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Overview
Our MSc (Pre-registration) Physiotherapy programme offers you the opportunity to turn your undergraduate science degree or clinical experience in to a Master’s degree. The course is designed to provide you with a well-rounded knowledge of contemporary physiotherapy practice, which puts service-users at its core. While you study, you'll get extensive clinical experience on a series of work-based placements in both NHS and private physiotherapy settings so you'll be ready for whatever kind of physiotherapy career you have in mind.
At the University of Portsmouth, we keep our student cohort smaller than some other programmes, enabling you to bond with peers and teaching staff, which fosters a close and productive working community. When you successfully complete the course, you'll be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – which is a requirement for all practicing physiotherapy professionals in the UK – and work towards chartered status under the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
To give you an extra advantage as you embark on your new career, we'll also pay for your first year of professional accreditation with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Eligibility
This course only accepts UK students.
Unfortunately, we can't accept EU or international students on this course.
Application deadline
To start this MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) course in January, the deadline to apply is 13 April the year before you want to start the course.
Applications and supporting documentation received after the deadline may not be considered and will be subject to availability of places on the course.
Supporting information includes:
- a copy of your certificate and transcript from your undergraduate degree (or an interim transcript if you are still completing your degree)
- your personal statement
- two references
- your CV
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. Current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth and international students also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
NHS Learning Support Fund – at least £5,000 a year
Students on this course may be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund bursary of at least £5,000 a year.
Course highlights
- Be taught by a physiotherapy team who currently work in clinical practice
- Explore how physiotherapy can transform the lives of people affected by injury, illness or disability
- Understand how to prescribe rehabilitation exercise to improve patient mobility, manage pain and maintain health
- Study applied anatomy and physiotherapy techniques across core areas including musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, paediatric, community care and professional sport
- Work with other healthcare professionals and within busy multidisciplinary teams to get the best results for patients
- Learn about the research shaping the future of physiotherapy practice
- Become eligible to register with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a qualified physiotherapist
- Receive your first year of professional accreditation with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) for free when you graduate
MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) - University of Portsmouth
Tim Exell
One of the real strengths of the course is that all of the physiotherapists that teach on the course are also involved in clinical practise. That means that all of the teaching on the course is current, and we're teaching the most up-to-date methods that are used in clinical practise.
The MSc pre-registration in physiotherapy is a two year Master's course and the teaching covers three main areas of physiotherapy, that's musculoskeletal, neurological and respiratory.
The course is taught in our physiotherapy teaching space, physiology and biomechanics labs and also our strength and conditioning suite. Physiotherapy in the UK is a protected title. The students completing this course are eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
All students studying this course undertake a number of placement hours and those placements take place in NHS settings. We also have some placements on the Isle of Wight and also in private settings, including professional football clubs and other specialist rehabilitation settings. This puts them in a brilliant place when going into the workforce and looking for future employment.
Portsmouth is a great city to study in. The university is embedded within the city and this course is really well sited, being surrounded by different potential employers and also placement providers that feed in to the course.
Approval
This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Number 1 in the UK for student support
Our sport and exercise sciences courses are ranked first in the UK for student support in the 2024 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course only accepts UK students.
Unfortunately, we can't accept EU or international students on this course.
January 2025 start
Qualifications or experience
- A upper second-class honour degree (2:1), or equivalent, in a relevant subject or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered.
- Applicants are advised to have relevant work experience through voluntary or paid employment or shadowing in a physiotherapy or health care environment.
- All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview.
- All successful applicants will be asked to complete confidential Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Immunisation, and Occupational Health clearance.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.5.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
January 2026 start
Qualifications or experience
- A upper second-class honour degree (2:1), or equivalent, in a relevant subject or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered.
- Applicants are advised to have relevant work experience through voluntary or paid employment or shadowing in a physiotherapy or health care environment.
- All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview.
- All successful applicants will be asked to complete confidential Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Immunisation, and Occupational Health clearance.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.5.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (January 2025 start)
- Full time: £9,250 per year (subject to annual increase)
Tuition fees (January 2026 start)
- Full time: £9,535 per year (subject to annual increase)
Funding your studies
As you'll be studying on a pre-registration healthcare course, you'll have access to our undergraduate funding. Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional funding – at least £5,000 a year
Students on this course may be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund of at least £5,000 a year. The bursary is non-repayable and is in addition to any other support you are eligible for, including Government student loans.
For more information, including eligibility criteria, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: such photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
- Placement costs: You will need to pay any travel/additional accommodation costs associated with your placements, though the NHS may reimburse these through the Learning Support Fund.
- Professional body membership: We strongly encourage you to join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) as a student member while studying on the course. The cost of this is currently £42 per year.
- Clinical items: You’ll need to purchase clinical items (such as a stethoscope) over the course of your study. You should budget around £50 for this.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Full-time
All modules on this MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) course are core.
You'll apply anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology theory to evidence-based practice when diagnosing common conditions.
You'll promote a holistic approach to diagnosis and recovery and reflect a combined approach to physiotherapy practice.
Using your communication skills, you'll professionally explain principles while justifying your assessment and treatment skills.
When you finish, you'll be confident in clinical diagnosis and equipped to provide effective care.
You’ll analyse other allied health profession disciplines' approaches through both practical and simulated classes with service users, comparing priorities to produce multidisciplinary care plans.
You'll explore virtual methods of assessment and prescription, reflecting the rapidly changing requirements of providing healthcare under external constraints.
When you finish, you'll be equipped with the abilities to co-create patient-focused solutions – preparing you to work within evolving areas of practice.
Learn the foundations of health care profession standards and the importance of patient-centered care in physiotherapy.
Build your understanding of musculoskeletal, neurological and respiratory physiotherapy as you gain case management skills and discover the risks associated with different clinical decisions.
Through evaluation, you'll analyse the different approaches to case management and recommend ways to minimise risk users.
With advanced skills in clinical reasoning and communication, you'll be ready to work as part of a professional team and enhance the rehabilitation process.
All modules on this MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) course are core.
Study theoretical or simulated cases involving multiple health issues that are seen in various healthcare settings and require a more informed and explorative diagnosis.
Consider how various treatment choices might be more suitable for different people and situations.
Develop a scientifically and ethically sound outline research proposal and conduct a project that will enhance your knowledge in your chosen area.
Apply appropriate research philosophy and design as you use qualitative analysis tools to produce a written report and poster that reports on your research findings.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed. This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.
Facilities
Facilities
Centre for Simulation in Health and Care
This modern facility helps you develop the practical skills you need to work in the health and care-related sciences, in a safe, contextual and realistic environment.
Biomechanics laboratory
Use equipment including force plates, pressure plates and our electromyography system to explore the impact of exercise on the body in this lab, from the limits of human endurance to the effects of chronic health conditions.
Pharmacy and Biomedical Science Teaching Centre
Practise the skills needed to diagnose and help people manage diseases, including collaborative microscopy - examining 3D microscopic images on a big screen with academics and other students.
Specialist equipment
As well as common clinical tools used within physiotherapy, you'll have access to the following specialist equipment:
- A simulation suite including a mock hospital ward
- Mannequins for safe and hands-on practise
- Infrared motion analysis to understand how the body moves
- A portable EMG system to measure how muscles activate and fatigue
- Force plates to assess total force and rate of force development for patients, which helps you prescribe the right rehabilitation exercise programme for them
- An isokinetic dynamometer to assess and monitor musculoskeletal injury and rehabilitation
- Equipment for physiological testing such as an electrocardiogram, lung function assessment and body composition analysis
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
The MSc (Pre-registration) Physiotherapy programme is a full-time, two-year course and all teaching sessions are compulsory.
We recommend that full-time students allocate around 35 hours per week to their studies – equivalent to a full-time job. There'll be up to:
- 21 hours (3 days) per week of on-campus, in-person teaching
- 14 hours (2 days) per week of independent study time such as additional reading and revision, project design, data collection and coursework, either individually or in groups
During your placement you'll spend approximately 35 hours (5 days) per week with your placement provider.
In the last 3 months of the course you'll focus on your research project.
Teaching
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching on this course includes:
-
Teaching on this course includes:
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- lab-based activities
Our teaching staff have academic and clinical experience in physiotherapy and related areas, such as:
- acute medicine
- neurological rehabilitation
- musculoskeletal physiotherapy
- elite sport
- exercise in people with chronic conditions
- cystic fibrosis
- anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
- dementia
When you undertake your own research project, you'll benefit from the extensive research that takes place in the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences. We've organised our research activity into three themes:
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- practical assessments
- client reports
- essays
- portfolios
- presentations
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Teaching staff
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:
Dr Carolina Goncalves
Term dates
January start:
Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, and normally run from January to the following January. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.
Career development
Careers this Master’s prepares you for
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) – the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK's chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers – predicts that the need for qualified physiotherapists is set to increase.
People are living longer, with more physically active lifestyles, and many are managing long-term conditions, recovery or rehabilitation, and will all contribute to this high demand for physiotherapy.
When you successfully complete this Physiotherapy Master's degree, you'll be eligible to register with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), which you need to practise physiotherapy within the UK.
To help prepare you for the workplace and stand out to employers, the University of Portsmouth will also pay for your first year of professional accreditation with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
As a qualified physiotherapist, you'll be able to practise in settings such as:
- the NHS
- private healthcare clinics
- sports rehabilitation clinics
- occupational health
- professional sports environments
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert careers advice from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Student Placements and Employability Centre. You can access support from our Careers and Employability Centre for up to 5 years after you graduate.
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- Applied projects with employers
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- Support starting your own business
Placements and work experience
On this course, you'll put your learning into practice and get clinical experience with patients on 5 separate 6-week physiotherapy placements. Our students go out on their first placement in their first term at university. This enables students to be able to experience life as a physiotherapist and immediately put their university learning in to context.
You'll work with placement providers from the NHS, such as Solent, Portsmouth and Southern Health, across the south coast in a variety of placement settings. We are also very proud of the private practice placements we offer. We have strong links with professional sports clubs and specialist neurological rehabilitation services. Both student and educator feedback has been extremely positive regarding these unique opportunities.
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
The Maths Café offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop or use our online resources.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
You'll also get face-to-face support from teaching and support staff when you need it. These include the following people and services:
How to apply
Application deadline
To start this MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) course in January, the deadline to apply is 13 April the year before you want to start the course.
Applications and supporting documentation received after the deadline may not be considered and will be subject to availability of places on the course.
Supporting information includes:
- a copy of your certificate and transcript from your undergraduate degree (or an interim transcript if you are still completing your degree)
- your personal statement
- two references
- your CV
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. Current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth and international students also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in January 2025
We're accepting applications, to start this course in January 2025, from April – June 2024.
Interviews for this course are set to take place week commencing 12 August.
Start this course in January 2026
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.