BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

What you study 

Year one as a Physiotherapy BSc (Hons) student at St George’s is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for initial clinical practice. It focuses on developing assessment and treatment skills using enquiry, discussion, directed and self-directed learning, and culminates in the clinical observation of year three peers in the workplace. You will study the relevant concepts, principles and theories of anatomy, physiology, movement studies, therapeutic exercise, electro-physical modalities and health promotion. You will also get an introduction to the impact of key psychosocial issues on physiotherapy management. You will also examine the process of safe and competent basic management of patients. This year includes the opportunity to share learning with other healthcare students on the Inter-professional Foundation Programme.

Year two focuses on the development of core physiotherapy practice and enables you to consider the management of patients with more complex conditions and needs. It increases your repertoire of practical skills and deepens your understanding of the factors underpinning their application, making you more flexible and evaluative in your approach to practice. Clinical placements enable you to explore your growing knowledge-base and integrate new skills into core areas of practice.

Year three further develops your clinical reasoning and critical evaluation in relation to current physiotherapy practice and the potential for future role development. The assessments in this year include a problem-based report on an interdisciplinary aspect of practice, and production of a poster related to holistic patient management and physiotherapy practice.

How you learn

We offer a wide range of innovative and flexible approaches to teaching and learning. In addition to key-note lectures and practical-skills classes there is extensive use of tutorial teaching, interactive workshops, seminars, directed and self-directed learning schemes, case-based learning, group project work, and a peer assisted learning experience in clinical education. Furthermore, you will also benefit from the support of a personal tutor and a range of web-based learning materials and online discussion forums.

A particular strength of St. George’s is that there are numerous opportunities throughout the course for shared learning with students from other healthcare disciplines. This helps to promote understanding of interprofessional working in order to promote patient care within the NHS setting. These opportunities are facilitated through some of the above-mentioned teaching methods where there is a strong emphasis on developing respect for other professionals and challenging professional boundaries through facilitated constructive debate. You are encouraged to work with and learn from each other and focus on developing those essential team working skills.

In addition to this, the course shares a site with the Hospital thus providing you with some unique learning opportunities such as access to the dissection room and the opportunity to use the hydrotherapy pool within the physiotherapy department.

How you are assessed

A wide range of assessment approaches are adopted in order to maximise your learning potential. Assessment includes a combination of coursework (e.g. essays, written reports and presentations), written and practical examinations, clinical assessments and research reports.

You will also be required to complete a research project thus equipping you with the necessary skills and information needed to evaluate and participate in research. You will also take part in clinical work placements in a variety of healthcare environments offered by local providers such as St George's Hospital NHS Trust, Kingston Hospital NHS Trust and South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust. These form an essential part of the physiotherapy programme providing an opportunity to put theory into practice and to consolidate learning experiences. While on placement you will be well supported by lecturers and given plenty of guidance as to how to gain the greatest benefit from your experience.