MSc Physiotherapy
Cardiff, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 28,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: ยฃ9,450
Introduction
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 the master's 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 an 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.
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.
3rd in the UK
For physiotherapy, according to the Complete University Guide 2023.
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 aย wide range of partnersย 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).
Playback Teaching Sessions
Where appropriate, all of our sessions are recorded and made available online for review and revisit.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
We are committed to investing up to a total of ยฃ500,000 in this high-value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Masterโs programme in 2024/25.
Each Scholarship is worth ยฃ3,000 and will be awarded a tuition fee discount.
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study before your fee status can be confirmed.
Curriculum
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.
Year One
In Year One you will complete 60 credits and two optional modules (60 credits) which equate to 120 credits in the taught component of the programme:
Core Modules for Year One
- Evidencing Learning in Specialist Professional Practice
- Research methods and data analysis in healthcare
Optional Modules for Year One
- Sport and Exercise Participation, Inter-Disciplinary Management and Injury Prevention
- Musculoskeletal Diagnosis and Treatment
- Neurorehabilitation: a Theoretical Basis
- Clinical Kinesiology and Tissue Pathology
- Cardio-Respiratory Care: Theory to Practice
Year Two
In Year Two you will complete your dissertation from a choice of three options (60 Credits).
- Empirical Dissertation
- Dissertation M Level: Work-based Project
- Dissertation M Level: Systematic Review of the Literature
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 to analyse and evaluate 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.
Program Outcome
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.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
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 to 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
Program delivery
How Will I Be Taught?
Teaching is mainly through workshops, tutorials and seminars. There are also lectures, and these are followed up by appropriate opportunities 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.
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.