Overview
Are you ready to start a rewarding career helping people regain movement, manage pain, and improve their quality of life?
Our MSc Physiotherapy is an exciting, fast-track route for those with an appropriate undergraduate degree to becoming a qualified physiotherapist, giving you the skills, confidence, and hands-on experience needed to thrive in this dynamic profession.
This two-year accelerated course provides a direct pathway to becoming a registered chartered physiotherapist, opening doors to a wide range of career opportunities in healthcare, sports rehabilitation, and beyond. You will study alongside other healthcare students, developing the collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills essential for working with patients and within multidisciplinary teams. The course blends theory with real-world application, ensuring you graduate ready to make an immediate impact in the profession.
From the very start of your course, you will gain hands-on experience in diverse healthcare settings, including NHS trusts, private clinics, virtual environments and specialist physiotherapy centres. These placements will build your confidence and clinical expertise, preparing you to work in a variety of roles across different healthcare environments.
Research-informed teaching and real-world case studies will help you develop a critical approach to problem-solving and evidence-based practice. With expert guidance, you’ll become a flexible and autonomous practitioner, capable of adapting to the ever-changing demands of modern healthcare.
The course isn’t just about gaining clinical expertise—it’s also about developing the leadership skills that will set you apart in the profession. You will work on a leadership-focused project, designed to tackle real-world healthcare challenges with the support of industry experts. Whether you aspire to lead teams, influence policy, or drive change in healthcare, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to take your career further.
Why study MSc Physiotherapy at CCCU?
- You will have access to world-class learning environments, including the Anatomy Learning Centre and Simulation Suite, where you can refine your practical skills in a safe and supportive setting.
- With a focus on real-world experience, leadership development, and innovation, this course will empower you to make a meaningful impact in healthcare from the moment you graduate.
- The course is built on the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, creating a supportive and welcoming learning environment where every student is encouraged to bring their unique strengths to the profession.
- This is more than just a degree—it’s your opportunity to build a fulfilling, impactful career where you can transform lives every day. Join us and take the first step toward an exciting future in physiotherapy.
We look forward to welcoming you on this innovative MSc. We provide an environment that will enable you to develop your your own unique identity as a physiotherapist to help make a difference to people's lives through a person-centred approach.Course Director: Nicole Hilburn
Entry requirements
- Previous first degree, or equivalent with a minimum of 2:1 classification in a related subject such as biological, biomedical, behavioural, sports, exercise or health sciences, or health professional education other than physiotherapy, within the last ten years.
- Experience of health or social care related professional practice.
- Evidence of training in research methods and/or a dissertation at BSc level. You should also have the skills to critically evaluate material.
- Evidence of successful study at Level 6 or above within the last five years.
Module information
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
You will be taught using a variety of approaches to suit your learning needs. There will be a mix of lectures (face to face and online), tutorials, workshops, and practical and simulation sessions whilst at University, which will be 15-20 hours per week. On placement you will be required to attend for 35 hours per week for six weeks, and this may include seven days working on some placements (weekends or evenings).
To supplement your learning and to get the most out of teaching sessions, there will be preparatory independent learning, as well as some follow-up tasks or activities to apply knowledge and skills. This may require reading, watching, or listening to online materials or practising skills with peers, and there is an expectation that you will complete 20 hours per week independently.
For physiotherapy specific sessions you will be taught by members of the physiotherapy academic team who have a range of qualifications (PhD, EdD, MSc), as well as input from healthcare sector experts as guest lecturers.
You will also be taught by other health and social care professionals for multi disciplinary sessions to enable you to have a range of experience and knowledge of the team of professionals that you will be working with in the future. All academic staff have additional qualifications in teaching in higher education (PGCert).
Overall you should expect to spend up to 40 hours per week engaging in the variety of learning activities for the course in order for you to succeed.
I am excited to be involved in the development and teaching on this course. The teaching and learning content prioritises a person centred approach and is designed to help you respond to service user needs and anticipate future changes in practice.Nicole Hilburn Course Director
How you’ll be assessed
You will be assessed by a range of methods to facilitate your learning and prepare you for the requirements of future practice. These include written examinations, course work essays, reflective documents, a portfolio of tasks, simulated practice examinations, and a conference-type presentation.
The major project will be written in the form of a quality improvement project demonstrating your application of data collection, analysis, and report writing skills relevant to a real life practice issue.
In several assessments you are given choice in terms of topic and also in how you might wish to demonstrate learning (e.g a poster or presentation).
Your future career
Graduates from the MSc Physiotherapy are fortunate to work in a range of sectors such as sports, private, and public. There is also opportunity to work in a wide variety of settings such as hospitals, health centres, private clinics, schools, universities, research labs, in the community, and homes.
Once qualified you can work autonomously in clinical practice and, with an MSc, quickly progress to leadership, education ,or research roles. Physiotherapy is a transferrable qualification and you are able to apply for registration and work in many countries worldwide.
Fees
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 have not yet been finalised. These course web pages will be updated with Tuition Fee information once they have been agreed.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Professional accreditation
Enhanced career opportunities
As a graduate of our MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration) course, you'll unlock a world of career opportunities. Eligible for registration with the HCPC and membership of the CSP, you'll be prepared for diverse roles in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, and sports institutions.
The CSP, as the professional, educational, and trade union body for the UK's 60,000 chartered physiotherapists, provides invaluable resources and these are integral in all aspects of the development and delivery of our course content.
Additionally, we work with a range of partners including the Chartered Management Institute and we are one of the only physiotherapy courses to offer a leadership accreditation as part of your course to enhance your employment opportunities on graduation.
Professional Development
Our course isn't just about acquiring knowledge - it's about developing the skills and qualities necessary for professional success. Through a combination of theoretical learning, practical skills development, and practice placements, we'll empower you to excel in multidisciplinary healthcare teams and deliver high-quality, person-centred care.
The CSP also provide networking and continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities including courses, workshops, conferences, and online resources for physiotherapy professionals at all stages of their careers to support your ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.