- Study Mode: Full time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three Years
- Start Date: September 2022
You can also study this course:
Our three-year BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme is challenging yet hugely rewarding, giving you the knowledge and skills to become a highly competent and compassionate physiotherapist able to work with a variety of patient groups.
Led by academics with extensive clinical experience and guest lecturers who are experienced clinicians, you will also benefit from our close links with NHS and Primary Care Trusts across Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.
Open Days
We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.
Application Guide
For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.
Why study this course?
Physiotherapists can transform lives and empower populations (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy - Vision for Physiotherapy).
This profession is experiencing high demand across a range of settings such as primary care, community settings, sport, and private practice. As a profession, an ageing population that is increasingly inactive means that demand for physiotherapy will be further enhanced.
By studying this course, you will gain a specialist qualification that will help you develop into a highly-skilled, evidence-based clinician.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
This blended learning programme will help you gain the training and qualifications to pursue an exciting career in physiotherapy.
Led by academic staff and clinicians at the forefront of their subjects, you will benefit from our innovative new facilities for teaching pre-clinical and clinical skills at our High Wycombe Campus.
Our BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy will equip you with skills in evidence-based practice, research, and leadership. A variety of assessment methods will be employed to test your skills in practical or clinical contexts.
As part of this programme, you will attend placements in a variety of clinical settings, including but not limited to an acute hospital, primary and community stations, and out-patient clinics. This wide range of placements will help give you the experience and knowledge you need to propel you into a successful career as a physiotherapist. There will also be opportunities for placements, helping you to develop essential clinical skills in a supportive environment.
As a graduate of this course, you will be eligible to apply to register as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council and as a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
What facilities can I use?
At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and rehabilitation teaching rooms, where students are taught throughout their course. Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments, and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.
We will also sign you up to our Virtual Learning Environment, which means you will have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!
How will I be taught and assessed?
Our programme uses a modern and innovative integrated blended learning approach, using technology to support face-to-face teaching. This means you only need to come onto campus a maximum of three days in any week.
Learning activities will focus on clinical skills and problem-based learning, which are further supported by lectures, e-learning, practical sessions, tutorials, and online and face-to-face seminars as appropriate.
In year one, you will typically attend three-day teaching weeks throughout the year from September to June, supported by online material, which will include webinars, videos, and discussion forums.
Early in semester one, you will attend a one-week observational placement at one of our NHS Partnership Trusts in Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas. The first Practice Placement is a 4-week (20 hours/week) simulation placement in the summer months after year one.
The second-year is a mixture of university and practice-based learning. You will complete two 6-week (40 hours/week) practice placement blocks provided by the programme in a range of settings and simulation clinics reflecting the contemporary role of physiotherapists. Most placements are in Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties, but you may be allocated to clinics throughout South-East England.
The final year is similar to year two with university and practice-based learning. You will complete one 6-week (40 hours/week) and one 5-week (40 hours/week) practice placement block to complete the professionally required 1,000 hours of practice placement.
Each module you will take on the course has at least two forms of assessment. The different assessment strategies include:
- Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
- Viva (oral examination)
- Oral presentations
- Written examinations
- Written coursework
- Portfolio
- Clinical case studies.
Placement Plus
BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there will be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer to help you get into your chosen field.
We will also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills, we have incorporated this experience into your study time.
Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 112 - 136
Applicants will need to be able to provide evidence of having achieved one or more of the following:
- A-Levels - Biology and one other natural science is required
- BTECs - Must be from courses in Science or Health subject areas
- International Baccalaureates - 1 HL subject at grade 5 or above and 1 HL subject at grade 4 or above – to include a natural science. The remaining points come from a combination of HL, SL, and Core subjects.
In addition, applicants will also be required to have attained 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language or literature, mathematics, and a science subject.
Students without the required 112 - 136 UCAS points (but have studied relevant subjects) may still be invited to attend the selection event.
Candidates are required to have practical experience relating to Physiotherapy, such as shadowing, work placement, or healthcare work experience, as explained below.
Experience
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognised that not everyone would have work experience. Hence, it will not factor in the 2022 selection. However, we recommend that you have some experience if it is safe to do so.
Examples of work experience include:
- Work experience (paid or unpaid/ voluntary), e.g., in the private, sporting, or military setting or experience in health/social care in acute, primary, or community care environments.
- Non-accredited courses, e.g., in-house training, hobbies
- Life experience
- Family/friends who are physiotherapy service users
- Reading and Research
- Experience to be documented in table format and include location, speciality, and duration of experience – a contact detail for each work experience must be provided for verification if necessary. We recommend a minimum of 20 hours in two settings or 30 hours in one setting.
There is a requirement for students whose first language is not English to achieve an IELTS tariff of 7 with no individual component below 6.5. For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Application and selection process
In your personal statement, don’t forget to cover:
- Why you wish to study Physiotherapy
- Why you wish to study at Buckinghamshire New University
- Why you’re a suitable candidate for the course; what are your experience and skills
References
We require two references as part of the application. The referees should outline your academic and practical suitability for the course.
Selection day
The criteria for selection considers your ability to study this subject and the professional accrediting bodies' requirements. All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online by a panel consisting of an academic staff member and a clinical Physiotherapist or a service user. They will take it in turn to ask questions. Each interview will last approximately 20 minutes. The interview questions will be based on the NHS values and explore your understanding of Physiotherapy.
The links below may be useful in helping you prepare for the day.
Following the selection day, applicants will be made formal offers, placed on a reserve list, or told that they have been unsuccessful. All offers are subject to satisfactory checks.
Occupational health checks
The admissions team will send a medical questionnaire alongside an offer letter. The questionnaire would be completed by students and returned to the admission team, who then forward all the forms to an external occupational health adviser who will contact the student for further screening if indicated.
Specifically, all prospective physiotherapy students will require immunisation or evidence of immunity for the following:
- Hepatitis B - You are advised to have at least two doses of hepatitis B vaccine before admission to the University
- Tuberculosis (TB) - You should have evidence of ‘Bacillus Calmette-Guérin’ (BCG) vaccination either by a visible BCG scar or documented proof of vaccination
- Mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) - Satisfactory evidence of protection would include documentation of having received two doses of MMR or having had positive antibody tests for measles and rubella
- History of vaccination for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Polio
- Varicella history for those born and raised the UK, and Non-UK varicella screening
The above lists are based on the immunisation and infection control standards required for new NHS healthcare workers and students, from the Green Book 2013. View the online version of the book.
Pre-clinical vaccination
All students will need to show evidence of completed vaccination for Hepatitis B, BCG, Varicella, and Influenza, where applicable, prior to starting the programme's placement component. These vaccinations can be received from most GP surgeries in England. There is up-to-date information on the NHS Choices on how to obtain these vaccinations.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
Year 1 Modules
Research and study skills
Applied Anatomy and Assessment of the Neuromusculoskeletal System
Applied Pathophysiology
Professional Practice 1
Neuromusculoskeletal Management and Intervention
Neurological and Long-term Conditions Management and Intervention
Cardio-Respiratory and Pulmonary Conditions Management and Intervention
Year 2 Modules
Research Methodology and design
Practice Placements
Physiotherapy Practice through the Life Cycle
Physiotherapy Practice in Public Health
Professional Practice 2
Year 3 Modules
Practice Placements
Dissertation
Leadership and management
What are the tuition fees
Home
Home, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
£9,250 per year
International
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
£16,000 per year
NHS Learning Support Fund
To support your studies, the UK Government are continuing to provide adult nursing students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year which will not need to be paid back. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund.
What are my career prospects?
We see your journey with us as much more than a degree, and we are committed to supporting you to carve out the route to your chosen career and life beyond university. We will help you develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable, and good business leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages.
Upon graduation, you will have the knowledge and key personal skills and attitudes necessary to pursue a successful professional career as a physiotherapist in any setting.
Physiotherapists work in different areas of healthcare, including acute hospitals, primary care settings, community, and out-patient clinics. They also work in professional sport, health clubs, the commercial sector. You may also choose to set up your own practice. This degree gives you a variety of options and helps set you up for your future career.
