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Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy MSc/Postgraduate Diploma

Start date
September
Duration
MSc – 13 months to 3 years full-time, up to 6 years part-time.
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Taught
Fees

max. £13,630 (UK students)
max. £26,410 (International students)
More detail here

 

 

Our Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy MSc qualifies you for membership of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) and the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT).

Register for our online webinar

Join us online on Wednesday 20th March, 15:00 (GMT) as we explore our Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy MSc programme at Birmingham. Find out more about what you will study as well as the programmes flexible study options providing you with the opportunity to tailor your learning experience to meet your personal and professional needs.

Register now

This programme enables exploration of the theoretical basis of manipulative/musculoskeletal physiotherapy and its application to the development of your clinical reasoning for advanced clinical practice. Using the process of clinical reasoning as its framework, this programme integrates many approaches to clincal practice in this specialist area. It facilitates an evaluation of existing evidence and your clinical experiences through the exploration of the assessment and management of clinial presentations of musculoskeletal complaints. 

The programme offers part-time, full-time modes of study, with some modules available and supported through distance learning providing you with the opportunity to tailor your learning experience to meet your personal and professional needs.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

My experience on the course was excellent and it has been invaluable in my development as a critical thinking practitioner. The course was delivered by leading academics and external lecturers who are leading experts in their fields making it exciting to be part of. The University staff are supportive and passionate about their work. The content was well balanced with lectures, practicals, written work, presentations and clinical assessment. All elements are valuable and in addition, peer support is amazing and you meet so interesting people in your fellow students. My group supported each other (and still do) on our journeys and share in each other’s success. This was a bonus!

Esther Collacott, MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy alumna

Why study this course?

Successful completion of the programme qualifies you for membership of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) and recognition by the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT).

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The Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Masters programme offers you:

  • a route to membership with the MACP and IFOMPT 
  • the support of a personal tutor and dissertation supervisor 
  • easy travel access with a dedicated University train station 
  • the opportunity to gain advanced level competences in your clinical specialty 
  • an opportunity to study in a world leading research facility with a team of multi-disciplinary experts 
  • flexible study which can be organised around your other commitments

On completion of the Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy Masters programme you will have the ability to :

  • critically evaluate approaches and methodologies for researching theoretical and practical issues relating to clinical practice 
  • critically evaluate previous professional development and plan future development within the framework of contemporary healthcare practice 
  • critically analyse the theoretical and conceptual issues underpinning manipulative/musculoskeletal physiotherapy and the different approaches 
  • use clinical reasoning skills to enable the effective management of complex clinical presentations 
  • formulate a justifiable research design and conduct analytically an investigation to address a given problem 
  • produce a written report worthy of scrutiny in both academic and clinical settings

Hear from some of our students

Modules

You will take the following six mandatory modules:

In addition, you will choose one option module to the value of 20 credits (subject to availability and viability):

For this programme, it is also possible to take relevant M Level modules from within the College. These would form part of the optional modules you are to choose as part of the MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy programme. Our optional modules are each worth 20 credits, therefore, if you wish to take modules on offer within the College, these will also need to equate to 20 credits.

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules after that date; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Our Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy programme positivity embraces and welcomes the diversity of Physiotherapy globally. Diversity encompasses ability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, indigeneity, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and other factors such as, educational background, health status, occupation and personality traits. 

Some of our practical teaching sessions will involve practical “hands-on” components where students will practice certain assessment and management techniques with their student peers from diverse backgrounds. Our academic team and student cohorts are responsible for teaching and practising safely, efficiently and effectively in diverse environments. 

Our academic teams work collaboratively with learners and other stakeholders to ensure the programme’s cultural awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity. Our teaching methods are delivered to foster inclusion involving all student learners and educators.

We look forward to supporting and including all students in our Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy programme. 

Fees

2024/25 programme fees

Code 7214: UK students: max. £13,630 FT
Code 7214: International students: max. £26,410 FT

Code 7216: UK students: max. £10,120 PGDip FT
Code 7216: International students: max. £18,640 PGDip FT

Part-Time students are billed by the modules they opt to take each year.   

Students choose one option module as part of the MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy programme and some of the modules available carry an extra cost. Therefore, the total fee for the MSc programme will be contingent on the option modules selected as part of your studies.

Self funding students can choose to pay in instalments by direct debit.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

Scholarships and studentships

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

We are offering over 200 awards of £2,000 to support the brightest and best applicants wishing to undertake Masters study at the University during 2024-2025.

Find out more and apply now  

Postgraduate Progression Award

Our Postgraduate Progression Awards offer final year undergraduates at the University of Birmingham a fee discount of £1,500 for postgraduate taught study.

Find out more and apply now  


Scholarships may be available. International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government. Visit our website for information about scholarships for international students.

For further information contact the School directly or email sfo@contacts.bham.ac.uk

How To Apply

Although we do not set application deadlines, we do encourage all applicants to submit a completed application as soon as they can so that we can begin the admissions process, allowing us time to invite you for an interview.

International students wishing to study this programme on a part-time basis should contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team to discuss requirements.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

Admission to the programme is on the basis that you will have:

  • Current registration with the Health & Care Professions Council and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (includes professional indemnity)
  • A BSc/BA Honours degree or equivalent. (Evidence of equivalence of your qualification(s) to the UK educational system of awards can be found at  NARIC). The degree should normally be a first or upper second class Honours degree.
  • You must provide detail in your application your experiences of using manipulative/musculoskeletal physiotherapy skills within a practice base setting to evidence fulfilment of 1500 hours (hours accrued as part of your pre-registration/qualifying education or internship do not count). 
  • Supporting evidence of appropriate continuing professional development during this experience will also be required.

Additional criteria for clinical mentored clinical practice in the UK. Please note that if these criteria are not met within three months of starting the programme, you may be required to transfer to a non-clinical programme or to undertake your placement in your home country.

  • Evidence of satisfactory current Disclosure and Barring Service check
  • Evidence of satisfactory health declaration and immunisation record

You will also need to submit the following documentation in support of your application:

  • two academic/employer references in support of your application and professional and practical capabilities; 
  • transcripts of your degrees so far (certified and translated in to English if appropriate). 
  • your personal statement to detail
    • evidence of a minimum of 1500 hours experience post qualification of using manipulative/musculoskeletal physiotherapy within a musculoskeletal context.
    • supporting evidence of appropriate continuing professional development during this experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy will also be required
  • evidence of HCPC and CSP registration

Learn more about entry requirements including Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

Please be aware that students wishing to use APCL credits towards their degree will not be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate loan for Masters study in the UK. You can find more information on our Postgraduate  Masters Loans pages. 

Evidence of a minimum of 1500 hours experience post qualification of using manipulative/musculoskeletal physiotherapy within a musculoskeletal context. Supporting evidence of appropriate continuing professional development during this experience will also be required.

International Requirements



International Students

If applying from overseas, you should also bear in mind that the process of applying for a visa can be a long and complicated one and you are therefore advised to submit your application for study as early as possible, enabling us to provide you with the offer letter that will be necessary for your visa application well ahead of the programme start date.

English language requirements

Standard English language requirements apply (IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band).


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.

This programme is delivered via a number of methods, including distance learning, two/three day blocks of teaching etc. If you decide to only take one module per semester, you will only need to be at the University for the duration of that module and any scheduled tutorials (organised by each module leader depending on the module). You will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.

You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.

Example timetable

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. See individual modules for further information.

Masters level study

Self-directed study

Independent study forms a critical component of a higher education’s students development into an autonomous learner.

Therefore, university students are expected to engage with a significant amount of study outside timetabled teaching hours.

At a Masters level of study, self-directed or independent learning typically accounts for two-thirds of the total time spent on a module (although this may vary between modules).

Our Academic Skills Centre has excellent support services to facilitate your self-directed study:

Find out more

Resources to support your studies

In some modules on our MSc/PGDip Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy, students will be expected to complete a ‘mini-literature review’, which forms part of their assessment and final grade.

Before joining our programme, we highly recommend that all students access these freely available resources. They will support your preparations for the independent research components of our programmes.

Find out more

Physiotherapy graduates have entered careers both in the NHS and private sector. They work in hospitals, in the community as well as sports clubs and the military. An increasing number of Physiotherapy graduates are working on a freelance basis alongside their work in the NHS. Some choose to pursue further studies in education, research or undertake further training.

Careers Support for Postgraduate Students

Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career

We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market.

Here are just a few ways in which we can help postgraduates to get ahead:

  • Careers Networking opportunities
  • Effective careers strategy toolkit
  • Year planner for all postgraduate students
  • Masters Career Coaching Workshops
  • One to one careers guidance

The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. They also have a dedicated careers website for international students where you can find useful resources and information.

For more information visit the Careers Network website.