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Physiotherapy (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

2024-25 (also available for 2023-24, 2025-26)

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC

BTEC - DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

20

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. You’ll gain real-world experience through practical placements with local healthcare providers, including in the NHS, private practice, and sports clubs, enabling you to enhance your skills and knowledge.
  2. Benefit from the use of our physiotherapy practical rooms, simulation suites and biomechanics laboratory, where you’ll practise your skills for assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as movement analysis.
  3. You’ll hear first-hand experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group to enhance your learning.

This apprenticeship course has been designed to provide the opportunity to study Physiotherapy (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons) whilst being employed in the allied-health related sector. During this apprenticeship you’ll explore all aspects of practice from musculoskeletal physiotherapy and health management to neurological conditions and working with vulnerable client groups, providing you with the opportunity to build a wide knowledge base.

  • You’ll learn in small groups throughout the course, so you can take advantage of the high levels of support on offer.
  • Working in our physiotherapy practical rooms and biomechanics laboratory, you’ll have the opportunity to practice your skills in massage, joint manipulation and hot and cold treatments, as well as electrotherapy, movement analysis and rehabilitation.
  • All modules are bespoke and designed specifically for the needs of apprenticeship learners.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.
  • The course is accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council, so you can be confident it has independent approval.

In line with the apprenticeship model, the course is designed to support a training in practice approach. Whilst undertaking the course you’ll remain employed by your host organisation and will spend 80% of your time in your current workplace. The exception to this is when on clinical practice. The remaining 20% will be spent at the University undertaking theory work and developing practical skills. This equates to one day a week for the duration of the course. The course is designed to be progressively demanding and once qualified you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (subject to approval) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

If you’re thinking of studying an apprenticeship course or are an employer looking for an apprenticeship for your employees, you’ll also find useful information on our Degree Apprenticeship webpages.

Course detail

Core modules:

Clinical Anatomy

This module introduces you to the theory and skills fundamental to current physiotherapy practice by relating the anatomy and mechanical principles associated with human movement. This foundation module focuses on the theoretical and practical approach to the provision of appropriate physiotherapeutic interventions.

Human Physiology

In this module you’ll have the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of clinical and exercise physiology as it relates to physiotherapy through a combination of theory and practical sessions. You’ll also have the chance to develop basic clinical skills fundamental to the practice of physiotherapy.

Professional Skills Development

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the fundamental academic skills to understand and report current relevant research, as well as those required to underpin lifelong learning and personal development planning. You’ll be introduced to the concept of reflective practice and be encouraged to utilise experience to develop this throughout the module.

The Profession of Physiotherapy

This module will introduce you to the concepts of professionalism, leadership and appropriate behaviours of a physiotherapist, including the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice. In addition, you’ll explore the influence a physiotherapist’s role can have in patient management and the impact this can have on public health and patient lifestyle.

Entry requirements

BBCat A Level

112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications. If you are studying a Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course. Please note that the UCAS points are used as a frame of reference and that applications will not be submitted through UCAS.

Merit at T Level in Health or Healthcare Science.

DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits 15 at Distinction, 30 at Merit.
  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma at Grade B.

In addition you will:

  • Be at least 16 years old.
  • Have lived in the EEA for the past 3 years and currently reside in the United Kingdom.
  • Be employed in a role relevant to your apprenticeship for more than 30 hours per week in England (or have at least 50% of their working hours in England).
  • Be paid more than the Apprenticeship National Minimal Wage.
  • Have an understanding of the Physiotherapy profession.
  • Have GCSE English Literature and Mathematics at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English. This is a standard apprenticeship requirement.

If you have alternative qualifications, along with relevant working experience, these will be considered on an individual basis. Any alternative qualifications must meet the University's minimum entry requirements.

You’ll need to complete a Rehabilitation of Offenders form and have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances. We arrange these as part of the application process. You’ll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

You will also be required to complete an Initial Needs Assessment.

Offers will be subject to an interview and references. Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Ofsted Outstanding courses


The University’s apprenticeship provision was awarded an outstanding rating by Ofsted in a recent inspection.

Huddersfield is only the second university to be awarded Ofsted’s outstanding rating for its apprenticeship provision in the last four years.

It is also the only university in the Yorkshire and Humber region and the north-west of England to have both an outstanding Ofsted rating for apprenticeships and to be a TEF Gold-rated university.

The University was awarded outstanding in all five categories:

  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
  • Apprenticeships

The apprenticeship provision was praised by Ofsted for the positive experiences of the apprentices, the research-informed knowledge of teaching staff, and for the strong relationships between the University’s leaders and employers.

Placements


You'll undertake seven clinical practices across the programme of study. There are six clinical practices across Years 2 and 3 each consisting of 170 hours and an introductory clinical practice in Year 1 lasting 112 hours. Completion of these will exceed the threshold of 1000 clinical hours required to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Your clinical practices provide you the opportunity to apply and develop clinical skills under the guidance and supervision of an experienced practitioner. A critical examination of the relationship between theory and practice is central to the component of the clinical practices. All clinical practices are compulsory and must be completed prior to the End Point Assessment.

“I have undertaken placements with an acute trauma and orthopaedics team and a cardio respiratory team. These have provided the opportunity to enhance my skills and gain experience working with patients with a variety of needs, as well as use different treatment methods and equipment.“

0

Olivia Wootton, Currently studying Physiotherapy (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

Your career


Career opportunities after successfully completing this course could include working work as physiotherapists in a number of NHS hospitals and in the private sector. You could also pursue the many leadership opportunities available to physiotherapists within the public and private sector.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Human and Health Sciences, which provides you with support in a variety of areas. These include:

Student Hub: a one stop shop for students, studying within the School. Their services include offering advice on extenuating circumstances, extension requests, course progression, suspension and welfare support, organising appointments with academic staff and signposting to other support networks.

Academic Skills Development Team: support students to develop their academic skills and build their confidence in order to improve their grades. The team provide support with academic skills including essay writing, being critical, reflective writing, numeracy, research skills, presentations and group work skills; as well as personal development for example time management.

Learning Technology Support Unit: helps students with any problems they experience with the University’s Brightspace Learning System, including logging on or difficulties experienced when accessing and using modules, and with the PebblePad platform, which is used by students when they go out on placements.

Support services will also be available from your employer.

Important information

When you enrol as an apprentice learner of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and our disciplinary procedure. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as an apprentice. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

Changes to a course you have applied for but not yet started

If we propose to make a major change to an apprenticeship course that you have applied for, then we will tell you and your employer as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Although we always try and run all the courses we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or delay your course start date if we consider this reasonably necessary, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you and your employer as soon as reasonably possible. In such instances, we will work with you and your employer to agree a deferred start date, or cancel your application and, if appropriate, provide information regarding other local apprenticeship providers.

Changes to your course after you enrol as an apprentice

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that materially changes the services available to you, or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days, classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the requirements of an updated version of the apprenticeship standard relevant to your course; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered or claiming an interim award and exiting the University.

If a major change affects your course, we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible and will carry out suitable consultation with affected apprentices. If you and your employer reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment we will work with both of you to try to find an appropriate solution. Where one cannot be found we will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring your remaining apprenticeship learning to another training provider if you and your employer wish to do so.

Termination of employment

As your employer is funding your apprenticeship course, you must remain in relevant employment for the duration of the course until you have completed your end point assessment. Under the apprenticeship rules, if you are made redundant and you have completed 75% of the practical period or have less than 6 months left, then you may complete the course. Otherwise, unless you find alternative relevant employment within 12 weeks of the date you are made redundant, then you will be withdrawn from the course.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University. The ESFA is the principal regulator for your apprenticeship course.

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