About the course

Overview

Physiotherapists play a vital role in healthcare and are actively engaged in a broad range of career paths from clinical practice through to leadership and management roles. The physiotherapy course at Keele will help you develop high standards of academic and professional competence, combined with interprofessional learning alongside other healthcare profession students, to promote an awareness of present and future demands in healthcare.

Our course embraces a vision of patient-centred care within a wide range of healthcare settings, and you will gain invaluable experience in public and private sector based clinical, rehabilitation and sport environments. You will study in inclusive and supportive learning environments, that encourage reflection and that are enriched by cased-based and evidence-based learning. You will be taught by highly experienced lecturers, clinicians and leading researchers in physiotherapy.

Aims of the course

You will be provided with an environment where you are supported and motivated to develop academically, professionally and personally. The course will focus on your skill development, to enable you to:

• Promote reflective thinking, reflective practice, and self-evaluation.
• Develop the process of critical and evaluative thinking, writing, and communication.
• Transfer scientific knowledge from theory into practice.
• Develop research skills to provide students with a sound academic core to their clinical practice in physiotherapy.
• Develop a scientific approach to the evaluation of current practice in physiotherapy.
• Promote interdisciplinary perspectives and a holistic approach to the management and rehabilitation of person.

Course structure

How the course is taught

This is a 2 year programme which commences in January, each year is divided into two semesters, and runs over an extended academic year with reduced vacation periods when compared to other three and four year programmes in the University. Taught modules are interspersed with Practice Experience modules that offer the students the opportunity to apply and develop skills and knowledge introduced in the University with patients in the clinical environment.

Taught Modules

The module details given below are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

This degree is designed for:

• Individuals with a 2.1 undergraduate degree (or above) in an appropriate science or exercise based subject
  OR
• Individuals with a 2:2 undergraduate degree in an appropriate science or exercise based subject WITH a minimum of 3 years relevant clinical experience AND evidence of continued professional development activity
  OR
• Individuals with a successful completion of a 3 year diploma in Physiotherapy

Satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or overseas police check, and health checks are required for all applicants whom are successful at interview.

Admissions Process

There are four key stages to our Admissions process for the Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) programme - detailed below. Please note, you must be successful at each stage to proceed through the process. 

English Language Entry Requirement for International Students

IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

Funding

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.

Scholarships and Funding

Pre-registration Physiotherapy students are eligible to apply for funding support via the NHS Learning Support Fund which includes a £5000 training grant. More information, incluidng the eligibility criteria can be found here.

We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our bursaries and scholarships 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.

Careers

A physiotherapy degree from Keele will ensure you graduate with clinical and research skills that will enable you to work as an autonomous professional across a variety of national (including the NHS, private sector, occupational health and performance sport) and international healthcare settings.

The University has a Careers and Employability team who can provide you with advice and guidance about your future career. The team offer specialist workshops, for example 'Options with Postgraduate Study' and Moving on with your PhD', and can also meet you individually to give guidance and support to help you develop your career.  We also hold regular careers fairs on campus and informal events where you can meet employers. You will also have access to our database of job opportunities and digital resources such as online psychometric testing.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion in Physiotherapy Practical Skills Education

The educational programmes in the School of Allied Health Professions prepare students to practice in a wide range of healthcare and wellbeing settings.

Each programme equips students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours required to practice safely and effectively in a constantly changing healthcare environment. Programmes must also ensure students are prepared for professional practice which truly embraces and promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Students will learn both the theory and practice of their chosen profession and will be taught in both the university and the clinical/healthcare environment.

Practical skills will initially be taught in the classroom and students will both practise and personally experience the skills of the profession. Students are required to act as patient models both in the classroom and, where appropriate, in the clinical setting. Acting as a patient model is a valuable part of learning by offering the experience of healthcare from the perspective of a patient which will contribute to the students’ development in becoming an empathetic healthcare professional. Through classroom-based and practice-based settings students will experience a wide diversity of healthcare situations and environments in which their professional skills are developed for practice as a qualified, registered health professional.

The School recognises and understands that, for a variety of reasons, some students may find being a model or practising skills on fellow students and/or professional colleagues uncomfortable. Please be assured that the School is committed to provide an inclusive environment for all students to thrive and as such provides screens in practical teaching sessions, promotes the use of pronouns, plans assessments in cognisance of holy days and offers the adaptation of dress, where possible, to maintain modesty and dignity requirements of religious (or other) dress codes. A culturally and ethnically diverse student body will enhance understanding of, and healthcare provision for, the diverse communities that they will serve, as such, we welcome the opportunity to work with you to find culturally competent and/or sensitive solutions for you. For any questions or concerns you may have about practical skills education, please do contact the school at your earliest opportunity to discuss with a member of academic staff (Primary contacts: Dr Claire Stapleton, c.stapleton@keele.ac.uk, (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead) for all aspects of equality, except disability, where Dr Dale Cooper, d.cooper1@keele.ac.uk (Disability Liaison Officer) should be contacted).

The School of Allied Health Professions is committed to ensuring its graduates are fully prepared for practice across the widest range of healthcare situations and settings and that they are also able to embrace, reflect and influence the values and behaviours required to promote inclusive cultures and diversity.