BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy
Three years full-time
UCAS code • B160
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Physiotherapy
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At a glance
Prepare for a career in physiotherapy on one of the largest and most established undergraduate physiotherapy courses in the UK. Students on this course have excellent career prospects thanks to strong links with physiotherapy providers locally and nationally. We can also support you in gaining international employment.
Key points
• Placement experience in year one plus possible overseas placement in year three.
• Access to Sheffield Hallam University Physiotherapy Clinic.
• Public Health Certificate after level five.
• Train with the latest clinical equipment and technology.
• Free student membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a protected title that can only be used by graduates who have successfully completed a Health and Care Professions Council (HPCC) recognised course. Physiotherapy helps to restore movement and function when people are affected by injury, illness or by disability. Physiotherapists, or ‘physios’, are employed in a variety of locations, providing many opportunities to specialise. Depending on their area of expertise, they can treat patients of all ages with a variety of needs ranging from sports injury and stroke rehabilitation to breathing difficulties.
For more information on physiotherapy go to www.csp.org.uk
This course
This course prepares you for a career in physiotherapy on one of the largest and most established undergraduate physiotherapy courses in the UK. You study in our specially built physiotherapy facilities equipped with the latest clinical equipment and technology being used today in the work environment.
The facilities are located in our £13m Robert Winston building. Once you’ve developed skills in class, you then learn how apply them in the real world by successfully completing 1,000 hours of clinical training on placements.
Placement settings can range from private and GP practices to hospital physiotherapy departments. A wide range of placement opportunities are available to you as a student thanks to excellent links between the course and physiotherapy providers across Yorkshire, Humber and the East Midlands.
As part of the course you complete a level 2 award in understanding health improvement, which provides you with a certificate from the Royal Society of Public Health. We are currently the only university in the UK that offers this as part of our healthcare courses.
Your student membership fees for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy are paid, enabling you to access the services they provide from day one.
Key areas of study
As well as learning about the general field of physiotherapy you learn how to specialise your practice. The course team are all highly specialised physiotherapists, clinically active and involved in research across areas such as • sport physiotherapy • paediatrics • respiratory care • neurology • musculoskeletal work.
CPD online
CPD Online, part of our CPD Anywhere™ framework, is being offered free to new graduates of this course for 12 months, as part of our commitment to support your lifelong learning.
CPD Online is an online learning environment which provides information to help your transition into the workplace. It can enhance your employability and provide opportunities to take part in and evidence continuing professional development to help meet professional body and statutory requirements.
For further information, visit the CPD Anywhere™ website at www.shu.ac.uk/faculties/hwb/cpd/anywhere
One former student, Andrew Winnard, has been selected for a six-month internship as a physio with the European Space Agencies.
Find out more about BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
If you are studying a course funded by the Department of Health you will not normally pay any fees yourself, as they will be paid for you by the Department of Health.
You may be eligible for an NHS bursary but you will not be eligible for the bursaries and scholarships described in the Sheffield Hallam University Bursary Scheme. For more information on NHS bursaries visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/4002.aspx
For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.
Your clinical placements may not be in Sheffield, so you may need to pay for separate accommodation while on placement. NHS bursary students may be able to claim the cost of this back.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £12,880 a year
Your clinical placements may not be in Sheffield, so you may need to pay for separate accommodation while on placement.
2014/15 academic year
Typically £13,380 a year
Your clinical placements may not be in Sheffield, so you may need to pay for separate accommodation while on placement.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• written assignments • group work • presentations • case studies • practical and oral examinations • practice-based assessment
This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Graduates are eligible to apply to register with the HCPC and apply to become members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. You must be registered with the HCPC in order to practise as a physiotherapist in the UK.
Key Information Set 
Andrew Winnard
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy
'I entered the physiotherapy degree for a career change. While ensuring I gained all the knowledge, skills and experience needed to qualify as a competent physiotherapist, I was also able to research and learn about my personal interest, the management of astronauts during long space missions. I was keen from the start to also include my outside interests as part of my studies, and the teaching staff here have always been very supportive of this.
'I was able to incorporate this interest into my physiotherapy learning within my dissertation, by researching how to prevent problems such as muscle loss in astronauts and linking this with bed-rest patients and some neurological conditions which physiotherapists regularly deal with. I was also able to present all of what I had learned in a student conference held at the University, as part of my final assessment. I produced a poster detailing the management of astronauts and highlighting how physiotherapy has a role in this.
'I was also supported by the University in making contacts with outside experts and people working in the manned spaceflight area. I was able to attend conferences and lectures all around the UK as part of my extra-curricular activities. When combined with all the skills and experience I gained from the core physiotherapy teaching, this has given me a wide range of skills and experiences to boost my employability.
'As a graduate I gained a place on the European Space Agencies Space Medicine Workshop where I was able to meet astronauts, space flight surgeons and many high level medical personnel. During the workshop I was also part of a small team that won first prize for our proposal of a new exercise countermeasure system to keep astronauts fit and healthy in space.
'I have secured a position at the top of the list for a six month internship working with European astronauts next year. I think this all shows how it is possible to make personal interests part of your learning on this course, which can then open doors to employment opportunities you didn’t think were even possible before. It also shows that these chances are out there for anyone.'
George McIntosh
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy, third year
'I chose to study at Sheffield Hallam University because it was close enough to home and had excellent rail links to major UK cities.
'When I looked around the buildings where I would be studying, I found most of them to be modern new builds with excellent facilities which are clean and fully functional. The staff I met during my interviews and tours were extremely helpful.
'The highlight of the course so far has been meeting an enormous amount of great people who are enthusiastic towards learning and helping others to learn with them.
'My placement where I worked in an outpatients department has also been a big highlight because I have learnt so much from it. On my first year placement I shadowed a qualified physiotherapist, whilst completing objective and subjective assessments. I benefited from this because of the opportunity to complete some hands-on experience and to be taught by a clinical educator.
'I rate the teaching at Sheffield Hallam University highly because I feel I can ask the lecturer questions whether I am working in a group or individually and I will get a clear answer. If I still do not understand it, the lecturer will help me until I do.
'Sheffield as a city is a great place to live. It is a vibrant modern city with a mix of people. It also has shopping facilities and sports centres in close reach.'
Louise Bell
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy
'I graduated from Sheffield Hallam in 2010. I choose to come to the University because of the excellent reputation it has, the modern facilities and the beautiful surroundings around Collegiate Crescent.
'Previously I worked as a complementary therapist but decided I wanted a career change to become a physiotherapist, which has always been of great interest to me. Once I had visited Sheffield Hallam I knew straight away that this was the university for me and I was very pleased to see that there were other mature students like myself.
'The support that I was given throughout the course from the staff was outstanding. I was never afraid to ask for extra help if needed. The staff were always prompt to reply via email and even meet face to face. The clinical placements that I was placed in were excellent and I have had experience of all the core physiotherapy areas.
'I have managed to secure a fantastic job as a respiratory physiotherapist specialising in pulmonary rehabilitation within The British Oxygen Company. I always thought I would work within the NHS, but this role has offered me endless opportunities including training courses around the UK, as well as being chosen to represent our health care sector for pulmonary rehabilitation at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam. I have also achieved the Healthcare Leading Spirit Gold Award for Outstanding Customer Experience whilst in this role.
'Sheffield Hallam has given me the experiences to become the physiotherapist that I wanted to be and I would highly recommend the course to anyone wanting to become a physiotherapist in this competitive career.'
Jack Grodon
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy, third year
'The size of the city is perfect. It's not too big that you get lost and spend a fortune on getting around, but it's not too small that boredom takes over. There's more than plenty to do for your every need.
'Sheffield Hallam is an amazing university, with some of the best people you'll ever meet.
'As all students have to come through an interview process for physiotherapy, everyone is extremely suited and committed to the course. Everyone gets on with each other amazingly well, and I don't reckon there's another course like physiotherapy. Most peoples' main groups of friends are from their course.
'Going on placement during the course is a gift as it shows you how the course relates to your future career, and there's nothing more beneficial than treating actual patients.
'At the end of the first year, I had a four week musculo-skeletal outpatients placement. I absolutely loved my placement and was very lucky with the people and area I was put in. I can't stress enough how dealing with real life pathologies first hand really helps you improve your skills in all aspects of physiotherapy.
'There needs to be a balance between having fun and getting your head down and doing the necessary work. You can't get bogged down with work constantly, but getting behind in work can cause a lot of stressful nights around exam times.
'Try and join a sports team or social society and you'll really feel a part of the University, especially when Varsity comes around.'
Profiles
Andrew Winnard
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy
George McIntosh
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy, third year
Louise Bell
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy
Jack Grodon
BSc (Honours) Physiotherapy, third year
Physiotherapy training room
The physiotherapy room at our Collegiate Campus gives students a hands on experience as it would be in a real environment.
Together in the real world of health and social care
Our health and social care courses place a strong emphasis on interprofessional learning. This means that you train alongside practitioners from other health professions. So, depending on your course you could spend time working alongside
• nurses
• midwives
• operating department practitioners
This gives you a fresh perspective on situations. And it also prepares you for the real world. Collaboration between health professionals is increasing as organisations try to provide a more integrated and effective service. At Sheffield Hallam we understand that by working together we can we give the best possible care.
Staff profiles
Visit the Department of Allied Health Professions website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
