Undergraduate BSc (Hons)

Physiotherapy

School of Health and Society

Attendance

Full-time

Part-time

Course

Three year

Four year

Next enrolment

September 2024

Introduction

In a nutshell

If you would like to find out more about the part-time study route, please visit our dedicated part-time course page here.

Physiotherapy seeks to optimise human movement and function by using physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social wellbeing.

This degree, accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, equips you with the knowledge and skills required by physiotherapists to provide evidence-based health care. Our physiotherapy graduates have excellent problem-solving skills, they are technically proficient, professionally aware and as such, move seamlessly into graduate practice - in short, they are very employable. The course benefits from dedicated and innovative teaching staff operating from purpose-built, state-of-the-art technical and learning facilities. Upon graduation, you are eligible to become a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and apply to be placed on the Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC) Register of Physiotherapists.

The NHS Constitution is at the heart of our recruitment and selection process for students applying to become health care professionals.

We're proud to say that in the Complete University Guide 2023 rankings our Physiotherapy course was within the top 20 in the country (15th) and third in the North West.

We are extremely proud that our course is ranked in The Guardian University Guide within the top 20 in the UK, and number 1 in the North West.

We do have a number of places on our part-time programme that are funded by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA). Find out more about our relationship with the PFA.

Follow our team on Twitter @UoS_Physio.

You will learn:

  • Learn from enthusiastic and knowledgeable tutors including clinical specialists, key physiotherapy textbook authors, physiotherapy researchers and private practitioners
  • Learn theory and practical skills in state-of-the-art facilities
  • Undertake a number of placements to gain hands-on experience
Placement

options available

International

students accepted

Course accreditations

Physiotherapy Course Accreditation

This is for you if...

1.

You enjoy solving problems and helping people

2.

You enjoy working as part of a team

3.

You are hard working and dedicated to developing your knowledge and skills

4.

You are interested in how the body moves and heals

5.

You want to work with people from all kinds of backgrounds

6.

You have excellent communication skills

Course details

All about the course

Year one lays down the foundation skills of clinical reasoning and problem-solving focusing on the anatomy, physiology, pathology and management of upper and lower limb conditions.

In year two, you will explore the neurological, cardio-respiratory and spinal musculoskeletal systems. Research methods are used to investigate health promotion activities and behaviour change.

In your final year, there are greater opportunities for you to direct your own learning and develop independence in managing your professional development.

You will undertake placements throughout the course, see below for further details.

Find out more about our student-led physiotherapy service here

If you are studying the part-time route, the split will be:

Year one: 80 credits

Year two: 100 credits

Year three: 100 credits

Year four: 80 credits 

Year one

Assessment and Management Peripheral 1

You will use lectures, practicals and tutorials to learn the anatomy, physiology, pathology and management of lower limb conditions to prepare you for your three week placement. You will be introduced to the concept of evidence based practice by using skills to identify appropriate evidence.

Assessment and Management Peripheral 2

This module introduces you to the role of the physiotherapist in helping a wide range of people upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. You will develop the skills to subjectively and objectively assess signs, symptoms and problems and devise, implement and evaluate appropriate treatment techniques. You will do this by working on case studies, practising on peers and utilising low-infidelity simulation-based learning. 

Fundamentals of Professional Practice

Communication is the fundamental skill that underpins effective professional practice in healthcare. This module allows learners to recognise the knowledge and skills required, analyse their own communication, and develop new skills through a range of simulated and practice-based activities. 

The module emphasises the importance of a person-centred approach and includes varied modes of communication (including verbal, written and digital) with a range of people. Learners will be supported to build a portfolio record of their experiences and development gained through simulation activity and a 3-week practice-based placement or work-based learning. 

Principles of Exercise and Activity

Principles of Exercise and Activity introduces you to the role of exercise and physical activity for people's health and how Physiotherapists use exercise to support people with health conditions. You will develop the skills required to plan and implement exercise interventions working on case studies with your peers, building a portfolio of exercise plans through the module which will be used within the assessment.

Year two

Spinal Assessment and Management

You will use evidence-based practice skills to develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills of assessment, analysis and management of acute and chronic spinal conditions and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Neurological Assessment and Management

You will use evidence-based practice skills to develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills of assessment, analysis and management of neurological disorders.

Cardo Respiratory Assessment and Management

Develops problem solving skills in the assessment and management of patients with cardio-respiratory disorders, through the integration of knowledge concerning anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

Discovering and Evaluating Health and Wellbeing Interventions

This module covers the crucial skills of health and wellbeing promotion and team working areas of Physiotherapy and how to apply research critical appraisal skills to these areas of practice. 

The module culminates in a group project around the discovery and evaluation of rationalised health and wellbeing intervention using a team approach, as well as a written assignment that discusses a team working skills topic. 

Year three

Assessment and Management in Complex Physiotherapy Practice

Facilitates your development of higher level reasoning skills in dealing with assessment and management of clients in challenging and unpredictable rehabilitation situations.

Research into Physiotherapy

You will develop skills in evaluating current literature in the context of clinical practice and produce either a research protocol or completed study via a poster or assignment option.

Into Employment

A collaborative module with other health care students at the University, exploring health and social care services in the context of current government policy with profession specific aspects to prepare you for employment in a changing environment.

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.

What Will I be Doing?

TEACHING

We pride ourselves on providing a high quality teaching and learning environment. Our teaching staff includes clinical specialist physiotherapists, key physiotherapy textbook authors, physiotherapy researchers and successful private practitioners. We also bring in a variety of leading physiotherapy experts to supplement and further enrich the programme.

Reflecting on your own performance as a learning tool is an essential part of learning at the University and on your clinical placements. You will benefit from extensive online resources including a large bank of video footage to help with revision as well as quizzes to assist with identifying your level of knowledge and understanding. You will have your own personal tutor to help with both academic and personal issues. Clinical experience is gained through a wide variety of health care settings.

Specific teaching methods include:

  • Lectures
  • Small group tutorials
  • Practical classes
  • Online quizzes
  • Debates
  • Student led presentations
  • Clinical visits
  • Video recordings of all major practical elements within the programme available 24/7
  • Reflecting on your own practice and developing a CPD portfolio
  • Clinical placements

ASSESSMENT

The programme comprises a wide variety of assessment types both to suit a wide range of learning styles as well as reflecting the skills required as a practicing physiotherapist. These include:

  • Online multiple choice exams
  • Practical viva and discussion type exams
  • Written assignments
  • Presentations (individual/group)
  • Conference poster development
  • Placements

PLACEMENTS

Clinical placements vary in their timing for full and part-time programmes.

Full-time

  • Year one - 1 x 3-week placement
  • Year two - 2 x 6-week placements
  • Year three - 2 x 6-week placements

Part-time

  • Year one - 1 x 3-week placement
  • Year two - 1 x 6-week placement
  • Year three - 2 x 6-week placement
  • Year four - 1 x 6-week placements

Full-time placements occur within semester one and two. The part-time programme utilises semester three i.e. into the summer for some placements. Some flexibility of part-time placements may be negotiated to fit in with employment requirements.

In addition to block placements students may enhance their professional experience through simulation and more flexible practice activity in areas such as research, education or leadership.

Our Physio Community

We have a large community of physiotherapy students but that doesn’t mean you’ll feel one of many. Our cohorts are close-knit, and our students often say that the sense of community and support are the best things about Salford. 

We're very social!

Looking for a realistic insight into life as a physio student? We share it all on social media!

Follow our team on Twitter @UoS_Physio.

Follow our Physio society on Instagram at @salfordphysiosociety.

Check out our takeover on The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists Instagram:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Facilities

Clinical Skills Rooms

In our clinical skills rooms you’ll be able to practice new skills in a safe environment under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. The Mary Seacole Building is home to a number of plinth rooms used by physiotherapy and sports students with multi-purpose couches for in-house clinical sessions.

Human Performance Laboratory

Our world-class human performance laboratory is one of the best equipped in the country and contains almost every type of physiological and biomechanical testing equipment, including a 30-metre sprint track with in-built force platforms, motion cameras, blood and gas analysis equipment and speed guns.

The University is also home to three gait labs, which, together with the human performance lab, are used to conduct groundbreaking research by the Centre for Health, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences Research that underpins your learning.

Patient Simulation Suites

The patient simulation laboratory provides you with the opportunity to tackle real-life scenarios in a safe and supported environment. Set up like a hospital ward, the lab contains hi-tech patient simulators that can mimic everything from the common cold to a major heart condition.

The equipment includes:

  • Emergency Care Patient Simulators: Anatomically correct, feature-rich mannequins, which can be used for the physical demonstration of various clinical signs including bleeding, breathing, blinking eyes and convulsions.
  • iStan Patient Simulators: A step up from the ECS, the iStan adds an essential human element to patient simulation. It moves, breathes, can cry out or moan with pain, providing a realistic patient for you to practice on
  • Pedia Patient Simulator: A complete reproduction of a six-year-old child enabling you to practice paediatric scenarios
  • Baby simulator: This mannequin makes it possible to interact with our most vulnerable patients - in a safe, realistic learning environment

All the simulation equipment can be linked up to some very hi-tech computer and audio-visual aids. Groups of students get to role-play a wide range of different scenarios, with a lab co-ordinator observing, running and intervening in the scenario remotely.

Sophisticated computer equipment can also provide detailed physiological information for each of the simulators under observation. The lab will help you develop the clinical skills you need but also the high-level communication skills that will make a real difference to your patients. 

Take a 360 tour of the facilities here

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

Through the programme, you will have developed key employability skills e.g skills of enquiry, critical thinking, problem-solving and reflection. You will leave the programme with an extensive portfolio to demonstrate these skills and your CPD. You will be well prepared for the application process to successfully gain employment in a variety of roles in physiotherapy and other health and well-being related fields and/or further study.

Our graduates have gone onto work in a variety of health and wellbeing related fields. Some examples include the NHS, private sector, social services, industry, the armed forces and sporting organisations. We have seen the return of graduates working in advanced clinical roles to our postgraduate study programmes to further enhance their career development. Some of our graduates work at the highest levels of a professional sport such as rugby (Sale Sharks), football (Manchester City), cricket (Derbyshire CCC) and basketball (New York Knicks). Some have taken the skills they have developed and now work overseas or in physiotherapy-related research and education.

Read about recent graduate Claire George's experience of volunteering in Uganda for a summer during her physiotherapy degree.

A taste of what you could become

A Physiotherapist

Career Links

We have very strong links with industry which you can take advantage of. You will gain wide-ranging experience from placements in NHS hospitals and community-based Trusts, private hospitals, sporting organisations and private practices both locally and beyond the north-west region. On each clinical placement, you will be supported by experienced clinicians and work as part of health care teams.

Requirements

What you need to know

APPLICANT PROFILE 

We are looking for bright, motivated and dedicated applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to becoming a physiotherapist. We would expect applicants to understand the scope of physiotherapy practice and the settings in which physiotherapists work. To gain this understanding you could visit the CSP website, join us at one of our Open Days or gain some work-based shadowing of a Physiotherapist.

You should possess good social and communication skills, have a caring disposition and be team-minded. An ability to be flexible, open-minded and a willingness to take part in interactive, lively sessions will help you to get the most out of your studies with us. Physiotherapy is a ‘hands-on’, skills-based profession, consequently, our practical classes reflect this. Practising techniques on each other in supervised mixed groups is the norm. This does involve some level of undressing to allow a safe practice to occur. There are facilities and systems in place which preserve modesty.

As part of the application process, you may be invited to an online interview - if this is the case we will contact you with further details. 

Have a look at our top ten tips for preparing for your interview. 

Acceptance on the programme is subject to satisfactory Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.

The list of qualifications below is not exhaustive. We consider other relevant qualifications of equivalent merit. Further information in this regard can be obtained by talking with representatives of the Physiotherapy team at one of our Open Days or contacting the University of Salford’s Central Admissions Unit Tel: +44(0)161 295 4545, email enquiries@salford.ac.uk.

Applicants for the full-time physiotherapy programme apply via UCAS. Applicants for the part-time programme apply directly to the University via our online application form. Visit our guidance page for details of how to use the online application form.

The application deadline for the full-time programme applications is 26 January with interviews being conducted late January through till March. The application deadline for the part-time programme is 31 January with interviews being held in early March.

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.

Standard entry requirements

GCSE

Five GCSE's at Grade 5/B or above including English Language, Maths and a Science. You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below

UCAS tariff points

128 points

A level

128 points from a minimum of three A-levels. including at least one Science, (preferably Biology/Human Biology). Other acceptable subjects include: Chemistry, Physics, Psychology or PE

BTEC National Diploma

DDM (Science based)

Access to HE

Physiotherapy, health and science subjects. 60 credits with 45 credits at level 3 at distinction grade. The other 15 credits will be level 2 and will not be graded.

Scottish Highers

128 UCAS points from A/ B grades only. C grades and below will not contribute towards tariff requirement. Advanced Highers may be combined with Highers to contribute to 128 tariff point requirement, A/B grade Highers considered only. At least one science subject required (preferably biology/human biology but other acceptable qualifications are chemistry, physics, PE or psychology).

Irish Leaving Certificate

128 UCAS points required, points from H1-H3 grades (A/B grades in the old system) considered only. H4 grade (C grade in the old system) and below will not contribute towards tariff requirement. Must include English, Mathematics and a Science at Higher H6 grade or above (D3 grade in the old system) or Ordinary O4 grade or above (C2 grade in the old system). At least one science subject, preferably biology/human biology, at grade H3 (or B3 in the old system) is required. Applicants without biology/human biology but with other science subjects (physics, chemistry, psychology or PE) will be considered.

International Baccalaureate

32 Points. At least one science subject (biology, human biology, physics, chemistry, psychology or PE) is required but applicants without may be considered on a case by case basis. Applicants must hold English language and mathematics as composite parts of the IBDP.

European Baccalaureate

Pass in Diploma of at least 65% to include at least 75% in Biology

International Students

We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

T-levels

We accept T-levels with distinction overall.

Alternative 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.

The University offers two routes for entry under the scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course.  As this course is part of the School of Health Sciences you will only be considered under Entry Route 1.

 

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 2024/25 £9,250.00per year
Full-time international 2024/25 £18,300.00per year

Additional costs

For more information about uniforms, DBS, Occupational Health clearance, and immunisations, visit our information for students webpage. 

Optional costs may include approximately £60 for a stethoscope. Costs are approximated based on the current academic year. 

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

Apply now

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

September 2024

UCAS information

Course ID B160/B160P

Institution S03