Triangle

Course overview

Please be advised that places on the programme, for both the Generic pathway and Neuromusculoskeletal pathway, are limited and applications will only be open until Friday 28 February 2025.

The MSc is an internationally recognised qualification designed to maximise your potential for career and personal development. The course offers both a strong clinical focus underpinned by current evidence and research skills

Our MSc Physiotherapy course is open to all therapists and related healthcare professionals who want to enhance their clinical skills, professional knowledge, and critical appraisal abilities as part of their ongoing career development. It is ideal if you want to conduct hands-on clinically focused research without the commitment of undertaking a research-only degree.

Our Division of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences has an excellent reputation for teaching and research. On the programme, you'll be taught by experienced teaching staff who are experts in their field and active in clinically focused research.

We offer two pathways so you have the flexibility to tailor your qualification towards your unique interests.

You'll be part of a close-knit community of staff and students, where staff get to know you as an individual. We pride ourselves on the dedicated support we offer our students. This includes a personal tutor network to support you throughout your studies.

Why choose this course?

Expert teaching

from tutors who are active in clinically focused research

Close-knit community

providing dedicated student support throughout your studies.

96%

96% of our submitted research was judged to be World-Leading or Internationally Excellent, and our research environment was rated 100% World-Leading. 

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Flexible module choice

Two pathways to tailor your degree towards your own professional development.

Expert teaching

from tutors who are active in clinically focused research

Close-knit community

providing dedicated student support throughout your studies.

96%

96% of our submitted research was judged to be World-Leading or Internationally Excellent, and our research environment was rated 100% World-Leading. 

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Flexible module choice

Two pathways to tailor your degree towards your own professional development.

Expert teaching

from tutors who are active in clinically focused research

Close-knit community

providing dedicated student support throughout your studies.

Course content

The MSc Physiotherapy programme consists of two pathways; the generic MSc pathway and the Neuromusculoskeletal pathway. The programme consists of several compulsory and optional courses which you can choose from, as well as an extended Dissertation project. 

Modules

Core modules

This module is run over 12 half days in Autumn Semester. You will develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate and apply into practice a range of research methods and evidence base and to appraise the barriers to using evidence in practice.

Assessment is a written research proposal.

Course Convenors: Paul Hendrick and Theresa Harvey-Dunstan

This is a full year course with teaching sessions throughout the year. You will develop the critical, analytical and communication skills and knowledge to undertake and write-up an independent research study.

Assessment is a written Dissertation thesis.

Course Convenor: Paul Hendrick

Optional modules

You must take an additional 80 credits from the optional modules below:

This course is run over 6 days in the Spring Semester. You will develop the knowledge, skills and critical aptitude to apply evidence based rehabilitation for people with a range of long-term or complex conditions such as cardio-respiratory disease, neuromuscular disease, oncology and hematological disorders.

Assessment is via an oral presentation in which the student discusses and demonstrates rehabilitation strategies for a clinical case study.

Course Convenors: Theresa Harvey-Dunstan and Eleanor Douglas

This module will consolidate and extend your knowledge of the theories and principles underpinning teaching, learning and assessment. Specifically, this is done in relation to health care subjects, and considers education in both academic and practice settings.

The contextual factors that influence the role of health care teachers will be explored and the implications of these for your learning in modern health care settings will be debated. The tensions that exist between theory and practice will be examined in the context of contemporary policy issues and research.

This module is available during the spring semester.

This module is run over 6 days in the Autumn Semester. You will develop advanced clinical reasoning, diagnostic testing and test interpretation skills. This is designed to facilitate decision making, triage and communication skills essential for all first contact practitioners.

Assessment is a 20 minute presentation + questions (10 mins) 

Course Convenor: Alan Taylor

This module is run over 6 days in Spring Semester. You will develop the knowledge, skills and critical aptitude to apply evidence based rehabilitation for people with a range of musculoskeletal pain conditions.

Assessment is an oral via in which the student discusses and demonstrates rehabilitation strategies for a clinical case study.

Course Convenor: Paul Hendrick

 

This module focuses on Rehabilitation Neuroscience.

This module considers:

  • Methodologies of studying the nervous system
  • Basic anatomy of and physiology of the nervous system
  • Neuronal Signalling
  • Sensory-motor integration
  • Perception and action
  • Complex brain functions
  • Cognitive motor interference
  • The changing brain

This module focuses on Motor Control and Learning.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Friday 14 February 2025.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Seminars
  • eLearning
  • Workshops
  • Practical classes
  • Clinical skills sessions

How you will be assessed

  • Coursework
  • Clinical exams
  • Objective structured clinical exams
  • Presentation
  • Digital assessment
  • Dissertation

Your work will be assessed during or at the end of each module to ensure you meet the learning outcomes.

To complete a module and gain its credits you will need to make sure you attend your timetabled sessions and get over the 50% pass mark.

  • To achieve the MSc you will need a total of 180 credits.

Contact time and study hours

We encourage our students to think of the course like they would a full-time job and spend around 37 hours on it per week including teaching time. Part time students should consider it similar to a part-time job.

You are expected to work roughly 10 hours for each credit on the course including teaching and independent study, so a 20 credit module should take around 200 hours to complete.

Teaching days are dependent on the pathway chosen.

Full-time students will have around 20 full days of timetabled teaching over the course of the semester. In addition, there will be tutorials/revision sessions. Students will also be required to complete a Dissertation project comprising a piece of independent study.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degreeA first degree in physiotherapy or a related health care subject of at least a 2:2 classification or equivalent.
Additional information

Please note: this is a postgraduate course. If you would like to train to become a physiotherapist, please see our undergraduate course.

MSc Physiotherapy does not lead to registration as a physiotherapist.

Work experience

We require applicants to have at least one year’s post qualification experience working professionally as a Physiotherapist.

Please note that we are not able to consider internships undertaken as part of your degree as counting towards this professional experience.

Applying

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply
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Where you will learn

University Park Campus

University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

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Where you will learn

Jubilee Campus

Jubilee Campus has eco-friendly buildings, alongside green spaces, wildlife and a lake. 

This campus is home to our business, education and computer science schools, as well as a sports centre and student accommodation.

You can walk to University Park Campus in around 20 minutes or catch a free hopper bus. Nottingham city centre is 20 minutes away by public bus.

Medical School – Queen's Medical Centre

Where you will learn

Medical School – Queen's Medical Centre

Our Medical School is based in Queen’s Medical Centre, one of the UK’s largest hospitals.

There are dedicated clinical skills facilities including a dissection suite and teaching laboratories for medicine and healthcare students.

The hospital is located opposite University Park Campus and connected by a footbridge for easy access. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £9,700
International £22,600

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, such as printing, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles. If you were to purchase all of course texts, it would cost approximately £200 to £300.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates

This content was last updated on Friday 14 February 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.