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Physiotherapy BSc(Hons)

2023-24 (also available for 2024-25)

Start date

18 September 2023

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - ABB-BBB

BTEC - DDD-DDM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

80 (FULL)

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. Using our physiotherapy practical rooms and biomechanics laboratory, you’ll have the opportunity to practice your handling skills for assessment and rehabilitation, as well as movement analysis.
  2. You’ll gain real-world experience through practical placements with local healthcare providers and sports clubs, enabling you to enhance your skills and knowledge.
  3. You’ll hear first-hand experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, as well as guest lecturers with specific expertise.

This course is now full for September 2023.

Are you fascinated by how our muscles, joints and bones work together to make us move and how these are affected through illness and injury? Would you like to work with vulnerable people in a rehabilitation setting? On our Physiotherapy degree you’ll get the chance to delve into all the science behind the practice and build the skills and understanding you need to work in this hands-on and rewarding profession.

  • 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 handling skills for assessment and rehabilitation, as well as movement analysis.
  • Our excellent links with local healthcare providers and sports clubs provide opportunities for you to undertake practical placements, where you can apply and build on the skills and knowledge you have learnt.
  • 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.

Exploring all aspects of practice from musculoskeletal physiotherapy and health management to neurological conditions and working with vulnerable client groups, you’ll have the opportunity to build a wide knowledge base. As you progress through the course, you’ll study how to assess, advise and treat individuals with a variety of conditions including spinal and joint problems, respiratory difficulties, neurological problems and other chronic conditions, accidents and operations.

Students studying this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year. Further information is available on the NHS Learning Support Fund Website.

Course detail

Core modules:

Applied Anatomy and Movement Analysis

This module provides you with the theory and skills fundamental to current physiotherapy practice by relating the anatomy and mechanical principles associated with human movement and recognising normal movement. The module starts to focus on the theoretical and practical approach to the provision of appropriate physiotherapeutic interventions.

Introduction to Health and Healthcare

In this module you'll explore how physiotherapists are involved in promoting public health and examine health promotion in relation to specific service users. You'll also have the opportunity to develop an understanding of healthcare delivery, as well as practical and communication skills by completing a clinical placement. This will involve a three week, physiotherapy-specific experience, which will provide you with the opportunity to put various skills into practice under supervision of a qualified physiotherapist.

Physiology in Physiotherapy Practice

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 have the chance to develop basic clinical skills fundamental to the practice of physiotherapy.

Professional Development and Research 1

This module involves a multidisciplinary learning approach, where you'll work with occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry students. You'll have the opportunity to explore lifelong learning and continuing professional development that underpins the essential skills needed in order to understand registration requirements for your specific professional and regulatory body.

Entry requirements

ABB-BBBat A Level including a Biological Science (Biology or Physical Education), excluding General Studies and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.

128-120 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications including an A Level grade B or above in a Biological Science (Biology or Physical Education), excluding General Studies and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.

DDD-DDM in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science (must contain at least 40% externally examined assessment) or DDD-DDM in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science (must contain at least 40% externally examined assessment).

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with at least 45 level 3 credits, 30 of which must be passed at Distinction and must include distinctions in at least 21 credits in Biological Science.
  • 128-120 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications including a Biological Science at Higher Level at grade 6.

In addition you must have GCSE English Language or Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification.

Your Biological Science qualifications must have been gained within the last 4 years.

You must have an understanding of the physiotherapy profession.

You also need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration. 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.

Placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.

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 for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course.

If you have alternative qualifications you may wish to contact us for advice before applying.

Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer.

Other suitable experience with a minimum of one third Biological Science content will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Katie's story


Watch Katie’s film to hear why she chose to study at Huddersfield and what the course placements involve. Katie also talks about why she recommends studying physiotherapy at the University and what her future career plans are.

Placements


We believe nothing can replace the exhilaration, pace and decision making of actually doing the job. That is why we consider clinical placements an invaluable part of learning and a compulsory element of the course, in order to offer you a range of experience and expertise.

You will undertake a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical placements across the three years of study. These may be undertaken at sites across West Yorkshire in National Health Service Trusts providing primary and secondary care. In addition, experience can be gained in school settings, private hospitals, charities and sports clubs. For more information visit our placements page.

Your career


Our graduates have gone on to work as physiotherapists in a number of NHS hospitals and in the private sector. They have specialised in musculoskeletal care, rehabilitation and sport, as well as working in private practice or at sports clubs.**


* Percentage of graduates from this course who go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 19/20, UK Domiciled )
** LinkedIn.

 

 

100% Graduates employed*

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.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, 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 as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

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 in this context 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 (part time provision), 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 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 a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

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 as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student 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 disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. 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. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

Equal opportunities

The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

Data protection

The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

Students’ Union membership

Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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