Physician Associate MSc

at University of Worcester

Year One
 

• MSPA4021 – Foundation of Clinical Medicine and Surgery
  This module aims to develop understanding of the core conditions that can affect adult health, from clinical science and pharmacology to the presentation in primary and secondary care and emergency presentations. This module will make use of a systems-based approach, covering five major body systems. Each week will explore related conditions within that system across health function of anatomy and physiology to the management of injury and disease.

• MSPA4022 – Foundations of Clinical Practice
  This module aims to bring the principles of evidence-based practice together with clinical skills and clinical reasoning to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to prepare students for the placement year. Clinical skills are taught contextually, dovetailed with the topics in MSPA4021, MSPA4023 and MSPA4025. Students will develop the tools that they need to work as effective physician associates in the clinical setting, providing a basis for taking the national certification examination and a career in healthcare.
• MSPA4023 – Clinical Medicine and Public Health
  This module aims to continue to develop understanding of the core conditions that can affect adult health, from clinical science and pharmacology to the presentation in primary and secondary care and emergency presentations. This module will make use of a systems based approach currently in use. These are predominantly, but not exclusively, conditions seen and/or managed in primary care (including A&E and Minor Injuries Units).
• MSPA4024 – Research Methods in Health
  This module aims to develop the students’ in research methods and research project management, preparing students both to undertake the dissertation in year two, but also to engage in practice-based research when qualified. It introduces the core elements of research methods, including statistics, qualitative and quantitative methods, and research ethics, developing research ideas and managing data.
• MSPA4025 – Clinical Specialities
  This module aims to develop understanding of the core conditions that can affect sexual health, mental health across the life course, women’s and children’s health, across primary and secondary care settings, with particular attention paid to public health.

Year Two

• MSPA4026 – Clinical Placements
  This module allows students to translate knowledge and skills from a theoretical and simulation perspective into clinical practice and aims to prepare students to be graduate Physician Associates eligible to undertake the National Certification examination and practice clinically. Students will work under the supervision and guidance of their clinical supervisor in a range of healthcare environments across our placement sites in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. Students will work through a skills passport and will be assessed by mentors throughout the year to develop as competent practitioners. 
• MSPA4030 – Dissertation
  This module aims to develop skills in research that will develop graduate Physician Associates able to engage in practice based research or provide a basis for future academic study. The dissertation focuses on an extended piece of work that explores an aspect of clinical practice, healthcare policy, and public health, sociology applied to healthcare or medical education, however, this needs to be an area in which the University can realistically provide supervision in. This maybe a library-based project or involve data collection.

Applicants should normally have GCSE (or equivalent) grade A-C/4 in Maths and English, a minimum of 250 hours of healthcare experience and

Either
 

• A minimum of a lower second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a relevant subject, such as medical, biological or life sciences or other health related subject from a UK university or an overseas equivalent.

Or
 

• A minimum of a lower second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a physical science or engineering subject or social work and appropriate modules in biology passed at a minimum of 55% at QAA levels 5 or 6. 

Alternative professional qualifications (e.g. DipHE in Nursing, Paramedic Science, ODP) with appropriate professional registration and a minimum of two years post-registration experience may be considered. 

Applicants may be required to submit supplementary details, such as course transcripts and asked to complete a short essay.

Other essential criteria

emonstrated relevant work experience in healthcare or an allied health profession. The relevance of work experience will be assessed during the admissions process.

Two satisfactory references must support the application, both dated within the last year. One must be a recent academic reference and the other should be either a second academic reference or a relevant professional/employer reference. These can be sent after making the initial application.

Satisfactory health clearance and an agreement to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations against hepatitis B, MMR meningitis, TB and chicken pox.

You will be required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (formally a Criminal Records Bureau check).

If you are or have been a member of a registered professional body please provide details with your application submission.

Although we encourage applications from other healthcare professionals, we do not accept applications from candidates with medical degrees or those who have previously studied for, but not completed, a medical degree.

This course is not open to applicants previously enrolled on a Physician Associate course or individuals wishing to transfer from other Physician Associate courses.

Health requirements

The UK Government Health Authorities require that students working in the clinical area must be screened to ensure that they are not carriers of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).

All applicants who accept an offer will need to:
 

• Undertake a screening blood test for Hepatitis B

• If negative, start a course of immunisation

• Thereafter provide certified evidence of immunity

Prospective students are strongly advised to take the blood test in good time. Applicants who are Hepatitis B positive or refuse to have a blood test may be refused admission to the course.

Please note in response to guidelines published by the Department of Health, students on the University of Worcester Physician Associate course will not be expected to undertake, or be involved in exposure prone procedures (EPPs)

Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an invitation to a Selection Day or a place on the programme.  

The tuition fees shown for students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

Physician associates are highly sought-after clinical professionals in the health care sector. Due to difficulties in recruiting doctors, your role will improve access to healthcare for our increasing and ageing population. You will support the growing demand for assistance needed by GPs, hospital doctors and medical teams in acute and primary care.

Our University trust partners provide clinical placements on this programme. Following successful training, placement mentors often employ our graduates. Our graduates are currently working in many parts of the UK - jobs currently exceed the supply of our graduates, providing promising employment opportunities.