Program Overview

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Physiotherapy (BSc)

Award: Bachelor of Science Typical Offer: AAB Duration: 3 years Course Type: Full-time Campus: Highfield UCAS Course code: B160

About this course

Physiotherapy at Southampton is ranked second in the UK, Guardian University Guide 2025.

Learn how to become a physiotherapist who can manage complex cases, and help people with many healthcare issues. Discover how to treat mobility problems caused by illness, injury, and ageing. Learn how to improve people's physical activity and their quality of life.

Develop a wide range of professional clinical skills with:

• academic modules
• clinical placements
• world-class simulation facilities

You'll develop skills that will prepare you for modern practice that focuses on the patient. These include:

• communication
• decision-making
• team-working abilities
• management and leadership

You'll learn to work with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals. Our teaching staff are a mix of academics and practising clinical physiotherapists.

You’ll complete over 1,000 hours of clinical placements as you train to be a physiotherapist, in settings ranging from community clinics to large hospitals. These will help you link theory with practice and will cover the core disciplines:

• musculoskeletal
• neurology
• cardiorespiratory
• special client groups

We actively involve patients and carers in our course, which places special emphasis on empathy and compassion.

Funding to support your learning

Subject to eligibility, UK and Irish students joining this degree can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students may also be eligible to apply for an additional maintenance loan to help with living costs.

Additionally, UK students studying this course at University of Southampton may well be able to receive a training grant of £5,000 per academic year from the NHS and entitled to have some of the additional costs of attending a practice placement reimbursed. Students with parental responsibility for one or more children may receive a £2,000 Parental Support payment per student, per academic year. Find out more on the NHS Learning Support Fund website

If you are normally resident in Ireland, you are encouraged to apply for financial support from SUSI.

Support for students with a disability/health condition

We are fully committed to supporting students with disabilities who wish to join programmes of study which require the acquisition and practise of professional competencies.

We offer students personal, informal advice by telephone, email or face to face, and we are happy to discuss your specific needs prior to you applying. This could include how your specific needs may impact on your ability to meet the clinical competencies. This will not affect your application in any way, but may help you to select the right programme for you.

Please email the admissions team for further details.

Foundation year

If you have not studied the required Science subjects for this course, you may be eligible to apply for and enter through our Science Foundation Year.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Accreditations

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)

Entry requirements

A-levels

• AAB including one pure science subject with a pass in the practical
• ABB including one pure science with a pass in the practical, and grade A in the EPQ (if taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels)

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• Pass with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level including a pure science

BTEC

• DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus A in a pure science A-level
• D in the BTEC Extended Certificate plus AB in A-level subjects including a pure science at Grade A

Access to HE Diploma

• 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit

Irish Leaving Certificate

• H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 including a pure science

Scottish Qualification

• Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed.

Cambridge Pre-U

• D3 D3 M2 in three Principle subjects including a pure science subject

Welsh Baccalaureate

• AAB from 3 A levels including a pure science or AA from two A levels including a pure science and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate

T-Level

• An overall distinction with grade A in the core element in the Health T-Level with Supporting the Therapy Team Specialism

Other requirements

• UK students
• International students
• Other ways to qualify

GCSE requirements

• Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

English language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.

Course structure

You’ll take several core modules each year, which must be passed. Around two thirds of your time will be spent learning on campus. The remainder will be on clinical placements, totalling more than 1,000 hours.

Year 1 overview

You’ll work in groups with other healthcare students, to learn about core values and skills that underpin professional practice.

You'll study:

• anatomy and physiology
• musculoskeletal and neuromuscular movement and function
• social and psychological issues that influence physiotherapy management
• identifying and treating common clinical physiotherapy conditions
• principles of applied health science

You’ll also complete a clinical placement with an experienced therapist. You'll put your theory into practice with patients in the real world.

Year 2 overview

You’ll complete 2 clinical placements, and:

• learn how to manage a broad range of clinical cases
• develop the skills to motivate patients to engage with treatments and self-manage their condition
• study cases where patients have more than one condition, and learn how to adapt treatment to suit their needs

You'll also study research methods to help plan your research study in year 3.

Year 3 overview

Using a simulated environment, you'll learn how to assess and manage respiratory patients who are acutely unwell. This will prepare you to be an on-call physiotherapist when you graduate.

You’ll complete another 2 clinical placements and study core modules, which will cover:

• evidence-based approaches to assessing and managing complex cases
• innovation, leadership, influencing change and business development
• the legal, political and cultural context of professional practice

You can choose to take either a module on pain management, or professional development. The professional development module will let you explore a healthcare topic of your choice with the support of an academic coach.

You’ll also complete a research project, carrying out data collection analysis and writing a paper. You'll be supervised by one of Southampton’s renowned research academics.

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Course time

How you'll spend your course time:

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Year 1

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:

• 29% Scheduled learning & teaching
• 59% Independent learning
• 12% Placement

How we'll assess you

• essays
• oral presentations
• written and practical exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 1:

• 31% Written exam
• 25% Coursework
• 44% Practical exam

Year 2

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:

• 20% Scheduled learning & teaching
• 55% Independent learning
• 25% Placement

How we'll assess you

• essays
• oral presentations
• written and practical exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 2:

• 56% Coursework
• 44% Practical exam

Year 3

Study time

Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:

• 13% Scheduled learning & teaching
• 54% Independent learning
• 33% Placement

How we'll assess you

• essays
• oral presentations
• written and practical exams

Your assessment breakdown

Year 3:

• 67% Coursework
• 33% Practical exam

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Careers and employability

Employability skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Problem solving

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Download skills overview

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• Health and social work
• Education
• Private Practice
• Professional Sports Clubs
• Researcher
• Nursing homes

Careers directly related to this course:

• Physiotherapist
• Children's physiotherapist
• Physiotherapy Educator
• Animal physiotherapist
• Sports therapist
• Researcher
• University lecturer

Wider career opportunities:

• Acupuncturist
• Chiropractor
• Dance movement psychotherapist
• Exercise physiologist
• Health service manager
• Health improvement practitioner
• Osteopath
• Personal trainer

Example job titles of Southampton BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy graduates:

• Physiotherapist
• Rotational physiotherapist
• Musculoskeletal physiotherapist
• Therapy assistant
• Children's physiotherapist
• Neurophysiotherapist specialist
• Orthopaedics physiotherapist
• Sports physiotherapist
• Therapy technician

Job prospects for BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy graduates

• Average professional salary: £28k
• In a skilled profession or further study: 100%
• Graduate employment rate: 100%

Source: The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.

Work experience opportunities

Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.

Read more

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV and interview skills and workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.

More about careers support

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students: £9,535
• EU and international students: £30,500

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations. Your fee also covers the cost of your uniform for clinical practice.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees
• calculate your student finances

You'll need to consider extra costs for the following:

• suitable shoes for your practice placements
• your own fob watch
• your enhanced DBS certificate
• your professional registration fee (on graduation)

On your placements you can claim travel and accommodation expenses over and above your normal daily travel costs to university. But there are limits on what you can claim. Learn more about placement costs and expenses.

There will also be other costs not covered by the tuition fee. These may include:

• stationery
• personal computer or laptop and data storage devices
• printing

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges, and expenses regulations

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: B160
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for this course

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• predicted grades
• academic achievements
• personal statement
• academic reference

We're interested in the insights you have about the physiotherapy profession. We'll also consider how your personal values are aligned with the profession.

You can demonstrate this in your personal statement by including:

• work experience or shadowing of physiotherapy practice
• life experience
• extracurricular activities

If you're successful at the initial written stage of the application process, we'll invite you to an on-line interview. We'll send an invitation e-mail which will include information on how to prepare and what to expect during the interview.

We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: [insert email] Tel: +44(0) [insert phone number]