Physiotherapy BSc (Hons)

Study human movement and function. Learn how to prevent and treat disease, injury and disability. Become a future leader in the healthcare profession.

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Learning and teaching in 2020

Overview

Physiotherapy is recognised as a healthcare profession where human movement and function are viewed as central components of individual health, wellbeing and quality of life. Physiotherapy uses physical approaches in the prevention and treatment of disease, injury and disability recognising that physical, psychological, social and environmental factors may limit movement and function.

The course content is person-focused, in line with the direction of the profession. We aim to develop well-rounded, safe and effective physiotherapists who can communicate appropriately to service users, carers, peers and other healthcare professionals. By promoting the integration of science and practical-based knowledge and skills, we aim to develop graduates capable of practice at the highest level within all areas of the profession, who also develop essential skills for continued and lifelong learning to enhance service delivery and become future leaders.

Why us?

Multi-million pound investment supporting a suite of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sport, exercise and rehabilitation laboratories
The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
Access our excellent links with local NHS Hospital Trusts and other placement providers, committed to providing quality student placements and learning experiences
Have the opportunity to arrange an elective placement to explore your personal special interests in the profession, or experience working in non-standard clinical settings.
Gain a nationally and internationally-recognised professional qualification
Opportunities to collaborate in an interprofessional learning capacity with other healthcare courses including occupational therapy, adult nursing, mental health nursing, learning disability nursing, paramedic science, pharmacy, psychology and social work.

Our Health Professions courses are ranked 25th in the UK (The Guardian University league tables, 2021)
Patient Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) members actively support our course. You will regularly meet and work with patients and carers who are integrated in the teaching activities and positively contribute to your learning and development through assessment and feedback
Our senior lecturers continue to work in an honorary capacity in the clinical practice setting helping to ensure you learn from academics that continue to be immersed in relevant and contemporary physiotherapy practice
Our large number of health-related courses offer an excellent opportunity for collaboration across professions
On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC Register for Physiotherapists

Joining us in 2020

The Physiotherapy team are busy making preparations for September 2020.

Covid-19 has challenged the delivery of all courses but here at the University of Sunderland we have acted on the guidance from the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and developed our emergency professional standards: an effective approach to your course of study, blending face-to-face and online teaching.

Our experience has shown that this method opens new learning opportunities for all, enabling you to develop graduate skills such as time management, self-care and workload prioritisation, with support from the academic team and the wider University services available to you.

Physiotherapy skills will continue to be taught and practiced in our state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility. This approach will ensure you develop the necessary practical knowledge and skills on campus, while theoretical underpinning will be taught online using conference technology (Big Blue Button and Microsoft Teams). We will be identifying sessions we hope to be completed on campus to allow you to develop your practical skills alongside your peers.

The Physiotherapy Team are working on a bespoke induction programme, in which staff hope to meet you.

In the coming months before commencing your studies please contact the team if we can offer any further guidance before joining us:

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy – John Stephens john.stephens@sunderland.ac.uk
Team Leader – Dr Lisa Board lisa.board@sunderland.ac.uk

Our partners, accreditations and networks

Course structure

You will be taught by a highly-skilled and motivated team with both clinical and teaching expertise. Evidence-based practice is embedded in the course, which ensures you are taught the most current and up to date skills and knowledge. You will learn through a variety of methods including lectures, presentations, seminars, group work, clinical simulation, self-study, practical clinical and physiotherapy skill sessions, online tutorials and problem-based learning activities. A strong professional identity and confidence to work with various professional groups is an essential part of the course. You will have the opportunity to work and learn alongside students from other professions and to learn about the other professions through participation in inter-professional education. As this course leads to a professional qualification a minimum attendance level of 80% per semester is required.

Assessment is varied to reflect different styles of learning. You will be assessed through written coursework assignments, critical reflective practice, oral presentations, poster presentations, and practical and written examinations. You will be supported by a personal tutor who will offer support with personal and professional development.

You will also undertake a variety of practice placements (minimum of 1,000 hours) where you may be expected to work outside normal working hours including weekends. Placements can be anywhere in the North East region. Practice placements are arranged by academic tutors and you will be expected to travel daily or stay in local accommodation for the duration of your placement. Practice placements occur in every year of your study and range from four to eight weeks. Please note some placements take place outside the normal University academic calendar.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules

Introduction to Research 1 (10 credits)
Personal Professional Development 1 (10 credits)*
Introduction to Physiology and Pathology for Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)
Functional Anatomy and Movement for Physiotherapy (20 credits)
Human Function and Lifestyle Development Psychosocial Foundations for Holistic Practice (20 credits)
Fundamentals of Communication and Assessment for Therapeutic Practice (20 credits)
Fundamentals of Physical Activity and Exercise (20 credits)

* A practice placement is aligned to this module

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules

Evidence-Based Practice and Research 2 (10 credits)
Personal and Professional Development 2 (10 credits)
Neurological Pathology and Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)
Cardiorespiratory Pathology and Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)
Musculoskeletal Pathology and Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)
Physical Activity and Exercise in Long Term Conditions (20 credits)
Developing Holistic Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)*

* A practice placement is aligned to this module

Year 3 (national level 6):

Core modules

Dissertation (40 credits)
Personal Professional Development 3 (20 credits)
Contemporary Perspectives in Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)*
Complex Integrated Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)
Evaluating and Improving Physiotherapy Practice (20 credits)*

* A practice placement is aligned to this module

Facilities

This course is based in the Sciences Complex in our City Campus, which has benefited from a recent multimillion pound investment. Teaching takes place in multi-media classrooms with state-of-the-art resources for learning.

Primarily for Physiotherapy provision, Darwin Building will house shared spaces for Physiotherapy and Sport and Exercise Sciences and will include a gym fully equipped with a range of cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, and an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) mock flat with simulated living space including bedroom, kitchen and bathroom areas. A separate multi-purpose open plan space will be used for active play and creative activities, suited to the developmental or rehabilitative needs of children and adults.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time, fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you are from the UK / EU

We are unable to accept international applicants.

This course is an Allied Health Profession and is therefore approved under HCPC pre-registration healthcare funding regulations. Please see our Student Financial Guidance for further information.

In addition, you will be expected to buy your books, stationery, travel and accommodation. For practice placements you will be provided with a uniform by the University.

If you are not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

From September 2020, a non-repayable grant of £5,000 and extra payments worth up to £3,000 will be available to eligible home students for each year of study. Read more about the Training Grant on the NHS Health Careers website.

Use our scholarships calculator to see what you may be entitled to.

Scholarships calculator

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

Graduate Physiotherapists will be eligible to work in multiple organisations including the acute NHS Trusts, GP surgeries, schools, industry, community physical health services, mental health services, learning disability services and social services / local authorities as well as private practice, charities and other non-traditional and third sector organisations. Graduates could also consider a career working in clinical research or teaching, in the UK or overseas.

Preparing you for practice

You will undertake a range of practice placements to gain real-life experience and apply your learning to real-life situations which may lead to further employment opportunities. To further assist in preparing you for employment as a physiotherapist, this course:

Approved by the HCPC's Education and Training Committee (ETC)
Offers a variety of practice placements to ensure you are exposed to wider scope of contemporary physiotherapy practice role within the healthcare team
Integrates the latest simulation and blended learning technologies in the development of tomorrows physiotherapist

Placements

As you may be expected to travel long distances, start your shift in the early hours, or finish your shift late at night, you could be entitled to Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) which allows you to make a retrospective claim for excess travel costs and/or expenses for temporary accommodation near to the location of your placement. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Accreditation

Physiotherapy is a protected profession, which means that it is regulated by law to ensure that only people who have passed state approved training courses and have registered with the state regulator, may practise. The state regulator for physiotherapists is the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Only those who register with the HCPC may call themselves physiotherapists and practise physiotherapy autonomously.

On successful completion of the course graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Pre-registration students are also eligible to join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy as student members, and on graduation will be eligible for full membership.

Career prospects

There is demand in all health and social care services including the acute NHS Trusts, community physical health services, mental health services, Learning Disability Services and Social Services / Local Authorities as well as private practice, charities and other non-traditional and third sector organisations. Therefore graduate prospects and opportunities are far greater than other similar courses. The mean salary six months post-graduation is £21,938.*

*Source: DLHE statistics derived from annually published data by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Meet the students

The tutors are amazing and the facilities are first class

Alan Barlow

Meet the team

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

Page last updated: 24 September 2020

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Overview

Why us?

Our partners, accreditations and networks

Course structure

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules

Year 3 (national level 6):

Core modules

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Preparing you for practice

Placements

Accreditation

Career prospects

Meet the students

Alan Barlow

Meet the team

Related courses

Contact

Sign up to receive more information