physiotherapy undergraduate personal statement

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• Physiotherapy Personal Statement Examples

Your personal statement is an essential part of the UCAS application process , as it allows you to showcase your passion for physiotherapy and demonstrate why you are the ideal applicant for the course. To help you write a winning university application , we are showing you free physiotherapy personal statement examples that you can use for inspiration.

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example

As someone who has always had a passion for physical activity and fitness, I believe that studying for a degree in physiotherapy is the ideal next step for me. Having already achieved a first degree in physical education, I am now eager to build on my knowledge and experience and to develop the skills that will enable me to help people recover from injuries, prevent future injuries, and live healthy, active lives.

One of the reasons why I am so passionate about physiotherapy is that I believe in the importance of physical fitness and well-being for the health of the whole person, both physically and mentally. Through my work as an instructor, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that regular exercise can have on people’s lives, and I am eager to help others experience those same benefits.

In addition to my work as an instructor, I have also gained valuable experience through my involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Over the past four years, I have completed my Bronze and Silver awards, and more recently, I achieved my Gold Award. As part of this award, I spent a week at a camp for disabled teenagers, where I was a buddy to an 18-year-old girl with profound Cerebral Palsy. This experience gave me a real insight into the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and the important role that physiotherapy can play in helping them to lead active and fulfilling lives.

More recently, I have had the opportunity to gain further experience through my work at Nottingham Nuffield Hospital. Here, I observed clinical assessments in the outpatient department and saw firsthand the crucial role that physiotherapists play in helping patients to recover from a wide range of injuries and conditions. I also had the opportunity to work alongside physiotherapists on the ward, where I was able to see how they use their skills to help patients who are recovering from surgery or illness to regain their strength and mobility.

I am convinced that studying for a degree in physiotherapy is the ideal next step for me. With my passion for physical activity and fitness, combined with my existing knowledge and experience, I believe that I have the qualities and skills needed to make a real difference in the field of physiotherapy. I am excited about the prospect of learning more about the science of human movement, rehabilitation, and injury prevention, and I am eager to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field. Ultimately, my goal is to become a skilled and compassionate physiotherapist, helping people of all ages and abilities to lead healthy, active lives.

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example For UCAS

I have been drawn to the field of physiotherapy. From the early stages of my academic journey, I have been interested in the human body and how it functions, particularly with movement and sports. Pursuing this passion, I have taken on various experiences that have allowed me to gain an understanding of the essential role that physiotherapy plays in helping people achieve their physical goals.

My work experience placements at Watford General Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital have been instrumental in shaping my decision to pursue a career in physiotherapy. During my time there, I was able to observe and learn from skilled professionals, as well as get an insight into the various techniques and treatments used in the field. I was particularly fascinated by the paediatric centre in mid-Wales where I had the privilege of accompanying a physiotherapist on house visits. Witnessing the impact that physiotherapy had on children’s lives was truly inspiring, and I felt a sense of fulfilment in being able to contribute to their wellbeing.

In addition to my work experience, my recreational and competitive background in sports has helped me to develop an understanding of how physiotherapy can help to prevent and treat injuries. As a Senior Sport Organiser, I have gained experience in working with young athletes and have learned how to create a safe and healthy environment for them to thrive. My part-time job as a pool lifeguard has also allowed me to hone my communication and interpersonal skills, which I believe will be vital in my future career as a physiotherapist.

Throughout my experiences, I have come to appreciate the wide range of skills and knowledge required of a physiotherapist. It is not only about diagnosing and treating physical conditions, but also about building relationships with patients and their families, educating them on how to take care of their bodies, and helping them to set achievable goals. I am excited by the prospect of developing these skills further and making a difference in people’s lives.

I am eager to pursue a career in physiotherapy and believe that my academic achievements, work experience, and personal qualities make me an ideal candidate for the program. I am committed to continuous learning and growth, and I am confident that I will excel in the program and make valuable contributions to the field of physiotherapy.

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Physiotherapy Personal Statement Guide

Personal statement guidelines.

When writing your personal statement  please consider the following areas:

• Justification for wanting to enter the profession – what attracts you to this profession?
• Is it the values, characteristics, behaviours &/or variety of roles and responsibilities?
• Why does this profession stand out for you compared to other health and social care professions?
• Investigation of Physiotherapy as a career – to be able to make an informed career choice you must investigate some of the diversity of the profession ideally through direct observation of physiotherapists in diverse areas of practice
• Evidence of additional skills, knowledge, experience – Transferable skills – how do your personal attributes, values, characteristics, behaviours and experiences relate to or prepare you for this challenging academic programme and a future career as a physiotherapist.

Structured Personal Statement

Tell us the reason you have chosen to study physiotherapy..

Within this answer you can tell us what motivated you to become a physiotherapist, and what you find interesting or inspiring about the profession. We would like you to show that you understand the role of the physiotherapist in different areas of clinical practice and the skills, values and qualities that are needed. Additionally, describe why this health care profession suits you personally. We expect you to give examples that show you have a caring attitude.

Describe the roles and responsibilities of physiotherapists.

In this section you should tell us about your investigation into the physiotherapy profession, particularly discussing experiences you have had of physiotherapy. Although receiving physiotherapy yourself might have been your introduction to the profession we expect applicants to explore further than this. This must include work experience or placements within a physiotherapy setting, the opportunity to talk to physiotherapists about their role and evidence of reading around the subject or accessing information on the internet. Rather than simply providing a list, please expand on what the experience taught you about the profession. Physiotherapy is very varied profession, working with different populations in different settings; you should demonstrate an awareness of this.

Tell us about skills, knowledge and experience you have and explain why this is relevant to a future career in Physiotherapy.

Please use experiences from previous learning, work, volunteering, hobbies, sport, music and any other activities you think relevant. Again, rather than a list of achievements please explain the specific skills or values demonstrated and how this has helped prepare you for study and a future career as a Physiotherapist. It may be useful to look at the NHS Constitution Values as this discusses the values and behaviours important for working in health care in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england 

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• Personal Statements
• Physiotherapy Personal Statement

Physiotherapy Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

My interest in physiotherapy comes from my own personal experience of the science and how it changed my life. For as long as I can remember I have been good at sports, and as I reached high school, this crystallised into a love of football. I was well on the way to a career as a professional footballer, with a place in the Arsenal Youth Team, when I was struck down by a serious injury at just 14 years of age. From having a promising future on the pitch, I was suddenly unable to even walk and my dreams were shattered. Were it not for the patience and skill of my physiotherapist, I may still be in the wheelchair that was mine for a full three months.

My physio worked tirelessly with me, day in and day out, getting me back on my feet when many others, myself included, had thought this was never going to happen. She used a range of existing techniques, and adapted others, to overcome my problems, and as a result, I am now able to walk. I will never play football again, but I still consider myself very lucky.

It is this experience that has led me to want to study physiotherapy for myself, so that I can help other people in the same way that I was helped. I understand that there is a shortage of trained physiotherapists, and I would hate for someone in my position to miss out because they could not access the same incredible levels of care that I had.

I believe that my experiences at the highest levels of youth football will give me an excellent background for this role. Having been in their shoes, I can appreciate the demands on young players and their eagerness to get fit and back playing as soon as possible.

My own experience would also make me well placed to help people whose lives and dreams have been shattered by an accident or injury. My teammates, family and friends never let me down, even though I may not always have noticed this, and I would be able to show others that this support system was in place for them too.

I have always been a good all-rounder at school, and I have focused my sixth form studies towards the sciences in order to pursue my new goal of a career in physiotherapy. I have also spent time with my own physiotherapist, watching her treating other patients and asking many questions along the way to give me a realistic view of the job on a day to day level.

Success on the sports field has given me confidence from an early age, and overcoming my injury has cemented my self-belief and personal resilience even more. I believe that I would be able to draw on these strengths to inspire others with injuries to fight back as I did.

This course would provide me with the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful physiotherapist, and I believe that combined with my personal experience, and the continued mentorship of my own physiotherapist, I could be very successful in this career. What’s more, my contacts at Arsenal FC have said that they would be happy for me to spend time at the club during my studies for work experience, and may even have a job for me after I graduate.

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Physiotherapy personal statement example 5.

My decision to pursue physiotherapy as a career was born out of my interest in human biology and my passion for helping people in need. This passion has been deepened by my work experience in Germany and South Africa. I believe that it is vitally important that a multi-disciplinary team works together to help restore optimal function to a patient. A physiotherapist, by devising and reviewing treatment programmes, using manual therapy such as massage, therapeutic exercise and electrotherapy techniques plays a vital role in the rehabilitation and recovery of a patient. I am specifically interested in geriatric physiotherapy and the vital role it can play in poor areas. A physiotherapist plays a key role in enabling the elderly to use their bodies fully to enhance mobility and independence. I realised how difficult it is for someone who has had a stroke to find themselves dependent on others for the basic activities of daily living. However, I saw how, with physiotherapy exercise and lots of patience and firm encouragement, an acute stroke patient can be rehabilitated after being totally bedridden and dependent. By dealing with an elderly patient's fear of being dependent, by helping them to do basic chores and learning to sit I realised how motivating the impact of physiotherapy can be. In a poor, rural area of South Africa, with minimum resources and space, patients could be helped using physiotherapy. I saw the effectiveness of hands-on patient care combined with empathy, knowledge, initiative and patience. This taught me the importance of empathy as you have to understand the patient's situation and to motivate them using effective communication. In contrast, work experience in Germany was in a modern, fully equipped hospital. Whilst working with nurses I was taught how to remove bandages and staple stitches. I learnt to work competently under pressure, follow instructions carefully and also to communicate effectively with patients and staff even though I am unable to speak fluent German. I adapted quickly using my GCSE German language skills and managed to converse with them at a basic level. I learnt that I am a resilient and flexible person who can adapt to new environments rapidly, despite being out of my comfort zone. I am able to learn new skills quickly and to execute them competently. I also know when to ask for help to complete work that is outside my skills-set. My commitment to physiotherapy has shaped many of my life decisions as I recognise the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, not only to cope with the physical and mental demands of a career in physiotherapy, but also to be an example to the patients under my care. I work part-time as a waitress in a busy restaurant which has enhanced my multitasking skills and my ability to work under pressure. I have learnt to be quick and efficient, ensuring customers have a good experience. By using appropriate language and adapting it to the customers, I ensure that their orders are taken correctly and any problems are resolved to the best of my ability. I completed NCS which further developed my team work skills in organizing a charity event to raise money. This also enhanced my problem solving skills to meet non-negotiable deadlines for the event as we encountered a problem with the event's location. As a physiotherapist, I would value the privilege of occupying a position of trust and to work in a team of equally passionate individuals to bring about improved health and fitness to patients particularly the elderly. I am confident that being conscientious, self-disciplined and compassionate that I will thrive in this career choice.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

I applied to:

Cardiff- conditional (DDD) UWE- conditional (DDD) Bradford (integrated masters) - conditional (DDD) Winchester- conditional (DDM) UEA- no offer

I was predicted a DDD in BTEC Applied Science (Medical)

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Physiotherapy (BSc)

Subject area: physiotherapy.

• UCAS code: B162
• Next intake: September 2024
• Duration: 3 years
• Mode: Full time

Why study this course

Professionally accredited

Our programme is validated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

Funding available

NHS bursary funding is available for both UK and overseas students, including support with both tuition fees and living costs (conditions apply).

State of the art facilities

Our skills laboratories enable lifelike simulations, meaning you can safely practice essential skills before going out into placement.

Early clinical exposure

You'll spend half of your time on the programme gaining valuable clinical experience on placement, working with real patients alongside supportive and knowledgeable staff

Our physiotherapy programme will result in you being eligible to apply to the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) for registration which means you will be licenced to practice as a qualified physiotherapist after graduating.

Physiotherapy is an exciting and ever-evolving professional career concerned with supporting individuals to live fulfilling and active lives. You will develop the skills to act as an autonomous practitioner providing holistic care with the person at the centre.

A career in physiotherapy opens up opportunities for you to work closely with public health organisations, exploring innovative ideas around health promotion and being at the forefront of delivery of healthcare. Physiotherapy offers you the chance to work in a stimulating, sociable and supportive environments working closely with other professions as part of multi-disciplinary teams, patients and their families.

Our hands-on course offers you the chance to study through both academic and placement learning. Meaning you get to take what you’ve learnt in theory and put it into real practice when you’re out on placement.

You will study areas such as movement and exercise, manual therapies, electrotherapies, education and advice, and behavioural and psychological therapies. Your academic learning will be supported by researchers and academics. You will have a designated personal tutor to support your learning throughout your studies with us. Practical teaching takes place in specially designed labs and simulation suites.

Your placement learning takes place across Wales and takes up about one third of the course. Placements are an essential part of the course and they will give you the confidence and skills to practice physiotherapy professionally in real-life situations with qualified professionals supervising and supporting you. Placement learning also helps you gain insight as to the wide-ranging employment opportunities available to you upon qualification.

We constantly try to make sure you have plenty of opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities such as physiotherapy-related support with the annual Cardiff Half Marathon.

Above all else, we strive to ensure that our graduates are ready for the next step in their career and the many opportunities that await them. Our programme aims to develop your knowledge, skills (intellectual, discipline specific and transferrable), professional behaviours and values (Knowledge and Skills Framework CSP, 2013) which enhance employability and provide you with the opportunity of securing rewarding and satisfying employment. That’s why 97% of our physiotherapy students are in employment or further study after 6 months of graduating (UNISTATS 2018).

Please Note: We are in the process of developing a new MSc pre-registration Physiotherapy programme that will commence in autumn 2022.  Applicants who already hold a bachelors’ level qualification may be interested in this alternative route.  Please refer back to our website in the upcoming months for further information, including entry requirements. If you would like to register your interest in the new pre-registration programme, please do so by contacting [email protected].

Accreditations

• Health and Care Professions Council, the (HCPC)

• Telephone +44(0) 29 2068 7538
• Marker University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN

Entry requirements

We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:

AAB-ABB. Must include Biology or Human Biology.

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.

• Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
• Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.

Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.

International Baccalaureate

34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Biology.

Baccalaureate Wales

From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.

Chevron right Other essential requirements

You must have or be working towards: - English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade B/6 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements. English Language GCSE C/4 will be accepted where you are taking qualifications at a higher level which are taught through the medium of English such as A-levels. - six GCSEs at grade C/4. Must include Maths, and one science (from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), or equivalent qualifications (subject and grade). You must also supply a personal statement that is relevant to the profession. If you are applying to more than one professional programme, you should email a bespoke personal statement for each programme to [email protected] at the same time as submitting your application via UCAS. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate that you understand the profession, have an insight into the course itself, and describe any relevant work experience. Only one personal statement may be submitted for each programme. We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects. We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.

Chevron right English language requirements

Grade B or grade 6 in GCSE English Language.

IELTS (academic)

At least 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all subskills.

At least 100 overall with a minimum of 22 in all subskills.

PTE Academic

At least 76 overall with a minimum of 69 in all communicative skills.

Trinity ISE II/III

II: Not accepted. III: at least a Merit in all components.

Other accepted qualifications

Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications .

Chevron right Criminal convictions

You will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check if your application is successful. If you are applying from certain countries overseas, a Certificate of Good Conduct may be required.

If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Applicants who are on the barred list should be aware that applying to this course is likely to be considered a criminal offence.

Other qualifications from inside the UK

DDD-DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied or Medical Science.

D in T Level Health, Healthcare Science, or Science.

Qualifications from outside the UK

International equivalencies are not accepted for this course. Please contact the International Office for information about entry requirements from your country.

Please view your country page for information on our entry requirements, funding opportunities and who our local advisors are.

Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.

Interview or selection process

We won’t make an offer without first interviewing an applicant.

Offer release may be subject to all interviews for the programme having taken place.

To be eligible for consideration for interview all applicants must meet the minimum requirements at Level 2 (typically GCSE) and Level 3 (typically A-level). If you meet the minimum entry requirements your application will be given a numerical score based on your personal statement. Eligible applicants will be ranked according to this score and the top-ranking applicants will be invited to interview.

Welsh domiciled students studying/having successfully completed certain Access to Higher Education Diploma related to Healthcare may be eligible for a guaranteed interview on application.  Please contact the admissions team for specific details: [email protected]

Our interview process

Interviews help us to determine if you:

• can think on your feet
• have thought about some of the issues that are important to the profession
• can critically appraise information
• can communicate ideas effectively.

They also focus on exploring the personal qualities and attributes that are important to your future career development.

These interviews allow us to assess information that isn’t always readily forthcoming in the application process—they aren’t intended to test the amount of prior knowledge you have about the subject or the profession.

Please note that interviews may occur in an online environment. Online interviews will continue to assess applicants on the skills and attributes outlined above.

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and a non-repayable bursary for living costs, is available to applicants from the UK. Full details, including information for applicants from the EU, are available on our NHS funding pages .

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees .

Fees for island status

Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

Fees for overseas status

An NHS placement is a required part of this course. The NHS only makes placements available to students who are eligible to pay UK fees. Therefore, this course is not available for international students.

Additional costs

Applicants are required to meet the costs of obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate as part of the application process.

Course specific equipment

All equipment needed during your lectures, practicals, tutorials and placements is provided although some students do choose to purchase their own equipment in order to practice skills learnt as part of self-study. Below is a list of equipment students have purchased in previous cohorts

• A number of small items that will cost approximately £15 in total including an 8" goniometer, tape measure, marking pencil (eyebrow pencil is usually applicable) and a pack of face paint crayons - useful for surface marking in anatomy practical classes
• Skeletons – a life sized set of artificial bones modelled on human ones in a lockable storage box are available for you to hire from the School. Although it is not obligatory, hiring a skeleton is highly recommended to help support your learning of anatomy. Hiring a skeleton currently costs £30 (non-refundable) but they can be shared with a group of four to help reduce the cost and to create a learning group
• Stethoscopes will be available for students to use in class at university and can be borrowed from clinical areas while on placement. Students can buy their own stethoscope (approximately £45) to take out on clinical placement during their second and third years.

Accommodation

We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages .

Living costs

We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff .

Course structure

The Programme takes place over three years of full-time study. It follows a modular framework where each academic year, consists of 4 modules, represents a single level of learning. A single level is equal to 120 credits and the award of BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy requires the accumulation of 360 credits.

The first 18 months of your undergraduate education will be based in university gaining the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be an active participant in your first practice-based education opportunity half way through year 2. The second 18 months you will spend the majority of your time in practice settings developing your personal and professional skills across a range of different areas of physiotherapy and returning to university to complete your research project with guidance from your research supervisor.

The integrated curriculum will help you to identify connections between the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are key to a developing physiotherapist. The first year of the programme is structured so modules run in parallel, so you can integrate knowledge of physiological, biomechanical, anatomical, behavioural and clinical sciences which provide the foundation for physiotherapy practice. As you progress through the years you are required to add different layers to your knowledge and skills revisiting subject areas, adding increasing levels of complexity including, reasoning approaches, patient centred care, multi-disciplinary working, service user diversity, practice-based learning, government and professional drivers and public health.   

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/2025 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.

Year one will include foundation studies which include human anatomy and physiology; psychology, sociology and behaviour science; biomechanical and exercise science; and clinical Sciences alongside Physiotherapy Studies. Knowledge of the theory and practice of the profession allows you to acquire basic therapeutic skills, and alongside critical theory you will begin to develop an understanding of evidence-based practice. Initially you will be supported by academic staff to identify your personal learning needs and goals to empower you to take a more active learning role as the year progresses. Exploration of your personal and professional identity will start the process of self-evaluation and reflection, key skills needed to become a practicing Physiotherapist.

Year two develops many of the themes introduced at Level 4 in order that you can apply the knowledge and skills within the clinical reasoning and person-centred approaches essential to the clinical aspect of the programme. An integrated approach will continue combining the knowledge and skills of physiotherapy practice with the values, identity and beliefs of service users to ensure delivery of person-centred care. Practice-based learning will provide experiential learning in a variety of settings and develop confidence in service user management skills. Critical reflection of own practice, multi-disciplinary working, communication and personal identity will be themes developed through completion of a portfolio which will continue the process of self-evaluation and personal and professional development. You will be introduced to the process of undertaking ethical research in the field of healthcare to develop skills of critical appraisal to evaluate the concepts of best practice and evidence-based care.

During Year three you will be required to use initiative, balance competing demands, self-evaluate your own learning, negotiate, and demonstrate a sense of judgement. You will be expected to take increasing responsibility within the clinical environment and for your learning in university. Guidance and support of the clinical educators and research supervisors remains crucial to support your development to become an autonomous practitioner. The management of the BSc research project (dissertation) will reinforce those key skills that are essential for evidence-based practice. They will develop analytical skills to challenge assumptions and integrate multiple concepts to justify their clinical decisions. The Learner will develop, through reflective practice, the ability to evaluate their decision-making skills and adapt their practice when managing service users with complex conditions and multi pathologies. There will also be a focus on becoming ‘employment ready’, considering wider responsibilities such as public health, preparing continue professional development portfolios, management and leadership, service development and developing entrepreneurship.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Module information

Learning and assessment

Our course is designed to be stimulating and relevant to the needs of a professional physiotherapist. Great emphasis has been placed on the practical and clinical aspects of the courses, all of which have been accredited by the relevant professional bodies. Diverse learning and teaching methods are used throughout, reflecting module content, your developing knowledge and growing expertise. All modules have a formalised teaching and learning structure which employ a range of formal lectures, seminars, workshops, practical skills sessions and case scenarios.

Independent studies are also an important aspect of the programme. Specific work may be set but you will also be required to identify gaps in understanding and initially address these in self-study or independent learning sessions. The modular structure embraces teaching and learning opportunities available in a practice-based environment, where you will spend 1,000 hours in a practice setting. Acquiring knowledge and skills through practical experience is key to our physiotherapy degree.

As in the professional environment, great emphasis is placed on working in a multi-disciplinary team. Opportunities for shared learning and inter-professional education; learning alongside students from other disciplines are embedded.

This programme offers elements of provision through the medium of Welsh. This is achieved through, where possible, placing students in Welsh speaking areas or with Welsh speaking supervisors in their clinical placements, supporting students with learning materials and group work in the medium of Welsh where appropriate and by enabling students who wish to submit assignments or to complete examinations in Welsh to do so.  All students are entitled to a Welsh speaking personal tutor for the duration of their studies.

How will I be supported?

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your studies with whom you will have regular meetings with. They will provide pastoral support and academic guidance throughout the programme. In addition you will be assigned an academic supervisor who will support you in the development of your dissertation. When you are out on practice-based learning you will be assigned to a mentor/clinical educator who will support you with your practice-based learning.

Our virtual learning environment is accessible via desktop and mobile devices, allowing you to access electronic resources from anywhere. Dedicated computer labs, student study rooms, campus-wide WiFi networks, printing facilities and a dedicated Healthcare library are available year-round. Staff are available onsite to assist students and provide support and advice. You will have access through the Learning Central VLE to relevant multimedia material, presentations, videos, lecture capture, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles. The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.

How will I be assessed?

Assessments include written assignments (including report writing), visual and verbal presentations, practical examination, portfolio creation, clinical assessment and the production of a research dissertation in year three.

Feedback We will provide you with feedback on your work in a variety of formats. These will include oral feedback during tutorials, feedback provided during lectures, written feedback provided through online module discussion forums, and electronic written feedback on assessed coursework through Feedback Studio.

You will be provided with summary written feedback in relation to examinations and you can discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor.  During practice-based experiences you will be supported by mentors/clinical educators who will provide verbal and written feedback on your progress and clinical performance.

What skills will I practise and develop?

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Apply core physiotherapy knowledge and skills associated with the safe and effective best practice of physiotherapy with due regard to the ethical, social, political and legal aspects of care.

Intellectual Skills:

• Systematically evaluate research evidence including healthcare guidelines and integrate with individuals’ needs and personal/professional experience to provide effective management.
• Contribute positively to the development of ethical research within the healthcare setting with ability to evaluate research questions, methodologies and research findings and integrate into their professional practice.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Act as autonomous and independent practitioners who critically evaluate and reflect on their practice while adhering to the HPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2016), with an acute awareness of the scope and limits of physiotherapy practice.
• Work as members of a multi-professional team to provide healthcare with the individuals’ values at its heart, ensuring a humanistic approach to the management of patients of all ages and cultures.
• Demonstrate a wide range of effective communication skills, including verbal, visual and written, using a critical approach to adapt these skills to ensure a collaborative approach to giving and receiving of information to a diverse range of audiences.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Adapt to the changing role, responsibilities, working practices and environments and demonstrate resilience, leadership and innovation to advance physiotherapy practice.
• Utilise effective educational and mentoring skills to empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health.

How is the Programme structured?

The Programme takes place over three years of full-time study. It follows a modular framework where each academic year, consists of 4 modules, represents a single level of learning. A single level is equal to 120 credits and the award of BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy requires the accumulation of 360 credits.

The integrated curriculum will help you to identify connections between the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are key to a developing physiotherapist. The first year of the programme is structured so modules run in parallel, so you can integrate knowledge of physiological, biomechanical, anatomical, behavioural and clinical sciences which provide the foundation for physiotherapy practice. As you progress through the years you are required to add different layers to your knowledge and skills revisiting subject areas, adding increasing levels of complexity including, reasoning approaches, patient centred care, multi-disciplinary working, service user diversity, practice-based learning, government and professional drivers and public health.

Careers and placements

Career prospects.

Becoming a physiotherapist means you can play a key role in enabling people to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

97% of our graduates were in employment and/or further study six months after graduating (UNISTATS 2019). Our programmes offer a considerable amount of time on practice-based learning opportunities which help develop confidence, abilities and employability as a healthcare professional.

Once you have a physiotherapy degree you are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can also join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) as a qualified member and enjoy the chartered status which may provide an advantage in the jobs market.

Physiotherapy offers you many different and flexible employment options. Once you have qualified and gained some clinical experience you could go on to work within:

• Health boards and NHS trusts,
• Community health services,
• Local government social service departments,
• International health services,
• Higher education institutions
• Private practice
• Charitable Organisations
• Professional Sports.

Our graduates have also gone on to complete further study including an MSc in Physiotherapy or MSc in Sports and Exercise, Phds roles as research assistants or train as an equine, canine or veterinary physiotherapist.

Graduate careers

• Physiotherapist

During year two and three, you will take part in practice-based learning, throughout Wales and in some circumstances throughout the UK.  Each practice-based experience is four weeks long and there are seven 4-week blocks in total, four placements in year 2 and three in year 3. There are opportunities for learners to complete international practice-based experiences. There are options for learners to complete international experiences external to the programme or complete the experience as part of the programme during one of the seven practice-based experiences identified above. Learners can discuss the options with a ‘mobility officer’ who can advise them on the logistics of organising an international learning experience.

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Personal Statement Tips for Physiotherapy School Admissions

Written by Anthony Pinto Da Costa

Admissions | applications, 0comment(s), october 1, 2021.

Of all the requirements for PT school in Canada , the personal statement is definitely one that raises the eyebrows of many applicants each and every year. The confusion is largely due to the ambiguity of piecing together a descriptive essay about yourself that conveys to admissions committees that you’re the right fit for their program.

Some of the common inquiries we hear with each passing application cycle include:

• How do I write a good personal statement?
• What do I need to include in my personal statement?
• What do admissions committees want to hear?
• How do I organize all of my thoughts into a brief but strong personal statement?

At PhysioSchool.ca, we hear you loud and clear. We had all of the same questions when we were applying, which is why we’re writing this blog today to answer your questions and provide you with some helpful tips on how to write your personal statement for physio school applications.

Here we go.

Tip #1 – Start early

We cannot stress this one enough. Start getting yourself “in the know” early, so that you can plan accordingly. Before putting pen to paper, you should first be able to answer the following questions:

• Which PT programs require a personal statement?
• What types of questions do various schools ask on their personal statement?
• How long can my answers be (i.e., word/character count)?

Once you gather all of this information, you can start chipping away on mapping out the content you’d like to include within your personal statement.

Tip #2 – Genuinely ask yourself: “Why do I want to be a physiotherapist? “

It’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be asked, “why do you want to be a physiotherapist?” on a personal statement. Admissions committees are very interested in knowing your intent for choosing physiotherapy as a career. Why? Because they want to ensure that they’re admitting individuals who have made an informed career decision and are genuinely passionate about becoming a physiotherapist.

For that reason, we highly recommend sitting down with yourself to think hard about why you want to be a physiotherapist. And believe us, we understand that it’s not always a simple question to answer, as there may be many reasons why you want to pursue PT. We suggest that you write all of these reasons down in front of you. It will help give you clarity, and most importantly, it will help guide your entire personal statement. When you have a strong “why” from the beginning, writing your statement will come a lot easier. On the contrary, if your foundation isn’t solid, your personal statement may fall flat.

So, please! Ask yourself: “Why do I want to be a physiotherapist?”

Tip #3 – Write out a list of your experiences

Your personal statement is essentially your way of “selling yourself” to the admissions committees. Apart from providing them with a compelling reason as to why you want to be a PT, speaking about your work and volunteer experience can really help you impress those who make admissions decisions.

In order to make writing about your experiences a seamless process, we recommend first writing out a list of your work and volunteer experiences (PT- and non-PT-related experiences). Ensure to include what your role was during each experience, whether it was work or volunteer, the location, how long you were at each location, and the types of people you worked with. This will essentially function as your rough draft.

Once you have all of that information laid out in front of you, turn your rough draft into sentences to be used in your personal statement. Be sure to mention how these experiences will help you in becoming a good physiotherapist one day.

Tip #4 – Do your research on the physiotherapy profession

As mentioned earlier, PT school admissions committees aim to admit those who have made an informed career decision. That being said, it will bode well for you to convey that you are knowledgeable about the physiotherapy profession throughout your personal statement.

Having exposure in physiotherapy settings prior to applications will certainly help you out with that, but it would be in your best interest to also do your research on the profession. The PT profession is incredibly diverse; physiotherapists work in a variety of settings with a wide-range of patient populations. Given that, it’s important to become familiar with the profession at large in order to show the admissions committees that you understand what PT has to offer.

Tip #5 – Rigorously edit and revise your personal statement

This one’s a no-brainer. Once you think you have a finished product, you must rigorously edit and revise your personal statement. Do your very best to catch any spelling or grammatical errors, run-on sentences, redundancies, and any other issues you pick up on that may be problematic for your readers. The good thing about this is that you don’t have to do this alone! Reach out to any friends, family members, and/or mentors that you trust to proofread your essay as well. A second or third set of eyes may pick up on things that you missed, so it’s great to have some people in your corner to help with editing and revising.

We realize that this may be one of those tips that one can simply just gloss over, but in all seriousness, we cannot emphasize the importance of this one enough. Remember that the admissions committees don’t just judge what you say in your personal statement, but also how you say it. The applicants who can do both of those things very well are usually the ones that come out on top.

Writing a great personal statement for your physio school applications can be a challenging task. However, if you follow the tips that you read about in this blog post, you’ll eventually be able to muster up a personal statement that you can be proud of in no time.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Thank you for reading.

If you’re looking for extra help and guidance on writing your personal statement, check out our PT Application Booster course today! We have an entire module dedicated to helping you write a personal statement that will give you the competitive edge for physio school applications. What are you waiting for? Enrol today!

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