Physiotherapy (BSc)
- Subject area: Physiotherapy
- UCAS code: B162
- Next intake: September 2025
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Professionally accredited
Our programme is validated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
Funding available
NHS bursary funding is available for UK students, including support with both tuition fees and living costs (conditions apply).
State of the art facilities
Our skills laboratories enable lifelike simulations, meaning you can safely practice essential skills before going out into placement.
Early clinical exposure
You'll spend valuable time on placement, learning and working with real patients alongside supportive and knowledgeable staff.
Our physiotherapy programme will result in you being eligible to apply to the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) for registration which means you will be licenced to practice as a qualified physiotherapist after graduating.
Physiotherapy is an exciting and ever-evolving professional career concerned with supporting individuals to live fulfilling and active lives. You will develop the skills to act as an autonomous practitioner providing holistic care with the person at the centre.
A career in physiotherapy opens up opportunities for you to work closely with public health organisations, exploring innovative ideas around health promotion and being at the forefront of delivery of healthcare. Physiotherapy offers you the chance to work in a stimulating, sociable and supportive environments working closely with other professions as part of multi-disciplinary teams, patients and their families.
Our hands-on course offers you the chance to study through both academic and placement learning. Meaning you get to take what you’ve learnt in theory and put it into real practice when you’re out on placement.
You will study areas such as movement and exercise, manual therapies, electrotherapies, education and advice, and behavioural and psychological therapies. Your academic learning will be supported by researchers and academics. You will have a designated personal tutor to support your learning throughout your studies with us. Practical teaching takes place in specially designed labs and simulation suites.
Your placement learning takes place across Wales and takes up about one third of the course. Placements are an essential part of the course and they will give you the confidence and skills to practice physiotherapy professionally in real-life situations with qualified professionals supervising and supporting you. Placement learning also helps you gain insight as to the wide-ranging employment opportunities available to you upon qualification.
We constantly try to make sure you have plenty of opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities such as physiotherapy-related support with the annual Cardiff Half Marathon.
Above all else, we strive to ensure that our graduates are ready for the next step in their career and the many opportunities that await them. Our programme aims to develop your knowledge, skills (intellectual, discipline specific and transferrable), professional behaviours and values (Knowledge and Skills Framework CSP, 2013) which enhance employability and provide you with the opportunity of securing rewarding and satisfying employment. That’s why 97% of our physiotherapy students are in employment or further study after 6 months of graduating (UNISTATS 2018).
Please Note: We are in the process of developing a new MSc pre-registration Physiotherapy programme that will commence in autumn 2022. Applicants who already hold a bachelors’ level qualification may be interested in this alternative route. Please refer back to our website in the upcoming months for further information, including entry requirements. If you would like to register your interest in the new pre-registration programme, please do so by contacting hcarepgtadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk.
Accreditations
Subject area: Physiotherapy
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-ABB. Must include Biology or Human Biology.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.
- Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Biology.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade B/6 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements. English Language GCSE C/4 will be accepted where you are taking qualifications at a higher level which are taught through the medium of English such as A-levels.
- six GCSEs at grade C/4. Must include Maths, and one science (from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), or equivalent qualifications (subject and grade).
You must also supply a personal statement that is relevant to the profession. If you are applying to more than one professional programme, you should email a bespoke personal statement for each programme to admissions@cardiff.ac.uk at the same time as submitting your application via UCAS. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate that you understand the profession, have an insight into the course itself, and describe any relevant work experience. Only one personal statement may be submitted for each programme.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade B or grade 6 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all subskills.
TOEFL iBT
At least 100 overall with a minimum of 22 in all subskills.
PTE Academic
At least 76 overall with a minimum of 69 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: Not accepted.
III: at least a Merit in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check if your application is successful. If you are applying from certain countries overseas, a Certificate of Good Conduct may be required.
If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Applicants who are on the barred list should be aware that applying to this course is likely to be considered a criminal offence.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DDD-DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied or Medical Science.
T level
D in T Level Health, Healthcare Science, or Science.
Qualifications from outside the UK
International equivalencies are not accepted for this course. Please contact the International Office for information about entry requirements from your country.
Please view your country page for information on our entry requirements, funding opportunities and who our local advisors are.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Interview or selection process
We won’t make an offer without first interviewing an applicant.
Offer release may be subject to all interviews for the programme having taken place.
To be eligible for consideration for interview all applicants must meet the minimum requirements at Level 2 (typically GCSE) and Level 3 (typically A-level). If you meet the minimum entry requirements your application will be given a numerical score based on your personal statement. Eligible applicants will be ranked according to this score and the top-ranking applicants will be invited to interview.
Welsh domiciled students studying/having successfully completed certain Access to Higher Education Diploma related to Healthcare may be eligible for a guaranteed interview on application. Please contact the admissions team for specific details: HCAREadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk
Our interview process
Interviews help us to determine if you:
- can think on your feet
- have thought about some of the issues that are important to the profession
- can critically appraise information
- can communicate ideas effectively.
They also focus on exploring the personal qualities and attributes that are important to your future career development.
These interviews allow us to assess information that isn’t always readily forthcoming in the application process—they aren’t intended to test the amount of prior knowledge you have about the subject or the profession.
Please note that interviews may occur in an online environment. Online interviews will continue to assess applicants on the skills and attributes outlined above.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and a non-repayable bursary for living costs, is available to applicants from the UK. Full details, including information for applicants from the EU, are available on our NHS funding pages.
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
An NHS placement is a required part of this course. The NHS only makes placements available to students who are eligible to pay UK fees. Therefore, this course is not available for international students.
Additional costs
Applicants are required to meet the costs of obtaining a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate as part of the application process.
Course specific equipment
All equipment needed during your lectures, practicals, tutorials and placements is provided although some students do choose to purchase their own equipment in order to practice skills learnt as part of self-study. Below is a list of equipment students have purchased in previous cohorts
- A number of small items that will cost approximately £15 in total including an 8" goniometer, tape measure, marking pencil (eyebrow pencil is usually applicable) and a pack of face paint crayons - useful for surface marking in anatomy practical classes
- Skeletons – a life sized set of artificial bones modelled on human ones in a lockable storage box are available for you to hire from the School. Although it is not obligatory, hiring a skeleton is highly recommended to help support your learning of anatomy. Hiring a skeleton currently costs £30 (non-refundable) but they can be shared with a group of four to help reduce the cost and to create a learning group
- Stethoscopes will be available for students to use in class at university and can be borrowed from clinical areas while on placement. Students can buy their own stethoscope (approximately £45) to take out on clinical placement during their second and third years.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
The Programme takes place over three years of full-time study. It follows a modular framework where each academic year, consists of 4 modules, represents a single level of learning. A single level is equal to 120 credits and the award of BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy requires the accumulation of 360 credits.
The first 18 months of your undergraduate education will be based in university gaining the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be an active participant in your first practice-based education opportunity half way through year 2. The second 18 months you will spend the majority of your time in practice settings developing your personal and professional skills across a range of different areas of physiotherapy and returning to university to complete your research project with guidance from your research supervisor.
The integrated curriculum will help you to identify connections between the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are key to a developing physiotherapist. The first year of the programme is structured so modules run in parallel, so you can integrate knowledge of physiological, biomechanical, anatomical, behavioural and clinical sciences which provide the foundation for physiotherapy practice. As you progress through the years you are required to add different layers to your knowledge and skills revisiting subject areas, adding increasing levels of complexity including, reasoning approaches, patient centred care, multi-disciplinary working, service user diversity, practice-based learning, government and professional drivers and public health.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2025/2026 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2025.
Year one
Year one will include foundation studies which include human anatomy and physiology; psychology, sociology and behaviour science; biomechanical and exercise science; and clinical Sciences alongside Physiotherapy Studies. Knowledge of the theory and practice of the profession allows you to acquire basic therapeutic skills, and alongside critical theory you will begin to develop an understanding of evidence-based practice. Initially you will be supported by academic staff to identify your personal learning needs and goals to empower you to take a more active learning role as the year progresses. Exploration of your personal and professional identity will start the process of self-evaluation and reflection, key skills needed to become a practicing Physiotherapist.
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Physiotherapy Practice in Health and Society | HC1215 | 30 credits |
Anatomy, Biomechanics and Human Movement | HC1216 | 30 credits |
Physiotherapy Practice 1 | HC1217 | 30 credits |
Physiology, Pathophysiology and Exercise | HC1218 | 30 credits |
Year two
Year two develops many of the themes introduced at Level 4 in order that you can apply the knowledge and skills within the clinical reasoning and person-centred approaches essential to the clinical aspect of the programme. An integrated approach will continue combining the knowledge and skills of physiotherapy practice with the values, identity and beliefs of service users to ensure delivery of person-centred care. Practice-based learning will provide experiential learning in a variety of settings and develop confidence in service user management skills. Critical reflection of own practice, multi-disciplinary working, communication and personal identity will be themes developed through completion of a portfolio which will continue the process of self-evaluation and personal and professional development. You will be introduced to the process of undertaking ethical research in the field of healthcare to develop skills of critical appraisal to evaluate the concepts of best practice and evidence-based care.
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Physiotherapy Practice 2 | HC2217 | 30 credits |
Developing Professional Practice and Research | HC2218 | 30 credits |
Physiotherapy Practice through the Life Cycle | HC2219 | 30 credits |
Physiotherapy Practice based learning 1 | HC2220 | 30 credits |
Year three
During Year three you will be required to use initiative, balance competing demands, self-evaluate your own learning, negotiate, and demonstrate a sense of judgement. You will be expected to take increasing responsibility within the clinical environment and for your learning in university. Guidance and support of the clinical educators and research supervisors remains crucial to support your development to become an autonomous practitioner. The management of the BSc research project (dissertation) will reinforce those key skills that are essential for evidence-based practice. They will develop analytical skills to challenge assumptions and integrate multiple concepts to justify their clinical decisions. The Learner will develop, through reflective practice, the ability to evaluate their decision-making skills and adapt their practice when managing service users with complex conditions and multi pathologies. There will also be a focus on becoming ‘employment ready’, considering wider responsibilities such as public health, preparing continue professional development portfolios, management and leadership, service development and developing entrepreneurship.
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Physiotherapy Practice for Employment | HC3293 | 30 credits |
Conducting Research in Physiotherapy | HC3294 | 40 credits |
Physiotherapy Practice Based learning 2 | HC3295 | 30 credits |
Physiotherapy Practice in Public Health | HC3296 | 20 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
Our course is designed to be stimulating and relevant to the needs of a professional physiotherapist. Great emphasis has been placed on the practical and clinical aspects of the courses, all of which have been accredited by the relevant professional bodies.
Diverse learning and teaching methods are used throughout, reflecting module content, your developing knowledge and growing expertise. All modules have a formalised teaching and learning structure which employ a range of formal lectures, seminars, workshops, practical skills sessions and case scenarios.
Independent studies are also an important aspect of the programme. Specific work may be set but you will also be required to identify gaps in understanding and initially address these in self-study or independent learning sessions.
The modular structure embraces teaching and learning opportunities available in a practice-based environment, where you will spend 1,000 hours in a practice setting. Acquiring knowledge and skills through practical experience is key to our physiotherapy degree.
As in the professional environment, great emphasis is placed on working in a multi-disciplinary team. Opportunities for shared learning and inter-professional education; learning alongside students from other disciplines are embedded.
This programme offers elements of provision through the medium of Welsh. This is achieved through, where possible, placing students in Welsh speaking areas or with Welsh speaking supervisors in their clinical placements, supporting students with learning materials and group work in the medium of Welsh where appropriate and by enabling students who wish to submit assignments or to complete examinations in Welsh to do so. All students are entitled to a Welsh speaking personal tutor for the duration of their studies.
How will I be supported?
You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your studies with whom you will have regular meetings with. They will provide pastoral support and academic guidance throughout the programme. In addition you will be assigned an academic supervisor who will support you in the development of your dissertation. When you are out on practice-based learning you will be assigned to a mentor/clinical educator who will support you with your practice-based learning.
Our virtual learning environment is accessible via desktop and mobile devices, allowing you to access electronic resources from anywhere. Dedicated computer labs, student study rooms, campus-wide WiFi networks, printing facilities and a dedicated Healthcare library are available year-round. Staff are available onsite to assist students and provide support and advice.
You will have access through the Learning Central VLE to relevant multimedia material, presentations, videos, lecture capture, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
How will I be assessed?
Assessments include written assignments (including report writing), visual and verbal presentations, practical examination, portfolio creation, clinical assessment and the production of a research dissertation in year three.
Feedback
We will provide you with feedback on your work in a variety of formats. These will include oral feedback during tutorials, feedback provided during lectures, written feedback provided through online module discussion forums, and electronic written feedback on assessed coursework through Feedback Studio.
You will be provided with summary written feedback in relation to examinations and you can discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor. During practice-based experiences you will be supported by mentors/clinical educators who will provide verbal and written feedback on your progress and clinical performance.
What skills will I practise and develop?
Knowledge & Understanding:
- Apply core physiotherapy knowledge and skills associated with the safe and effective best practice of physiotherapy with due regard to the ethical, social, political and legal aspects of care.
Intellectual Skills:
- Systematically evaluate research evidence including healthcare guidelines and integrate with individuals’ needs and personal/professional experience to provide effective management.
- Contribute positively to the development of ethical research within the healthcare setting with ability to evaluate research questions, methodologies and research findings and integrate into their professional practice.
Professional Practical Skills:
- Act as autonomous and independent practitioners who critically evaluate and reflect on their practice while adhering to the HPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2016), with an acute awareness of the scope and limits of physiotherapy practice.
- Work as members of a multi-professional team to provide healthcare with the individuals’ values at its heart, ensuring a humanistic approach to the management of patients of all ages and cultures.
- Demonstrate a wide range of effective communication skills, including verbal, visual and written, using a critical approach to adapt these skills to ensure a collaborative approach to giving and receiving of information to a diverse range of audiences.
Transferable/Key Skills:
- Adapt to the changing role, responsibilities, working practices and environments and demonstrate resilience, leadership and innovation to advance physiotherapy practice.
- Utilise effective educational and mentoring skills to empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health.
How is the Programme structured?
The Programme takes place over three years of full-time study. It follows a modular framework where each academic year, consists of 4 modules, represents a single level of learning. A single level is equal to 120 credits and the award of BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy requires the accumulation of 360 credits.
The first 18 months of your undergraduate education will be based in university gaining the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be an active participant in your first practice-based education opportunity half way through year 2. The second 18 months you will spend the majority of your time in practice settings developing your personal and professional skills across a range of different areas of physiotherapy and returning to university to complete your research project with guidance from your research supervisor.
The integrated curriculum will help you to identify connections between the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are key to a developing physiotherapist. The first year of the programme is structured so modules run in parallel, so you can integrate knowledge of physiological, biomechanical, anatomical, behavioural and clinical sciences which provide the foundation for physiotherapy practice. As you progress through the years you are required to add different layers to your knowledge and skills revisiting subject areas, adding increasing levels of complexity including, reasoning approaches, patient centred care, multi-disciplinary working, service user diversity, practice-based learning, government and professional drivers and public health.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
Becoming a physiotherapist means you can play a key role in enabling people to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.
97% of our graduates were in employment and/or further study six months after graduating (UNISTATS 2019). Our programmes offer a considerable amount of time on practice-based learning opportunities which help develop confidence, abilities and employability as a healthcare professional.
Once you have a physiotherapy degree you are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can also join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) as a qualified member and enjoy the chartered status which may provide an advantage in the jobs market.
Physiotherapy offers you many different and flexible employment options. Once you have qualified and gained some clinical experience you could go on to work within:
- Health boards and NHS trusts,
- Community health services,
- Local government social service departments,
- International health services,
- Higher education institutions
- Private practice
- Charitable Organisations
- Professional Sports.
Our graduates have also gone on to complete further study including an MSc in Physiotherapy or MSc in Sports and Exercise, Phds roles as research assistants or train as an equine, canine or veterinary physiotherapist.
Graduate careers
- Physiotherapist
Placements
During year two and three, you will take part in practice-based learning, throughout Wales and in some circumstances throughout the UK. Each practice-based experience is four weeks long and there are seven 4-week blocks in total, four placements in year 2 and three in year 3. There are opportunities for learners to complete international practice-based experiences. There are options for learners to complete international experiences external to the programme or complete the experience as part of the programme during one of the seven practice-based experiences identified above. Learners can discuss the options with a ‘mobility officer’ who can advise them on the logistics of organising an international learning experience.
Studying in Welsh
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.