MSc in Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration)

Program Overview

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Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration)

MSc

Overview

Keen to improve people’s quality of life? Prepare to make a difference as a qualified physiotherapist by studying at Oxford Brookes, ranked 5th in the UK for physiotherapy by The Guardian in 2023.

Clinical, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills are at the heart of our curriculum. Your days will be full of enquiry-based learning in lectures, seminars, practicals, simulations and placements. You might see your knowledge in action working with athletes at Oxford Quins Rugby Football Club. Or maybe you’ll treat children within the NHS and local community. Or how about working alongside PhD students on research projects?

You’ll learn real-world skills that prepare you for a range of scenarios. Our clinical skills suites and simulation resources will expose you to challenging environments working with stroke, dementia and intensive care patients.

Whether you’re interested in musculoskeletal conditions, cardiorespiratory, neurology, or another area of physiotherapy, you can follow your interests by choosing modules covering a range of clinical specialities.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• Unbeatable partnerships
• Immersed in industry
• Top specialist equipment
• Diverse classrooms
• Research focus
• Accreditation(s)

Course Details

Course Structure

This 2-year pre-registration is underpinned by research, evidence and interdisciplinary working.

In Year 1, we’ll introduce you to management of patients with neurological, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory dysfunctions. You’ll consider some of the controversial and sensitive work of physiotherapists. This might include working with populations who have experienced racism, who identify as non-binary or transgender, and who are in conflict situations.

In Year 2, you’ll complete modules in leadership. You’ll choose specialised topics including psychological interventions, women’s health, or sports and trauma physiotherapy.

Clinical practice includes a 3-week observational placement in January after your first semester. Two 6-week placements in Year 1 and three 6-week placements in Year 2. You could experience NHS acute, NHS community, and the private, voluntary, and independent sectors.

Everything you learn will prepare you for your final dissertation, with opportunities to take part in research projects with local clinical or research partners such as MORes.

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

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.

Study Modules

Taught Modules

• Applied Research Methods
• Human Movement and Dysfunction
• Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapy
• Neurological Movement Control and Dysfunction
• Developing Values Based Professionalism
• Leadership and Collaborative Practice
• Health, Wellbeing and Exercise
• Physiotherapy Management of Long Term Conditions
• Mastering Physiotherapy Practice

Placement

• Work Placements
• Practice Placement I
• Practice Placement II and III
• Practice Placement IV
• Practice Placement V

Final Project

• Dissertation

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.

Careers

The profession of physiotherapy is constantly developing and the opportunities are developing with it. Our MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) graduates work in a range of public and private units across the world, in areas such as:

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

You could follow in their footsteps by making an impact within acute and community NHS Trusts, or within private and sports focused healthcare. Or how about aiming for a research position as a PhD student? Past graduates are working in roles like the Head of Medical at Oxford United Football Club, and the Head of Application Management for NHS Digital.

Entry Requirements

Specific Entry Requirements

• GCSE: Grade 4 (C) in English, Maths and Science. For English and Maths, Level 2 Functional Skills are accepted as alternatives to GCSEs.
• Not suitable for applicants with an undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy.
• 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.

Screening

• All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise.
• 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.

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.

Tuition Fees

2025 / 26

• Home (UK) full time: £9,535
• International full time: £18,950

2026 / 27

• Home (UK) full time: £9,535
• International full time: £19,600

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.