What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession in which practitioners aim to optimise movement potential in any presenting case using physical, as opposed to pharmacological, methods. Physiotherapists are also concerned with health promotion and illness prevention and consider the psychological and social wellbeing of the individual.
How will I study?
Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and small-group teaching sessions. We believe in a holistic approach to patient care, which encompasses the physical, mental and social aspects of healthcare. You will be introduced to patients in the second year of the programme, and years two and three are divided between academic study and clinical practice. The Division aims to develop your ability to manage your own learning. You will need to be able to exercise sound judgement in a variety of clinical situations and be able to evaluate and adapt your therapeutic skills to meet the needs of the individual patient.
Professional recognition
Our degree is recognised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and approved by the Health Professions Council (HPC).
Assessment
Assessment methods include essays, coursework, multiple-choice questions, viva voce exams (conducted orally), anatomy pro-section assessments, verbal and poster presentations, laboratory reports and practical assessments.
Career prospects
In the UK, most physiotherapists work within the wide variety of specialities offered by the NHS, including burns and plastics, healthcare of the elderly, maternity, mental health, neurology, orthopaedics, out-patients, paediatrics, respiratory and women's health. However, there are many other settings including research and academia, charitable organisations, industry, special schools, sports centres, the armed forces, social services and veterinary practices.
Application and interview
It is currently our policy to interview for all places. We receive around 1,000 applications per year for 40 places and normally interview 150 people. The interviews are relatively informal and take place in January and February. Each candidate is interviewed separately by two people. We look for knowledge of physiotherapy, the ability to communicate and form opinions, non-verbal communication skills, sensitivity, tolerance and the ability to work within a team. We welcome applications from students who wish to defer their entry.
Please note: tuition fees do not apply to physiotherapy education.
Open days
Visit days for students offered a place are held in March. University-wide open days are held in June and September – for details, please see
www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays