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Find out from staff and students about Physiotherapy courses at City St George's.
This course is not currently open for applications.
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Shared learning alongside other MSc postgraduate courses and both pre and post registration students.
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The course includes 30 weeks of practice placement.
Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc Course overview
Benefits of this course
You will gain a detailed understanding of the role of Physiotherapists, paying particular attention to developing your practical skills for effective communication, professionalism and leadership in healthcare.
We offer a broad range of learning environments underpinned by case-based learning and problem solving. One of the many benefits of studying at City St George’s is the opportunity to learn with students on other healthcare-related courses, laying the foundation for future practice as part of a multidisciplinary team.
This collaborative inter-professional education helps you develop invaluable communication and team -building skills and appreciate the roles of other professionals.
Award
You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.
- Master of Science (MSc)
Who is this course for?
This course has been specifically designed for graduates of health and life sciences disciplines with a desire to pursue a career in Physiotherapy.
Accreditation
Successful completion of this course will mean you can apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
Learn more about this course
Watch the video below from our Postgraduate Virtual Fair to learn more about our Physiotherapy (pre-registration) MSc. Get an overview of the programme structure and study options and what you can expect if you choose City St George's.
Structure
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration:
- Full-time: 2 years,
Modules:
We operate a modular system for this course which means the qualification is obtained by a process of credit accumulation. This is a model used on courses throughout the UK and Europe.
Watch the Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) webinar from our postgraduate virtual event.
Year 1
The main focus is on the foundation skills of physiotherapy, using a problem-solving approach. The modules draw on some of the year two modules of the BSc Physiotherapy and integrate with other professions and existing Master's level modules.
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Foundations of Physiotherapy
This module offers you the opportunity to enhance prior knowledge and skills in order to build a foundation for physiotherapy practice with an emphasis on a patient–centred approach. The module consists of understanding the different dimensions of being a healthcare professional and will integrate the application of theoretical knowledge to the clinical setting by building on the basic clinical skills and problem-solving approaches required to be a safe and effective physiotherapist.
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Neurological Physiotherapy
This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the underlying theoretical and practical principles of neurological physiotherapy practice in the management of neurological movement dysfunction, including the impact of living with long term conditions.
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Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
This module will build on your musculoskeletal assessment and treatment/management skills and develop your reasoning and problem-solving skills in relation to specific assessment findings. This will prepare you for the musculoskeletal component of placement and later clinical practice with emphasis on a self-directed learning approach for evidence informed practice.
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Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapy
This module aims to further develop cardio-respiratory knowledge and skills obtained in other modules and enable you to extend your clinical reasoning and practical skills for the effective physiotherapy management of individual patients with variety of cardio-respiratory dysfunctions.
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Human Behaviour and Rehabilitation
This module will explore concepts, theories and evidence that underpin current understandings of human behaviour and particularly in relation to health and wellbeing maintenance and rehabilitation. It will develop an in-depth understanding of psychological, cultural and sociological influences on human behaviour and well-being.
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Evaluation and Research
This module looks at a range of quantitative and qualitative research study designs and approaches and will investigate their advantages and disadvantages. The focus will be on good research practice and the methodologies and tools used by these. Appraisal and expository writing skills will be introduced while the research process will be situated within a framework of critical thinking and reflection.
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Practice Placements 1 and 2
This module introduces the integration of theory into physiotherapy practice via two 6-week practice placements. You will apply key scientific and psychosocial principles to your practice and develop a reflective stance to reasoning in physiotherapy.
Year 2
You will study the broader concepts of clinical practice and the preventive and innovative role of physiotherapy to meet changing health and social care needs. You will share modules with year three BSc and postgraduate professionals in order to further develop critical thinking and leadership skills in an interprofessional environment.
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Complex Management
An older population and populations with substantial and ongoing health needs will be the focus of this module, for example end of life rehabilitation, pain management and self-management strategies. This module acknowledges the increasing complexity of health care across all disciplines. The ethical burden of working in contemporary health and social care will be discussed allowing students to enhance their employability once they enter the health sector after qualifying.
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Practice Placements 3, 4 and 5
This module continues the integration of theory into physiotherapy practice via three 6-week practice placements. You will develop your critical thinking and application of evidence-based principles to your practice in preparation for working as a graduate physiotherapist.
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Personalised Professional Development
The fundamental underpinning of this module is choice, providing you with an opportunity to choose an area of professional practice that is of interest to you and to investigate it thoroughly through engagement with professionals, patients and service users. The module will facilitate your investigation, reflecting upon and presenting your chosen topic, optimising your confidence and employability in a wholly inclusive way.
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Research Projects
This is an inter-professional module in which physiotherapy and occupational therapy students are taught together in lectures, tutorials, workshops and simulation to meet the learning needs of each group. This module provides experience of justifying, designing and implementing a research project. Students will work through the research process including ethical considerations and writing in the style of an academic journal.
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Quality and Innovation in Health and Social Care
This module integrates interprofessional working and contemporary concepts of service improvement in practice. You will examine how policy, research and opinion can support innovation and enhance the service users’ experience. Themes may include understanding of the current health and social care sector in the UK and beyond, regulatory and quality bodies in England, population change and the impact on Allied Health Professions.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll be taught by staff who will share their up-to-date knowledge, experience and recent anecdotes and experience of working in various practice settings including:
- chartered physiotherapists
- midwives
- health visitors
- speech and language therapists
- and occupational therapists.
Where possible, service users (patients) are invited to talk to you directly about their own experiences of being unwell, for example, living with lung disease
Teaching methods
You will benefit from the support of a personal tutor, peer-group learning and a range of web-based learning materials and online discussion forums as well as:
- classroom-based learning
- simulated practical classes
- case-based learning
- individual and group working
- and Practice placements.
Small group tutorials allow you to discuss particular aspects of study or practice, for example, when learning about the theory of communication, you’ll be encouraged to share your own experiences of communicating with patients.
Assessment methods
We use a range of assessment techniques, chosen to match the outcomes being learned and developed within each module.
These include:
- written: essays, posters, presentations, reflective writing, case reports
- practical assessments of physiotherapy skills during lab-based sessions and on placement.
Fees and funding
Fees for academic year 2026/27
Master of Science
(MSc)
Full-time
per year
Home/UK: £9,535
International: £20,710
Full-time per year
Home/UK: £9,535
International: £20,710
£5,000 Government support for allied health degrees
Students studying Allied Health degrees at university can receive an additional £5,000 per year of NHS funding. The additional funding will be provided on top of existing support, including student loans. The additional funding applies to new and existing students and does not need to be paid back.
The government expects the £5,000 maintenance grants to benefit around 100,000 students every year.
There will also be extra payments worth up to £3,000 per academic year for eligible students. These include:
- £1,000 towards childcare costs
- £1,000 if studying in a region that is struggling to recruit
- £1,000 if they’re a new student studying a shortage specialism important to delivering the NHS Long Term Plan.
Additional costs
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- DBS £40 + Update Service (£13 per year)
- Post office verification £6
- Administration fee £9.
Equipment
- Padlock for locker £3.
Clothing
- Uniforms are provided by the University (2 x tops, 2 x trousers), replacement uniforms cost £25
- Name badges are provided by the University, replacements cost £8.
Membership
- Student Membership with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is optional but highly encouraged £46 approx.
Travel to placements and accommodation
- You should expect to spend approximately £1,000 - £2,500 on travel to placements for the duration of your course.
20% off your study
We are offering a Graduate Loyalty Discount of 20% on tuition fees to all our alumni when applying to any of our degree courses.
To be eligible for the discount you must have successfully completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at legacy City, University of London or legacy St George's, University of London, as well as being self-funded.
To apply you will need to be accepted onto your intended course of study and to meet all the normal academic admissions criteria for the relevant course at City St George's, University of London.
Please note that MBBS 4 & 5 students are not entitled to alumni discount.
Career
Chartered Physiotherapists provide essential healthcare services to people of all ages, assessing an individual’s ability to move and return to normal activities following an acute injury or illness, or for someone living with a long-term condition. Physiotherapists need excellent communication skills, along with a scientific background, and a passionate interest in patient care and the promotion of good health.
The approach combines a person-centred physical (therapeutic exercise and activity) and psychosocial approach to facilitate return to functional independence. Physiotherapists work in multidisciplinary teams helping people of all ages in a wide variety of settings and roles, such as:
- intensive care
- mental health
- stroke units
- rehabilitation centres
- sports and leisure facilities
- community settings.
While many physiotherapists will choose to follow a clinical path, there are many options in non-patient facing roles utilising the leadership, educational and research skills that we develop throughout the programme.
Throughout the programme you have ready access to a Physiotherapy Careers’ Tutor and the University’s Career Service who will work with you to explore and plan your career journey into physiotherapy.
Gain experience
The supervised hands-on experience is an essential opportunity to put theory into practice.
Practice placements are undertaken in a variety of healthcare environments including:
- acute NHS hospital trusts
- community based services
- mental health trusts
- and private hospitals.
How to apply
Entry requirements
UK
- 2:1 (upper second class) Honours in any relevant subject.
- This may include (but is not limited to): biology, behavioural science, sports science, physiology, health science, or a health-related profession which ideally contains human anatomy and physiology.
Degrees must be completed, awarded and certified by 1 August in the year of entry. Failure to comply with this may result in the withdrawal of any offer issued by City St George’s.
Applicants who obtain lower than 2:1 honours undergraduate degree or have completed their undergraduate degree outside of a five year period, including the year of application, will be considered if their application is supported by another: biology, behavioural science, sports science, physiology, health science, or a health-related profession masters/PhD degree. These applicants are required to obtain a minimum of merit at master level.
International qualifications
We also accept qualifications from other countries for postgraduate study.
English language requirements
If you are applying from outside of the UK, you will need to meet the English language requirements.
Full details can be found on our City St George's entry requirements page.
This is a Group 1 course.
Application process
To apply for this course you must complete an Undergraduate UCAS application.
When you have started the Undergraduate UCAS application, it will be possible to add this course as a choice by selecting ‘add choice’ and then inputing the institution and course title/code.
Please be aware that if you attempt to complete a Postgraduate UCAS application, this course will not appear as a course choice on the form and it will not be possible to apply.
This course is not currently open for applications.
When you apply you will be expected to provide:
- Personal statement: In addition to meeting the academic criteria for admission, you should be able to demonstrate a keen interest in and commitment to working with people, be able to identify relevant transferable skills that would make you a good physiotherapist, demonstrate a broad awareness of the scope of physiotherapy, and have obtained some relevant work experience where possible. All of this should be evident from your UCAS personal statement. Applicants who do not demonstrate this are unlikely to be invited for interview.
- Work experience and insight: We understand the challenges for our prospective applicants for medicine and allied In response to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have chosen to relax our work experience requirements for prospective applicants for our courses which would normally require these. Despite the relaxed requirements, we still require our applicants to have an understanding of the realities of working as a healthcare professional and to show they have the necessary skills and attributes for their chosen career. Online resources can give you valuable insight into working in the healthcare sector and outline the wide range of careers and courses available. You can find a number of suggested resources for each of our courses here.
- full details of your Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications with grades
- full details of your Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications with achieved/predicted grades
- full details of your degree qualification(s) with achieved/predicted grades
- a personal statement (more information about this document is available on the UCAS website)
- an academic reference from your current or most recent institutions with predicted grades
Acknowledgement emails are sent out as soon as we receive your application. Please make sure that your email account is able to accept communications from City St George’s as we will mainly communicate with you via email.
Interview
If you meet the entry requirements above, you will be invited to attend a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). This will usually be in-person, however we can also offer remote MMIs for international applicants.
You can find further information about this process on our MMI Guidance page, however please note that some of this information may change for those applying during the 2025 application cycle.
Occupational health check
Should you receive an offer to study at City St George’s, you will be required to complete a health check and be declared fit to study and practise by the Occupational Health (OH) department before you begin your studies.
The following vaccinations are mandatory for all healthcare students before you begin your studies:
- MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Poliomyelitis
- Tetanus
As part of the process, you will also be screened by the OH team for Chickenpox, Tuberculosis, HIV and Hepatitis B and C.
We do not currently require you to have been vaccinated against Covid-19, but we strongly recommend that you get double vaccinated before the start of your studies, unless medically exempt.
When admitting candidates to study and practise as a health practitioner, we have an obligation to both patients and to the individual student. Candidates who are concerned about a health issue are advised to contact us.
Disclosure and barring service
This course will include work with children and vulnerable adults, so you will be required to submit a series of declarations.
If you are invited to an interview, we will request some additional information from you, regarding your criminal record, educational history and employment history. You will also have the opportunity to make any other declarations that you’d like us to be aware of. We may not able to consider applicants who were suspended from previous study/work due to fitness to practise issues or failure in assessments/examinations.
If you are made an offer, you will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. More information about this is sent to applicants as part of the admissions process.
Recent engagement in Education
Due to the demanding nature of the programme, it is important that applicants can demonstrate recent engagement in education. If the qualifications that you are applying on the basis of (e.g. Level 3 or degree level qualifications) were awarded more than five years ago (e.g. before summer 2021), it may still be possible for us to consider your application.
In this case, we would look at supplementary level 3 qualifications, or relevant work experience, that you have undertaken within the last five years.
Deferred entry
We will consider applications from applicants who wish to defer entry by a year, provided you plan to use the time constructively.
If you are offered a place on the course and subsequently decide to defer, you must inform us by 1 June of the year of application.
Our academics
Your studies are supported by a team of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field. On occasion we also work with external professionals to enhance your learning and appreciation of the wider subject.