Advice on Applying for MSc Physiotherapy

Hello everyone,

I’m currently studying for a BSc in Health Science at the University of Northampton. My course covers a range of topics, including health psychology, sociology, medical anthropology, human biology and physiology, nutrition, public health, health promotion, health policy, and biomedical ethics.

My ultimate goal is to become a physiotherapist. Since I didn’t take a physiotherapy undergraduate degree, I’ll need to apply for an MSc in Physiotherapy. I’m unsure which universities are best for this, but so far I’ve considered Cardiff University, King’s College London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, and Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

I’m also a bit concerned about whether my Health Science degree has given me enough of a foundation in areas like human anatomy and physiology for a physiotherapy MSc. Do these courses typically cover these fundamentals, or will I be at a disadvantage?

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Reply 1

normaw

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

19

Original post by kiwiniwa

Hello everyone,

I’m currently studying for a BSc in Health Science at the University of Northampton. My course covers a range of topics, including health psychology, sociology, medical anthropology, human biology and physiology, nutrition, public health, health promotion, health policy, and biomedical ethics.

My ultimate goal is to become a physiotherapist. Since I didn’t take a physiotherapy undergraduate degree, I’ll need to apply for an MSc in Physiotherapy. I’m unsure which universities are best for this, but so far I’ve considered Cardiff University, King’s College London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, and Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

I’m also a bit concerned about whether my Health Science degree has given me enough of a foundation in areas like human anatomy and physiology for a physiotherapy MSc. Do these courses typically cover these fundamentals, or will I be at a disadvantage?

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

You could also consider applying for the physio undergraduate degree. The pre-reg masters course is a condensed two-year version of the three-year undergraduate course. Graduates from both courses enter the NHS on salary band 5 so the only advantage of the masters is you qualify sooner. The advantage of the BSc is that you have longer to study the content.

In terms of funding, Allied Health Profession (AHP) courses are considered exceptions by SFE and previous study is disregarded. If you decided on the undergrad route, you would be eligible for both maintenance and tuition fee loans. Pre-reg masters courses also qualify for undergraduate funding rather than the standard masters loan.

It doesn't matter where you study the course as all courses have to meet the standards prescribed by the HCPC, and the NHS won't care which uni you went to. Check where and when placements take place - it varies a lot by uni - and choose a location you will enjoy living in. NHS England provides additional financial support to AHP students through the NHS Learning Support Fund but it is only available to students who study at a uni in England (so you wouldn't get it if you applied to unis in Scotland or Wales).

Make sure that you get some shadowing experience for your application. Contact your local NHS trust and ask for a day of shadowing in the physio department. Unis also want to see public-facing work experience in, for example, care homes, retail, charity shop, cafes/restaurants, etc.

Reply 2

Manchester Metropolitan University

Official Rep

13

Original post by kiwiniwa

Hello everyone,
I’m currently studying for a BSc in Health Science at the University of Northampton. My course covers a range of topics, including health psychology, sociology, medical anthropology, human biology and physiology, nutrition, public health, health promotion, health policy, and biomedical ethics.
My ultimate goal is to become a physiotherapist. Since I didn’t take a physiotherapy undergraduate degree, I’ll need to apply for an MSc in Physiotherapy. I’m unsure which universities are best for this, but so far I’ve considered Cardiff University, King’s College London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, and Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.
I’m also a bit concerned about whether my Health Science degree has given me enough of a foundation in areas like human anatomy and physiology for a physiotherapy MSc. Do these courses typically cover these fundamentals, or will I be at a disadvantage?
Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

Hi @kiwiniwa

We offer both the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy and MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) that we would encourage you to apply for. It's likely that we would consider your application for the MSc with your undergraduate degree at a 2:1 or above, but it's also worth looking into the BSc route if you meet the A Level (ABB) requirements for this as well.

As mentioned by normaw, both courses are the same with the only difference being that the MSc is condensed into 2 years rather than 3 for the BSc. You're also eligible for the same funding through SFE.

We have a Postgraduate open day coming up on 13th November that we recommend coming along to - you'll have the chance to look at our facilities, talk to the tutors and get a feel for the university. We hope to see you there!

Chloe 🙂

Advice on Applying for MSc Physiotherapy

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