Why study this course?
Looking to study a degree that helps people to improve their physical function? This Physiotherapy BSc degree will teach you how to support individuals with a range of circumstances including injury, diseases and the impact of ageing to optimise their movement and function, and to make a good recovery.
This hands-on physiotherapy degree has been developed in collaboration with our highly experienced partners, from a wide variety of health and social care settings, to create a comprehensive and exciting curriculum. You’ll learn about common conditions treated by physiotherapists and develop core skills to provide effective physiotherapy treatments to individuals, groups and populations who have or are at risk of developing long-term health conditions.
You’ll gain invaluable experience through a variety of practice placements opportunities across the NHS, private and third sector to prepare you for a career as a physiotherapist. We’ll also introduce you to the most up-to-date scientific knowledge of the human body, health and disease, research underpinning contemporary physiotherapy theory and practice, and health promotion practice used to promote population health so you’ll be ready to hit the ground running after graduation.
More about this course
In addition to your lectures and seminars, this degree includes small group work, role plays and practical sessions in our state-of-the-art physiotherapy teaching laboratory, therapy rooms and clinical simulation suites.
This physiotherapy degree has been designed with your career in mind. Our lecturers are very experienced academic and clinicians who will support your professional development into a contemporary physiotherapist. In addition, you’ll spend time with staff from Royal Brompton Hospital, who will contribute to the delivery of the cardio-respiratory aspect of the course, experienced guest lecturers, recruited from specialist areas to support the development of both core and enhanced skills for our students.
Our internationally renowned teaching staff are actively involved in physiotherapy practice and research and have great links with employers in London, so you’ll be provided with consistent support and mentorship during your time on the course. You’ll also have access to the nursing skills and simulation suites so you can learn from your peers in different disciplines.
As a member of our School of Human Sciences much of your studies will take place in our revered Science Centre. This will see you learning in our Superlab, the Revell Clinical Simulation Centre and the Sanderson Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Professional accreditation
The course is currently undergoing approval by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accreditation by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll meet all the standards required to be eligible for registration with the HCPC and CSP. This is subject to their successful approval.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through written exams, seminar and poster presentations, Objective
Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), case studies, practical reports, seen/unseen
exams, in-class tests, and a final year dissertation.
Fees and key information
Apply nowEntry requirements
In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:
- a minimum of BBB grades in three A levels, including grade B or above in Biology, and Chemistry or Physics, Sociology, Psychology or Physical Education (or a minimum of 120 UCAS points)
- English Language and Mathematics GCSE at grade C/ grade 4 or above (or equivalent)
- a DBS checks with checks for vulnerable adults and children
- clearance for non-exposure prone procedures (EPP) by an approved occupational health service
The University will invite you to complete the DBS check, which will need to be done by 31 July before the September you begin your studies. This check will cost you £62.13 and the update service costs £13 per year.
Foundation Year students
Entry from science foundation and access courses
Science foundation and access courses will be considered with a minimum of 60 credits, 45 of which must be at Level 3:
- 15 credits at Level 3 must be in Biology or related subjects such as anatomy and physiology.
- 15 credits at Level 3 must be in chemistry or related subjects such as?biochemistry.
- 15 credits at Level 3 should be in science related subjects (e.g., physics, maths) or subjects applied to science (e.g., nutrition, environmental science, psychology, sociology, or physical education).
The remaining credits 15 should be in study skills. You should achieve a distinction or equivalent numerical mark in 65% of the credits taken in science subjects at Level 3.
You will be required to pass an interview, as a demonstration of values that promote compassion, dignity and respect is necessary.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).
English language requirements
To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our higher requirements.
If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2024/25 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Monday
- autumn semester - Monday morning
- This module currently runs:
- spring semester - Monday
- spring semester - Monday morning
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Thursday afternoon
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Tuesday
- all year (September start) - Tuesday morning
This module is the first of two Physiotherapy Theory and Practice modules (PT4000 & PT4052) in the first year, and it is aimed at developing basic understanding of clinical science related to Physiotherapy practice. PT4000 module introduces students to core knowledge of long-term conditions, basic skills for assessing, treatment and overall management of individuals with long term conditions within a biopsychosocial framework.
The module will introduce students to common long-term conditions, their aetiology, presentations, impacts on individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds within the UK health and social care structure, and explore the framework for managing them. It will also develop core hands-on skills for assessing, treating and evaluating effective physiotherapy when working with individuals with long-term conditions affecting musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological problems within a multi-disciplinary context.
Furthermore, it will prepare students for evidence based clinical reasoning and problem solving through engagement with the theoretical evaluation of human movement and functioning with practical skills development. The module will consider contemporary healthcare frameworks, particularly the implementation of multi-disciplinary approaches, to facilitate and enable individuals for recovery, rehabilitation, reablement and self-management of individuals with long-term conditions.
The module will run alongside Applied Science 1 (PT4050), Applied Science 2 (PT4054), Evidence-based practice 1 (PT4053) to enable students integrate their underpinning scientific knowledge of human functioning for physiotherapy practice.
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Wednesday afternoon
- This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Thursday morning
- spring semester - Thursday
- spring semester - Thursday morning
Practice Education 1: Introduction to clinical practice module (PT4W50) is the first practice education module on this course.
PT4W50 is aimed at preparing students for practice education, completing their mandatory training requirements, and providing their first opportunity to experience a practice placement setting. Learning and teaching aims of the module are achieved through a clinical simulation programme with mandatory training sessions in the first semester, and a longitudinal one-day a week placement in the second semester.
The clinical simulation is focused at supporting the development of core clinical skills and attitudes such as communication, professionalism, empathy, patients’ assessment, clinical reasoning, management of patients and safety. This is delivered through a wide range of teaching approaches including simulated practice with debriefings, group discussions, guided study, workshop and patient educator sessions. In addition to these sessions, students will complete mandatory training which further prepares them for their first placement.
In the second semester, students will be allocated to a one-day-a week placement to practice their developing skills in a clinical practice setting. The placement will also be supported by weekly debrief sessions.
Specifically, in this module, you will:
1. Acquire knowledge of common settings used in practice education and understand the expectations of students working in these settings.
2. Complete mandatory learning and develop core skills required in practice-based learning.
3. Develop understanding of assessment processes and documentations used in physiotherapy practice-based learning.
4. Practice assessment, clinical reasoning, and management skills in preparation for the first placement.
5. Attend a longitudinal placement to utilise the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in your academic studies.
6. Have opportunity to develop professionalism and inter-professional understanding in a real clinical environment. - This module currently runs:
- autumn semester - Wednesday morning
Year 2 modules include:
Applied Science 3 runs in the first semester of the second year and builds on the knowledge of Applied Sciences developed in the first year. It extends students knowledge of biological (anatomy and physiology), biomechanical, and psychosocial aspects of human sciences required to understand conditions affecting health and wellbeing, within a biopsychosocial context. This is facilitated through engagement with the core sciences of anatomy, pathology physiology, kinesiology, psychology, and sociology. Specifically, the module develops an understanding of human functioning, including the exploration of dysfunction and recovery processes.
Applied Sciences 3 (PT5050) runs in the first semester and covers anatomy, physiology, and psychosocial topics. Anatomy topics will introduce important concepts of neuroscience including the structure and function of the central nervous system with particular emphasis on the cortex, basal ganglia, ascending and descending pathways, sensory receptors, and pain pathways; spinal neuroanatomy as well as spinal gross anatomy: joint structures, musculature, ligaments, and other spinal tissues. Physiology topics will cover topics in neuroplasticity, CNS neurotransmitters, cardiorespiratory physiology. Psychology contents will include exploration of illness behaviours with regards to adherence, behaviour change approaches, and motivational interviewing and advanced communication skills.
Evidence Based Practice 2: Research Methods and critical appraisal module extends students’ learning and development in the research pillar of clinical practice.
In this module, students will be introduced to principles of scientific enquiry, research processes, critical evaluation of clinical practice, clinical audit, and quality evaluation. They will explore approaches for data collection in quantitative and qualitative research, and clinical audits. In addition, they will practice and develop skills to analyse collected data and interpret these in group workshops.
Furthermore, the module will provide opportunities to practice critical appraisal of different research designs used in evidence-based practice and quality assurance of clinical services.
Specifically, in this module, you will:
Acquire knowledge of the common approaches used to develop research evidence to engage in evidence-based clinical practice.
Practice qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and interpretation to evaluate patient’s health and response to interventions.
Explore and practice using different tools them to evaluate the trustworthiness of findings from common quantitative and qualitative research designs.
Explore approaches used to evaluate service outcomes such as clinical audits and governance for quality management.
Consider the ethical and governance framework for clinical research.
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 3 module extends students’ knowledge and practice skills in the second-year by building on the foundation developed in the first year’s Physiotherapy Theory and Practice modules 1 & 2. It will run alongside Applied Science 3 (PT5050) and Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 4: Health promotions and wellbeing (PT5052) modules.
In this module, students will extend their capabilities for applying clinical science to the assessment, treatment, exercise prescription & self-management of contemporary musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological problems encountered in clinical practice across the lifespan.
As a skills module, students will utilise a case-based approach to develop sound evidence-based clinical reasoning and hands-on skills for the management of patients with common and diverse clinical problems. In addition, the module will provide an opportunity to relate the management of patients’ presentations with referral processes and specialist pathways.
Furthermore, the module will facilitate and develop skills to evaluate effective physiotherapy when working in clinical practice.
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 4: Promoting health and wellbeing builds on the foundation of Physiotherapy theory and practice 1 & 2, and compliments Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 3, in progressing the education pillar of clinical physiotherapy practice.
This module will run in the second semester of year two of the course to provide students with opportunities to add to their clinical physiotherapy practice, a consideration of the role of lifestyle risk factors and wider health determinants on wellbeing of individuals. Furthermore, through the health promotions aspect of this module, students will be able to develop skills for their role in promoting health for different clinical populations.
Specifically, in this module, you will:
Acquire the knowledge of the contributions of lifestyle factors and how social, economic and environmental factors can influence a person’s health and wellbeing.
Develop understanding of the contributions physiotherapists can make to health promotion, health education and preventing ill-health.
Acquire the knowledge about how to reduce health inequalities through their professional clinical practice.
The skills to facilitate discussions about health risks with their clients and undertake brief interventions including education on major lifestyle risk factors and behaviour change).
Acquire the knowledge about the importance of occupational health and immunisation requirements
Practice Education 2: Developing clinical practice 1 module is the second practice education module, and the first of two placement experiences this year. It is aimed at progressing students’ professional practice skills alongside learning theoretical contents in the second year. In this module, the longitudinal placement model used in the first year is progressed by providing an opportunity for students to work in another clinical setting for two days weekly.
The module commences with two weeks of 2-days a week clinical simulation aimed at preparing students for their longitudinal placement. This period of clinical simulation will enable students to complete mandatory training requirements before going on a two-day a week longitudinal placement in a clinical setting for 8 weeks, to complete a total of 150 practice hours. This longitudinal placement will provide students with the opportunity to continue their professional development in practice settings, working with practice educators. Doing a longitudinal placement alongside academic modules will allow students to practice concepts and skills developed in the University in a real-life clinical setting.
Specifically, in this module, you will:
Complete mandatory training and develop core skills required in practice-based learning.
Attend a longer longitudinal placement to integrate your theoretical knowledge, skills, and attitudes for managing service users in a variety of clinical conditions.
Have opportunities to engage with clinical governance processes in place to quality assure service provisions.
Have opportunities to accumulate more practice hours required for your professional training.
Practice Education 3: Developing clinical practice 2 module is the third practice education module on this course and provides the second of two placement experiences this year. It is aimed at further extending students’ limit of practice in the second year through a block placement experience.
The module will prepare and support students to be successful in their block placement experience. In the module, students will have opportunities to prepare for their block placements through clinical simulation activities using case studies examples from the concurrently running physiotherapy theory and practice modules (PT5000 & PT5052).
Specifically, in this module, you will:
Develop assessment and management skills in clinical simulation sessions.
Attend a block placement to further consolidate your theoretical knowledge, skills, and attitudes for managing service users in a variety of clinical conditions.
Have opportunities to engage with clinical governance processes in place to quality assure clinical services.
Have opportunities to accumulate more practice hours required for your professional training.
Professional practice 2: Team working and interprofessional practice (PT5051) module will progress knowledge and skills learnt in the first year’s Professional practice 1 module in the leadership and management pillar of clinical practice.
Its focus will be further development of communication and collaboration skills for effective working with service users and other healthcare professions. It will introduce advanced skills required for team working, managing conflicts and effective communication in challenging clinical scenarios. This will prepare students for inter-professional working and collaboration in practice. Students will also continue the exploration of HCPC standards of proficiencies and standards of conduct, performance and ethics that relates to working with interprofessional collaboration and team working.
Specifically in this module, you will:
Develop communication skills to a higher level and enable communication in more complex scenarios with both service users and other members of the MDT.
Introduce inter-professional education and collaboration with other healthcare students.
Acquire the knowledge around managing conflict and whistleblowing.
Develop skills in networking and collaboration
Year 3 modules include:
Evidence Based Practice 3: Advancing physiotherapy practice module completes the research pillar of clinical practice for physiotherapy students.
In this module, students will be provided with an opportunity to utilise the knowledge they have acquired in their research pillar for the investigation of a clinical question in practice or recommended as a research priority in physiotherapy practice or healthcare delivery. With appropriate support, students will refine their identified research ideas, and use appropriate frameworks to develop a research proposal to investigate their clinical question.
Specifically, in this module, you will:
Develop skills to identify contemporary issues in clinical physiotherapy practice to investigate for evidence based practice.
Develop skills to propose appropriate research questions to investigate identified gaps.
Identify appropriate research designs to investigate problems in clinical practice.
Utilise existing frameworks to plan an internally valid research proposal.
- No module details available
Practice Education 4: Consolidating Clinical Practice 1 is the fourth practice education module and the first of three, level 6 placements in the final year.
The module will support students’ transition to level 6 placements, consolidate their clinical experience by developing capacity for autonomous practice, and develop their ability to manage caseloads within limits of their own safe and effective clinical practice. Students will have opportunities to do this within another contemporary healthcare setting and increase their mandatory clinical practice hours for graduation. Students will also explore opportunities within this placement to develop appropriate leadership behaviours within their scope of practice and competence.
Students will complete a clinical simulation preparatory period in the University including case-based practice sessions and mandatory training before going out on a 5-week clinical placement.
Practice Education 5: Consolidating Clinical Practice 2 is the fifth practice education module and second level 6 placement in the final year.
The module will provide opportunities for students to continue the development of their clinical practice through expanding their limits of clinical practice in another contemporary healthcare setting. Students will consolidate their skills for managing larger caseloads as they practice becoming autonomous physiotherapy practitioners.
Students will be allocated to another five-week block placement to practice theoretical knowledge and skills for the management of patients with different clinical conditions. Students will also have opportunities to consolidate their developing professionalism and inter-professional working with other healthcare professionals. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to use this placement to demonstrate appropriate leadership behaviours within their scope of practice and competence.
Practice Education 6: Consolidating Clinical Practice 3 is the sixth practice education module and include the final level 6 placement in the final year.
The module will give students an opportunity to consider their overall practice development and identify a specialist area of practice they would like to experience to extend their limit of practice for their future career aspirations.
Students will be supported to plan, seek, and attend an elective placement in their self-selected specialist area to complement their clinical skills profile to boost their employability after graduation. Placements options such as specialist, leadership, service improvement, public health, etc will be discussed with students to consider for their elective placement.
- No module details available
Where this course can take you
The School of Human Sciences has a range of industry-linked postgraduate courses available on a full-time and part-time basis. These courses would be ideal for postgraduate progression:
Selection process
You will be selected for an interview if you meet the above academic criteria, show evidence of sound understanding of the role and scope of contemporary physiotherapy practice in the personal statement, and have satisfactory academic references. If you are selected, you will be invited for an interview at the University, after which if successful, you will be given an offer.
Your admission interview will be a discussion with a panel comprising of two staff which could include an academic lecturer, clinical practitioner, service users and current healthcare profession students. The panel will explore your insight and suitability for career in Physiotherapy. The interview will cover the following areas specifically:
- Motivation and suitability for the physiotherapy profession.
- Insight into healthcare related current affairs.
- Insight into the London Metropolitan Physiotherapy course
- Transferable skill such as communication, inter-personal understanding, empathy, values, and general life skills as they relate to a healthcare career.
- Awareness of study skills.
Additional Costs
In addition to tuition fees, there may be additional costs for things such as equipment eg stethoscopes, printing, own textbooks or professional body fees and DBS with yearly updates.??
Students will also need to pay for travel and accommodation for clinical placements over the duration of the course. The NHS Learning Support Fund is available to eligible students to help cover some of these costs.??
Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
Funding
As a pre-registration health-care course, you are eligible to apply for a training grant through the learning support fund.
NHS Learning Support Fund
As a pre-registration health-care course, eligible students can apply for funding support through the NHS Learning Support Fund. The following funding is available to eligible students:
- Training Grant of £5000 per academic year
- Parental Support of £2000, if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs
- money back for excess travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses) while you're on your practice placement
- students experiencing financial hardship (Exceptional Support Fund)
For more details on these funding, please visit the NHS Learning Support Fund website.
Healthcare education funding
Physiotherapy students have access to the same student loans system as other students. This applies to new students on pre-registration courses such as this one. For more information please visit the government's healthcare education funding information.
How to apply
If you're a UK applicant wanting to study full-time starting in September, you must apply via UCAS unless otherwise specified. If you're an international applicant wanting to study full-time, you can choose to apply via UCAS or directly to the University.
If you're applying for part-time study, you should apply directly to the University. If you require a Student visa, please be aware that you will not be able to study as a part-time student at undergraduate level.
When to apply
The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) accepts applications for full-time courses starting in September from one year before the start of the course. Our UCAS institution code is L68.
If you will be applying direct to the University you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only be able to consider your application if there are places available on the course.
To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates.
To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates.
