MSc/PgDip/PgCert Advancing Physiotherapy
Attendance
Full-time, Part-time
Full-time typically 18 months
Part-time typically three years depending on the modules taken, with a maximum of six years
Starts September and January
At a glance
Advance your practice as an experienced physiotherapist by gaining new and specialist skills in key areas. You also develop independent thinking around the subject and are encouraged to challenge and explore established concepts.
Key points
Enhance your practice as an experienced physiotherapist.
Learn to challenge and explore the fundamental concepts of physiotherapy.
Specialise in musculoskeletal manual therapy, respiratory physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation.
Consolidate previous academic work as part of this qualification.
About this course
Continue your professional development as an experienced physiotherapist on a course that offers new skills and knowledge through a range of varied and specialist modules.
This course is designed for experienced and specialised physiotherapists. It facilitates independent thinking that challenges and explores key concepts, conceptual approaches and philosophies relating to physiotherapy.
A range of module choices and flexible delivery offers you studies tailored to the needs of your workplace and allow you to gain expertise in an area of your practice. We offer you specialist modules in musculoskeletal manual therapy, respiratory physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation.
The course consists of modules that carry credit points which can be taken individually. In order to gain a postgraduate certificate 60 credits are needed. A postgraduate diploma is awarded after 120 credits and 180 credits for MSc.
We assist with your module selection to ensure that the course meets your interests and aspirations. Module choice can be discussed with the course leader before enrolling and throughout the course.
You learn via a student-led approach with seminars workshops discussions and presentation keynote lectures problem-based learning online learning. Some modules are clinically-based and some explore health issues across different areas of professional healthcare.
Study individual modules
You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.
Associated careers
The new skills gained on the course allow you to pursue careers in research lecturing consultant physiotherapy and management roles.
Professional recognition
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. You also have the opportunity to gain Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) membership.
Course content
The course has been designed so that you can choose the modules and assignment topics specific to your needs and interests.
Postgraduate certificate
Core module
Measuring health outcomes (15 credits)
This module examines measurement, measuring scales and instruments and how they can be used to provide evidence of effective intervention in the health and social care environment. You develop an understanding of the drivers in health care and the impact of this on measurement and clinical practice.
Optional modules
At least 30 credits of modules from the following advancing physiotherapy choices
musculoskeletal manual therapy for the upper quadrant (30 credits)
musculoskeletal manual therapy for the lower quadrant (30 credits)
community management in chronic lung disease (15 credits)
acute case management in chronic lung disease (15 credits)
critical care (30 credits)
understanding neurological therapy (30 credits)
contemporary interventions in neurological rehabilitation (15 credits)
musculoskeletal rehabilitation (30 credits)
Up to 15 credits of the postgraduate certificate may be optional modules available from outside the advancing physiotherapy programme, such as
pain management (15 credits)
teaching skills in higher education (15 credits)
practice educator
Suitably qualified candidates may include modules available from our MSc Sports Injury, MSc Advancing Paediatric Practice or other interprofessional course.
Postgraduate diploma
Core module
Research methods for practice (15 credits)
You gain a broad understanding of specific qualitative and quantitative methodologies that assist in the development of a research process. You obtain the necessary skills and knowledge for an in-depth understanding of research issues and methodologies such as ethics, grant writing, funding sources, research governance issues, user involvement and current policy issues for researchers.
Optional modules
You select from a wide range of optional modules depending on your area of specialism. You can also choose modules that allow you to graduate with a specialist award. These apply if you are a physiotherapist who already specialises in your field, but you want to develop your clinical skills and reasoning, and make a contribution to developing practice.
Plus a minimum of 45 credits from the advancing physiotherapy programme
community management in chronic lung disease (15 credits)
acute case management in chronic lung disease (15 credits)
critical care (30 credits)
understanding neurological therapy
manual therapy for the upper quadrant (30 credits)
manual therapy for the lower quadrant (30 credits)
musculoskeletal rehabilitation (30 credits)
One of the following clinical practice modules may be included
exploring clinical practice (15 credits)
advancing clinical practice (30 credits)
MACP clinical practice in musculoskeletal management (30 credits)
Remaining 45 credits from the approved modules within the advancing professional development framework
pain management (15 credits)
teaching skills in higher education (15 credits)
If you wish to expand your professional skills in areas other than your main experience, you may choose to include one of the optional applying physiotherapy practice modules
musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice (30 credits)
neurological physiotherapy practice (30 credits)
paediatric physiotherapy practice (30 credits)
Suitably qualified candidates may include modules available from our MSc Sports Injury, MSc Advancing Paediatric Practice or interprofessional provision.
Interprofessional modules include
healthcare management
image interpretation
palliative care and oncology
ageing and non-medical prescribing
You may wish to study modules at other universities, in which case up to 40 credits may be imported into our postgraduate diploma.
If you have included 45 credits of advancing physiotherapy modules in your postgraduate certificate you can study 45 credits of optional modules in your postgraduate diploma.
MSc
Dissertation (60 credits)
The dissertation integrates a wide range of aspects of theory in relation to practice in your chosen area of study. You apply an understanding of research methods to the development of practice. The project focuses in detail on real organisational or practice questions and should have the capacity to influence the development of practice.
Assessment
This varies from module to module.
The emphasis is on appropriateness and relevance to your professional practice needs, therefore an assessment may include elements of choice. Often, it relates to activity in the workplace where you may need to apply your theoretical learning to a real situation.
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements are
a good degree or diploma or equivalent in physiotherapy
two years post-qualification clinical experience in physiotherapy practice
You must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
When applying, you should specify the intended focus of your studies. We may ask that you demonstrate clinical reasoning using a case study as part of the application process.
All applicants must satisfy our admissions team of their ability to complete the course. We may also ask to interview you in person or by phone.
You must also declare
any disciplinary proceedings taken by earlier employers or educational establishments
any investigation relevant to you under the Children Act 1989 or other associated legislation
Fees
Home and EU students
2013/14 academic year
Musculoskeletal route (includes placement)
Full-time typically £5,355
Part-time typically £1,785 a stage for PgCert, PgDip and MSc stages
All other routes
Full-time typically £4,590
Part-time typically £1,530 a stage for PgCert, PgDip and MSc stages
International students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £12,060 for the course
2014/15 academic year
Typically £12,150 for the course
How to apply
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
Contact details
For further information contact the Post-experience and Postgraduate Office, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Collegiate Crescent Campus, Sheffield, S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2373, fax +44 (0)114 225 2394 or email AlliedHealth@shu.ac.uk