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Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration)

MSc

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
Research
After you graduate

Key facts

Start dates

September 2023 / September 2024

Location

Headington (Marston Road site)

Course length

Full time: 24 months

Department

Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work

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Overview

Our MSc in Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) is a qualifying course for graduates with a relevant first degree. It provides the opportunity to undertake a physiotherapy course leading to registration at master’s level.
 
We use an interprofessional approach to learning, with some modules shared with other health and social care students. 
 
You will need to have the academic ability to work as an autonomous practitioner. And be able to reason through individualised healthcare needs. You will also need:

  • to show personal qualities and values which underpin the overall care you give
  • strong communication and team-working skills
  • a compassionate and caring nature. 

Our lecturers are experienced in their specialist practice areas. They maintain excellent practice links with those areas locally or across the region. They are able to provide a global perspective on Physiotherapy.

We welcome applications from home, EU and international students.

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How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

GCSE: 5 GCSE passes at grade C or above, including English Language and Maths.

Applicants should have a BSc honours degree at 2:1 or above (or equivalent) in a science-based subject in:

  • Anatomy
  • Biological sciences
  • Biology
  • Kinesiology
  • Physiology
  • Sport and Exercise Science
  • Sports Therapy (depending on biology content)

Applicants must:

  • produce one recent reference.
  • have experience of paid or voluntary work within a physiotherapy context which enables the applicant to demonstrate an understanding of the depth and breadth of Physiotherapy and an understanding of the knowledge, skills and values required. 

Applicants will also be assessed on their demonstration of the following qualities:

  • communication and interpersonal skills
  • working with others 
  • a caring and respectful attitude to others
  • reliability, honesty and trustworthiness
  • problem solving skills and the ability to use initiative.

Additionally:

  • All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise.

Scroll down for work experience in the Covid-19 pandemic

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

Screening

All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.

Selection process

All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR). We recognise that values and attitudes have the greatest impact on the quality of people's care and their experiences.

VBR is a way of helping our Programme recruitment teams to assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. When we refer to values we mean, for example, the values included in the NHS constitution.

VBR focuses on 'how' and 'why' an applicant makes choices in how they act and seeks to explore reasons for their behaviour. Further details about the VBR framework can be found here.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) is required.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

International applications

We are pleased to offer a number of places to international applicants. For more details, please contact us. International applicants will need to apply early to allow enough time for obtaining visas.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

Work experience during the COVID-19 pandemic 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic traditional work experience placements in physiotherapy are unlikely to have been available since March 2020. However, you should still show at application and interview an understanding of a career in physiotherapy and the wider health care environment. Alternative ways of developing your insight and NHS values could be: 

  • Involvement with  a group offering care or support in your local community, face to face or virtually.

  • Showing an interest around key health issues in the media and reflecting on what this means for physiotherapists. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy here is a good source of information.


Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis, so please act early to avoid disappointment.

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£10,400
International full time
£16,200
Home (UK) full time
£10,800
International full time
£16,800

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£10,400
International full time
£16,200
2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£10,800
International full time
£16,800

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

Financial support and scholarships

All eligible Physiotherapy students on courses from September 2020 (new and continuing) will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back.  For more information please visit https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

In addition to the tuition fees, there are costs that need to be paid for by students in travelling to and from practice placement and potential accommodation costs. 

These could  be as much as £2,000 per placement depending on the location and type of placement.  However currently the average accommodation cost per month is £550 and average travel cost is £250 per month. Students will spend up to 30 weeks on placement.  

Other costs

  • books and electronic resources - approx £100
  • diagnostic tools such as stethoscope - approx £35
  • deposit for anatomy resources - £10
  • shoes for practice to be worn with uniform - approx £50
  • suitable clothing for the labs - approx £30.

Learning and assessment

You will be taught full-time over two years. This is alongside the well-established and highly-regarded BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy three year course that we offer.

Working at masters level, you will focus on developing your knowledge of physiotherapy, which is evidence-based and underpinned by research.

You will be provided with the knowledge and skills to be:

  • research minded in your attitude to knowledge and the evidence base to physiotherapy
  • self motivated, proactive and equipped to make informed judgements in clinical practice
  • experienced in multi and interdisciplinary working.

In Year 2 your modules broaden to evaluate current health drivers for example, the public health agenda and the increased focus on pre-habilitation and integrated community working. Collaborative practice education is one of the themes in the practice modules. This is further explored in the shared leadership module. Blocks of practice placements continue in Year 2. You will also complete your dissertation.

Students practicing with medical equipment

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

Applied Research Methods

This module aims to advance your knowledge of research methodology and research methods, and their application to research related activity in professional practice. It focuses on research as part of a body of evidence used for professional practice and provides an overview of methodologies and methods commonly used in research in health and social care working environments. 

Human Movement and Dysfunction

This module aims to enable you to critically evaluate knowledge and utilize the skills required for the effective evidenced based physiotherapy management of musculoskeletal dysfunction.  You will develop your patient-centred clinical reasoning and multi-disciplinary care planning approaches. You will apply critical appraisal skills in order to effectively influence and instigate change to enhance health and wellbeing in individuals and populations. 

Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapy

You will critically evaluate the knowledge and apply skills required for the effective, evidence based physiotherapy assessment and management of cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunction. You will develop comprehensive critical understanding of the pathophysiology of the dysfunctional cardiovascular and respiratory systems.  Utilising effective systems based assessment skills, you will be required to apply and evaluate techniques to improve and optimise cardiovascular and respiratory function in a variety of acute and community settings. 

Neurological Movement Control and Dysfunction

You will critically evaluate the knowledge and apply skills required for the effective management of common acute neurological conditions. Specifically, you will acquire critical understanding of the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological basis of normal human motor control and apply it to the assessment and treatment of neurological dysfunction. You will develop skills in formulating physiotherapeutic and multidisciplinary collaborative approaches aimed at achieving person-centred goals and improving quality of life for people with neurological conditions.

Developing Values Based Professionalism

You will develop professional identity, enabling you to develop a way of being and relating in the health and social care context. Through evaluative and reflective opportunities, you will critically examine the concepts of professionalism, the professional domains of concerns, codes of practice of professional bodies and regulatory bodies and explore the clinical reasoning process required to practice sound judgment throughout your professional career.

Leadership and Collaborative Practice

In this single module you will work alongside Occupational Therapy MSc Pre-registration students to develop the skills, knowledge and strategies required to be an effective leader and to work in partnership with diverse teams/agencies across professional and organisational boundaries. This module will develop the skills of critical insight and evaluation of individual professional development needs required for your ongoing professional development after graduation in preparation for your future national and international employment opportunities.

Health, Wellbeing and Exercise

You will gain a systematic understanding of the impact of a physically active lifestyle on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. During the module, you will have the opportunity to critically evaluate the evidence for achieving appropriate physically active lifestyles across a range of populations and conditions. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physiology of exercise.

Physiotherapy Management of Long Term Conditions

This module aims to develop your ability to work collaboratively with people with a range of long term conditions to effectively manage their symptoms, maintain and maximise participation and function and avoid secondary complications. The module will further develop your ability to apply and justify patient-centred clinical reasoning and multi-disciplinary care planning approaches, including the effect of mental health on physical health.

Mastering Physiotherapy Practice

This module will offer you a number of masterclasses which you can select to construct your own bespoke specialist practice module portfolio. This module provides you with an option to work towards developing your profile requirement for registration in your home country or desired place of practice. The module aims to enable you to develop comprehensive and critical understanding of the knowledge base of selected contemporary specialities pertinent to global health care and relevant to your own particular interests.

Placement

Compulsory modules

Work Placements

Your studies will take place within the University and in diverse clinical practice settings ranging for hospitals to community based environments. Clinical education is an important part of the Physiotherapy course, taking place within years 1 and 2. During this period you will undertake the required 1,000 hours of clinical practice. You will focus on developing clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills, taking a critically evaluative approach to practice while also developing a body of sound theoretical knowledge.

Practice Placement I

This practice experience is the first opportunity for you to undertake a period of practice learning which enables you to begin to develop and apply your professional values, skills and knowledge in the practice context.

Practice Placement II and III

Practice Placement IV

In this module, you will be expected to demonstrate higher levels of knowledge and clinical reasoning to enable you to manage a clinical caseload. You are also required to complete and submit a written reflective assignment as part of the assessment for this module.

Practice Placement V

This final module provides you with the opportunity to consolidate your practice.  You will be expected to manage a clinical caseload consistent with the expectations of a newly qualified physiotherapist, with minimum support.

Final project

Compulsory modules

Dissertation

This module aims to enhance your ability to utilise the knowledge, understanding and skills developed previously in a piece of investigative or literature-based research. You will be expected to demonstrate the ability to define a clearly focused research issue, as well as a wide appreciation of the context of the chosen topic.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

We use an enquiry-based approach to learning and various teaching and learning methods are used such as:

  • practicals
  • peer-group presentations
  • group workshops
  • lectures
  • seminars.

You will:

  • learn in a friendly and stimulating environment
  • share your learning with other healthcare students
  • develop your teamwork skills
  • improve your understanding of the other roles which you will encounter in practice. 

Our excellent teaching facilities include:

  • dedicated clinical skills suites and simulation resources
  • a well-equipped movement laboratory
  • a family of computerised simulation manikins (including a simman, simbaby and birthing mother)
  • a broad range of anatomy models.

You can access an extensive range of learning resources through 'Brookes virtual'. This is an online repository of lectures, handouts, information and learning exercises. 

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

We use a range of assessment methods across the academic modules to enable you to demonstrate how you have achieved the learning outcomes. These include:

  • practical examinations
  • vivas
  • written assignments
  • presentations
  • online examinations
  • your dissertation project. 

Clinical placements are assessed as pass/fail. Formative feedback is provided by your clinical educator to help your development as you progress through the programme.

Research

The Centre for Movement Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences (MOReS) brings together research, education and care. 

It is underpinned by a strong, well-published research group, the movement science group

Within the Centre, staff, students and alumni across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences are engaged in a number of research projects.

Researcher using laptop in a quiet space

After you graduate

Career prospects

On completion of the course, physiotherapists may work in units with expertise in:

  • neurology
  • respiratory care
  • orthopaedics
  • musculoskeletal conditions
  • care of the elderly
  • paediatrics.

There are also employment opportunities in professional sport, industry and private practice.

Physiotherapists are employed in an increasing range of settings in acute hospitals and in primary care settings in the community. They have the opportunity to care for a wide range of individuals, from newborn babies to elderly members of the population.

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.