Overview
Physiotherapists treat patients of all ages, helping them to maximise functional movement caused by accidents, illness and disability. Their expertise helps improve mobility, independence and quality of life. You'll learn how to communicate professionally and treat patients safely and effectively. You will gain hands-on experience through clinical placements in the NHS and private sector, to prepare you for your physiotherapy career.
- This course includes the sufficient number of clinical hours you need to qualify as a registered physiotherapist
- Our physiotherapy course is validated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), so you can apply for registration with the HCPC and full membership of the CSP upon graduation.
- Learn in our state-of-the-art Hospital & Primary Care Training Hub. This immersive environment mimics the professional world, offering simulation in critical care, hospital wards, rehabilitation and even a simulated home.
Physiotherapy is a professional healthcare course, meaning that all students must commit to actively participating in working with all peers in class. This will involve the touch and exposure of relevant body parts in a professional and respectful manner regardless of beliefs.
This course is in Clearing
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
What makes this course different
Highly Rated By Our Students
Rated among one of the best in the UK, and first in London for Assessment and Feedback, Learning Resources, and Freedom of Expression - NSS 2024
State-of-the-art Hospital & Primary Care Training Hub
You will immerse yourself in an environment that mimics the professional world. Our world-class facilities include simulation in critical care, hospital wards, rehabilitation and even a simulated home.
World-renowned work experience opportunities
You will have access to unique work experience opportunities, thanks to our incredible academic team. Their active work within the industry enables current students and graduates to work at prestigious sporting organisations like the TCS London Marathon, Tottenham Hotspur and Wimbledon.
Course modules
In your first year, you'll get to grips with physiotherapy fundamentals. Understanding rehabilitation is crucial for helping patients regain and maintain physical function in your physiotherapy job.
In years two and three of this physiotherapy degree, you will focus on specific areas like musculoskeletal, respiratory, and neurological problems. You'll work on your decision-making, learning how to manage patients with complex conditions.
You'll do clinical placements with NHS trusts or private healthcare organisations. Some of the best physiotherapists will not only teach you but also share their extensive experience. You'll learn theory and practice, and develop critical thinking skills to make informed decisions in your role as a physiotherapist.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
A physiotherapy degree puts you in a powerful position when it comes to entering the world of work. Physiotherapists are in high demand across the UK and abroad. You could start a career in the NHS. Physiotherapists work across the medical spectrum, from intensive care and stroke rehabilitation to recovery from major surgery or trauma to care of the elderly and paediatrics. You could specialise in the treatment of physical issues arising from one of the body's systems. This could mean focusing on bones, joints and soft tissues (musculoskeletal), the brain and nervous system (neurological), the heart and blood circulation (cardiovascular) or the respiratory organs. We are proud to say that our physiotherapy staff and students were involved with the delivery of the NHS Nightingale project during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Industry links
Integral to this course are placement experiences with local healthcare providers who work collaboratively with the University. Through our placement links, we have close connections with a range of NHS and independent providers. These include Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, and East London NHS Foundation Trust.
Graduate employers
Close links with our healthcare partners ensure employment in the future for learners who complete their physiotherapy course and are registered with the HCPC.
Many of our physiotherapy graduates secure jobs within the trusts that have supported the students during their course. Upon completion, our graduates have an opportunity to work in acute hospitals, private hospitals and the independent sector.
Job roles
We have physiotherapy graduates who have gone on to work in senior roles within the NHS (for example Consultant Physiotherapist in sports medicine). UEL graduates have also taken key roles in international sports organisations (for example the Women's Tennis Association and Essex County Cricket Club), and major games medical teams (like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games).
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
You might decide to study for a further degree in a related medical subject, either an MSc or PhD, such as our new MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology.
UEL has offered me the foundation for my professional development. It gifted me exposure to different settings and challenges, allowing me to learn both from success and failure. Professors have always been empathetic and happy to share their knowledge. UEL showed me how to become a great therapist and allowed my journey to start with confidence.Belisa Rexhaj, BSc Physiotherapy 2023
Physiotherapist at the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.
How you'll learn
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Guided independent study
Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers. Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).
Academic support
Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisors, and university central support services. You’ll have an academic advisor from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us.
Dedicated academic assistance
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, Student Support Hub members offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks.
UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module. The approximate percentages for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 360 hours; guided independent study - 840 hours. 150 hours of clinical practice in term 2.
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 360 hours; guided independent study - 840 hours. 300 hours of clinical practice across the year.
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 120 hours; guided independent study - 270 hours. (Please note, terms 1 and 2 in level 6 are shortened to accommodate clinical placements). 600 hours of clinical practice across the year.
Your timetable
You'll be based in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience in Stratford, but you'll spend at least a third of your time 'learning by doing' away from campus.
We have strong links with local NHS trusts and private sector providers, which means you'll have a range of work placement opportunities. These placements begin after the Christmas break in your first year and, thanks to our excellent connections, take place in world-renowned hospitals and NHS Trusts. These include Barts Health, Homerton and Barking, Havering & Redbridge. Our supportive staff will help set these up to ensure you get the 1,000 clinical hours you need to qualify as a physiotherapist.
When not on placement, you'll enjoy practical and clinical sessions at Stratford, in small, supportive learning groups with low student-to-staff ratios. Our modern, purpose-built campus offers superb teaching facilities, including our own on-site clinic with four spacious, well-equipped teaching rooms.
Class sizes
To be confirmed.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. Assessment methods include group work, exams and individual work including essays, presentations, case studies, professional development and practical activities depending on the nature of the course. All grades count towards your module mark. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides. You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.
Campus and facilities
Our campus and the surrounding area
Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, and just 15 minutes from London's West End.
Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic great hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Childhood and Social Care, and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.
Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There are two multiscreen cinemas, a theatre, an arts centre and much more.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
- Course leader
Elizabeth Nicholls
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience - Course leader
Raymond Che Wen Lam
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience - Course leader
Carol Resteghini
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience
What our students and staff say
I undertook the Public Health Foundation year because I didn't have the qualifications necessary to directly advance to physiotherapy. The year helped me settle into university life, gave me the time to check I was on the right path and network with my future lecturers. The Foundation Year made me a well-rounded and confident candidate for the next step of university."
Maxine Baillie Harland, BSc Physiotherapy
The UEL team gave me the motivation and support, both clinically and personally, to get involved with events early on as a student physiotherapist. Many links and networks were set up by the course tutors. The course was practical, the support was great and the encouragement was never short from an amazing group of tutors. As a team, they made it feel like you could aim for and achieve opportunities that I would never have thought I could do, for example being a part of the Olympics."
Martina Kehoe
Physiotherapy, BSc (Hons)