Course Summary
Physiotherapists treat patients of all ages, helping them to maximise functional movement caused by accidents, illness and disability. Their expertise helps improve mobility, independence and quality of life.
This course prepares you to be a physiotherapist and includes the minimum of 1,000 clinical hours you need to qualify.
You’ll learn how to treat patients and to communicate with them effectively, gaining hands-on experience from year one through your clinical placements in the National Health Service and private sector.
You’ll also develop a thorough understanding of the human body, what happens when injuries occur and how to treat and manage them.
We’ve worked hard with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) to ensure the course content is highly relevant. Our course is validated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), so you can apply for registration with the HCPC and full membership of the CSP on graduation.
Our graduates enjoy outstanding success in the jobs market. Six months after graduating, 95 per cent of them are already in a clinical position, according to 2016 government statistics.
We advise students to check Health Education England for regular up-to-date information.
Applicants are required to complete an enhanced occupational health assessment to ensure that you are occupationally fit to work in the health and social care setting.
Please see entry requirements below for more details.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Our three-year, full-time course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to practise as a qualified independent physiotherapist in a clinical environment.
In your first year, you’ll get to grips with physiotherapy fundamentals. Learning about rehabilitation and how patients develop and maintain physical function and movement are key components.
In years two and three the emphasis moves to more specialist areas such as musculoskeletal, respiratory and neurological issues. You’ll also work on your decision-making, learning how to manage patients with complex conditions.
Throughout your course, you’ll undertake clinical placements with NHS trusts or private healthcare organisations.
You’ll enjoy hearing from some of the very best physiotherapists, who not only teach you but also share their extensive experience.
As well as gaining theoretical knowledge and practical skills, you’ll also develop your ability to think clearly and critically – to make a sound professional judgment from the evidence available.
Physiotherapy is a science-based profession and takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, which includes the patient’s general lifestyle. You’ll gain important life skills as well such as the ability to listen and to communicate effectively and to work as a member of a healthcare team.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
You’ll be based in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience in Stratford, but you’ll spend at least a third of your time ‘learning by doing’ away from campus.
We have strong links with local NHS trusts and private-sector providers, which means you’ll have a range work placement opportunities.
These placements begin after Christmas in your first year and, thanks to our excellent connections, take place in world-renowned hospitals. They include: These placements begin after the Christmas break
in your first year and, thanks to our excellent connections, take place in world-renowned hospitals and NHS Trusts. These include: Barts Health, Homerton and Barking, Havering & Redbridge.
Our supportive staff will help set these up to ensure you get the 1,000 clinical hours you need to qualify.
When not on placement, you’ll enjoy practical and clinical sessions at Stratford, in small, supportive learning groups with low student-to-staff ratios.
Our modern, purpose-built campus offers superb teaching facilities, including our own on-site clinic with four spacious, well-equipped teaching rooms.
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: scheduled teaching – 360 hours; guided independent study – 840 hours. 150 hours of clinical practice in term 2
Year 2: scheduled teaching – 360 hours; guided independent study – 840 hours. 300 hours of clinical practice across the year.
Year 3: scheduled teaching – 120 hours; guided independent study – 270 hours. (Please note, terms 1 and 2 in level 6 are shortened to accommodate clinical placements). 600 hours of clinical practice across the year.
Who will teach on this course
Elizabeth Nicholls
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
A physiotherapy degree puts you in a powerful position when it comes to entering the world of work. Physiotherapists are in high demand across the UK and abroad.
You could opt for a career in the NHS, where physiotherapists are deployed across the medical spectrum, from intensive care and stroke rehabilitation to recovery from major surgery or trauma to care of the elderly and paediatrics. We are proud to say that our physiotherapy staff and students were involved with the delivery of the NHS Nightingale project during the Covid-19 pandemic.
You could specialise in the treatment of physical issues arising from one of the body’s systems. This could mean concentrating on bones, joints and soft tissues (musculoskeletal), the brain and nervous system (neurology), the heart and blood circulation (cardiovascular) or the respiratory organs.
There are also plenty of career opportunities for physiotherapists in the private sector.
At the University of East London, we have graduates who have gone on to work in senior roles within the NHS (for example Consultant Physiotherapist in Sports Medicine). UEL graduates have also take key roles in International Sports Organisations (for example the Womens Tennis Association and Essex County Cricket Club), and Major Games Medical Teams (for example the Olympics and Commonwealth Games).
Whatever your particular interest, a UEL physiotherapy degree opens up a wealth of options for your future career.
How you'll be assessed
Year 1 - 70% practical (includes a mix of clinical exams, clinical placements, presentations and vivas), 30% coursework.
Year 2 - 70% practical (includes a mix of clinical exams, clinical placements, presentations and vivas), 30% coursework.
Year 3 - 60% practical (includes a mix of clinical exams, clinical placements, presentations and vivas), 40% coursework
You’ll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 14 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face to face assessments.
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