice.
This qualification is available to registered physiotherapists. Domestic students must have a current Annual Practising Certificate from the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. International students must obtain Special Purpose Scope of Practice from the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand before arriving in New Zealand.
For the endorsed Master's, distance based students must be practising physiotherapy whilst undertaking the clinical paper in Year 2 of the programme and should note that some papers involved in this qualification involve attending residential blocks in Dunedin and phoning in on audioconferences. On-campus students will be based at the School of Physiotherapy in Dunedin.
Students enrolling for this programme should take care to enrol for the on-campus or Distance versions of the papers as appropriate.
For the research Master's, students must have a supervisor for the special topic paper and the thesis. For assistance with finding a supervisor please contact the [email protected]. Before acceptance can be granted applicants must work with their potential supervisor to submit either a draft proposal or a project title with their application.
For the endorsed Master's, students must have a supervisor and submit a draft proposal for the research component 6 months prior to undertaking this paper.
Applications normally close on 31 October, however late applications may be considered.
Subject to approval, the following qualification will replace the Master of Physiotherapy (Manipulative Physiotherapy) from 2013: Master of Physiotherapy (Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy. For information on how to apply for this qualification please contact the [email protected].
