About this course
Applications for 2020 entry to this course are now closed. We have several other related undergraduate courses that you may want to consider.
Learn how to become a physiotherapist who can manage complex cases, and help people with many healthcare issues. Discover how to treat mobility problems caused by illness, injury, and ageing. Learn how to improve people's physical activity and their quality of life.
Develop a wide range of professional clinical skills with:
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academic modules
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clinical placements
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world-class simulation facilities
You'll develop skills that will prepare you for modern practice that focuses on the patient. These include:
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communication
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decision-making
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team-working abilities
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manager
You'll learn to work with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals. Our teaching staff are a mix of academics and practising clinical physiotherapists.
You’ll complete over 1,000 hours of clinical placements as you train to be a physiotherapist, in settings ranging from community clinics to large hospitals. These will help you link theory with practice and will cover the core disciplines:
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musculoskeletal
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neurology
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cardiorespiratory
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special client groups
We actively involve patients and carers in our course, which places special emphasis on empathy and compassion.
Accreditations
This course is accredited by:
Course location
This course is based at Highfield.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the programme specification
The programme specification sets out the learning outcomes of this course and details how the course is taught and assessed.
In light of COVID-19, we’ve made changes to some elements of course delivery for 2020-21. For details as to how this has changed delivery for this course, please view the Addendum to the Programme Specification PDF.
Entry requirements
A-levels
AAB including one pure science subject with a pass in the practical
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer:
ABB and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
ABB including one pure science subject with a pass in the practical
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level including a pure science
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
D*D in the BTEC Diploma plus A in a pure science A-level or D* in the BTEC Subsidary Diploma plus AB in A-level subjects including a pure science at Grade A. We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma without a pure science A-Level.
BTEC additional information
We accept Health studies or science
- Access to HE Diploma
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- Scottish Qualification offers
- Cambridge Pre-U
- Welsh Baccalaureate
- European Baccalaureate
Other requirements
UK students
International students
Other ways to qualify
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Non-academic entry requirements
You will be required to attend a selection day. Satisfactory Occupational Health and Police Checks. Recent relevant study within 3 years
Got a question?
If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.ukTel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
A-levels
AAB including one pure science subject with a pass in the practical
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer:
ABB and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
Physiotherapy applicants are not just applying for a degree but a professional qualification. This is a very demanding programme and we need to be confident that students can cope with the expectations of academic achievement and placement experience. Our values based interview techniques have been developed with clinicians and service users to ensure we recruit the best applicants. We use contextual information when reviewing an application understanding that perhaps the individual has had less support writing a personal statement compared to others, however we will continue to be mindful of all our applicants from all backgrounds that apply through difficult circumstances, whatever that might be
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level including a pure science
International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information
Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
D*D in the BTEC Diploma plus A in a pure science A-level or D* in the BTEC Subsidary Diploma plus AB in A-level subjects including a pure science at Grade A. We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma without a pure science A-Level.
BTEC additional information
We accept Health studies or science
- Access to HE Diploma
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- Scottish Qualification offers
- Cambridge Pre-U
- Welsh Baccalaureate
- European Baccalaureate
Other requirements
UK students
International students
Other ways to qualify
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Non-academic entry requirements
Satisfactory Occupational Health and Police Checks. Recent relevant study within 3 years
Got a question?
If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.ukTel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
COVID-19: we've made some changes to the structure of the course for this academic year. Download the programme specification addendum in 'About this course' to learn more.
You’ll take several core modules each year, which must be passed. Around two thirds of your time will be spent learning on campus. The remainder will be on clinical placements, totalling more than 1,000 hours.
Year 1 overview
You’ll work in groups with other healthcare students, to learn about core values and skills that underpin professional practice.
You'll study:
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anatomy and physiology
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musculoskeletal and neuromuscular movement and function
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social and psychological issues that influence physiotherapy management
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identifying and treating common clinical physiotherapy conditions
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principles of applied health science
You’ll also complete a clinical placement with an experienced therapist. You'll put your theory into practice with patients in the real world.
Year 2 overview
You’ll complete 2 clinical placements, and:
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learn how to manage a broad range of clinical cases
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develop the skills to motivate patients to engage with, and self-manage, their treatments
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study cases where patients have more than one condition, and learn how to adapt treatment to suit their needs
You'll also study research methods to help plan your research study in year 3.
Year 3 overview
Using a simulated environment, you'll learn how to assess and manage respiratory patients who are acutely unwell. This will prepare you to be an on-call physiotherapist when you graduate.
You’ll complete another 2 clinical placements and study core modules, which will cover:
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evidence-based approaches to assessing and managing complex cases
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innovation, leadership, influencing change and business development
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the legal, political and cultural context of professional practice
You can choose to take either a module on pain management, or on development. This will let you explore a healthcare topic of your choice with the support of an academic coach.
You’ll also complete a research project, carrying out data collection analysis and writing a paper. You'll be supervised by one of Southampton’s renowned research academics.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
COVID-19: we've made some changes to our modules for this academic year. Download the programme specification addendum in 'About this course' to learn more.
For entry in Academic Year 2020-21
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
You must study the following modules in year 1:
Learning and assessment
COVID-19: we've made some changes to our learning and assessment methods for this academic year. Download the programme specification addendum in 'About this course' to learn more.
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Ruth Turk is the course leader.
Careers
This course meets the full academic requirements to register as a Chartered Physiotherapist by the Health and Care Professions Council.
You can expect excellent career prospects in a range of healthcare environments where physiotherapy is practised. These include:
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intensive care
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stroke rehabilitation
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musculoskeletal outpatients
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care for the older adult
The NHS is the UK’s largest employer of health practitioners, but other options include social care, private practice and the armed services. There are also career opportunities in industry, leisure and academia.
More information about careers in physiotherapy can be found on the NHS Careers website.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK/EU students pay £9,250.
- International students pay £23,645.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations. Your fee also covers the cost of your uniform for clinical practice.
Find out how to:
You'll need to consider extra costs for the following:
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suitable shoes for your practice placements
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your own fob watch
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your enhanced DBS certificate
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your professional registration fee (on graduation)
On your placements you can claim travel and accommodation expenses over and above your normal daily travel costs to university. But there are limits on what you can claim. Learn more about placement costs and expenses.
There will also be other costs not covered by the tuition fee. These may include:
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stationery
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personal computer or laptop and data storage devices
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printing
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees.
Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
When you apply use:
- UCAS course code: B160
- UCAS institution code: S27
What happens after you apply?
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We'll also consider how your personal values are aligned with the profession.
Some candidates will be invited to a selection day, which will include an interview. If the admissions tutor decides to invite you to a selection day you’ll receive an email. This will include information on how to prepare and what to expect during the session.
We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.ukTel: +44(0)23 8059 5000