Physiotherapy

Work experience

Work experience is highly recommended. Although clinical experience is ideal, this does not have to take place in a hospital. You might consider working in a care home, hospice or doing community work with adults or children. Your experience may also be in the field of Education, Customer Services or Conflict Resolution. Most importantly you must demonstrate that you have considered how your experience is relevant to a career in Physiotherapy.

We do not specify a minimum amount of experience, but the more you have the better - there's no such thing as too much experience. It does not have to be full time but regular experience over a period of months is preferable to a couple of weeks here and there as it demonstrates commitment. Recent work experience is preferable although you can reflect on any relevant experience.

Personal statement

In addition to meeting the academic criteria for admission, you should be able to demonstrate a keen interest in and commitment to working with people, be able to identify relevant transferable skills that would make you a good physiotherapist, demonstrate a broad awareness of the scope of physiotherapy, and have obtained some relevant work experience where possible. All of this should be evident from your UCAS personal statement. Applicants who do not demonstrate this are unlikely to be invited for an interview.

Applicants should be aware that we will be notified by UCAS of any plagiarism within a personal statement. If UCAS indicate that the plagiarism is above 60% then your application is unlikely to be considered any further and you will be unsuccessful

Health and police screening

Once accepted onto a healthcare course, you are required to pass an occupational health screening. When admitting candidates to study and practice as a health practitioner, we have an obligation to both patients and to the individual student. Candidates who are concerned about a health issue are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying. All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance and an agreement to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations.

You will be asked to be immunised against Hepatitis B for personal safety, so please contact your general practitioner (GP) to arrange a screening. You should begin a course of Hepatitis B immunisation as soon as you submit your UCAS application, as it consists of three injections over a six month period. If you firmly accept an offer you will be sent a confidential health questionnaire and further information about the process of screening for Hepatitis B.

This course includes working with children and vulnerable adults so all applicants must have enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. More information about this will be sent to applicants as part of the admissions process.

Read more about DBS checks

Professional registration

If you are a current healthcare professional or a member of a registered professional body, you must provide details of your registration. If you have had your professional registration suspended or revoked, or undergone a disciplinary/fitness to practice investigation, you will be required to provide further information if selected for interview. This will be reviewed by the admissions tutor and you may be required to provide full copies of related documentation. Any information you disclose will only be used for considering your application to the applied course.

Applicants who are studying or who have previously studied on another Pre-Registration Physiotherapy course in the UK may not be considered.

The following qualifications may enhance your application, but cannot contribute to the minimum requirements:

• NVQs

• Massage courses

• ITEC Anatomy and Physiology.

If your qualifications do not meet the cut off period of five years but you have completed some other recognised study, please provide additional information and supporting evidence when you submit your application.

Assessment methods include a combination of written and practical examinations, academic coursework (including reports and presentations), and assessment of clinical skills whilst on placement. In your final year, we ask you to produce a problem-based report on an aspect of interdisciplinary practice, a group research project, and a poster related to holistic patient management and physiotherapy practice.

Hospital settings

Supporting the rehabilitation of people who have suffered physical impairment due to accidents, operations, illnesses such as strokes, or who have long term conditions that affect their physical functions.

Using exercises and therapeutic treatments to help people recover their mobility and to speed up their rehabilitation.

Community settings

Supporting people of all ages with physical disabilities, mental health needs, learning disabilities or who are dying. Your aim is to help rehabilitate people and support them to achieve the best possible quality of life.

Community settings where physiotherapists work include:

• GP surgeries

• community clinics

• people’s homes

• specialist clinics

• hospices.

Private health, business and industry

Roles available outside NHS health settings, include:

• private clinics and hospitals

• commercial organisations

• the armed forces

• health clubs

• voluntary organisations

• working with people with physical and mental problems

• research.

Read more on the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy website

As you gain experience, you may opt to specialise in certain medical conditions. There are many exciting opportunities for career advancement, further study or research, including further postgraduate study at St George’s.

You must provide the following.

• Full details of your Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications with grades.

• Full details of your Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications with achieved/predicted grades.

• A personal statement (more information about this document is available on the UCAS website). We recommend that you include in your statement a recognition that studying a BSc in Physiotherapy will include practice and study in a number of settings.

• An academic reference from your current or most recent institutions with predicted grades.

After submitting your application to UCAS:

• log in to UCAS Track and make sure all your academic details have been included

• if any subjects or predicted results are missing, email the admissions officer with your UCAS number and missing subjects and grades.

We will consider applications from applicants who wish to defer entry by a year, provided you plan to use the time constructively. If you are offered a place on the course and subsequently decide to defer, you must inform us by 1 June of the year of application.

We will send you an acknowledgement email and letter when we receive your application. Please make sure your email account is able to accept communications from St George’s as we will mainly communicate with you via email. Selected applicants will be invited to attend interview. Decisions from St George’s will be entered onto UCAS Track and direct applicants will be contacted via email.