MSc Physician Associate Studies

Start date
September
Duration
2 years full-time
Course Type
Postgraduate
Fees
Annual tuition fee for 2025/26:
UK: £10,900 full-time
International: £30,370 full-time

More details

Whether you’re a healthcare practitioner or graduate with a science background, help shape the future of healthcare and build the skills needed to become a vital part of the multidisciplinary team. Our MSc in Physician Associate Studies integrates theory and practice to support your clinical learning. You’ll gain the skills needed to work in a wide range of specialties across primary and secondary care.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

The Programme

The West Midlands region, home to six million residents with rich ethnic and socio-economic diversity, provides exceptional opportunities for clinical learning.

Since 2008, we've been training Physician Associates with a team of experienced PAs, medical, and scientific experts. We're committed to equipping you with the skills needed to become a competent PA and actively contribute to the profession's national development.

From the very start of the programme, you’ll have direct contact with patients with ongoing support throughout. You’ll also have the opportunity to work alongside qualified Physician Associates during placements.

At the end of the programme, you may be eligible to choose a selected placement in an area to suit your own interests. Our programme Clinical Placement team are on hand to guide you through this process. 

Simulation plays a crucial role in our course. You’ll work with simulated patients to develop your communication and examination skills, including specialised exams like gynecological and breast examinations. Our clinical skills team supports high-fidelity simulations across various specialties, preparing you for real-world settings.

In addition to problem-based learning, you'll benefit from lectures, interactive workshops, and dedicated anatomy teaching in the Prosectorium.

Why study Physician Associate Studies at Birmingham?

• We work in partnership with hospitals and practices in the Midlands and beyond.
• Our programme is accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC).
• Birmingham has one of the longest running Physician Associate programmes in the UK.

Modules

The programme comprises 140 credits of taught material. There is also a 40 credit dissertation.

Fees

2025/26:

UK: £10,900 full-time
International: £30,370 full-time

More details

How To Apply

Our Standard Requirements

To be considered for the MSc Physician Associate Studies programme, applicants must meet the following academic conditions:
1. Undergraduate Degree: You should have or expect to get a 2:1 Honours degree in biomedical or life sciences.
2. Allied Health Professionals: Applicants who are allied health professionals must have completed an honours-level degree.

Biomedical/Life Sciences degrees that we consider include: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Biosciences, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Engineering, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, and Psychology

Health Sciences degrees / Allied Health Professionals that we consider include: Audiology, Dentistry, Dietetics and Nutrition, Health Sciences, Midwifery*, Nursing*, Operating Department Practice, Optometry, Paramedic Science, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Radiography - diagnostic/ therapeutic, Sport and Exercise Science*

* We’ll ask you to send your transcript to us to ensure there is sufficient life/biomedical science content.

Disability Considerations

We welcome applications from individuals with disabilities. However, due to the nature of the physician associate role and its training requirements, all candidates must meet specific capabilities. The curriculum cannot be adjusted, so students must possess adequate vision, hearing, mobility, and manual dexterity. Additionally, dyslexia should not impede the ability to quickly and accurately read clinical materials. More details on these requirements can be found in the Code of Conduct.

Health Requirements

UK health authorities mandate that students in clinical settings be screened for hepatitis B. Therefore, all accepted applicants must:
1. Undergo a blood test for hepatitis B.
2. If negative, begin a hepatitis B immunisation course.
3. Provide certified proof of immunity afterward.

It's strongly recommended that prospective students complete this screening early. Applicants who test positive for hepatitis B or refuse testing may be denied admission.
Please note: In line with Department of Health guidelines, students in the University of Birmingham's Physician Associate programme will not participate in exposure-prone procedures (EPPs).

You’ll learn from world-leading academics and researchers at a top 100 UK university. From the outset we’ll challenge and encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner.

This course will run over two years in a full-time-mode. While the exact content may change, here’s what you can expect to study each year.

Year One
Year one focuses on adult general medicine, with hands-on practice using simulated patients and guidance from Associate Clinical Educators. You'll begin patient interaction early, starting with up to five days of clinical experience in a general practice team during the first term. This is followed by a fourteen-week hospital attachment in the second term, and additional primary care and community days in the third term. You'll also study research methods, public health, law and ethics, while developing clinical reasoning skills and understanding the professional identity of a physician associate.

Year Two
In year two, you'll deepen your knowledge in clinical specialties like acute and emergency medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, psychiatry, and community medicine. Learning is centered on problem based learning, with additional lectures, tutorials, and clinical skills teaching. You'll rotate through these specialties, gaining hands-on experience with various clinical cases under supervision. You'll also complete a dissertation based on your first-year research methods, with clear guidance and expectations.

Teaching and Assessment

This course consists of six taught modules, a dissertation, and 1,600 hours of placement or simulated clinical activity.

Taught clinical modules - will have a problem-based learning approach with supporting lectures, tutorials and workshops. These will provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills to take on the role of a Physician Associate.
Research Methods and Dissertation – In year one, you'll be introduced to research methodology and develop critical appraisal skills. This foundation will prepare you to complete a 10,000-word research project, focused on an area relevant to Physician Associate practice or general healthcare improvement.
Placements – will take place in primary and secondary care settings and will involve clinical and bedside training with direct observation. Our experienced clinical partners, who often work with physician associates, help design placement objectives aligned with national standards.
Assessments – these include written and clinical assessments, as well as case studies, essays and poster presentations.

The demand for Physician Associates in NHS trusts and practices has rapidly grown in the last few years and we predict that number to continue to increase over the next few years.

Our graduates are making an impact across the UK, thriving in diverse specialties, with many of them now supporting our current students during their placements. Many are also leading in clinical settings, taking on influential management and ambassadorial roles in trusts, PCNs, and even at the national level. They're also excelling in education and pushing boundaries in research.