MSc in Physician Associate Studies

at Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Learning outcomes from the modules listed below are integrated so that students will learn about clinical medicine on a theoretical basis, practice relevant clinical skills in the classroom, followed by supervised practice with real patients in clinical attachments.
 

Year One
 

• Biomedical and Clinical Sciences for PAs – A (includes case-based learning) (60 credits)

• Clinical Skills for PAs – A (includes communication and physical exam skills) (30 credits)

• Clinical Practice for PAs – A (GP placements) (15 credits)

• Pharmacology and Prescribing for PAs (15 credits)
   

Year Two
 

• Biomedical and Clinical Sciences for PAs – B (30 credits)

• Clinical Skills for PAs – B (15 credits)

• Clinical Practice for PAs – B (clinical placements in regional secondary care trusts and GPs) (60 credits)

• Preparation for Practice (student selected placement within affiliated trusts) (15 credits)

• Service Improvement Project (30 credits)
   

In the second year of study, students are on placement in one of the three regional trusts, usually  East Sussex NHS Healthcare Trust or University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Time is also spent at Sussex Partnership NHS Trust doing psychiatry. While every effort is made to accommodate student preferences, no guarantees can be made of any one particular placement or location.

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class degree in life sciences or another health-related undergraduate degree within the past five years. Applicants with a degree awarded more than five years ago may apply but should have clinical experience and may be asked to write an academic essay as part of the application process.
 

For non native English speakers students an IELTS score of 7.5 or above is required in addition to the academic requirements.

The fees listed below are the tuition costs for full-time courses taken in the academic year 2022/23. 
 

With effect from 2021/22 onwards, EU nationals starting new postgraduate courses will pay international fees and will not be eligible for student funding from the UK government. However, there are exceptions to this for Irish nationals and EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. For the latest information, please see gov.uk/student-finance.
 

MSc

• UK £10,500 
• International fee £18,975
   

After accepting your place on the course there is a non-refundable £500 deposit required to secure your place. This is then subtracted from your tuition fees once you have started the course.
 

A training grant of £5,000 from Health Education England is available to all students across the two-year course. Please note that students do not need to apply for this.
 

All students can also apply for a student loan whilst studying a master's degree (£10,250).

Qualification with the MSc in Physician Associate Studies and successful completion of the national examination will allow alumnae to work in a variety of healthcare settings including general medicine, paediatrics, and in community settings.
 

Following graduation from the course, and subsequent completion of the Physician Associate National Examinations, PAs can expect starting salaries of Agenda for Change Band 7. Progression thereafter will be dependent on competency, attributes and opportunities to progress to higher pay scales.
 

As the PA role has been identified as a key emergent profession within the NHS, it is envisaged a large number of job vacancies will become available locally and nationally in the coming years.