Physiotherapy (MSc)
- Duration: 18 months - September start
- Mode: Full time
Open day
Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day.
Why study this course
As a qualified physiotherapist, this MSc will enable you to develop valuable skills that will help you advance in your profession whether you are looking for promotion within clinical practice or a move into academia or research.
1st in Wales
For physiotherapy, according to the Complete University Guide 2025.
Internationally renowned researchers
Professor Shea Palmer, Professor Nicola Phillips (OBE), and Professor Val Sparkes make up just some of our internationally renowned team who are leaders in their field.
Engage with external partners
We work with a wide range of partners including service users, clinical partners, professional bodies and local and national industry.
English language support
We offer a free, bespoke in-sessional English language course to support healthcare international students (limited spaces available).
Play back teaching sessions
Where appropriate, all of our sessions are recorded and made available online to review and revisit.
Join us and study at a School that is ranked in the top 3 in the UK for Physiotherapy (BSc) by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.
Our postgraduate programme is designed for qualified physiotherapists, across the UK and internationally.
It gives you the chance to take your learning to the next level, enhancing your skills and knowledge in order to challenge and critically evaluate your own professional practice and inform physiotherapy healthcare in your country. The programme will help inform the way you practice, supporting the knowledge and skills required for change management, and service improvement to improve patient care. We strive to make sure you are ready for the next step in your career.
You will learn in a supportive environment with an opportunity to tailor your optional module choices in a way that best fits your needs. Our modules cover a range of speciality areas including, musculoskeletal, neuro-rehabilitation and cardiovascular respiratory. We also cover research methods to support your learning at masters level. The programme aims to develop your critical thinking to support you to become an expert in your practice and enhance your employability in your future career.
Your learning will be supported by experienced researchers and academics who are experts in their field. You will be designated a personal tutor who will support you throughout your studies. You may also be involved in group personal tutoring which will help you develop mentoring skills with your peers. In addition, you will be learning alongside a globally diverse group who are studying at various points in their career, sharing knowledge and gaining understanding of physiotherapy practice across the world.
Your learning environments include our bespoke physiotherapy laboratory and simulation suites. Our School benefits from a range of equipment, such as an anti-gravity treadmill and a motion capture centre, along with other equipment used to analyse human movement.
Where you'll study
School of Healthcare Sciences
Our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and experience you need to embark on a professional healthcare career.
Admissions criteria
In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.
With your online application you will need to provide:
- A copy of your qualification certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved an honours degree or a diploma in physiotherapy, or an equivalent international qualification.
- A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
- A personal statement which must address the following points:
- Why have you selected this programme?
- What interests you about this programme?
- Any relevant experience related to the programme or module content.
- How you plan to use the qualification in your career.
- How you and your profession will benefit from your studies.
- Why you feel you should be given a place on the programme.
Application Deadline
We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of July but may close sooner if all places are filled.
Selection process
We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, including an assessment of suitability through the personal statement, we will make you an offer.
Find out more about English language requirements.
Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Course structure
The MSc Physiotherapy programme is modular, and students must complete 120 credits in the taught component of the programme and a further 60 credits in the dissertation component. 60 credits are core modules and must be undertaken, and 60 credits are optional. Taught modules are arranged in block format and run throughout the semester.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.
Year one
In Year One you will complete 60 credits and two optional modules (60 credits) which equates to 120 credits in the taught component of the programme:
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Evidencing Learning in Specialist Professional Practice | HCT199 | 30 credits |
| Research methods and data analysis in healthcare | HCT343 | 30 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Sport and Exercise Participation, Inter-Disciplinary Management and Injury Prevention | HCT023 | 30 credits |
| Musculoskeletal Diagnosis and Treatment | HCT139 | 30 credits |
| Neurorehabilitation: a Theoretical Basis | HCT200 | 30 credits |
| Clinical Kinaesiology and Tissue Pathology | HCT226 | 30 credits |
| Cardio-Respiratory Care: Theory to Practice | HCT341 | 30 credits |
Year two
In Year Two you will complete your dissertation from a choice of three options (60 Credits).
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Empirical Dissertation | HCT117 | 60 credits |
| Dissertation M Level: Work-based Project | NRT079 | 60 credits |
| Dissertation M Level: Systematic Review of the Literature | NRT080 | 60 credits |
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.
Learning and assessment
How will I be taught?
Teaching is mainly through workshops, tutorials and seminars. There are also lectures, and these are followed up by appropriate opportunity to discuss and evaluate the ideas presented. Content is supported by online resources.
Self-directed study forms an important part of the course, and you will be directed in study skills and guided in the areas for study.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through a variety of written assessments and oral presentations. This enables you to demonstrate your ability at analysing and evaluating a situation but also to use a variety of ways to present your ideas and abilities. The dissertation is a culmination of the development of all these skills.
How will I be supported?
This programme gives you the opportunity to share ideas with healthcare professionals. As well as developing your own intellectual abilities, this sharing of ideas enables you to learn and benefit from the experiences of others. Opportunity is given for this sort of discussion and exchange of ideas through seminars and tutorials.
You will be given a named personal tutor following registration onto the programme, who is able to assist you with any pastoral care as well as advice on writing style, grammar and academic mentoring.
All modules within the programme make extensive use of Cardiff University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Learning Central, on which you will find course materials, links to related materials and assessment exemplars. All lectures are recorded via Panopto and are available to you throughout your programme.
International students will be supported with a bespoke In-sessional English Language programme (10 weeks) in semester 1. This is only available to students in the School of Healthcare Sciences and attendance will be based on need as places are limited.
The University offers a wide range of services and activities designed to support you. These include a student counselling service, a student advisory service, day care facilities, sport and exercise facilities, as well as campus information, library and IT services.
Our student app allows you to access Cardiff University services and personalised information in one place in a simple and convenient way from a smartphone via the app store.
Features include:
· Campus maps
· Student library renewals, payments and available items
· Student timetable
· Find an available PC
· Access to help and student support
· Student news
· Receive important notifications
· Links to launch other University apps such as Outlook (for email) and Blackboard (for Learning
Central).
· Links to recommended apps such as Nextbike to help make the most of their student experience.
What skills will I practise and develop?
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:
Knowledge & Understanding:
Demonstrate enhanced clinical knowledge and skills and apply these critically to your physiotherapy practice, to develop a holistic approach to managing complexity and improving service user outcomes.
Develop a practical understanding through evaluation of established techniques of research and enquiry, to interpret knowledge and support implementation of research findings into physiotherapy practice.
Evaluate the position of physiotherapy in healthcare practice and critically appraise advances or changes in professional practice.
Initiate change and lead in the management of change and the advancement of the physiotherapy profession.
Intellectual Skills:
Critical analysis of research.
Reflection and critical analysis of the physiotherapy profession and of your own practice.
Professional Practical Skills:
The application of physiotherapy theory to clinical practice is covered throughout the taught content and assessment process.
Transferable/ key skills
Communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech.
Work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks concurrently.
Gain research skills and their application to practice.
Tuition fees for 2025 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
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £9,450 | None |
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 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 postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £23,700 | £2,500 |
More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
No
Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?
No
Living costs
We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Funding
Careers and placements
Postgraduate level study is essential if you want to progress to advanced and specialist practice. An MSc will enable you to gain the skills to enhance your autonomy within your profession, to further your career and take advantage of a greater range of opportunities.
Our modules are designed to complement progression in clinical practice, but also to facilitate a move into academia or research.
Our graduates have gained roles including:
- Clinical specialist
- Consultant physiotherapist
- Physiotherapy management positions
- Academia/Lecturer positions
- Research Associate
- PhD study
Placements
No
Cardiff is a very nice city with beautiful city views, a rich history and culture, and kind people. At Cardiff you can learn scientific learning methods, enjoy a quality studying environment, and communicate with students from all over the world to discuss professional, cultural, and life topics. As a physiotherapist, my individual ability really improved a lot after studying in the MSc physiotherapy programme. For example, my research ability, learning ability and language ability have improved, all of which are very useful in both my further clinical and research career. The teaching concept here is quite different from my home country of China, for instance, here there is a focus on building our ability to critically think, which I had never heard of before. This ability is very important when choosing physiotherapy related measurements and treatments and also essential in doing research. Therefore, after studying here, I feel I have become more professional and confident in my future work. I really enjoyed my study time and life at Cardiff University. Since returning home I have changed my work to another hospital which is one of the top 10 hospital in China (Sun Yat-Sen University) and now my major work is in clinical practicing, but in addition I also give some training courses and do some interpretation in my hospital.
Next steps
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
