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.