Physiotherapy

Entry Criteria: 2024 Entry

To be eligible for the Physiotherapy BSc programme, you must meet the requirements outlined under Entry Qualifications, Other Academic Requirements, and Non-academic Requirements below.

Entry Qualifications

With the exception of GCSEs, all qualifications must have been completed within the previous five years, including the year of application.

Other academic Requirements

Non-academic Requirements

Year 1

In year 1, your study will primarily be university-based, building a foundation of knowledge of anatomy and physiology, as well as learning the foundation skills necessary to undertake the assessment of a person, considering their function, activity and participation level. In simulated activities including, for example, assessment of functional movement, strength or lung function, you’ll start to develop a range of essential interpersonal and professional skills. These include maintaining dignity and confidentiality, developing effective observational and communication skills, learning to appreciate cultural and ethical issues, as well as health and safety, such as infection control procedures.

Our Essentials for Allied Health Professionals programme brings together students on other health courses to work together, so you can begin to appreciate the concept of multidisciplinary healthcare teams and the role of each of the professionals you will engage with – nurses, doctors, clinical physiologists, diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, for example.

Year 3

In the final year, the focus is on integrating your knowledge, analytical and practice skills to select, justify and implement appropriate health promotion and management, exercise and rehabilitation strategies for a variety of service users. You will complete your final practice placement, working with greater autonomy and competency. You will also undertake a comprehensive research project. Students are able to choose their topic of research; examples of past research include experiences of students on placement, accuracy and reliability of worn technology, effect of saddle height on cycling injury, experiences of applicants to physiotherapy degree programmes and many more! Many, such as one group of students who worked with Crisis at Christmas to interview the homeless about their experiences of physiotherapy, get the opportunity to publish their work in international journals and present at major conferences, including Physio UK and the World Confederation for Physiotherapy.

At St George’s, we offer a broad range of learning environments underpinned by case-based learning and problem solving. We pay particular attention to developing your practical skills for effective communication, professionalism and leadership in healthcare so, for example, you may be asked to prepare a presentation on a typical scenario, for example, the management of a child with cystic fibrosis.

You’ll spend time practising how to use skills and equipment on other students and mannequins, for example, measuring range of movement or applying active cycle of breathing techniques, progressing to more advanced techniques, such as suctioning, use of non-invasive ventilation and joint mobilisation. This all helps to build a portfolio of clinical and professional skills and competencies, to the standard expected by professional organisations.

One of the many benefits of studying at St George’s is the opportunity to study and work with students on other healthcare-related courses, including medical, biomedical, occupational therapy, diagnostic radiography and therapeutic radiography, to lay the foundation for future practice as part of a multidisciplinary team. This collaborative inter-professional education helps you develop invaluable communication and team-building skills and appreciate the roles of other professionals.

Teaching methods include classroom-based learning, simulated practical exercises, case-based learning, individual and group working, and clinical placements. You will also benefit from the support of a personal tutor, peer-group learning and a range of web-based learning materials and online discussion forums.

Small group tutorials allow you to discuss particular aspects of study or practice, for example, when learning about the theory of communication, you’ll be encouraged to share your own experiences of communicating with patients.

While the St George’s programmes are recognised by many different countries, applicants are advised to check with their own individual national authorities if they wish to practise in their chosen country.

With an ageing population and increasing numbers of people living with long-term conditions and multiple health issues, more physiotherapists are needed to provide essential healthcare services to people of all ages to help them return to normal activities following an acute injury or illness or to live well with a long-term condition.

As a result, career prospects are excellent with opportunities for career progression within the NHS, private practice, charities and other organisations through professional practice and development into Senior physiotherapist roles, as well as progression into leadership, management, education and training, or academic career pathways.

Careers advice and skills for employability are embedded into our teaching, not least through the currency of course content and references to current government legislation. We also hold careers events with local employers and offer specific careers support, such as guidance on writing CVs and applying for jobs.

On completion of this degree, you will be eligible to apply for professional registration with the HCPC and become a member of the CSP. If you are an EU or non-EU (international) applicant, you should check with the professional registration body in your country to ensure that you will be eligible to practice there.

Working in multidisciplinary teams and practising within a variety of settings, including patients’ own homes, you will work with people of all ages in a wide variety of settings, such as: intensive care; mental health units; stroke units; rehabilitation centres; and sports and leisure facilities. You’ll support the rehabilitation of people who have suffered physical impairment due to accidents, operations or illnesses, using exercises and therapeutic treatments to help them recover their mobility and maximise their quality of life. Within the community, you may be supporting patients with physical disabilities, mental health needs, learning disabilities and serious medical conditions, providing the best possible care and support.

There are many exciting opportunities for career advancement, further study or research, including further postgraduate study at St George’s, for example, on our MSc Advance Clinical Practice programme.

Facilities

St George’s is the only UK university based on a hospital site, St George’s Hospital, which is where the Channel 4 television series 24 hours in A&E is filmed. We offer a unique opportunity to study and work alongside the full range of clinical professionals and their patients. Based in the thriving multi-cultural hub of Tooting in South West London, our location has the added advantage of being just a short tube ride from Central London and all that the city lifestyle has to offer.

We enjoy close links with the Physiotherapy Department: staff contribute to the teaching and learning on our programme and also employ some of our graduates.

We also have a range of specialist health and academic facilities to support your learning, listed below.

Physiotherapy skills laboratory

The physio lab represents a realistic clinical environment featuring hospital beds, simulated stairs, mannequins, treatment plinths, walking aids and a treadmill. It provides a safe environment in which you can familiarise yourself with different techniques including assessment of lung function, gait and strength. The lab is staffed by dedicated lab technicians with a huge amount of knowledge and expertise.

Anatomy suite

The anatomy suite is where present and future healthcare professionals and scientists in the hospital and University learn or expand on their anatomy knowledge directly from the human body, through access to high quality anatomy resources. These include plastinated (preserved) specimens, osteological materials, anatomical models and digital/imaging resources such as Anatomage tables and Complete Anatomy.

Pathology museum

Our on-site museum houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including a number of original specimens donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials by students across all of our courses as an educational tool to help you understand the mechanisms of disease.

Library and learning technology

Our modern health sciences library offers a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources to support you. You will also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas virtual learning environment

and our Hunter discovery service to help you find the information you need. The library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and comprises silent, quiet and group learning areas, as well as four group discussion rooms.

IT facilities

We have five computer suites housing 260 workstations. Three of these suites are accessible 24 hours a day. It’s easy to find a free space with our handy real-time computer locator. We also have 75 self-service laptops available. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole campus, including all accommodation. You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.

Apply for this course through UCAS (the University and College Admissions Service) by the UCAS January deadline in the year of entry.