Prosthetics and Orthotics
Full-time
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
Prosthetists provide artificial limbs to assist people who have part or all of a limb missing. Orthotists provide braces and splints to support, correct, or aid the function of people with various conditions of the neurological, muscular and skeletal systems.
On this course, you will learn how to assess and treat people requiring prosthetic and orthotic care. Prosthetists and Orthotists are highly skilled in biomechanics, human movement and gait analysis. The strong practical elements of this course will be taught in conjunction with relevant theory and background information.
We offer the only full-time BSc (Hons) 3-year degree programme in the UK. Our course is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), enabling graduates to apply for dual registration as prosthetists and orthotists with the HCPC. This qualification not only permits employment in the UK but also overseas.
We scored 95% on the ‘Teaching on my Course’ category in the National Student Survey 2024.
88.9% of our Prosthetics and Orthotics 2021/2022 graduates are in highly skilled employment (source: The Complete University Guide 2024).
You will:
- Learn how to assess, diagnose and treat people requiring prosthetic and orthotic care.
- Gradually acquire a greater depth of learning and increased competency in dealing with people, meeting their needs and deciding on the most effective treatment to offer.
- Spend time in clinical placements where you will get the chance to see real patients wearing their prostheses and orthoses.
options available
students accepted
Course accreditations
This is for you if...
You want to improve the lives of others.
You can be both practical and imaginative.
You want a rewarding and exciting career.
You have excellent communication skills.
You enjoy solving problems and helping people.
You want to work with people from all kinds of backgrounds.
All about the course
This course includes a wide variety of clinical, practical and theoretical learning. You will spend most of your time at the University but you will also spend time in clinical placements where you will get the chance to see real patients wearing their prostheses and orthoses. You will also get the chance to see patients at the University, within our purpose-built facilities, and work with the latest technologies and equipment that are used for today's prosthetic and orthotic devices.
This course offers the opportunity to learn through placements in prosthetic and orthotic clinics across the country. As you move through the course, you will gradually undertake a greater depth of learning and increase your competency in dealing with people, meeting their needs and deciding on the most effective treatments to offer.
Placement venues are located throughout the UK and offer an exciting opportunity to work and learn in different geographical areas. Whilst we aim to place students in an area which suits their individual circumstances, this may not always be possible and applicants should be aware that they may need to travel. Some financial support is provided for this purpose.
The NHS Constitution is at the heart of our recruitment and selection process for students applying to become health care professionals.
Introduction to Collaborative Professional Practice
You will study this module alongside students from other health care courses, engage in discussions on professionalism, codes of conduct, ethical issues, personal and social influences contributing to inequalities in health care. You will learn effective communication skills, ethical issues, professionalism and codes of conduct and relate these to health care practice within this module.
Biomechanics
This Biomechanics module will foster your skills in the calculation of forces applied during prosthetic and orthotic management and the effect if they are altered. This module introduces and then develops your knowledge and skills in human movement analysis through the use of the human movement laboratory and classroom sessions.
Anatomy and Physiology
In this module you will learn about the basic structure of the human body, with particular reference to the foot, ankle and lower leg. You will also learn about the workings of the human body, with a focus on those functions that are particularly important to prosthetists and orthotists.
Introduction to Prosthetic and Orthotics Practice
This module introduces you to clinical and workshop practice. You will be able to see professional patients and make and fit prosthetic and orthotic components for them, under careful supervision. This module focuses on a selection of common lower limb prosthetic and orthotic conditions, introducing you to concepts that will be important not only here but later on in the course.
Materials, Manufacturing and Design
This module helps you learn about the design of prostheses and orthoses, how they are made and the different materials that are commonly used to make them.
General Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice
Prosthetists and orthotists provide a valuable service in health care, both nationally and internationally. This module builds on what you will have learned in the introduction to prosthetics and orthotics module, but focuses more on the importance of holistic treatment plans within the context of your role as a prosthetist or orthotists. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience via a placement in semester 2.
Motion Analysis and Research Methods
As a clinician you will naturally wish to examine the validity of how current treatment plans are progressed or perhaps you may wish to explore new and different orthotic and prosthetic solutions. This module is designed to acquaint you with research methods and motion analysis which may be applied to professional practice and the planning of your own research. It will help develop your critical awareness of research design, particularly when reading other research reports. This module will also enable you to apply the theory from the previous 'Biomechanics' module to pathological gait. It will provide you with hands on experience of techniques used in biomechanical assessment and you will be introduced to methods of assessing gait in both clinical and research settings.
Clinical Pathologies and Presentations
This module will help you understand and appreciate the different pathologies that present in patients requiring a Prosthetic and Orthotic device and how to take into consideration comorbidities that may influence the decision making process.
Further Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice 1
This is a clinical module where you will further your knowledge and clinical skills. This module will focus on the specific areas of transfemoral prosthetics, spinal orthotics and bespoke footwear.
Further Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice 2
This is a clinical module which includes the development of underpinning knowledge and clinical skills required for upper limb prosthetics, and orthotic rehabilitation around the ankle, knee and hip.
Clinical Governance
This module is unique as it delivers both face to face and virtual/online experiences of clinical governance in practice settings, embedding the underpinning essence of good governance leading to best practice. The module will help you see beyond the immediate role of being a prosthetic or orthotic clinician. You will appreciate the role that Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies play and understand why quality and assurance mechanisms are fundamental to upholding the principals of best practice. Through experiential online learning you will gain crucial insights and exposure to the fundamental activity necessary for effective and robust clinical governance. That experience will prepare you for longer block placements in your third year.
Assessment and Management of Complex Cases
This module will further develop your clinical and academic skills, enabling you to meet the challenges and requirements of service users with more complex needs.
Final Placements
Each student will complete a 13 week placement in each discipline in year three. The placement period is split equally between prosthetics and orthotics. During these final placements you are expected to be able to consolidate your learning from all of your previous learning. You will be exposed to an ever expanding variety of case studies where you will continue to further develop your clinical skills. You will develop a greater understanding of the rehabilitation process and in particular develop your skills in presenting and delivering viable management plans, using problem solving skills to apply functional prescriptions. You will also be able to demonstrate your ability to competently execute the key clinical skills (casting, measurement, cast modification, prosthetic/orthotic fitting) necessary to fulfil the agreed prescription.
Prosthetic Clinical Placement (40 credits)
You will gain an expert knowledge of current clinical theory and technical aspects within Prosthetics. This placement will build upon and further complement the patient interactions that take place within University clinical modules where you will have been introduced to clinical assessment skills with our volunteer patients.
Orthotic Clinical Placement (40 credits)
You will gain an expert knowledge of current clinical theory and technical aspects within orthotic practice. This placement will build upon and further compliment the patient interactions that have taken place within University clinical modules where you will have been introduced to clinical assessment skills with our 'expert' patients and placement activities at level 4 and 5.
Into Employment
Initially this module will enable you to reflect on the broader issues affecting health and social care, with a particular focus on prosthetics and orthotics. The content of the module will continue to develop your appreciation of the importance of evidence based practice within the clinical environment. The module will then focus more exclusively on your chosen profession. You will receive assistance and advice in regard to preparing for and engaging in interviews. You will examine and analyse the role of professional organisations and client organisations. You will also learn how to deal with difficult clinical situations and how to interface most effectively with a wide spectrum of clients, and you will be introduced to different service models pertaining to prosthetic and orthotic clinical practice.
Dissertation
For this module you will conduct an in-depth evidence-based study on a topic of your choice. This will give you the opportunity to plan and execute your own work and explore the links between research and practice. In so doing you will be better equipped to enter into a clinical setting and investigate areas of interest in a clear and objective manner.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
School of Health and Society
In the School of Health and Society, we are focused on enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients, service users and athletes, and our commitment to public involvement helps us retain our strong focus on real-world issues.
The University has received approval for a new health building on the Frederick Road campus which will create brand new teaching spaces, including new spaces for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Construction will begin in late 2024, with completion expected by Autumn 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a health and wellbeing hub, supporting popular healthcare courses and community services. It will feature sustainable design elements and provide modern clinical facilities to enhance student learning and community engagement. You can find out more about this on this page.
In time community healthcare clinics will also take place there as partnerships are developed to explore research opportunities and to provide a range of therapeutic sessions.
Prosthetics and Orthotics Labs
As this is a highly specialised profession, we aim to provide you with the latest tools and facilities that will enhance your personal development.
Students of prosthetics and orthotics are taught hands-on clinical practice while dealing with patients in our custom-designed clinic rooms.
Further practice is undertaken in our workshops which boast a well-equipped machine room with computer-aided design and manufacturing facilities and the plaster room where impressions of patients' anatomy can be modified for the subsequent manufacture of custom-made prostheses or orthoses.
Whilst on this course, you also have the opportunity to conduct motion analysis in one of three movement laboratories.
What about after uni?
As a graduate, you can expect to be employed within a hospital or clinical facility in a junior position to begin, but with opportunities to become a senior clinician or perhaps enter into clinical management or specialism.
You will be able to work within the NHS either for commercial orthotics and prosthetics companies contracted to the NHS or directly for the NHS. Other graduates have gone on to work abroad, in research or in private practice. Jobs are predominantly advertised through the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO).
Students who have studied this course with us have gone on to a variety of roles within the field of health including medical and dental technicians and health professionals.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training
You may choose to pursue further academic research and practice with us at the Centre for Doctoral Training.
The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in prosthetics and orthotics combines expertise from the University of Salford, Imperial College London, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Southampton with more than 25 global industry partners and national facilities.
We have assembled a world-leading set of research organisations to address important global health challenges in the prosthetic, orthotic and wider healthcare technology sector.
Our aim is to create a new generation of highly skilled researchers who are able to deliver the technology and service innovations needed to meet the aspirations of prosthetic and orthotic users.
Our training enables students to work across the continuum of skills required in the sector, understanding how high-quality and interdisciplinary science and engineering research can improve the everyday lives of people across the globe.
Find out more: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics
Career Links
Most of our placements will involve working with both private companies and the NHS. Some companies offer the chance of specialist trips, accompanying other students and health care professionals to parts of Europe and gaining excellent experience and work skills in varying environments.
As a student, you can become an associate member of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO). On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health Professions Council. You may also become a student member of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) and become involved in professional issues on a global scale.
what you need to know
Application process
As part of the application process, you may be invited to take part in an online activity or assessment - if this is the case, we will contact you with further information.
We are looking for bright, communicative, practical people who enjoy the prospect of clinical practical work and also the chance to help improve the lives of others within a rewarding and exciting career. All applicants are required to attend a Prosthetic and/or Orthotic Clinic and provide a summary of your experience. You will receive further information about this when you have applied.
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course to gain entry onto this degree.
GCSE
Minimum of three GCSE's at Grade 4/C including English Language, Maths and a Science (or equivalent) You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.
UCAS Tariff points
120 points - must include a minimum of grade B in a science subject.
A level
120 UCAS Tariff points including Maths, Physics or Engineering at grade B or above.
A level double award
120 UCAS Tariff points to include Health and Social Care plus A Level grade B in Maths or Physics.
BTEC National Diploma
DDM in a science related subject.
T-Level
Healthcare Science/Science - Distinction
Access to HE
120 UCAS Tariff points and must include level 3 Maths, Physics or Engineering.
Scottish Highers
120 UCAS Tariff points Maths or Physics essential at grade B or above plus one other Science at grade B or above.
Irish Leaving Certificate
120 UCAS Tariff points Maths or Physics essential at grade B or above plus one other Science at grade B or above.
International Baccalaureate
28 points to include Maths, Physics or Engineering at grade B.
European Baccalaureate
Pass in Diploma of at least 75% to include at least one of the following: Maths, Physics or Engineering at Grade B or above.
International Students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
How much?
Additional funding support for healthcare students
The NHS Learning Support Fund is available to students studying the following courses:
- Diagnostic Radiography
- Occupational Therapy (including pre-registration Master's)
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry (including pre-registration Master's)
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Midwifery
- Nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning disability, joint nursing/social work; including pre-registration Master's)
Visit the NHSBSA website for further information.
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,250.00per year |
Full-time international | 2025/26 | £19,000.00per year |
Additional costs
For more information about uniforms, DBS, Occupational Health clearance, and immunisations, visit our page of: Information for Students.
You should consider further costs which may include immunisations, books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our International Scholarships.
All Set? Let's Apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545
Enrolment dates
UCAS information
Course ID B984
Institution S03