Physiotherapy

Study with us to develop the expertise, knowledge, and skills to practice as a physiotherapist. Our expert team at the University of Derby prepare you to be part of a multidisciplinary health and social care team with the clinical, leadership, digital and research skills for the future. Our approach is practice based and you learn in a stimulating environment with a focus on efficacy and the holistic well-being of the patient.

A course with professional credibility

We are now Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) approved. This means you will be eligible to apply for registration as a physiotherapist with the HCPC and membership of the CSP once you graduate.

You will learn in a health and social care focused environment alongside allied health, nursing, mental health and social care practitioners. Our staff bring expertise from a wide array of fields and you will learn what constitutes good physiotherapeutic practice, whilst exploring the theories and subjects that influence it and applying your knowledge in work-based training.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Hone your skills through practice-based learning

Almost half of the course is taken up with exciting opportunities to enhance your skills in real-world settings. There are five periods of practice-based learning, which you usually undertake full time, for a set number of weeks during each year of study.

Primarily in the East Midlands, the settings for practice-based learning range from the NHS, private and voluntary sectors. You’ll experience how Physiotherapists work with people in different age groups and with different physical and mental health concerns. This builds the optimum range of skills for becoming a qualified practitioner and helps you make more informed decisions about your future career direction.

We organise all placements for you so we can ensure you’ll be supported by qualified occupational therapists who are trained to assess and develop your practical skills.

Placement hours are subject to change.

An inspiring learning environment

We offer superb training facilities for practical sessions in realistic settings. They include an NHS standard six-bed hospital ward, a onsite house and a rehabilitation kitchen.
We have also invested in latest technology so that you can benefit from a variety of virtual and immersive environments which will enrich your learning experience.

Expertise, commitment and enthusiasm

You’ll be inspired by a dedicated and highly skilled teaching team. They are all registered and experienced Physiotherapists who can give you insights into the many different aspects of the profession. Throughout your studies you’ll benefit from the support of a personal tutor too.

Our team is also research active so will keep you informed about latest thinking and trends. We are involved in national special interest groups and have expertise in areas such as first contact physiotherapy, ITU and long-term condition management. 

In tune with new developments

This course is closely mapped against the needs of employers to ensure your learning is meaningful and relevant. In delivering the programme, we respond to national changes such as latest government policies. As a result, some of the information about the course may change. 

As health care is increasingly delivered by multi professional teams, we offer inter-professional learning opportunities at each stage of the course so that you learn with, and from, students from other disciplines. This is really important in helping you understand how physiotherapists work in partnership with other professionals in different settings. By learning to work together, you can help achieve the best outcomes for patients and clients.

The course entails a mixture of theory and practical elements to give you an excellent preparation for starting work when you graduate. You will be taught through experiential learning, group activities, lectures, online learning, seminars, tutorials and workshops. Your learning will integrate theory and practice, including developing practical skills essential for your practice based learning modules and future career. You may be in a large group for learning activities such as lectures, but will work in smaller groups for activities such as workshops and practical sessions.

Practice-based learning

The course includes five periods of practice-based learning where you will work full time in practice for a set number of weeks. You will work in separate areas of practice to ensure you build the optimum range of skills for becoming a qualified practitioner.

How you’re assessed

You’ll be assessed through a range of methods including assignments, case study work, written and practical exams, practice-based learning assessments, and presentations. We support you to prepare for these assessments in various ways including assignment tutorials and Internet-based resources. You also will receive feedback on one assessment in time for you to learn and develop from this to input into your next assessment.

If you have additional needs, support is available within the university.

Who you'll meet

Our teaching team is made up of registered physiotherapists who have worked in a variety of settings.  Practitioners from specialist areas in physiotherapy, ‘experts by experience’, patients and carer's will also come into the University to share their insights with you.

Physiotherapy offers a stimulating and rewarding career where you will develop the skills to maintain and restore movement and function in people affected by injury, illness or disability. You will take a holistic and person-centred approach to therapy and rehabilitation whilst building an excellent understanding of wellbeing, ageing and the impact of disease. You will develop the skills to promote, maintain and restore both physical and mental wellbeing.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

If you have previously studied any Health Professional Education Programme a self-declaration is required to confirm no previous concerns regarding fitness to practice. 
 
A satisfactory reference from an education establishment, a previous employer or a person of standing that should demonstrate personal suitability for the profession. 
 
 Applicants should also: 

• Have a range of skills and experience that demonstrates commitment, enthusiasm and suitability to become a Physiotherapist
• Be familiar with at least two areas of physiotherapy. This can be through reading, internet-based research, personal experience, work experience or shadowing experience with a physiotherapist 
• Note that offers are subject to an occupational health clearance
• International applicants should also note that the IELTs requirement for Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) is 7.0 and therefore, prior to application or registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, you will need to have achieved English language level equivalency to IELTS 7.0, if entering the programme with an IELTS score lower than this level

Additional entry requirements

• Interview: Yes view interview details
• An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate cleared by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this once you have applied

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.