Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an applied health discipline that supports the participation of people from all backgrounds and abilities in the occupations that help define them and their quality of life.
How to apply Register for open day Chat to us/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/03-courses/allied-health/bsc-physiotherapy.jpg)
UCAS Code
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
UCAS Points
120
Course Overview
The part-time physiotherapy degree at USW is designed to help you build the knowledge and practical skills needed to become a confident, independent physiotherapist. You will learn how to work effectively across a wide range of healthcare settings, applying your skills in real-world situations.
Recognitions and Accreditations
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/09-logos/hcpc.png)
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/09-logos/logo-accreditation-physiotherapy.png){kind=logo}
We’re recognised by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).
Why study this course?
What you'll study
Explore the factors that influence health and wellbeing, and learn how physiotherapists help people improve their health, prevent illness and lead active lives.
Develop your understanding of the structure and function of the human body, providing the scientific foundations for physiotherapy practice.
Discover how physical, psychological and social factors influence health, recovery and rehabilitation, and learn to deliver person-centred care.
Learn how to assess movement, function and health needs using practical assessment techniques, clinical reasoning and effective communication.
Explore how the body moves, applying biomechanics to understand movement, identify dysfunction and support effective physiotherapy treatment.
Build your practical, communication and professional skills through simulated learning and early clinical experiences that prepare you for placement.
Develop the knowledge and practical skills to plan, deliver and evaluate physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation for a range of health conditions.
Learn how to assess and manage people with acute injuries and short-term health conditions, supporting recovery through evidence-based physiotherapy.
Strengthen your clinical reasoning by using evidence, assessment findings and professional judgement to make safe, effective decisions in practice.
Develop the skills to find, evaluate and apply research, helping you deliver evidence-informed physiotherapy throughout your career.
Explore the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities of physiotherapists, preparing you to practise safely, responsibly and with integrity.
Learn how to use research to improve physiotherapy services, lead positive change and deliver compassionate, evidence-based care.
Develop the skills to assess and support people living with long-term conditions, helping them manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Bring together your knowledge and practical skills to manage complex patient care, adapting treatment to meet individual needs.
Explore physiotherapy across the lifespan, supporting people with lifelong conditions to maximise independence, movement and wellbeing.
Prepare for professional practice by developing the confidence, leadership and decision-making skills needed to work independently as a physiotherapist.
We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.
Teaching and Assessment
The BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course is a part-time degree course, delivered over four years. Each academic level will be delivered over a 16-month period, with each timetabled week consisting of 23 hours of learning, using a blended learning approach with both online and face-to-face learning opportunities. Face-to-face learning will be used to synthesise and apply asynchronous online learning, and develop team-working, critical thinking and practical skills. All modules on this course are core, this means that every module must be taken and passed in order to be awarded the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy.
The course is studied part-time, with each level taking around 16 months, which is equivalent to one year of full-time study. You will attend university and placement sessions for 2–3 days each week, depending on your year of study. Alongside this, you are expected to complete around 12.5 hours of independent study each week to support your learning and development.
There will be 9 placements in total, spanning a variety of clinical specialities, for you to grow into an accomplished, autonomous individual.
Practical sessions will take place in our simulation and practical teaching areas, which are extensively equipped to replicate the facilities and situations encountered in a range of real-world practice locations.
Entry Requirements
Interview
Applicants are required to attend an interview. You will be required to demonstrate a real insight to, and enthusiasm for, the discipline. You should learn as much as you can about the profession, including where practitioners practice, and their role in modern healthcare. You must also demonstrate insight to your organisational skills and ability to effectively manage your studies.
Additional
- The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
- Equivalent qualifications considered are Essential Skills Level Two in Communication and Application of Number, or Functional Skills Level Two in English and Maths. (Must be achieved within the last 3 years).
- A satisfactory reference uploaded with your application.
- An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child & Adult Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants).
- Unfortunately as this course is funded by the NHS and students have to have placements in the local NHS Health Board we are unable to accept applications from overseas (Non EU) students.
120 UCAS points or above
Typical qualification requirements
A Level:
BBB to exclude General Studies. Desirable A Level subjects would include Biology or Human Biology
Welsh BACC:
Grade B and BB at A Level to exclude General Studies. Desirable A Level subjects would include Biology or Human Biology
BTEC:
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction, Distinction, Merit. Desirable modules would include Biology or Human Biology
Access to HE:
Pass an Access to HE Diploma, preferably in Science, and obtain a minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points. Desirable modules would include Biology or Human Biology
Closed for International applicants:
Unfortunately, this course is not currently open to international applicants, please visit our course pages where you can find an alternative course choice.
CoursesContextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
Contextual Admissions PolicyFees and Funding
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment. *Obligatory
Enhanced DBS*
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee. £64.74
DBS Updating service*
Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate. £16
Practice placement travel*
Cost dependent on placement location.
Purchase of suitable footwear to comply with NHS uniform policy*
Cost dependent on student’s choice of footwear.
Stethoscope for use within practice placements
Cost dependent on student’s choice of stethoscope.
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment. *Obligatory
Enhanced DBS*
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee. £64.74
DBS Updating service*
Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate. £16
Practice placement travel*
Cost dependent on placement location.
Purchase of suitable footwear to comply with NHS uniform policy*
Cost dependent on student’s choice of footwear.
Stethoscope for use within practice placements
Cost dependent on student’s choice of stethoscope.
Physiotherapy interviews
Everything you need to know before attending your Physiotherapy interview.
Read our interview tips/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/06-locations/61-cardiff/cardiff-study-spaces-library-56702.png)
/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/01-campus-and-facilities/12-campus-spaces/campus-spaces-cardiff-library-pod.jpg)
How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS
You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
-
Apply direct
Physiotherapy
-
Part-time, 4 years
-
September
-
Pontypridd
-
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
/filters:format(webp)/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/07-student-life/72-students-union/student-life-students-union--52621.jpg)