Alfie Jones MSc Physiotherapy, 2021

I enjoy going through the rehabilitation process with patients and helping them to get back to normality, it’s so rewarding!

Why did you choose to come and study at Southampton?

I chose Southampton because I knew that it was a Russell group University with great reputation for research. I also have friends that have done the MSc Physiotherapy course at Southampton before and all said it was amazing.

Can you tell us what led you to pursue Physiotherapy?

I chose to pursue Physiotherapy as I’m really fascinated by how the body works and how it can adapt after injury. I also enjoy going through the rehabilitation process with patients and helping them to get back to normality, it’s so rewarding!

What is it like studying here?

We’re really lucky to have such an established group of lecturers who have been amazing throughout the course and have dealt with the impacts of the pandemic on the course brilliantly and have kept it engaging and fun.

Have you been involved in any related research whilst you have been studying with us?

At the moment no, but I am currently working on my own research project under the University and will be participating in multiple studies within the next few months.

How did you find the facilities on your course – is there anything that stands out to you?

The facilities are brilliant, we have excellent practice rooms with all the equipment we need to simulate as close to real life patient care which really helped before going on placements.

Can you tell us about your experiences on placement so far? Why are they important? How did your placements to compare to each other?

I have spent time in geriatric, Paediatric ICU and MSK outpatients which have all varied in the demands and experience that I got. They all have taught me a lot about the variation and adaptability of being a Physio. Going on placement is invaluable as you pick up so much knowledge and skills from your supervisors in such a short space of time, making the OSCE exams seem a lot easier. I also feel it’s a really good way to find out if you’d like to work in an area as you can develop a real passion for a role.

What are you most proud of from your time at Southampton so far?

My most proud moment so far has to be stepping onto Paediatric ICU during placement and having to help treat critically ill children with no prior experience. At first it was extremely daunting and quite hard hitting seeing what ICU is like, but after a short while I really started to enjoy the role and really felt I was making a difference to people.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m waiting until the summer to start applying for jobs, after the lecture content and placements I feel confident in working in any Physio discipline and would love to get a band 5 rotation or potentially look to work abroad for a year or two.