Physician Assistant Studies - MSc
Physician assistants are trained health professionals able to work within health care teams under the supervision of a senior doctor. This course will enable you to develop the skills and knowledge required to be part of a clinical workforce delivering excellent patient care. A tailored combination of clinical placements and innovative teaching will be delivered by PAs, doctors, advanced nurse/clinical practitioners, scientists and researchers.
Apply for this course via UCAS (code BB97). You can also apply directly using the 'Apply now' button below.
Month of entry
- January
Mode of study
- Full time
Fees for 2026/27 academic year
-
UK Full Time - £9,790
Fees
Duration of study
- 2 years
This course is no longer accepting applications from international students for the 2026/27 academic year.
Why study Physician Assistant Studies at Keele University?
About the course
Physician assistants (PAs) are health care professionals, trained to deliver care and treatment within hospital and community environments. A PA works as part of a multiprofessional team, under the supervision of a senior doctor, to manage and treat a range of patients as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Physician assistants work within a defined scope of practice and limits of competence.
Keele’s PA course utilises a diverse range of teaching faculty including PAs, other clinicians, scientists and researchers to maximise students’ learning potential.
Course structure
Indicative timetable
In year 1 you will attend taught sessions for 29 weeks of the year with 16 weeks of clinical placements. The taught weeks will usually include 1 day in a GP surgery, when not in secondary care placements. These GP days start within the first few weeks of the programme. In year 2 you will attend taught sessions for 21 weeks of the year with 22 weeks of full-time clinical placements. Placements usually fall between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. However in some clinical areas there may be a need to work at weekends and in the evenings
What you will study
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Compulsory modules
Physician Assistant Studies (Year 1)
You will begin your foundations of clinical learning through clinical sciences, anatomy and teaching in the general medical specialities (i.e. respiratory, gastroenterology, cardiology renal medicine, endocrinology, neurology, elderly care) and surgery. This will develop your understanding of a wide range of medical and surgical conditions to fulfil the requirements of the programme and also prepare you for the RCP National qualifying examination which you undertake upon completion of this programme. You will be introduced and practice your communication, clinical skills and professional practice in simulation to meet the required and expected standard of your professional role as a physician assistant. You will apply your new skills and knowledge throughout the module in a longitudinal GP placement during year 1. This will allow you to refine your clinical, communication and professional skills learnt in simulation in a primary care setting to compliment that undertaken in your secondary care placements.
Physician Assistant Studies (Year 2)
You will build on the foundations of the Year 1 general medical module with further scientific and clinical learning in the medical specialities of mental health, women's health, paediatrics, emergency and acute medicine, haematology, dermatology and infectious diseases. This will further develop your understanding and clinical skills in these areas. You will be develop and practice your communication, clinical skills and professional practice in simulation to meet the Year 2 requirements of the programme and also to prepare you for the National qualifying examination. You will apply your skills and knowledge throughout the module in a 12 weeks specialty secondary care placement and a 4 week GP placement block. This will allow you to refine your clinical, communication and professional skills learnt in simulation.
Physician Assistant Dissertation
This module will enable students undertaking the physician assistant programme to complete a full masters programme and to acquire the essential skills of critical analysis and critical thinking, which will equip them to work within the clinical area and the demands of evidence based practice. It is envisaged that the articles for publication written as the second stage of this module, will be disseminated as published articles to promote the role of the physician assistant further within the health care systems a whole.
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical Offer:
UK: 2:1 degree in a biomedical or health science related subject
You will also need: 4 / C in GCSE Maths or Level 2 Functional Skills Maths, plus a 5 / B in GCSE English language (or alternative qualification - see below).
International applicants: This course is currently only available for students with Home fee status.
- Shortlisted applicants will be called to attend an online interview. Each candidate will undertake a structured individual interview from members of the PA team.
- Satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health checks are required for all applicants whom are successful at interview.
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group D.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application. For international students, find out how we work with approved agents as part of our admissions process.
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Postgraduate funding and scholarshipsFees, funding and scholarships
Fees
UK Full Time - £9,790 for the 2026/7 academic year
Fees
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
For continuing international students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Funding
Whether you're continuing from undergraduate study or returning to education, our dedicated financial support team is here to help.
Some travel costs may be incurred whilst on placements; any such costs will be discussed with you before the placement is confirmed. There may be additional costs for textbooks and inter-library loans.
Living costs
Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost-effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2026 start date falls in the 2025/26 academic year. Please see the tuition fees archive for the 2025/26 fees.
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our financial support team.
Scholarships
We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage for more information.
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
For continuing international students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Scholarships
We know that understanding what support is available for postgraduate students is an important step in planning your future and we are committed to rewarding excellence and potential.
Visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage to find out more about our scholarships, including:
- Keele Global Scholarship – up to £5000 tuition fee discount for international students (2027/28)
- Keele Graduate Scholarship – up to £3000 tuition fee discount for home students (2027/28)
Terms and conditions apply.
Additional costs
Mandatory costs
You can expect some additional costs as a student on this course, which may support learning activities, specialist equipment, fieldwork, placements, or other course-related requirements. Details of these mandatory costs are outlined below to help you plan accordingly. Students may also incur general expenses related to university study, such as for printing, textbooks and other materials. Students who undertake a placement may be responsible for additional costs, such as travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs. For further information, please refer to the additional costs information.
- Stethoscope: £30
- Uniform: £74.74
- Enhanced DBS check with digital ID check: £60.70
- Registration to the DBS Update Service: £16 per year. This price is not set by the University and is liable to increase.
- Physician Associate national qualifying exam is £834
- Travel to Placements: Students are responsible for reasonable costs incurred in travelling to local placements and making travel arrangements - in the same way as for travel to and from the University generally. However, students are able to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund to support travel to and from placement locations (eligibility criteria apply). Students may also be eligible for support towards expenses through NHS Learning Support Fund Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses application.
Teaching, learning and assessment
100% attendance is expected for this programme and attendance is monitored. Should it fall below 80% discussions will be had about the practicalities of continuing on the programme.
The course is a full-time, two-year programme of experiential learning, where you will engage with a range of teaching methodologies linked to clinical cases and associated skills. Both years follow a programme of clinical teaching with integrated placements in primary and secondary care with hospitals and GP practices. You will be taught by a range of specialist academics and clinicians to gain comprehensive input and guidance about the topic areas required to fulfil the programme requirements. You will also have joint teaching with other Keele Health and Social Care courses, to develop interpersonal awareness and knowledge.
In your programme you will sometimes be expected to role play and engage in simulated clinical scenarios with other students, such as the practice and observation of practical skills. For some specific practices, this may necessitate modification of dress - e.g., to shorts and t-shirt. These activities will be conducted in a professional, safe, respectful and culturally sensitive way, under the supervision of academic staff, according to a defined protocol.
Our aim is to prepare you for your national exam and future careers with a structured programme of speciality teaching. You will gain a broad understanding of clinical environments including: General Medical; Emergency Medicine; General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Mental Health, acute and emergency medicine, and primary and community care.
You will complete your MSc over two years before sitting your National Exam which is run by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Only following success at this exam are you then allowed to register with the GMC and practice as a physician assistant.
Assessment
Throughout each year there are a range of formative examinations and tests to help you to develop your awareness of the standard required to pass the course. This is supported with regular group and individual feedback to aid individual progress. At the end of each year there are summative assessments which consist of an SBA examination and OSCE examination. All of these are set at national standards to ensure you are aware of the standard that has to be achieved. There is also a pharmacology and therapeutics exam that must be passed in year 2.
Alongside this, you will have an e-portfolio. This is where you will have evidence of skills and clinical knowledge signed off whilst in the placement areas. It is also where you upload any training certificates and your time sheets for all the placements through the two years. There are also two reflective assignments based on cases from the clinical area which emphasises the role of the PA in the clinical area and a communications assessment, which is conducted by the GP tutor in the surgery in which you are placed.
There is also peer teaching and assessment to help you to embed your knowledge further by teaching your colleagues. This works well in developing a supportive community within the student groups. It also encourages learning and reduces the risk of isolation in students, which impacts on their development and achievement. This is achievable as at Keele we keep class sizes small enough for this important concept of student experience and development to be effective.
Key programme expectations
Before applying, it is important to understand the core physical and psychological demands of training for a career in this field. To help you make an informed choice, our programme aligns with fitness to train standards detailed by the Higher Education Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS) group. We encourage all prospective students to review these core capabilities to ensure they feel confident meeting the day-to-day expectations of both the academic study and clinical placements.
Medical fitness to train and work
Physically demanding role
Mentally demanding role
Extensive clinical placements
Travel requirements
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Shift work and 24-hour service expectations
