BSc in Physiotherapy (Full Time)  BSc in Physiotherapy (Full Time) University of Nottingham ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1564642957nottingham.jpg

This course will give you the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed for modern physiotherapists in both the NHS and private practice.

Our BSc Physiotherapy course is aimed at those who are committed to helping people promote, restore and maintain movement and function, whether this has been affected by injury, disability or illness, improving patients’ physical, psychological and social wellbeing.

The course prepares students in the areas of practice needed to work as a newly qualified physiotherapist. The key is patient focus, meaning students will be expected to exercise sound judgement in a variety of clinical situations, being able to evaluate and adapt their therapeutic skills to meet the needs of the individual patient.

Not only do physiotherapists treat physically, they are also involved with health promotion and illness prevention. As a science-based profession, practitioners aim to evaluate their practice continually and add to the current body of knowledge in order to provide the best possible care for patients.

The Division of Physiotherapy sits within the School of Health Sciences, which is a research active school and has its own dedicated  Rehabilitation Research Group, led by Professor Avril Drummond. All of our teaching staff have expertise in the field, contributing to key module content, while many are also practicing physiotherapists. 

Our physiotherapy course is ranked 3rd in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2020.

Learning environments

The majority of teaching will take place in the Clinical Sciences Building at  Nottingham City Hospital.

The Clinical Sciences Building is purpose-built and contains a 200-seat lecture theatre, a number of large lecture rooms, several smaller tutorial rooms and four practical rooms. These are stocked with all the equipment necessary for practical skills teaching, including:

• movement analysis equipment (e.g. cybex machine, force plates)
• electrotherapy (diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound and shortwave therapy)
• exercise based equipment including gym balls, weights and balance equipment
• manikins equipped for respiratory teaching (e.g. auscultation dolls, suction practice and CPR) 

A human performance laboratory is also based on site and is used for the analysis of human movement and biomechanics. A smaller laboratory room can be used for nerve conduction studies, imaging ultrasound and upper limb movement analysis.

Location

Located approximately four miles from University Park Campus, Nottingham City Hospital is easily accessed by either the University hopper bus or the  Medilink bus service from the Queen’s Medical Centre (adjacent to University Park Campus), so you will still be close to all the amenities on campus such as the Sports Centre and Students’ Union.

The City hospital has a wide range of regional and national centres, which contribute to both the academic and clinical teaching. These include:

• a burns and plastics unit
• a specialist renal unit
• cardiac/thoracic centre

Other campuses

Students also spend a portion of their time at the Queen’s Medical Centre hospital, Nottingham, where facilities include:

• a children’s hospital
• laboratories and dissection rooms in the School of Biomedical Sciences
• clinical skills suite

In addition, students make use of the Sports Village at our Jubilee Campus and the David Ross Sports Village on University Park, for teaching around exercise prescription and functional rehabilitation.

Sport at Nottingham

The University of Nottingham is one of the UK’s leading universities for sport and is currently Sports University of the Year in the 2019 The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. We have one of the biggest portfolios of sports facilities in the country, including the brand new £40m David Ross Sports Village, which has seminar rooms, a sports injury clinic and a hydrotherapy pool to provide additional teaching and practical experience for physiotherapy students.

Find out more about sport at the University of Nottingham.

Course Structure

Year one

The first year runs in conjunction with the University academic year. It consists of the welcome week, 24 weeks of timetabled theory and four assessment weeks.

This year provides the basis of the academic concepts and practical skills required for professional practice, including; anatomy, physiology, common musculoskeletal conditions, basic research skills and an introduction to professional development.

Two modules run throughout the course; one covers the basic principles of research, ending with a 6,500 word dissertation project, while the other includes aspects relating to personal and professional development, such as:

• skills for effective management of learning
• communication
• models of healthcare
• medical records/ethics
• personality
• behaviour
• life-long learning

There are no placements in year one, as the course focuses on skills training to equip students with the expertise necessary to undertake their first placement in year two.

Read more about our teaching methods, including a sample first year timetable.

Years two and three

Years two and three contain a total of 32 weeks of supervised clinical practice, split into eight four-week blocks in the core areas of physiotherapy. The first placement takes place in the November of year two.

The second year is about building on the basic knowledge and practical skills acquired in year one. Students start to consider more specialist areas, for instance, cardiorespiratory, neurology and long term complex conditions.

We pride ourselves on the flexible approach that we offer in year three, enabling you to select a course of study based on your interests. The choice available in the academic modules in year three also extends into one of the four clinical placements, where you can choose from a variety of special interests, including:

• paediatrics
• women's health
• adult learning disabilities
• mental health
• burns and plastics
• oncology
• rheumatology

Students also complete a dissertation in year three, which is particularly beneficial for those wishing to continue to postgraduate study.

Whilst the majority of applicants offer traditional qualifications we are happy to consider non-traditional qualifications on an individual basis. These must be taken in relevant subjects and passed at an equivalent standard.

For individual advice, please make an enquiry.  

Minimum requirements

GCSEs

Minimum of six subjects at grade 9-5 (A*-B) to include maths, English language and either biology or integrated/combined sciences.

Plus one of the following:

• A levels
• or BTEC National or Higher National Diploma   

Understand how we show GCSE grades

A levels

AAB in three A levels, one of which must be in biology or physical education, or acceptable biological science (i.e. human biology). Applicants are required to pass the practical element of assessment in biology, chemistry and/or physics if assessed separately. General studies is not accepted. 

Alternative qualifications

BTEC Higher National Diploma

• 16 units, majority in biology and the life sciences (please contact the division for guidance on acceptable HND qualifications) 
• Merit > distinction profile (DDM)  

 BTEC National Diploma

• Sport and exercise science pathway only
• 18 units, distinction profile (DDD)
• Other BTEC diplomas are accepted at (DD profile) if accompanied by A level biology or physical education at grade B

 Irish Leaving Certificate

• Five papers at Higher Level, taken at one sitting
• Minimum of AAABB
• to include maths, English and biology

 Scottish Advanced

• AA to include biology/PE
• plus AABBB at Highers

 International Baccalaureate

• 34 points, with 6 in biology
• Minimum of three subjects at Higher level, including biology 

Qualifications for applicants considering a career change or return to academic study

Applicants who have had a break from education or are looking at a change in career are welcomed. Academic requirements are as follows:  

Previous degree

2:1 in a relevant subject within the last three years (if in a non-relevant subject, or outside the three-year limit, contact us for advice).

Other previous academic suitability

Applicants who have not studied for three or more years but who would otherwise have been considered academically suitable must show evidence of recent study, usually one A level. This should be biology or physical education, unless previously achieved in which case we recommend sociology or psychology. 

No previous academic suitability

Applicants who have no relevant academic qualifications, or failed to achieve the required grades, are expected to have a GCSE grade 4 (C) in maths and English language or equivalent, plus one of the following: 

• A levels: two academic A levels (to include biology or physical education) at B grades.
• Access Diploma: science or health based; with a minimum of 24 credits in biology. Total of 60 credits are required with 45 passed at level 3. A minimum of 30 level 3 credits must be at distinction. For further information please contact the division.
• Open University qualifications: 30 points at Level 2, accrued within one year at Pass Grade 2. SK299 Human Biology is usually the accepted module. For further information please contact the division.

English language requirements

Physiotherapy students need to be fluent in the English language in order to both understand and complete the course and to communicate effectively with patients and members of the multidisciplinary team. For students whose first language is not English we require an IELTS score of 7.5 with no less than 7 in any element. Please note that a pass at GCSE English language with a grade 5 (B) or above will normally be regarded as meeting this requirement.  

If you require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you can attend a presessional course at the Centre for English Language Education (CELE), which is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English. Successful students can progress onto their chosen degree course without taking IELTS again.

For details of other English language tests and qualifications we accept, please see our entry requirements page.

Flexible admissions policy

In recognition of our applicants’ varied experience and educational pathways, The University of Nottingham employs a flexible admissions policy. We consider applicants’ circumstances and broader achievements as part of the assessment process, but do not vary the offer from the grades advertised as a result of these. Please see the University’s admissions policies and procedures for more information. 

Completing a UCAS form

All applications must be made through  UCAS. 

We do not normally consider late applications, after the mid-January deadline. 

An excellent UCAS form includes: 

• A strong academic profile with either traditional or non-traditional qualifications on offer 
• A highly supportive reference (normally an academic reference) 
• A personal statement which tells us all about the applicant

The personal statement is paramount in deciding who will be chosen to go forward for interview. We look for the applicant who knows what the profession involves in terms of actual work and has the traits and characteristics necessary in a physiotherapist. 

Find out more about the admissions and offers process.  

Work experience

Physiotherapy is a vocational degree and applicants need to be enthusiastic about the profession and sure in their own minds that they really want to be a physiotherapist. 

We require you to undertake as much physiotherapy work experience as possible primarily within the NHS hospital and community settings before applying. Experience in other areas, such as special schools, private practice, sports clinics, and centres for the elderly will strengthen your application.   

Without work experience it is likely that your application will be rejected.  

Health and Criminal Records screening

All applicants are subject to satisfactory health screening, by Occupational Health, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks before they can commence the course. 

Deferred applications

We welcome applications from students wishing to take a gap year and encourage them to use the year creatively. Gap year students form 10-15% of each cohort. 

Study abroad

All students have the opportunity to spend three weeks on an international clinical elective placement. Students arrange their own placement and have the potential to go anywhere in the world, provided the country is deemed safe and you are supervised by a physiotherapist whose qualifications are recognised by a relevant Statutory Body, or Competent Authority.

Previous students have undertaken placements in India, Malaysia, Malawi, Spain, Sri Lanka, Uganda and the USA.

As the elective placement takes place in June during the third year, many students choose to do some travelling, or take a holiday at the end of their placement.

Further information about physiotherapy placements can be found on the placements section of the school website. We also have a Fees and Finance page.

Placements

Students gain a variety of clinical experience through eight four-week placements. These are designed to reinforce the academic course content, meaning our students are well prepared for the workplace with a whole range of skills.

Placement locations and areas of practice could include:

• outpatients (clinic or gym based)
• neurology (may include stroke rehabilitation)
• cardio respiratory (experience on intensive or high dependency units, community cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation)
• paediatrics
• oncology
• community
• inpatient elective
• trauma orthopaedics (either elective, trauma, or spinal) 

Three out of four placements are local, and students are reimbursed for their travel costs. There is some flexibility with placement choices, as students complete a questionnaire detailing their preferences, though these cannot be guaranteed.

Please note that students are also required to self-fund any additional accommodation whilst on placement. At present this cost can be claimed back.

We work with certain trusts, including the fixed ones at:

• Queen’s Medical Centre
• City Hospital
• Royal Derby Hospital
• Kings Mill Hospital

There are also hospital trusts offering expertise further afield in Chesterfield, Lincoln and Leicester.

We have a clinical placements team who organise all placements for students and visit them whilst on placement, providing pastoral and clinical support. Visits generally take place midway and at the end of the placement, to coincide with the clinical educator mid/final assessment, though are available as often as required if a student needs further support.