Pre-Registration Physiotherapy (MSc)

How will I be taught?

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 course, all of which have been accredited by the relevant professional bodies.

Diverse learning and teaching methods are used throughout and reflect module content and your developing knowledge and expertise. All modules have a formalised teaching and learning structure which employ a range of formal lectures, seminars, workshops, practical skills sessions, case scenarios and simulation. The sessions are balanced across each week to provide a blended approach which includes a variety of face-face and online interactions, as well as asynchronous activities conducted at a suitable time for you.

Independent studies are an important aspect of the programme. Specific work may be set but you will also be required to identify gaps in understanding and 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 degrees.

Just as in the professional environment, dedicated focus is placed on working in a multi-disciplinary team at university. Opportunities for shared learning and interprofessional education, learning with and from students from other disciplines, are embedded throughout. You will work regularly with an interprofessional Study Group, participate in simulated case-based learning activities/scenarios, and explore and reflect on alternative views of healthcare using media, arts, and patient stories.

We offer elements of provision through the medium of Welsh. This is achieved by placing students in Welsh speaking areas or with Welsh speaking supervisors in their clinical placements (where possible), 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 assessed?

Assessments include written assignments (including report writing), visual and verbal presentations, practical examinations, portfolio creation, clinical assessment and the production and dissemination of a research project.

We will provide you with feedback on your work in a variety of formats. These will include oral and visual feedback during practical lessons and 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 placements, you will be supported by mentors/clinical educators who will provide verbal and written feedback on your progress and clinical performance. You will be expected to develop self-evaluation skills during learning experiences, including the use of reflection on academic and clinical feedback.

How will I be supported?

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your studies, with whom you will have regular meetings. 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 research project. When you are out on placements you will be assigned to a mentor/clinical educator who will support you with your practice-based learning.

Your interprofessional Study Groups will offer peer-to-peer support and this will also be facilitated by a named academic who will guide the group through learning experiences.

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 Wi-Fi networks, printing facilities and a dedicated Healthcare Library are available year-round. Staff are available onsite and online 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 via the Centre for Student Life, Student Connect, Student Futures, the Student Disability Service, as well as excellent libraries and resource centres. Services on offer cover all areas relating to student life, including support with study, health and well-being, preparing for the future, managing money and living in Cardiff. 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below. On successful completion of the Programme, you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. 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 to meet the needs of diverse, contemporary environments and their populations.
2. Identify, understand, and respond to the complex needs of diverse populations and be conscious of your influence, impact, leadership, and responsibilities in relation to service users, peers, colleagues, the wider profession, local, national, and global communities and the environment as a whole.

Intellectual Skills:

1. Critically and systematically evaluate research evidence including healthcare guidelines and integrate with individuals’ needs and personal/professional experience to provide effective management.
2. Contribute positively to the development of ethical research within the healthcare setting with ability to critically evaluate research questions, methodologies and research findings and integrate into their professional practice.
3. Methodically deal with unpredictably complex issues using creativity where necessary and communicating with appropriate reasoning to explain decision-making strategies to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
4. Exhibit self-direction and originality when tackling and solving problems, demonstrating a clear vision of individual learning needs whilst formulating, implementing, and evaluating strategies to address these where required.

Professional Practical Skills:

1. Act as autonomous and independent practitioners who critically evaluate and reflect on their practice while adhering to the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (HCPC 2016), and Standards of Proficiency (HCPC, 2013) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Code of Professional Values (CSP, 2019), with an acute awareness of the scope and limits of physiotherapy practice.
2. Apply and develop advanced interpersonal, team and networking skills to strategically enhance multi-professional team working whilst providing prudent healthcare with the individuals’ values at its heart; ensuring a humanistic approach to the management of patients of all ages and cultures, utilising opportunities to enhance practice through reflection and critical evaluation to enhance service development.
3. Systematically organise and communicate advanced information using diverse media, operating a critical approach to adapt these skills to ensure a collaborative and inclusive approach to giving and receiving of information to a range of audiences.
4. Respond to the varying levels of complexity, unpredictability, and uncertainty in healthcare contexts through demonstration and implementation of appropriate reasoning to implement and critically evaluate physiotherapy skills across the range of practice settings.

Transferable/Key Skills:

1. Adapt to the changing role, responsibilities, working practices and environments and demonstrate resilience, compassionate leadership, and innovation to advance physiotherapy practice.
2. Select and apply advanced principles, concepts, theoretical frameworks, and approaches relating to education and mentoring to empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health.
3. Systematically apply an advanced awareness of ethical and professional values and codes of conduct, to personal and strategic decisions, actions, responsibilities, outcomes, and dilemmas, whilst working proactively with others to suggest and advocate appropriate solutions in unpredictably complex contexts.