Program Overview

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Overview

Podiatry is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of foot and lower limb disorders, many of which are caused by general health disorders. This degree apprenticeship provides a new route for developing and retaining the future podiatry workforce that is complementary to the academic route, ensuring that graduating apprentices are competent podiatrists able to meet the future needs of employers.

Course Details

Attendance

• Part-time

Course Duration

• Three years

Next Enrolment

• September 2025

Introduction

In a Nutshell

Podiatry is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of foot and lower limb disorders, many of which are caused by general health disorders. You will use comprehensive assessment and diagnostic skills to develop patient care pathways for conditions which impact on people's quality of life.

What You Will Learn

• Learn the basic practical skills and knowledge to enable you to treat patients safely
• Acquire the reflective, critical thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills that are essential to professional practice

Course Structure

Year One

• Integrated Life Science 1
• Professional Studies
• Integrated Life Science 2
• An Introduction to Gait

Year Two

• Musculoskeletal Conditions 1
• Applied Clinical Medicine
• Prescription Only Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Conditions 2
• Local Anaesthesia
• Contexts of Clinical Practice DA

Year Three

• Diagnosis and Management
• Enterprise in Podiatry
• Methods of Enquiry (Project)
• Patient Management in Practice DA
• End Point Assessment

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching

• Lectures
• Problem-based learning
• Tutorials
• Patient case study workshops
• Clinical sessions, in-house and within the NHS

Assessment

• Each module will be assessed by coursework and/or end of module examination
• Apprentices will also complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) as part of their final module
• The EPA includes:
  • The submission of a portfolio of evidence relating to knowledge, skills and behaviours you have learnt within the University and on the job
  • A presentation of practice with question and answer session
  • A scenario based judgement test

Employment and Statistics

Career Prospects

• Qualified podiatrists find employment in hospitals, GP clinics, in the community, or can set up in private practice
• They can work alongside doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other professionals and are seen as a vital part of the health care team

Further Study

• Some students choose to pursue their area of interest through research opportunities at the University
• The Centre for Health Sciences Research is a thriving, truly multidisciplinary group, focused on improving health outcomes through innovation and research

Requirements

Applicant Profile

• A successful applicant will be hard-working, highly motivated, enjoy working as a part of a team and a problem solver
• You will be expected to have good communication and organisational skills, and you will be expected to demonstrate these skills in your personal statement
• You will be expected to shadow a podiatrist as part of the admissions process

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

Entry Requirements

• GCSE: Minimum of three GCSE's at Grade 4/C including English Language, Maths and a Science (or equivalent)
• UCAS tariff points: 120 points
• A level: 120 points from a minimum of three A-Levels (Biology preferred)
• BTEC National Diploma: DDM - Science, Sports and exercise science, sports therapy and beauty therapy
• BTEC Higher National Diploma: Contact Admissions tutor
• Foundation Degree: Contact Admissions tutor
• Access to HE: 120 UCAS Tariff Points. 60 credits overall with 45 credits at level 3. Science preferred but Health Studies will be considered
• Scottish Highers: 120 points to include Biology
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 120 points to include B in Biology
• International Baccalaureate: 27
• European Baccalaureate: Pass in Diploma of at least 65% to include Biology

Alternative Entry Requirements

• Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
• We welcome applications from those who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully

Funding

Apprenticeship Levy

• 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

Co-Investment Model

• There is also a co-investment model for companies who will not be paying into the levy
• The government will cover 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship and the employer will only have to contribute the remaining 5%

Funding Band

• The Podiatrist standard has been allocated the following funding band:
  • Funding band maximum: £24,000

Additional Costs

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

Research Areas

Foot and Knee Research Group

• The Foot and Knee research group is focused on four key areas:
  • Biomechanical function of the foot and knee during walking, running and various sports
  • How foot and knee structure and function are affected by disease (e.g. diabetes, obesity, osteoarthritis), injury (e.g. ACL tears, patellofemoral pain, lateral ankle sprain) and ageing
  • Clinical and user (patient) research to investigate the real world consequences of poor foot and knee health for patients and athletes
  • Investigation of a wide range of physical therapy (e.g. exercise), device (e.g. orthoses) and health behaviour (e.g. compliance with devices or education programmes) interventions

Facilities

Podiatry Clinic

• Our podiatry clinic adds a cutting-edge to your training, as well as providing a valuable asset to the local community
• The clinic includes:
  • Orthoses suite with workshops
  • Computer aided design and manufacturing facilities
  • Gait examination room
  • Private cubicles
  • Seminar rooms
  • Gait laboratory
  • Anatomy room
  • Clinical skills rooms

Clinical Gait Analysis and Research Facilities

• This laboratory was part of a £1.5 million renovation of the podiatry clinical education and research spaces
• The laboratory hosts the Salford Gait Analysis Service which provides quantitative gait analysis and consultation services for four NHS Trusts in the Manchester area

Human Performance Laboratory

• This is the original gait laboratory within the University and is located adjacent to the prosthetics and orthotics clinical suite and technical workshops
• This lab is used for research, clinical and educational work and has:
  • 10 camera Vicon 612 motion analysis system
  • Two Kistler force plates (embedded into the floor)
  • Two Kistler force plates located in a purpose built a portable walkway
  • 12 Xsens inertial measuring units
  • One eight-channel MIE telemetric electromyography system
  • Visual 3D real-time analysis software
  • ORLAU video vector generator