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Universities United Kingdom University of Reading Courses MSc in Physician Associate

MSc in Physician Associate
at University of Reading

Reading, United Kingdom

Tuition Fee £ 26,450
Country Rank-
Duration12 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5 TOEFL: 88

Program Overview

Our MSc Physician Associate programme provides essential training for entering an exciting new career as a healthcare professional.
This course is suitable for life science graduates or those with significant healthcare experience.

You will receive training in the classroom and experience a wide variety of teaching methods. You will engage in workplace-based learning in NHS Primary and Secondary Care environments, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge as a healthcare professional in real settings. All curriculum content is delivered in close partnership with practicing clinicians. Our course provides over 100 more clinical hours than the national minimum requirement, with around 350 hours of clinical placements in first year and around 1,350 in second year.

Our teaching staff include a practising physician associate and medical practitioners who are able to support you, not only in your clinical learning, but also in the practicalities of working within the NHS. You will also encounter many of our past graduates on your clinical placements who have gained employment with our placement partners.

The oversight of education and training of physician associates is currently shared by the Department of Health, the Physician Associate Schools Council (PASC) and the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) from the Royal College of Physicians. Graduates who pass the Reading MSc programme must then pass the Physician Associate National Certification Examination and then will be able to register with the FPA who maintain the Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR).

Course Content
Year 1

In your first year, half of your time will be spent undertaking clinical placements within the NHS alongside on-going learning at the university. You will gain an understanding of the basic medical sciences (anatomy, biochemistry, histology, genetics, microbiology, pathology, physiology) together with the principles of patient consultation.

Your second year will build on your core knowledge, integrating academic learning with block rotational clinical placements. You will be supported to exercise initiative and personal responsibility, undertake decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations and continue to develop the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.

Throughout your studies you will complete formative of knowledge and its application to clinical scenarios. Summative assessments will include written examinations, such as multiple-choice questions, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). These assessments will prepare you for the Physician Associate National Certification Examination, which takes the same format.

You will be required to complete the "Research methods" and "Research project" modules. This research should be carried out in the workplace with support from research staff at the University.
Entry Requirement
3 year (or longer) Bachelors degree from a recognised university/institution with a grade average ranging from 50% - 85% or GPA 6.0-8.5/10 depending on the institution where you have completed your degree.

Fees & Scholarships

International Tuition Fees:

£26,450 per year

Career Prospect

A Physician Associate (PA) is a healthcare professional trained in the medical model who works as a member of a medical team under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon in a wide variety of workplaces (including GP practices, community health services and all types of hospital care). PAs support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients and are trained to perform a number of roles including:

taking medical histories
performing examinations
diagnosing illnesses
analysing test results
developing management plans

The PA role is flexible and is being developed across the NHS to meet major staffing strategies. A lack of trained PAs in the UK means that career prospects for graduates are excellent. The predicted growth of the PA role across the NHS to fill an important resource gap indicates strong continued employment prospects for graduates.

Cost Of Studying At University of Reading

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

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MSc in Physician Associate at University of Reading