Program Overview

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Physiotherapy (Physiotherapist Degree Apprenticeship)

Overview

Physiotherapy is a science-based profession that takes a 'whole person' approach to health and wellbeing. Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness, and/or disability to maximize their potential to return to or maintain function(s). This degree, accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, equips you with the knowledge and skills required by physiotherapists to provide evidence-based healthcare.

Attendance and Course Details

• Attendance: Part-time
• Course: Four years
• Next enrolment: September 2025

Introduction

Physiotherapy is a science-based profession and takes a 'whole person' approach to health and wellbeing. Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness, and/or disability to maximize their potential to return to or maintain function(s). To do this, we use approaches such as movement/exercise, manual therapy/handling, technologies, education, and behaviour change techniques.

Course Accreditations

• Accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

What You Will Study

You will study alongside students on the part-time route of the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme. The programme will last 4 years over each trimester, consisting of 80 credits in years 1 and 4 and 100 credits in years 2 and 3.

Year One

• Assessment and Management Peripheral 1
• Principles of Exercise and Activity
• Fundamentals of Professional Practice

Year Two

• Assessment and Management Peripheral 2
• Cardo Respiratory Assessment and Management
• Discovering and Evaluating Health and Wellbeing Interventions
• Practice Based Learning 1 (PBL1)

Year Three

• Spinal Assessment and Management
• Neurological Assessment and Management
• Research in Physiotherapy Practice
• Practice Based Learning 2 (PBL2)
• Practice Based Learning 3 (PBL3)

Year Four

• Assessment and Management in Complex Physiotherapy Practice
• Transition to Autonomous Physiotherapy Practice
• Preparation and Completion of the End Point Assessment

Teaching and Learning

We pride ourselves on providing a high-quality teaching and learning environment. Our teaching staff includes clinical specialist physiotherapists, key physiotherapy textbook authors, physiotherapy researchers, and successful private practitioners.

You are taught through a combination of lectures, small group tutorials, practical classes, clinical visits, and clinical placements. Tutorials enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. Your practical classes, clinical visits and clinical placements allow you to practice and apply assessment and management physiotherapeutic skills.

Clinical Placements

Full-time clinical placement takes place in years two, three and four of the apprenticeship degree:

• Year two – 1 x 6-week placement
• Year three – 1 x 6-week placement and 1 x 5-week placement
• Year four – 1 x 5-week placement

Requirements

Applicant Profile

We are looking for bright, motivated and dedicated applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to becoming a physiotherapist. Having an awareness of the broad range of physiotherapy practice is essential.

Standard Entry Requirements

• GCSE: Five at grade 5 or above including English Language, Maths and Science (Dual Award)/Biology
• UCAS tariff points: 128
• A level: ABB (UCAS Tariff points – 128) At least one science preferably Biology
• BTEC National Diploma: DDM (Science based)
• Access to HE: 60 credits with 45 credits @ level 3, Distinction profile
• Scottish Highers: 128 points
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 128 UCAS points required, points from H1-H3 grades (A/B grades in the old system) considered only

English Language Requirements

International applicants will be required to show proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.5, with no element below 6.0, is proof of this.

Funding

The apprenticeship levy was introduced in April 2017 and requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill of over £3 million each year to invest in apprenticeships.

The funding policy supports the changes to the way apprenticeships in England are paid for, underpinned by the apprenticeship levy of 0.5% of the annual pay bill for companies paying over £3 million per year.

The maximum amount of money allocated to each standard falls into a specific funding band, ranging from £1,500 to £27,000. The Physiotherapist standard has been allocated the following funding band:

• Funding band maximum: £24000

Additional Costs

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Career Links

We have very strong links with industry which you can take advantage of. You will gain wide-ranging experience from placements in NHS hospitals and community-based Trusts, private hospitals, sporting organisations and private practices both locally and beyond the north-west region. On each clinical placement, you will be supported by experienced clinicians and work as part of health care teams.

What About After Uni?

Through the programme, you will have developed key employability skills e.g skills of enquiry, critical thinking, problem-solving and reflection. You will leave the programme with an extensive portfolio to demonstrate these skills and your CPD. You will be well prepared for the transition into autonomous practice as a qualified physiotherapist.

Our graduates have gone onto work in a variety of health and wellbeing related fields. Some examples include the NHS, private sector, social services, industry, the armed forces and sporting organisations. We have seen the return of graduates working in advanced clinical roles to our postgraduate study programmes to further enhance their career development. Some of our graduates work at the highest levels of a professional sport such as rugby (Sale Sharks), football (Manchester City), cricket (Derbyshire CCC) and basketball (New York Knicks). Some have taken the skills they have developed and now work overseas or in physiotherapy-related research and education.