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Podiatry BSc(Hons)

2023-24 (also available for 2024-25)

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It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

18 September 2023

Duration

3 years full-time
4½ years part-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBB-BBC

BTEC - DDM-DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

50

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About the course

Reasons to study

  1. You’ll have the opportunity to gain vital experience using our fully equipped on-site podiatry clinic, surgical theatre suite, biomechanics gait analysis equipment and orthotics laboratory.
  2. You’ll participate in interprofessional learning alongside physiotherapists, occupational therapists and pharmacy students, preparing you to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  3. You’ll have the opportunity to qualify with a certificate in local anaesthesia and prescription only medicines (POMs) annotation.

Podiatrists are allied healthcare professionals who assess and treat the lower limb and foot. They help to keep the population mobile and active, and prevent foot conditions from deteriorating. Podiatrists enable better health for the population and support people to be pain free, active and remain in work. On our Podiatry BSc(Hons) course you’ll have the opportunity to build the knowledge and hands-on skills you need whilst learning in specialist clinical facilities. We aim to give you the skills to improve the mobility and quality of life of your patients.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to gain vital experience using our fully equipped on-site Podiatry Clinic, surgical theatre suite, biomechanics gait analysis equipment and orthotics laboratory.
  • Clinical placements will be undertaken each year, where you can put what you’ve learnt to the test in the real world.
  • The course helps to prepare you for working as part of a multidisciplinary team, as you’ll take part in interprofessional learning alongside physiotherapists, occupational therapists and pharmacy students.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to hear the experiences and viewpoints from service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to qualify with a certificate in local anaesthesia and prescription only medicines (POMs) annotation.

An honours degree may only be the first step in your podiatric career. Many podiatrists undertake further training to become a podiatric surgeon, forensic podiatrist or advanced podiatrist working in specialist areas such as vascular and diabetic care. Others set up their own consultancies or private clinics, as well as finding roles working in established podiatry clinics across the country and beyond. So, if you’re looking for a career in healthcare working independently and developing your entrepreneurial skills, then podiatry could be a good choice for you.

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:

Clinical Podiatry 1

This module aims to provide you with clinical experience of the fundamental techniques used in podiatric care and an understanding of the principles on which therapeutic interventions are based. Through supervised clinical sessions in the University's Podiatry Clinic and a four week NHS placement you'll focus on the practical application of psychomotor skills including scalpel work, nail care, health promotion and manufacture of clinical padding, strapping and insoles fabricated in the orthotic laboratory.

Lower Limb Structure and Function

This module introduces you to the anatomy of the lower limb and helps you to develop an understanding about different anatomical structures and their function in walking, including bones, joints, muscles and tendons. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and recognition of anatomical structures, as well as your understanding of gait.

Medicine 1

You'll have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of homeostasis and the major organ systems of the human body. You'll also have the chance to gain the ability to demonstrate knowledge of core pathologies relevant to podiatric practice, which will enable you to put the module theory into clinical practice. Teaching will be delivered through interactive lectures, spot tests and online tutorial support.

Podiatric Theory 1

Through a combination of lectures and seminars you'll be introduced to a range of podiatric conditions which are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Completion of this module in addition to Clinical Practice 1 and Medicine 1 currently fulfils the College of Podiatry requirements for qualification as a podiatry assistant.

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

BBB-BBCat A Level .

120-112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Merit at T Level

DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 30 at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits at Merit.
  • 120-112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

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.

  • You need to demonstrate an understanding of the profession.
  • Applicants with significant experience working as a podiatry assistant, foot care assistant or foot health practitioner and who have completed an appropriately recognised course will be considered for interview.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • If you have alternative qualifications you may wish to contact us for advice before applying.

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.

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.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study.

Placements

Placements are a compulsory element of the course and take place in a range of different NHS settings. You'll undertake 435 hours on placement throughout the duration of the course. The placements will provide you with:

  • Orientation to the NHS and introduction to podiatry in the NHS.
  • Supervised work providing treatment of patients requiring footcare assistant level care.
  • A wider range of clinical practice experience to include an overview of the roles of other healthcare practitioners.
  • Supervised management of patients requiring complex interventions in a range of treatment locations, including those patients deemed to be at risk or those whose environment create additional risk.

There may also be opportunities for final year students to access placements in other parts of the world where we have contacts.

Please note that you may be required to travel for/during your placements. For more information visit our placements page.

“I've completed placements in an NHS trust and podiatric clinics in Singapore. They provided an insight into what the role of a podiatrist entails and the various settings they work. I was also able to network with other podiatrists and develop skills required for my future career.”

Levi Kadiri, podiatry student photo

Levi Kadiri, Currently studying Podiatry BSc(Hons)

Your career

As a registered practitioner, you can apply to work within the NHS and private practice.

Our graduates have gone on to work as podiatrists in the NHS hospitals, community health trusts and the private sector.**

After further training you could specialise in musculoskeletal care, orthotics, diabetes and high risk patients, as well as podiatric surgery.

 

* 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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