Physiotherapy (pre-registration) | MSc

Welcome to MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration)

Physiotherapy is a science-based health profession that takes a 'whole person' approach to improving and maintaining wellbeing. Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness, or disability using a range of interventions such as tailored exercise, manual therapy, and advice.

The interprofessional components of the course aim to develop skilled and compassionate practitioners who have the confidence to engage with and promote professional, social, and political change in health and social care. Collaborative working with peers from a variety of disciplines promotes team work, and an application of research skills in the transformation of health and social care services.

Successful completion of this programme provides eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Varied and supported practice placement opportunities are available to develop students' awareness of the scope of physiotherapy. Practice-based learning helps support the development of an understanding of different career opportunities within the NHS, private, third sectors, and beyond in an ever-changing healthcare workforce.

The University of Lincoln is home to the Community and Health Research Unit (CaHRU), which is the research centre for the School of Health and Social Care. CaHRU conducts world-leading interdisciplinary research with service users, health service professionals, and organisations to increase health and wellbeing across the health, social, and third sector care services.

CaHRU is allied with the Lincoln Institute for Health. The Lincoln Institute for Health (LIH) is a University-wide multidisciplinary research collaboration that conducts internationally excellent and world-class studies from 'cell-to-community'.

Accreditations

This programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

Successful completion of this programme will provide graduates with the eligibility to apply to the HCPC Register as a physiotherapist and membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

How You Study

The foundation of this course is the interprofessional learning approach to developing and promoting a culture of wellness in health and social care. Students can experience collaborative approaches to learning and teaching that will challenge traditional perceptions of healthcare provision.

A variety of learning and teaching strategies are used to cater for the individual needs of students on the programme. These strategies include lectures, seminars, workshops, small group activity, self-assessment, case studies, library based resources, clinical skills sessions, virtual learning, simulation, and practice-based learning.

There will be a blended approach to learning with students learning on campus in face to face sessions such as clinical skills sessions and online for live lectures and seminars or pre-recorded sessions that students can access at a time convenient to them.

Students are expected to gain more than 1,000 hours of practice-based learning in a variety of clinical settings. In the year 2, students can be supported in developing an optional elective clinical placement, subject to having achieved the minimum requirements for supported practice learning.

Contact Hours and Independent Study

Contact hours may vary for each year of the course. Students will be engaging in a two-year full-time course and so, at the very least, should expect to undertake a minimum of 37 hours of study each week during term-time. Students may also need to undertake assignments outside of term-time. The composition and delivery of the course varies for each module.

Masters level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures, seminars and practice-based learning. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least two to three hours in independent study.

The practice-based learning placements are five weeks in duration apart from placement block 1, which is four weeks long. There are three placement blocks in Year 1 and three five- week blocks in Year 2. This helps to ensure that students are given an adequate opportunity to achieve the minimum 1,000 hours that would be required for registration with the Chartered Society of Physio-therapy (CSP) and to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Students will not be required to attend University during the clinical placement blocks.

An Introduction to Your Modules

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

Advancing Physiotherapy Practice 2024-25PHS9001MLevel 72024-25This module aims to develop students' skills and knowledge when working with more complex cases and those in need of longer-term care. Learning and teaching covers the main specialities of cardiorespiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal medicine and health care, however students are encouraged to think and work across the speciality boundaries.Working on simulated and real-life case studies students can promote patient and carer wellness and functional independence in the context of individual psycho-social constraints. Students are expected to apply previously acquired knowledge and skills in evidence-based practice, assessment, clinical judgement, and therapeutic intervention selection, and develop them here to demonstrate the link between physiotherapy theory and real-world practice. This process will be facilitated and supported in the safe and controlled environment of the University. Practical and workshop sessions will include the use of hi-fidelity simulation where students can experience the impact of living and dealing with a range of complex conditions that practising Physiotherapists are exposed to. Critical reflection and evaluation of treatment outcomes will form the basis for ongoing reasoning and decision-making. Students have the chance to develop a patient-centred approach, and demonstrate professional values and behaviours to achieve optimal patient outcomes in an applied legal and ethical framework.CoreApplied Health Improvement 2024-25HEA9431MLevel 72024-25Health improvement is a term used to describe the work done with individuals and communities to enable and encourage healthy lifestyle choices to be made regardless of health and social circumstances. It is one of the three key domains of public health practice. This second year module has been designed to extend students knowledge of public health policy and practice and provide the opportunity to explore how psychological, social, behavioural and environmental factors influence health, illness and healthcare and how these shape the advice given to patients to improve their own health and the health of others around them. Students will be encouraged to question the ethical basis of and effectiveness of health improvement practice in the current health and social care context from global, national and local perspectives.CoreApplied Sciences in Physiotherapy 2023-24PHS9002MLevel 72023-24This module aims to develop and apply the biological, physical, psychological, and sociological sciences in the physiotherapy context of health and social care. Through a series of core lectures, students can use enquiry-based learning seminar activities to align the sciences with physiotherapy practice. The Applied Sciences module is designed to promote the development of clinically applied knowledge in core health and social science relevant to physiotherapy practice. This knowledge base is the foundation for developing a biopsychosocial approach to patient care.CoreAssessment and Clinical Judgement in Physiotherapy 2023-24PHS9003MLevel 72023-24This module aims to encourage students to develop a comprehensive and inclusive approach to assessing the health and social care status of patients and their carers. Students can develop a professional and patient-centred approach to assessing patients and their carers in order to arrive at a reasoned and evidence-informed clinical impression. Clinical reasoning and decision-making theory will be covered relative to assessment and diagnosis, and will form a foundation for subsequent modules and practice placements. A range of approaches to patient assessment and documentation of findings will be explored, with a focus on the role of effective communication as a key skill in modern health and social care. The module will include the analysis and assessment of functional human movement, and the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems. Students can also explore the role of wider psycho-social assessment measures.CoreEssential Interprofessional Practice 2023-24HEA9432MLevel 72023-24This module has been designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop essential knowledge and understanding about the structure and function of health and social care in the UK. The module will support students in making the transition to Master's level study and assist them in the development of key skills such as critical evaluation, reflection, and using evidence to underpin practice.CoreEssential Physiotherapy Practice 2023-24PHS9004MLevel 72023-24This module provides an introduction to the scope and skills of Physiotherapy practice. Students can develop a range of interventions used within the physiotherapy profession to treat, educate, support and enable patients and their carers. Skills and knowledge developed here will form the foundation for the development and application of essential Physiotherapy practice in subsequent modules and on practice placements. Students can develop their critical evaluation skills by exploring the evidence underpinning interventions, whilst developing clinical reasoning and decision-making skills in the selection of therapeutic techniques. Interventions include the therapeutic use of physical activity and exercise, soft tissue therapy techniques, manual therapy techniques, electrotherapeutic modalities, and techniques and equipment to facilitate functional human movement. Adapting techniques to meet individual needs and specialist populations aims to further develop the clinical reasoning process. Modification of interventions to promote wellness, lifestyle change and self-management will form a foundation of this module.CoreService Evaluation for Clinical Practice 2024-25HEA9433MLevel 72024-25This module provides the learner with a knowledge and skills of appropriate quality improvement tools to systematically evaluate an area of service delivery within their field of practice. The module will support students to critically examine current research and audit practices in order to systematically reviewing the literature to find alternative ways of working to improve patient outcomes. Students will be expected to prepare a business case proposal for change within their professional area.CoreService Transformation 2024-25HEA9434MLevel 72024-25This second year module provides the students with the chance to develop the knowledge and skills required to systematically propose a service transformation project in order to improve service delivery and patient safety within their area of professional practice. This module aims to enhance the students underpinning knowledge, project management, leadership, and problem solving skills in order to undertake a process of service improvement within the delivery of health and social care. The main focus of the taught content is to ensure that care standards, quality assurance mechanisms, improvement methodologies, process and strategies are fully considered and incorporated into the project.Core

How you are assessed

Students will be assessed both formally and informally throughout the course in order to develop learning and autonomy. The assessments will take place within the University, online and practice placement environments.

Practice-based learning will be pass / fail, while the Level 7 academic work will contribute towards your final grade. Some assessment will be led by the course tutors, but students may also be encouraged to engage in peer and self-assessment to help develop the skills of reflection and evaluation which are essential for lifelong learning and continued professional development following registration as a Physiotherapist.

Some of the assessments will focus on theoretical knowledge and application of theory and others on the practical performance of technical skills and patient management. Detailed guidance of what is expected, and assessment criteria, will be provided for each module.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly usually with-in 15 working days of the submission date (unless stated differently above).

Methods of Assessment

The way students are assessed on this course will vary for each module. It could include coursework, such as a service transformation project, written and practical exams, written assignments, portfolio development, group work, or presentations.

Career and Personal Development

Many registered and Chartered Physiotherapists work for the NHS and are recruited and employed by individual Trusts.

This programme is forward-looking and appreciates that many physiotherapists and new graduates may also work in the military, sports, private, and third sectors. New, varied, and innovative job opportunities are increasingly available to qualified physiotherapists, and this programme aims to prepare its graduates accordingly. Non-clinical careers also exist in teaching, research, management and administration, health and safety, and training and development. The experienced teaching team can help students explore and develop their individual career aspirations.

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with you to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during your time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing your course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual and website resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise your future opportunities. The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.

"I always knew I wanted to work in an MSK role post-registration, so I was pleased to accept a static post in the outstanding Lincolnshire Community Health Services Trust, and started right away as a Band 4 whilst I waited for my HCPC registration to come through. I started to specialise further into Physiotherapy for Women’s Health in 2021, when my trust were tasked with piloting a new, community service. I found it really interesting to see and experience first-hand the skills we had learned as part of the Service Evaluation and Service Transformation modules in our second year of study."

Faye Button, MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) graduate

Entry Requirements 2023-24

- Applicants should hold an honours degree at 2.2 classification or above. If you are unsure whether your first degree is relevant we welcome you to send us your degree transcript so that our Admissions Tutor can advise you further.
- Entry on to the course is subject to meeting the requirements of a profession specific occupational health screening. Certificates and degree transcripts of all previous qualifications will need to be provided before any offers are confirmed.

International Applicants

We welcome international applications although places are limited.
All international applicants require IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each element for students whose first language is not English. Applicants must provide a valid IELTS certificate at the point of application.

Students who have completed a UK degree within 5 years of their proposed enrolment at the University will not be required to provide IELTS.
For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/. These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

International applicants need to obtain a recent criminal record certificate from their home country and ensure this is still valid by the date of enrolment in addition to the DBS requirements detailed below. A list of admissible certificates can be found on the UK Government website; please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants.

Other requirements include:
-Successful performance at an interview.
- Knowledge of contemporary health and social care issues, and the role of the Physiotherapist in providing healthcare.
- Understanding of written material and can communicate clearly and accurately in written and spoken English.
- All students will be required to sign the subject-specific Fitness to Practise Code of Conduct on entry, details of which will be forwarded with an offer letter.
- Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). International applicants need to obtain a recent criminal record certificate from their home country and ensure this is still valid by the date of enrolment.

Applicants with disabilities

We take seriously our obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that all students with disabilities can successfully complete their studies. All applicants will be assessed based on the criteria outlined here regardless of any disability. If you declare a disability we will invite you to work with us to explore how best we can support your studies.

Other information:

You must declare all spent and unspent criminal convictions including (but not limited to) cautions, reprimands, final warnings, bind over orders or similar and details of any minor offences, fixed penalty notices, penalty notices for disorder, ASBOs or VOOs.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service.
If you would like further information about entry requirements or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk.

Fees and Funding

For eligible students, there are more ways than ever before to fund your postgraduate study, whether you want to do a taught or research course. For those wishing to undertake a Master's course, UK students can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study. Learn how Master's and PhD loans, scholarships, and studentships can help you fund your studies on our Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages.

Programme Fees

Programme-Specific Funding and Bursaries

From September 2020, new and returning postgraduate nursing and midwifery students, and some students in allied health professions, will receive a payment of at least 5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back. This is in addition to any financial support they receive through the Student Loans Company.

For more information visit: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/considering-or-university/financial-support-university.

From 1st August 2018 the MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration) programme will be eligible for further financial support in terms of student loan.

Students may also be able to access Student Finance England's Travel Grant for reimbursement of eligible practice placement expenses.

For the latest information please see Student Finance England's website: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance or email fundingadvice@lincoln.ac.uk with specific queries.

Programme-Specific Additional Costs

With regards to text books, the University provides students with a comprehensive reading list and our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that students are required to read. Students may prefer to purchase some of these for themselves and will therefore be responsible for this cost.

A full Occupational Health screening assessment and vaccination programme is included as part of your course fees. A charge may be incurred per missed appointment. Vaccinations programmes you choose to undertake with your own GP or health provider may be subject to their charges. The University will not reimburse you for these costs.

Additional costs

Travel, accommodation and living costs are not included in tuition fees. Students may also incur additional costs in relation to printing, stationery, and photocopying, as well as any student memberships to relevant professional bodies.

Interviews

Following successful application, applicants will be invited to a competitive selection process that will involve an online group interview with an academic member of staff and either a clinician, service user, and fellow applicants.

Rowena Burgess - Programme Leader

Rowena has a background in the rehabilitation of adults, particularly older people in community settings, and has been a Chartered Physiotherapist since 2007. Her research specialisms include neurorehabilitation of adults and older people in the community.

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Key Information

MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration)