This degree is designed to help you develop the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours required of a modern entrepreneurial physiotherapy graduate. Year 1 you will learn fundamental concepts and topics required for physiotherapy practice. Year 2 clinical reasoning becomes a central focus, and you also start to expand your knowledge related to specific populations and more specialist areas. Year 3 focuses on building complexity and enhancing clinical practice, leadership and research skills as you work towards becoming an innovative and entrepreneurial autonomous physiotherapy practitioner able to work within a wide scope of practice.
The seven placements across the course will enable you to develop an understanding of a broad range of physiotherapy practice environments, specialities, and emerging areas/roles a qualified physiotherapist may work, for example the NHS, Social Care, Private, Charity or Independent Sectors.
Year 1
Becoming a Professional (Block 1, 20 credits)
This module will explore what it means to be a registered physiotherapy professional, and will introduce the role of the student physiotherapist, developing your essential professional, personal and academic skills. It will prepare you for your first placement within the health and social care sectors, introducing you to the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to undertake a physiotherapy subjective assessment.
Human Anatomy and Clinical Science (Block 2, 20 credits)
During this module you will learn the foundational knowledge of the ‘normal’ structure and function of the human body and core clinical science knowledge associated with the musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular systems. Theoretical knowledge will be accompanied by learning fundamental physiotherapy objective assessment practical and handling skills associated with these systems.
Fundamentals of Human Movement & Rehabilitation (Block 3, 20 credits)
This module places emphasis on developing your physiotherapy treatment skills. It will provide you with knowledge of typical human movement, exercise science and physiology, and the principles underpinning rehabilitation that is at the heart of physiotherapy practice. You also learn how to explore and practically apply movement, exercise and rehabilitation theory/principles in relation to cases across the lifespan.
Physiotherapy Placement 1 (Block 4, 0 credits)
This module will develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the physiotherapy practice setting. During this module you will undertake a 3-week physiotherapy placement experience in the East of England region. This placement provides you with the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning acquired during the first three modules of the programme.
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Block 5, 20 credits)
This module will develop your essential musculoskeletal physiotherapy knowledge and skills. You will be introduced to common musculoskeletal pathologies and dysfunctions, clinical reasoning, physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and management skills related to musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice.
Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy (Block 6, 20 credits)
This module will develop your essential cardiovascular and respiratory physiotherapy knowledge and skills. You will be introduced to common cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies and dysfunctions, clinical reasoning, physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and management skills related to cardiorespiratory physiotherapy practice.
Neurological and Neuromuscular Physiotherapy (Block 7, 20 credits)
This module will develop your essential neurological and neuromuscular physiotherapy knowledge and skills. You will be introduced to common neurological and neuromuscular pathologies and dysfunctions, clinical reasoning, physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and management skills related to neurological/neuromuscular physiotherapy practice.
Year 2
Acute Conditions (Block 1, 20 credits)
This module focusses on common pathologies and dysfunctions which may present acutely in the cardiorespiratory, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems. You will further develop your physiotherapy practical skills and clinical reasoning for a range of acute scenarios. You will also develop skills related to prioritisation, discharge planning and becoming valued member of the multidisciplinary team.
Long Term Conditions (Block 2, 20 credits)
This module will integrate your knowledge and understanding across the cardiorespiratory, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems to manage patients with a range of long-term conditions. You will further develop your physiotherapy practical skills and clinical reasoning for a range of long term, chronic and progressive conditions. You will also consider the psychosocial impact, cultural competence, and holistic management of cases.
Physiotherapy Placement 2 (Block 3, 20 credits)
This module will continue to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the physiotherapy practice setting. During this module you will undertake a 5-week physiotherapy placement experience in the East of England region. This placement provides you with the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning acquired so far on the physiotherapy programme.
Evidence Based Physiotherapy (Block 4, 20 credits)
This module is designed to equip you with the core skills and understanding to appraise and interpret evidence and assess its appropriateness to be implemented into practice. You will learn about the steps in conducting research, research methodologies, approaches to data analysis and presentation, this will help you develop an ongoing evidence-based approach to physiotherapy practice.
Physiotherapy Placement 3 (Block 5, 20 credits)
This module will continue to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the physiotherapy practice setting. During this module you will undertake a 5-week physiotherapy placement experience in the East of England region. This placement provides you with the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning acquired so far on the physiotherapy programme.
Exercise and Rehabilitation in Specific Populations (Block 6, 20 credits)
This module will expand your knowledge, understanding and application of exercise and rehabilitation in a broad range of populations and areas of physiotherapy practice, for example this may include paediatrics, amputees, sports, pelvic health, mental health and learning disabilities. Health inequalities in the context of exercise, rehabilitation, health and wellness will also be considered in specific and hard to reach populations.
Physiotherapy Placement 4 - Elective (Block 5, 0 credits)
The Elective Placement provides you with the opportunity to further your knowledge, clinical skills and experience in an area of physiotherapy practice that interests you and you would like to explore further. This module is offered at the end of Year 2, just prior to the summer break. This placement will normally be taken within the United Kingdom and supervision for the elective placement must be undertaken by a qualified Physiotherapist registered with the HCPC.
Year 3
Research, Innovation and Enterprise (module starting in Block 1 and ends Block 7, 40 credits)
The module will bring together research, clinical entrepreneurship, leadership, and change management skills to enable you to explore and respond to emerging opportunities for service development and innovative practice. This module will help to prepare you for activities you may be required to undertake in your first position as a qualified physiotherapist.
Physiotherapy Placement 5 (Block 2, 0 credits)
This module will continue to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the physiotherapy practice setting. During this module you will undertake a 5-week physiotherapy placement experience in the East of England region. This placement provides you with the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning acquired so far on the physiotherapy programme.
Managing Complexity (Block 3, 20 credits, block 3)
This module focuses on developing your skills to manage a range of complex scenarios that you may encounter as a physiotherapist. You will develop your physiotherapeutic clinical knowledge and skills to manage more complex conditions or multi-system impairments. You will also learn how to manage a range of complex situations regarding ethical, leadership, management and multidisciplinary/multiagency team scenarios.
Physiotherapy Placement 6 (Block 4, 20 credits)
This module will continue to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the physiotherapy practice setting. During this module you will undertake a 5-week physiotherapy placement experience in the East of England region. This placement provides you with the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning acquired so far on the physiotherapy programme.
Taking the Profession Forward (Block 5, 20 credits)
This module explores a range of professional and wider issues affecting the modern physiotherapist, developing your professional curiosity, professional responsibility, adaptability, and openness to change in an evolving healthcare landscape. You will also be introduced to emerging and novel areas of physiotherapy practice, principles of coaching and supervision, explore and contextualise accountability, resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy Placement 7 (Block 6, 20 credits)
This final placement will continue to develop and consolidate your knowledge, understanding and skills within the physiotherapy practice setting. During this module you will undertake a 5-week physiotherapy placement experience in the East of England region. This placement provides you with the opportunity to contextualise and apply your learning acquired so far on the physiotherapy programme.
