Program Overview

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Physician Associate Studies

MPAS (Hons)

Attendance

Full-time

Campus

Preston Campus

Start

September 2025

Duration

4 years

UCAS Code

BB96

Delivery

In-person

Foundation year available

This four-year degree takes you through a rigorous training programme. You'll exit with a professional qualification and a master’s degree. As a PA you'll interview and examine patients and make decisions about patient diagnosis and management, under supervision.

PAs are trained as medical associate professionals. On this course you'll get the opportunity to work in many specialties. You'll study the fundamentals of medical sciences through group activities, practical sessions and lectures. You'll also apply what you learn to real-life situations through cases and clinical placements. This helps you consolidate and contextualise your knowledge.

Why study with us

• 8th in the UK for academic support
• This is a unique programme and was the first of its kind in the UK.
• Qualified PAs have been highlighted as integral to the multidisciplinary team (NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 2023).
• You’ll learn in state-of-the-art facilities. Our clinical skills laboratories have a vast range of equipment. This will help you develop clinical skills in hospital and GP surgery environments.

What you’ll do

• You'll learn from supportive, staff who are highly experienced in academia and the clinical environment. This includes several physician associates.
• 50% of the final two years of the programme is spent in clinical environments. These clinically based placements will help to illustrate how teams work within the NHS.
• Develop a career as a medical associate professional and provide holistic care to patients.

Modules

Year 1

• Integrated Science and Clinical Medicine 1
• Medical Skills and Quality Care 1
• Fundamentals of Medical Research

Year 2

• Integrated Science and Clinical Medicine 2
• Medical Skills and Quality Care 2
• Evidence-based Population Health

Year 3

• Medical Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours for Patient Care 1
• Professional Placement (Physician Associate Studies) I MPAS

Year 4

• Medical Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours for Patient Care 2
• Professional Placement (Physician Associate Studies) II MPAS

Entry requirements

• UCAS: AAB at A2 including Chemistry a further science and an academic subject
• Pass Access: Higher Education at 136 points including 15 Level 3 Chemistry at Distinction and 15 Level 3 in second science at Distinction
• Students must be able to provide evidence of sustained academic achievement (GCSE or acceptable equivalents to include English Language) with a broad study of Science and Mathematics up to the age of 15-16
• Applicants are required to interview for the course and may attend open days or offer holder days for further information
• A satisfactory criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland), Occupational Health clearance and satisfactory Fitness to Practice assessment are required for this course.

Fees and funding

• UK: £9,535 per year
• International: £35,000 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

• Care Leaver Bursary
• Estranged student support
• Dependants Bursary
• Financial support package

Learning and assessment

Our MPAS (Hons) Physician Associate Studies is an undergraduate integrated master's and lasts four years. Traditional undergraduate degrees last three years. Also, the final two years are not traditional university semesters. You'll be studying three semesters per academic year and so you'll have holidays that are similar to those in full-time work.

You will learn in a traditional manner, but our teaching and learning strategy goes beyond the conventional methods. You'll use state-of-the-art human anatomy resource centres with a virtual dissection table (Anatomage). You'll also get access to modern clinical skills areas, including:

• Simulation
• Typical ward environments
• Single consultation rooms
• Paediatric facilities
• Operating department areas

Patient cases are often used in the programme which supports your teamwork and leadership skills, as well clinical thinking.

The assessment strategy for the programme is varied and includes:

• Examinations, for example single-best answer multiple-choice questions and short answer questions;
• written assignments; and
• clinical examinations, for example objective structured clinical exams and direct observed procedural skills.

Industry links

The NHS, teaching with excellence, and provision of clinical placements, ensures rich and fulfilling educational experiences. These relationships can facilitate clinical practitioners from the NHS coming into the classroom to help deliver frontline healthcare materials, which is essential in training future PAs, enabling them to enter the workforce.

Future careers

This course will provide you with a broad skillset suitable for a range of medical specialties, as well as research and academia. On completion of the course, you’ll be well prepared to take the Physician Associate Registration Assessment. After completing this successfully you'll be able to become a physician associate and register with the General Medical Council

As a medical associate professional, jobs are typically based in acute medicine, surgery and GP practices. You might also work in more specialised areas such as paediatrics and elderly health.

Qualified physician associates can undertake further studies such as a DProf (professional doctorate). You could also go on to teach in universities and conduct research.

CPD is expected for qualified physician associates. You can study various Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules with us.