man and woman exercising in physiotherapy

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

UCAS CODE: PHYS
TARIFF: 112 - 136
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three Years
  • Start Date: September 2024

You can also study this course:

Our BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course is challenging yet hugely rewarding, giving you the knowledge and skills to become a highly competent and compassionate physiotherapist able to work with a variety of patient groups.

Led by academics with extensive clinical experience and guest lecturers who are experienced clinicians, you will also benefit from our close links with NHS and Primary Care Trusts across Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.

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No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
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Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
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5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
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Top 10 for student support*
*Whatuni Student Choice Award 2023

Why study this course?

Physiotherapy has a large and growing demand across a range of settings such as primary care, community settings, sport and private practice. As a profession, demand for Physiotherapy will be further increased as our population ages. It’s a great and rewarding career, with plenty of opportunities to thrive no matter what your passions or experiences are.

As a Physiotherapist you are at the core of physical wellbeing and treatment. This can be applied in a range of settings both medically and within the sports world. It’s an exciting and varied profession that will see you treating all sorts of injuries. No day will be the same and everyday will involve you providing seriously needed help and support to people.

At the core is encouraging the patient’s involvement in their own care, through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment. You can benefit from Physiotherapy at any time in your life, as Physiotherapy helps with back pain or sudden injury, managing long-term medical condition such as asthma, and in preparing for childbirth or a sporting event.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Our programme will help you gain the training and qualifications to pursue an exciting career in Physiotherapy. Led by academic staff and clinicians at the forefront of their subjects, you will benefit from our innovative new facilities for teaching pre-clinical and clinical skills at our High Wycombe Campus.

Our Physiotherapy course is unique in its ability to equip you with skills in evidence-based practice, research, and leadership. A variety of assessment methods will be employed to test your skills in practical or clinical contexts with the purpose of making sure you are genuinely prepared to go straight into a career in Physiotherapy after university.

We focus on learning vocationally, by doing and living through work related experiences. Our lecturers are passionate about both teaching and Physiotherapy and can relate the theory in the classroom to your practice in the clinic.

In addition to the great course benefits that come with studying at BNU, you are also able to access other great perks like our big deal, which offers you free societies, trips and extracurricular activities to attend. The university campus is only 35 minutes by train from London, so it’s an ideal location to explore the city while staying in a countryside town. Its also easy to commute to if you wanted to study from home.

Physiotherapy session
Physiotherapy session exercises with foot

As part of this programme, you will attend placements in a variety of clinical settings, including but not limited to an acute hospital, primary and community stations, and out-patient clinics. This wide range of placements will help give you the experience and knowledge you need to propel you into a successful career as a Physiotherapist. 

As a graduate of this course, you will be eligible to apply to register as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council and as a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

What facilities can I use?

At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and rehabilitation teaching rooms, where you will be taught throughout your course. Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments, and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.

We will also sign you up to our Virtual Learning Environment, which means you will have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!

What will I study?

Your course is accredited by the CSP and is HCPC approved. By studying this course, you will gain a specialist qualification that will help you develop into a highly skilled, evidence-based clinician. The course has been designed to train you in the guidelines, skills and requirements set out in these standards.

Teaching will utilise our specialist teaching equipment and learning spaces to undertake clinical skills training. Professional competence and clinical skills will be addressed during the programme through practical skills sessions, workshops, and problem-based learning, with online resources to support reflection. In some modules, service users will be utilised to give their perspectives on the work environment.

patient having knee massaged by physiotherapist
man and woman exercising in physiotherapy

This will be further supported by online content and clinical placement hours during the second year of study. These clinical hours will take place in a range of settings with a variety of physiotherapists/staff to reflect the changing nature of the role and the variety of settings in which you may work.

Membership of the CSP is highly recommended for all students, and this programme is designed to help you become a chartered physiotherapist, able to work to a high level within the UK and internationally.

How will I be taught and assessed?

On this course you'll focus on clinical skills and problem-based learning. These activities are further supported by lectures, e-learning, practical sessions, tutorials, online and face-to-face seminars.

physiotherapy with students

Our programme and other learning activities experienced on the course will prepare you well for initial practice and will promote continued learning, enabling you to adapt to the opportunities you will face during your career journey.

Each module has at least two forms of assessments in the following formats:

  • objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
  • viva (oral examination)
  • oral presentations
  • written examinations
  • portfolios
  • clinical case studies.

These assessments will support the development of practical, clinical and communication skills that you'll need for success not only on this degree programme but for your lifelong learning.

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 112 - 136

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

Applicants will need to be able to provide evidence of having achieved one or more of the following:

  • A-Levels - Biology and one other natural science is required
  • T levels should be in Health and Science
  • BTECs - Must be from courses in Science or Health subject areas
  • International Baccalaureates - 1 HL subject at grade 5 or above and 1 HL subject at grade 4 or above – to include a natural science. The remaining points come from a combination of HL, SL, and Core subjects.

In addition, applicants will also be required to have attained 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language or literature, mathematics, and a science subject.

Students without the required 112 - 136 UCAS points (but have studied relevant subjects) may still be invited to attend the selection event.

Candidates are required to have practical experience relating to Physiotherapy, such as shadowing, work placement, or healthcare work experience, as explained below.

 

Experience

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognised that not everyone would have work experience. Hence, it will not factor in the 2022 selection. However, we recommend that you have some experience if it is safe to do so.

Examples of work experience include:

  • Work experience (paid or unpaid/ voluntary), e.g., in the private, sporting, or military setting or experience in health/social care in acute, primary, or community care environments.
  • Non-accredited courses, e.g., in-house training, hobbies
  • Life experience
  • Family/friends who are physiotherapy service users
  • Reading and Research
  • Experience to be documented in table format and include location, speciality, and duration of experience – a contact detail for each work experience must be provided for verification if necessary. We recommend a minimum of 20 hours in two settings or 30 hours in one setting.

There is a requirement for students whose first language is not English to achieve an IELTS tariff of 7 with no individual component below 6.5. For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

 

Application and selection process

In your personal statement, don’t forget to cover:

  • Why you wish to study Physiotherapy
  • Why you wish to study at Buckinghamshire New University
  • Why you’re a suitable candidate for the course; what are your experience and skills  
References

We require two references as part of the application. The referees should outline your academic and practical suitability for the course.

Selection day

The criteria for selection considers your ability to study this subject and the professional accrediting bodies' requirements. All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online by a panel consisting of an academic staff member and a clinical Physiotherapist or a service user. They will take it in turn to ask questions. Each interview will last approximately 20 minutes. The interview questions will be based on the NHS values and explore your understanding of Physiotherapy.

The links below may be useful in helping you prepare for the day.

Following the selection day, applicants will be made formal offers, placed on a reserve list, or told that they have been unsuccessful. All offers are subject to satisfactory checks.

Occupational health checks

The admissions team will send a medical questionnaire alongside an offer letter. The questionnaire would be completed by students and returned to the admission team, who then forward all the forms to an external occupational health adviser who will contact the student for further screening if indicated.

Specifically, all prospective physiotherapy students will require immunisation or evidence of immunity for the following:

  • Hepatitis B - You are advised to have at least two doses of hepatitis B vaccine before admission to the University
  • Tuberculosis (TB) - You should have evidence of ‘Bacillus Calmette-Guérin’ (BCG) vaccination either by a visible BCG scar or documented proof of vaccination
  • Mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) - Satisfactory evidence of protection would include documentation of having received two doses of MMR or having had positive antibody tests for measles and rubella
  • History of vaccination for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Polio
  • Varicella history for those born and raised the UK, and Non-UK varicella screening

The above lists are based on the immunisation and infection control standards required for new NHS healthcare workers and students, from the Green Book 2013. View the online version of the book.

Pre-clinical vaccination

All students will need to show evidence of completed vaccination for Hepatitis B, BCG, Varicella, and Influenza, where applicable, prior to starting the programme's placement component. These  vaccinations can be received from most GP surgeries in England. There is up-to-date information on the NHS Choices on how to obtain these vaccinations.

The government has said it will remove the proposed legal requirement to have Covid-19 vaccinations to work, or attend placements, in health and social care. We & our practice partners continue to encourage you to get vaccinated for your & others' safety.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Year 1 Modules

Research and study skills

Applied Anatomy and Assessment of the Neuromusculoskeletal System

Applied Pathophysiology

Neuromusculoskeletal Management and Intervention

Neurological and Long-term Conditions Management and Intervention

Cardio-Respiratory and Pulmonary Conditions Management and Intervention

Year 2 Modules

Physiotherapy Professional Practice 1

Research Methods and Evidence informed practice

Practice Placement 1, 2 and 3

Physiotherapy Practice through the Life Cycle

Physiotherapy Practice in Public Health

Year 3 Modules

Leadership and management

Professional Practice 2

Practice Placement 4 and 5

Dissertation

What are the tuition fees

Home
  • Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £9,250 per year
International
  • Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £16,000 per year
NHS Learning Support Fund

 

To support your studies, the UK Government are continuing to provide adult nursing students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year which will not need to be paid back. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects?

We see your journey with us as much more than a degree, and we are committed to supporting you to carve out the route to your chosen career and life beyond university. We will help you develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable, and good business leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages.

Upon graduation, you will have the knowledge and key personal skills and attitudes necessary to pursue a successful professional career as a physiotherapist in any setting.

Physiotherapists work in different areas of healthcare, including acute hospitals, primary care settings, community, and out-patient clinics. They also work in professional sport, health clubs, the commercial sector. You may also choose to set up your own practice. This degree gives you a variety of options and helps set you up for your future career.

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Dr Yetunde Dairo
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