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Get ready to make a difference with our MSci Physiotherapy. We'll give you the tools to build your clinical skills and thrive academically in our world-leading School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Our four-year MSci course provides the time and space to ensure you will optimally develop your clinical skills and experience alongside academic excellence. Completing the programme provides eligibility for full membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and registration as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
The facilities are amazing and there is a huge breadth in placement locations covering all mains sections of physio such as respiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal.
Discover more about your chosen subject at one of our Open Days or by asking us a question.
Here is a short overview of what you can expect during this course.
Your first year will serve as an introduction to Higher Education and is shared with BSc Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. You will have weekly tutorials with a personal tutor to support the development of your academic and professional skills while also studying the basic and applied sciences underpinning physiotherapy (anatomy and movement, human physiology and exercise, exercise and health psychology).
in the UK for Physiotherapy for 3 years running
The Complete University Guide 2025
for Sports-related subjects
QS World Subject Rankings 2024
Our four-year course provides you with the time and space to optimally develop your clinical skills and experience alongside academic excellence. You will study at a research-intensive university (member of the Russell Group) that offers teaching excellence and a long tradition of providing physiotherapy education. It is a great place to start your career.
* Based on 2021 Research Excellence Framework ranking by GPA (Times Higher Methodology).
Through our research-informed teaching and interdisciplinary learning environment, you'll gain a holistic understanding of patient care. Dive into high-quality placements and projects and take your place at the forefront of modern healthcare with local practice experiences. Bring your learning to life through opportunities to work in real-world community and other settings during extracurricular activities and placements.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Teaching on the programme is delivered using a range of contemporary methods such as small group tutorials, practical classes, lectures, seminars and laboratory-based workshops as well as lectures. There is an emphasis on inter-disciplinary and inter-professional learning and we increasingly take a blended approach to education.
You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham:
Personal tutors - will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.
Wellbeing officers - provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances and help you access wider support on campus and beyond.
Academic Skills Centre - helps you become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support, with workshops on topics such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.
Student experience team - will help you get the most out of your academic and social experience, including research opportunities, study skills support and preparing for your post-university careers.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways. These include:
Exams (e.g. multiple choice and short answer questions, essays)
Coursework (e.g. reflective writing, oral and poster presentations)
Practicals (e.g. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, or OSCEs)
At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. You will receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so you can learn from each assignment as you move through the programme.
Your performance on practice-based placements is also assessed; see the Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF)
Our new Centre for Movement and Wellbeing clinic provides unique opportunities to interact with patients and gain real-life experiences through placements. The physiotherapy clinic is at the heart of MoveWell, offering targeted therapies to support good health, through the treatment and rehabilitation from injury, acute illness and chronic disease.
Our Physiotherapy programme is accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
Accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
Compulsory modules:
LC Becoming a physiotherapist | 20 | Semester 1 |
LC Clinical Physiotherapy Skills | 20 | Semester 2 |
LC Functional Anatomy | 20 | Semester 1 |
LC Human Physiology and Exercise | 20 | Semester 1 |
LC Scientific and Professional Communication | 20 | Semester 2 |
LC Sport, Exercise and Health Psychology | 20 | Semester 2 |
Admissions Tutor
Teaching: functional human anatomy, assessment & treatment of musculoskeletal injury, sports and exercise medicine. Research:ACL rehab & measurement properties of rehabilitation outcome measures.
Assistant Professor in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
Dr Sampath Kumar Amaravadi is an Assistant Professor in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy whose primary interest is in exploring the role of physical activity in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.
Teaching Fellow in Clinical Physiotherapy
Chartered Physiotherapy
Assistant Professor Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
Pearlene Antoine-Pitterson is a Respiratory Physiotherapist at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust. Her specialist interest is in Respiratory care and Non-Invasive ventilation.
Associate Professor in Motor control and Rehabilitation
Dr Chiou's research focuses on studying motor cortical involvement in postural control. Utilising neurophysiological measures to investigate control of movement and how it's affected following injuries.
Teaching Fellow
Laura specialises in the area of mental health and is passionate about the integration of physical and mental health within physiotherapy and healthcare.
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
AAB to include grade A in Biology/ Human Biology/ PE
6,6,5 at Higher Level, with 32 points overall, including 6 in Biology / Human Biology / PE
BTEC qualifications are considered. See below for more detail.
Number of A levels required: 3
AAB
Required subjects and grades: A level Biology/Human Biology or PE at grade A.
A total of seven GCSEs; required subjects: English Language at grade 6/B or higher. Mathematics (or one, but not both, of Methods in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics) at grade 6/B or higher. Biology and Chemistry or dual award science at grade 6/B or higher. The remainder of the GCSEs should be at grade 5/C or higher.
We do not accept Applied Science, Citizenship Studies, Communication and Culture, Critical Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Global Perspectives, Moving Image Arts, Science in Society, Use of Maths and World Development.
BTEC Extended Diploma accepted in Sport & Exercise Science, Health Science, Health & Social Care and Applied Science. Grades required - D*D*D* with distinctions in all units.
BTEC Extended Diplomas in other subjects will require an additional A level in Biology or PE at grade A.
BTEC Diploma accepted in Sport & Exercise Science, Health Science, Health & Social Care, Applied Science, Sport Science, Sport when offered in combination with A level in Biology or PE. Grades required - D*D* plus grade A.
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma accepted when combined with 2 A levels to include Biology or PE. Grades required D* plus AB.
All BTEC students should contact us before submitting an application.
Access to Science, Health Science or Physiotherapy: a minimum of 60 credits overall including 45 at Level 3, all with Distinctions. 36 Science credits at Level 3 (with 18 in Biology). English and Maths at GCSE grade 6/B or above.International
6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall. Higher level subjects need to include the required subjects as defined for the A-level qualification, where applicable.
A relevant degree at 2.1 plus minimum BBB at A level or an unrelated degree at 2.1 plus minimum BBB to include Biology at A level.
We are looking for candidates who can enable effective patient care framed around good patient experiences. We would like to recruit candidates who are caring, compassionate, capable of putting patients before their organisation or self, work with others to deliver care which is tailored to a person and therefore improve their lives and lives of their families and carers. Ideally candidates should be open and honest and be able to communicate effectively and clearly with service users. We would like to recruit and train candidates who are innovative and safe and who will strive for excellence in care. Candidates who apply should have a strong ethical stance on equality, non-discrimination and fairness (based on NHS constitution, 2013).
A satisfactory health declaration, including evidence of appropriate immunisations, and other regulatory checks (such as DBS - see below) are required from accepted candidates before registration for the programme.
Students will be required to complete a successful Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before admission to the programme.
For healthcare profession courses no convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings are considered “spent”, this includes those that may have been received when a minor (i.e. under the age of 18).
Declaring any matter likely to be recorded on your enhanced DBS disclosure does not automatically rule you out from becoming a physiotherapist. However, you will have to provide information about this to enable us to make a decision about any offer made.
Please note that not declaring in advance anything that you are aware of may have an impact on the outcome on the decisions we make regarding your application.
All students will be required to sign the subject-specific Fitness to Practise Code of Conduct on entry, details of which will be forwarded with an offer letter.
We are influenced in our selection for the physiotherapy programme by a number of different factors, over and above your academic record. We like, for example to see evidence of your motivation for a career in physiotherapy, and your outside interests too are a pointer to whether you are the sort of person likely to make the most of the degree.
Achieving the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview.
Applicants must gain insight into the breadth of work of the physiotherapist prior to application to ensure informed decision making regarding choice of programme and future profession. This should include shadowing (observing) a physiotherapist and visiting websites related to physiotherapy such as that of the CSP, HPC and NHS. The University open days also provide opportunities to explore the scope of physiotherapy practice meet current physiotherapy students and gain an outline of the physiotherapy degree programme.
Applicants will have been in education within the last 3 years.
Evidence of IT and interpersonal skills development are required.
All candidates offered a place will have been interviewed.
Transfer applicants - we do not consider applicants who have studied, or are studying, physiotherapy elsewhere.
Foundation degrees are usually not accepted.
We take a positive view of what candidates with disabilities can achieve as future healthcare professionals and take seriously our obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that all students with disabilities can successfully complete their studies. All applicants will be assessed up to and including the interview on the basis of the criteria outlined here regardless of any disability. If you declare a disability we will invite you to work with us together with the disability team, clinical colleagues and specialist services (RNIB, for example) to explore how best we can support your studies.
Please contact us to discuss other qualifications not listed.
Applicants who take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for the programme, plus an alternative offer, which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer. For more information, please contact outreach@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
BBB including B in Biology / Human Biology / PE
ABB including A in Biology / Human Biology / PE
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535 for UK students. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2025/26
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
Application deadline for September 2025 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
Upon successful completion, you're eligible to apply to register with both the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Health Care Professions Council. This registration provides the basis to work as a physiotherapist in the National Health Service, Social Services or the private sector. It also eases the process of registration to practice in other countries (e.g. Australia).
Most of our graduates initially select to work as Band 5 physiotherapists in the National Health Service.
Potential workplace opportunities within the public sector, charities and voluntary organisations and the private sector.
My placements really helped to prepare me for the working world and made the transition from university to full time employment seem a lot less daunting.
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.