PhysiotherapyMSci

Our four-year MSci course provides the time and space to ensure you will optimally develop your clinical skills and experience alongside academic excellence. Completing the programme provides eligibility for full membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and registration as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council.

• Excellent placement experience – Birmingham is served by some outstanding healthcare facilities (e.g. Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital) that provide many practice-based placement opportunities for our students. 
• Optional modules – The school has many subject experts in physiotherapy, exercise and rehabilitation-related fields. You will have the opportunity to study some optional modules, allowing you to follow your specific interests, broaden your perspectives and study alongside other students in the school, including intercalating medical students.
• Research – As you might expect from a university like ours, the course has a strong emphasis on science and research. You will be supported to develop your academic and research skills from Day 1 with related modules spiralling through the years and culminating in students undertaking a major research project in their final year. Research in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham was ranked 6th* in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF).

* Based on 2021 Research Excellence Framework ranking by GPA (Times Higher Methodology).

Through our research-informed teaching and interdisciplinary learning environment, you'll gain a holistic understanding of patient care. Dive into high-quality placements and projects and take your place at the forefront of modern healthcare with local practice experiences. Bring your learning to life through opportunities to work in real-world community and other settings during extracurricular activities and placements.

• Practical assignments - home to a variety of practical spaces, you will learn in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with mannequins to simulate clinical settings. The manner in which we teach will develop and move from fact-based to care-based to prepare you for practice-based placements.
• Mixed teaching methods - benefit from a range of teaching styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, seminars, presentations, peer group learning and self-study.

Support during your studies

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham:

Personal tutors - will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Wellbeing officers - provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances and help you access wider support on campus and beyond.

Academic Skills Centre - helps you become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support, with workshops on topics such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

Student experience team - will help you get the most out of your academic and social experience, including research opportunities, study skills support and preparing for your post-university careers.

Assessment Methods and Feedback

You will be assessed in a variety of ways. These include:

Exams (e.g. multiple choice and short answer questions, essays)

Coursework (e.g. reflective writing, oral and poster presentations)

Practicals (e.g. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, or OSCEs)

At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. You will receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so you can learn from each assignment as you move through the programme.

Your performance on practice-based placements is also assessed; see the Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF)

Centre for Movement and Wellbeing

Our new Centre for Movement and Wellbeing clinic provides unique opportunities to interact with patients and gain real-life experiences through placements. The physiotherapy clinic is at the heart of MoveWell, offering targeted therapies to support good health, through the treatment and rehabilitation from injury, acute illness and chronic disease.

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

Number of A levels required: 3

A Level

 

AAB

 

Required subjects and grades: A level Biology/Human Biology or PE at grade A.

 

GCSE requirements

 

A total of seven GCSEs; required subjects: English Language at grade 6/B or higher. Mathematics (or one, but not both, of Methods in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics) at grade 6/B or higher. Biology and Chemistry or dual award science at grade 6/B or higher. The remainder of the GCSEs should be at grade 5/C or higher.

 

Specified subjects excluded for entry

 

We do not accept Applied Science, Citizenship Studies, Communication and Culture, Critical Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Global Perspectives, Moving Image Arts, Science in Society, Use of Maths and World Development.

 

BTEC qualifications

 

BTEC Extended Diploma accepted in Sport & Exercise Science, Health Science, Health & Social Care and Applied Science. Grades required - D*D*D* with distinctions in all units.

 

BTEC Extended Diplomas in other subjects will require an additional A level in Biology or PE at grade A.

 

BTEC Diploma accepted in Sport & Exercise Science, Health Science, Health & Social Care, Applied Science, Sport Science, Sport when offered in combination with A level in Biology or PE. Grades required - D*D* plus grade A.

 

BTEC Subsidiary Diploma accepted when combined with 2 A levels to include Biology or PE. Grades required D* plus AB.

 

All BTEC students should contact us before submitting an application.

 

Access to Higher Education

 

Access to Science, Health Science or Physiotherapy: a minimum of 60 credits overall including 45 at Level 3, all with Distinctions. 36 Science credits at Level 3 (with 18 in Biology). English and Maths at GCSE grade 6/B or above.International

 

Baccalaureate Diploma

 

6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall. Higher level subjects need to include the required subjects as defined for the A-level qualification, where applicable.

 

Graduate Entry Requirements

 

A relevant degree at 2.1 plus minimum BBB at A level or an unrelated degree at 2.1 plus minimum BBB to include Biology at A level.

 

Non-academic conditions of entry

 

We are looking for candidates who can enable effective patient care framed around good patient experiences. We would like to recruit candidates who are caring, compassionate, capable of putting patients before their organisation or self, work with others to deliver care which is tailored to a person and therefore improve their lives and lives of their families and carers. Ideally candidates should be open and honest and be able to communicate effectively and clearly with service users. We would like to recruit and train candidates who are innovative and safe and who will strive for excellence in care. Candidates who apply should have a strong ethical stance on equality, non-discrimination and fairness (based on NHS constitution, 2013).

 

A satisfactory health declaration, including evidence of appropriate immunisations, and other regulatory checks (such as DBS - see below) are required from accepted candidates before registration for the programme.

 

Students will be required to complete a successful Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before admission to the programme.

 

For healthcare profession courses no convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings are considered “spent”, this includes those that may have been received when a minor (i.e. under the age of 18).

 

Declaring any matter likely to be recorded on your enhanced DBS disclosure does not automatically rule you out from becoming a physiotherapist. However, you will have to provide information about this to enable us to make a decision about any offer made.

 

Please note that not declaring in advance anything that you are aware of may have an impact on the outcome on the decisions we make regarding your application.

 

All students will be required to sign the subject-specific Fitness to Practise Code of Conduct on entry, details of which will be forwarded with an offer letter.

 

We are influenced in our selection for the physiotherapy programme by a number of different factors, over and above your academic record. We like, for example to see evidence of your motivation for a career in physiotherapy, and your outside interests too are a pointer to whether you are the sort of person likely to make the most of the degree.

 

Achieving the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview.

 

Applicants must gain insight into the breadth of work of the physiotherapist prior to application to ensure informed decision making regarding choice of programme and future profession. This should include shadowing (observing) a physiotherapist and visiting websites related to physiotherapy such as that of the CSP, HPC and NHS. The University open days also provide opportunities to explore the scope of physiotherapy practice meet current physiotherapy students and gain an outline of the physiotherapy degree programme.

 

Applicants will have been in education within the last 3 years.

 

Evidence of IT and interpersonal skills development are required.

 

All candidates offered a place will have been interviewed.

 

Transfer applicants - we do not consider applicants who have studied, or are studying, physiotherapy elsewhere.

 

Foundation degrees are usually not accepted.

 

We take a positive view of what candidates with disabilities can achieve as future healthcare professionals and take seriously our obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that all students with disabilities can successfully complete their studies. All applicants will be assessed up to and including the interview on the basis of the criteria outlined here regardless of any disability. If you declare a disability we will invite you to work with us together with the disability team, clinical colleagues and specialist services (RNIB, for example) to explore how best we can support your studies.

 

Please contact us to discuss other qualifications not listed.

 

Applicants who take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for the programme, plus an alternative offer, which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ.

 

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL: 95 overall with no less than 22 in any band.
• IELTS*: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 76 with no less than 67 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015)***: Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Minimum overall score of 185, with no less than 176 in any component.
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): C1 ‘Expert’ with no less than 25 in each skill.
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable.
• Trinity ISE III: Merit in Writing, Pass in other skills.

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535 for UK students.  If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay.  If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

Undergraduate loans

To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.