Physician Associate MSc

Course content What will you study?

Here is an indicative overview ofthe modules and placementsthat may be available on this course.

Full-time route Pre-Clinical Year

This consists of six core modules, which are taken over 45 weeks. A typical week will consists of classes Monday to Friday, 9am5pm.

Term one will include clinical skills and simulation and students will undertake a day per week in clinical placement from January to August.

• Clinical Science & Pharmacology: 20 credits Provides the scientific grounding that underpins practice, clinical decision making, and therapeutics.
• Evidence Based Practice & Research Methods: 20 credits Enables an understanding of the public health agenda in contemporary health care practice. Students develop research skills and approaches to using evidence to support their practice. Your final assignment will develop your dissertation proposal for completion in year two. This module is delivered completely online.
• Emergency Medicine & Critical Care: 20 credits Teaches the skills and knowledge needed to assess and safely manage patients with emergency and urgent care needs.
• General Internal Medicine: 40 credits Enables students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to assess and safely manage adult patients across the age range.
• Maternal & Paediatric medicine: 20 credits Enables students to develop the skills and knowledge to assess and safely manage conditions in children and in pregnancy
• Behavioural Medicine: 20 credits Enables students to develop the skills and knowledge to assess and safely manage patients with psychological and mental health conditions

Clinical Year

The clinical year consists of 46 weeks of clinical placements, Monday to Friday, returning to University every third Friday for formative assessment, clinical simulation, and dissertation supervision.

• Clinical Practice: Pass/Fail- Enables students to translate their knowledge and skills into practice. Placements are in a variety of settings and there are a set number of hours to complete is specific areas.
• Dissertation: 40 credits -Students gain mastery of research skills by undertaking an independent (but supervised) evidence based project, and submit a 10,000 word original report.
• Electives
• Preparation for the National Certification Examination

Part-time route Pre-Clinical Phase

The part-time route uses the same pre-clinical modules as the full-time option, with part-time students taking Clinical Science & Pharmacology; General Internal Medicine; and Evidence Based Practice & Research Methods in year one.

In Year two they take Emergency Medicine & Critical Care; Maternal & Paediatric Medicine; and Behavioural Medicine.

This represents a time commitment of three days per week in both years.

Clinical Phase

Part-time students have the choice of either undertaking the clinical phase full-time in 12 months, or part-time over two years, at three days a week, which will include attending academic in-days every third Friday. Students will also complete their dissertation during this phase.

Example schedules can be found in the .

Placements are in a variety of settings and there are a set number of hours to complete is specific areas

Physician Associate Course on the BBC