Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) MSc

Our Physiotherapy Master's course is an exciting and innovative modular programme, delivered full-time over two-years. The programme is delivered 46 weeks per year.

Year 1

• Anatomy 1/2
• Rehabilitation 1/2
• Anatomy 2
• Rehabilitation 2
• Musculoskeletal 1 - The Lower Quadrant
• Respiratory
• Approaches to Research
• Professional Development

1. Paediatrics
2. Ageing Studies
3. Women's Health and Men's Health
4. Oncology and Palliative Care
5. Falls Services
6. Mental Health

• Clinical Placement 1/2
• Clinical Preparation

Year 2

• Musculoskeletal 2 – The Upper Quadrant
• Neurorehabilitation
• Cardiovascular Health
• Critical Care
• Principles And Practice Of Evidence Based Healthcare
• Research Dissertation
• Clinical Placement 3/4/5
• Clinical Education

Clinical education is an integral and invaluable component of the programme. It is strongly embedded within the course structure. Preceding campus-based studies provide the skills and knowledge which students require in order to be prepared for their placements.

Continuing modernisation of the NHS has seen a move away from a focus on non-acute health interventions being delivered in hospitals to the delivery of care in the community. Experience gained on all clinical education modules throughout your undergraduate training aims to reflect these developments by providing you with a broad range of experience across a variety of settings including acute NHS hospitals, private healthcare providers, community hospitals, health centres, GP surgeries, schools, nursing homes and sports centres etc.

Regardless of location or specialty students are expected to adopt a holistic approach towards their patient/client, taking into account individual psychological, social, cultural and economic factors, whilst embracing the principles of health promotion and health education.

All clinical placement modules are organised on the student's behalf by the clinical co-ordination team. This allows us to provide you with a balanced clinical experience both in terms of the specialties/patient groups you have worked with and the range of health care setting you have worked in. It is important that you are exposed to a variety of health settings, which are reflective of current clinical practice.

In total students will complete in excess of 1,000 hours of clinical experience in order to complete the programme. Clinical education occurs in six-week blocks which gives you time to "find your feet" and have a highly valuable learning experience at the same time as providing you with plenty of opportunity to demonstrate your learning and develop as a clinician.

It is anticipated that whilst on clinical placement you will be working a 34-hour week minimum, (compared to full-time workers this effectively means you have one half-day off per week). However, the number of hours you work and the time at which you start and finish work is subject to negotiation with both college and the supervising clinical educator.

Whilst on placements you will be supervised by physiotherapists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Students will be assessed on placement by their supervising clinician(s), using a standardized assessment tool – the Clinical Assessment Record (CAR form). The assessment score from clinical placement modules will contribute to your final degree classification

Most clinical placements are located within the Greater London area, ie within the M25, but a few could be further away necessitating "staying over on placement" during the week. You should anticipate the need to "stay over" on at least one or two occasions.

We are sympathetic to your needs when we assign clinical placements. However, we are unable to guarantee that any student will be located close to their home or term-time address and you may have to commute or live away from home for the duration of a placement or two. We do try to give special consideration to students whose personal circumstances fall within specified criteria, ie they have young children, are a main carer, or have a declared disability etc.

If the NHS is paying your university fees, your travel costs (in excess of the expense you normally incur between home and college) and if necessary the costs of alternative accommodation can be reclaimed from the NHS. However you should note that they is always a delay between paying out money and being reimbursed which can create temporary cash-flow issues.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.