Physiotherapy BSc (Hons)

This course is in clearing

Why study at UEL?

Top 40 UK university

Guardian University Guide 2026

1st in England

Overall Positivity*, National Student Survey 2026

Fastest Rising in England for graduate employability

Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025

Overview

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 physiotherapy. You'll explore core techniques like Physiotherapy Clinical Skills, Professional Practice, etc. in physiotherapy fundamentals. These skills will prepare you for a rewarding physiotherapy job, empowering you to make a real difference in patients' lives.

In year two 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. Advanced training in physiotherapy fundamentals will enhance your ability to address diverse challenges. These years will further prepare you for a fulfilling physiotherapy job, equipping you with expertise to improve patients' quality of life.

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 your extensive experience. You'll learn theory and practice, and develop critical thinking skills to make informed decisions in your role as a physiotherapist. These placements will solidify your understanding of physiotherapy fundamentals and prepare you for a successful physiotherapy job. By integrating practical experience with academic learning, you'll gain the confidence to excel in various healthcare settings.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Entry requirements

Degree:

112 UCAS points

This is the standard advertised entry requirement for most students applying to this course.

Degree with contextual offer:

96 UCAS points

You may be eligible for a reduced offer based on your personal, educational or socioeconomic background.

Degree via foundation year:

64 UCAS points

What makes this course different

1st in London

Our physiotherapy courses ranked 1st in London for “Assessment and Feedback” in the 2026 National Student Survey (NSS).

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 options

Select year

Degree via foundation year

UCAS code: B161

Physiotherapy BSc (Hons), home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • This course is in Clearing,
  • Full time, 4 years
  • £ 9,790 per year. Subject to change, see Fees, Funding and Additional Costs below.

Degree

UCAS code: B160

Physiotherapy BSc (Hons), home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • Full time, 3 years
  • £10,050 per year. Subject to change, see Fees, funding and additional costs below.

Physiotherapy BSc (Hons), international applicant,

  • International Applicant
International applications will open later this year

Inside UEL's Hospital and Primary Care Training Hub

How we support your career ambitions

Our online Career Zone platform provides accessible career support and is equipped with practical tools to navigate your career journey. Whether you're in the classroom or beyond, we're here to empower your professional development.

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including: 

  • Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top:

  • Work-based projects
  • Networking and visits to leading organisations
  • Support in starting a new business
  • London on our doorstep

Careers Guarantee

The UEL Careers Guarantee is the University’s commitment to supporting you with your career development during your studies and after you graduate. It brings together careers guidance, employability support and opportunities designed to help you prepare for work or further study.

What can I do with this degree?

Physiotherapists work across healthcare and sport, supporting people recovering from illness, injury, surgery or trauma. You could work in settings including acute and private hospitals, intensive care, stroke rehabilitation, older adult care, paediatrics and the independent sector.

UEL physiotherapy graduates have progressed to senior roles in the National Health Service (NHS), including Consultant Physiotherapist in sports medicine and Therapies Practice Placement Lead.

Graduates have also worked in sport with organisations including the Women’s Tennis Association and Essex County Cricket Club, as well as medical teams at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

You could continue to postgraduate study at master's or doctoral level. Options at UEL include the MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology.

Official student data from Discover Uni

The banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

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

Class sizes in physiotherapy vary depending on the module and type of learning activity. Cohorts typically range from 28 to 40 students.

You may learn in larger lecture theatre settings for taught sessions, while seminars, practical classes and collaborative activities are usually delivered in smaller groups.

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

What our students and staff say

Physiotherapy
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

Physiotherapy BSc (Hons)

Physiotherapy Student
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)

Physiotherapy FAQs