MSc (Pre-registration) Physiotherapy

Our accelerated, two-year pre-registration course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and aims to prepare you for work as a physiotherapist in modern practice. 

Running over two years (45 weeks per year), our full-time, accelerated course supports students who have an undergraduate degree in a related subject to practise as a physiotherapist. 

Our taught masters degree helps you to integrate physiotherapy theory with practice and to develop your skills in critical thinking. 

Some of the topics you’ll study include the structure and function of the nervous system, cardiorespiratory system and musculoskeletal system. You’ll consider issues such as health inequalities, the legal and policy frameworks governing physiotherapy practice in the UK, and integrated care. 

You’ll also have practical sessions where you’ll learn physiotherapy techniques such as assessment skills, manual therapy and exercise prescription. These typically take place in our specialist physiotherapy teaching rooms. 

You need to achieve a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours in order to graduate from the programme after which you will be able to apply for registration as a physiotherapist. On our course, you’ll complete four, six-week placements and one, five-week placement.  These placements are normally organised by the Practice Placement team and take place in a wide variety of clinical areas including the NHS and private practice, where you will be supported and work alongside experienced clinical educators who will facilitate and support your learning. The final elective placement can be in an area of your choice either in the UK or abroad. 

Many of our teaching team are actively involved within research and clinical practice alongside their teaching commitments. Current research projects include the implementation of digital app based physiotherapy for patellofemoral pain, remote home monitoring of patients’ home based rehabilitation and the use of virtual reality for lower back pain. 

To fund your postgraduate pre-registration physiotherapy degree, you’ll be able to access standard student loans in line with undergraduate funding for pre-registration courses. 

This course is for students who have an undergraduate degree in a related subject and wish to practice as a physiotherapist. If you are already a physiotherapy graduate and have an active registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), please see our MSc Advanced Physiotherapy.