Advancing Physiotherapy

This course provides flexible continuing professional development. It differs from our applying physiotherapy course in that we designed it for experienced specialised physiotherapists who want to expand and deepen their specialist skills and knowledge.

Its variety and flexibility provides high level specialist expertise and allows you to tailor your learning to suit the skills you need in your workplace. We offer specialist modules in musculoskeletal manual therapy, respiratory physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation.

The course is modular and you can take most modules individually. Each module carries credit points. You get the postgraduate certificate at 60 credits, the postgraduate diploma at 120 credits and the MSc at 180 credits.

You can discuss your module choice with your course leader before enrolling or with your professional development tutor once enrolled.

We promote 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. You may be able to gain credit for prior experiential learning, modules studied at other universities, work-based learning and independent study.

This course improves your professional and academic development and in turn you employability.

You gain the essential skills needed to follow careers in:

* research
* lecturing
* the emerging clinical specialist
* consultant physiotherapy roles.

Postgraduate certificate

Core module

* measuring health outcomes (15 credits)

Optional modules

At least 30 credits of modules from the following advancing physiotherapy choices

* musculoskeletal manual therapy 1 (30 credits)
* medical examination (15 credits)
* governance and management in advanced practice (15 credits)
* bloods investigations in advanced musculoskeletal practice (15 credits)
* cardiac rehabilitation (15 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 (30 credits)
* analysis of movement control (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

* structured accreditation of prior clinical learning (15 credits)
* understanding core stability (15 credits)
* pain management (15 credits)
* international practice - community based rehabilitation (15 credits)
* teaching skills in higher education (15 credits)

Suitably qualified candidates may include modules available from our MSc Sports Injury, MSc Advancing Paediatric Practice or other interprofessional course.

Postgraduate diploma

Core modules

* research methods for practice (15 credits)

Optional modules

Plus at least 15 credits from the following advancing physiotherapy modules

* musculoskeletal manual therapy 2 (30 credits)
* evaluating practice (15 credits)
* medical examination (15 credits)
* governance and management in advanced practice (15 credits)
* bloods investigations in advanced musculoskeletal practice (15 credits)
* cardiac rehabilitation (15 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 (30 credits)
* analysis of movement control (15 credits)
* musculoskeletal rehabilitation (30 credits)
* evaluation and integration of prior clinical learning (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)

Up to 30 credits of the postgraduate diploma may be optional modules available from outside the advancing physiotherapy programme, such as

* structured accreditation of prior clinical learning (15 credits)
* understanding core stability (15 credits)
* pain management (15 credits)
* international practice - community based rehabilitation (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)
* problem solving in acute respiratory care (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)

Specialist awards

These awards are for physiotherapists who are already specialised in their field of physiotherapy but who want to develop their clinical skills and reasoning and make a contribution to developing practice.

MSc Advancing Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal)

You can choose a manual therapy focused-course or include a broader range of approaches in your study.

To gain this award you must study the core modules plus at least two of the following modules

* musculoskeletal manual therapy 1 (30 credits)
* musculoskeletal manual therapy 2 (30 credits - can only be studied after you successfully complete musculoskeletal manual therapy 1
* musculoskeletal rehabilitation (30 credits)
* evaluation and integration of prior clinical learning (of musculoskeletal courses) (30 credits)
* advancing clinical practice (in a musculoskeletal placement) (30 credits)
* exploring clinical practice (in a musculoskeletal placement) (15 credits)
* MACP clinical practice (30 credits - can only be studied after you successful complete musculoskeletal manual therapy 1 and 2.

Your dissertation must be in musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice.

After you successfully complete a postgraduate diploma that includes musculoskeletal manual therapy 1 and 2 and the MACP clinical practice you can apply for membership of the Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP). MACP is recognised as the UK´s specialist manipulative therapy group by the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists, a subgroup of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.

MSc Advancing Physiotherapy (Neurological)

We designed the neurological modules to stand alone and give a different perspective on practice. There is no recommended order in which you study the taught modules. We designed them to reflect a pragmatic and eclectic approach to practice, and to give you the opportunity to study neurological problems in depth.

To gain the neurological award, you must study the core modules plus at least 45 credits of the following modules

* understanding neurological therapy (30 credits)
* contemporary interventions in neurological rehabilitation (30 credits)
* analysis of movement control (15 credits)
* advancing clinical practice (in a neurological placement) (30 credits)
* exploring clinical practice (in a neurological placement) (15 credits)
* evaluation and integration of prior clinical learning (of neurological courses) (30 credits)

Your dissertation must be in neurological physiotherapy practice.

MSc Advancing Physiotherapy (Respiratory)

You may wish to study all five taught respiratory modules to gain an in depth knowledge of respiratory practice and maximise your employability. Alternatively, you can choose 45 credits worth of acute hospital-based or community practice-based modules. You could combine either of these with clinical practice modules to focus on developing skills in a particular work environment.

You must study the core modules plus at least 45 credits of the following modules

* cardiac rehabilitation (15 credits)
* community management in chronic lung disease (15 credits)
* acute case management in chronic lung disease (15 credits)
* critical care (30 credits)
* advancing clinical practice in a respiratory placement (30 credits)
* exploring clinical practice in a respiratory placement (15 credits)

If you do not choose the specified combination of subject specialist modules you gain MSc Advancing Physiotherapy. All postgraduate certificate and postgraduate diploma awards will be in advancing physiotherapy.

Independent study module

For this type of module you agree your own learning outcomes and the method by which you plan to achieve them. This may be a useful method of studying a specialised element of practice. For example, you may attend a course or investigate a topic by literature review. You must then provide evidence that you have achieved your learning outcomes.

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.

Typical entry requirements are * a good degree or diploma or equivalent in physiotherapy * two years post-qualification clinical experience in musculoskeletal, neurological or respiratory physiotherapy practice International students also need an IELTS score of 6.5 or the TOEFL equivalent.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. English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) Work Experience At least 6 year(s) of work experience is required.