Physiotherapy BSc at Kings College London

Overview

The BSc Physiotherapy provides a contemporary science-based curriculum that prepares graduates for working flexibly across the changing health and social care environment and to provide high-quality, person centered and population sensitive, responsive service where individual choice is paramount.

The programme has a strong emphasis on skill development for effective communication, evidence-based practice, professionalism and leadership in healthcare, alongside promoting a systematic understanding of the core principles underpinning physiotherapy practice to guide clinical reasoning and health promotion.

On completion of the programme, graduates are eligible to apply for state registration as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

Key benefits

• King’s College London is ranked 17th in the world for Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health (Times Higher Education 2018 subject ranking).
• King’s Health Partners is one of only seven UK Academic Health Science Centres, where world-class research, education and clinical practice are brought together for the benefit of patients by translating cutting-edge research and existing best practice into excellent patient care.
• High quality partnership working with professional practice partners and other stakeholders ensures graduates have the knowledge, skills and personal attributes required for working in the NHS, social care and public health.
• Simulation and Interactive Learning (SaIL) Centres on three sites provide a range of interprofessional high fidelity and low fidelity simulations of hospital and community environments working on advanced communication skills, clinical simulation, and working with patient actors and patient educators.
• Innovative teaching partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
• Established interprofessional learning opportunities with other healthcare professional students in College and practice
• High students’ satisfaction (National Student Survey 2019)

Description

Physiotherapy is the largest allied health profession. Physiotherapists work with patients and their families/carers to address problems experienced as a result of illness, injury and disability. They use physical means to promote health, optimal rehabilitation and, where possible, recovery. Physiotherapy is a broad field, making for an exciting and varied career. Physiotherapists practice as autonomous professionals when acting as the first point of contact for clients/patients, or as part of a health or social care team.

Our course will give you the professional skills and knowledge necessary for contemporary practice. The Department of Physiotherapy carries out significant research, and we emphasise the role of research in physiotherapy and the importance of evidence-based practice throughout the course. Through this you will gain experience of a wide range of research methods.

In your first year, you will focus on client- centred, responsive services, and develop your decision making, communication and scientific skills.

In your second year we will address effective and needs-related service, and you will further develop your knowledge of professional skills and the science behind rehabilitation.

In your third year, you will think about the development of service provision for today’s NHS, social care, public health and the rights and needs of various client groups. You will extend your understanding of psychosocial, ethical and legal issues surrounding practice in student directed activities. You will develop your practical, reflective, evaluative and interpersonal skills at an advanced level and integrate theory with practice even further. You will explore the challenge of working with clients with complex problems in depth, and you will also evaluate your own performance and the outcome of treatment.

In order to gain a licence to practice, you will have to complete at least 1,000 clinical hours. At the end of each of your first two years, and during your third year, you will apply what you have learned on a series of clinical placements in a variety of environments, ranging from large teaching hospitals to small special schools within the community. The majority of placements are in Greater London, but you may be placed throughout south-east England.

We have designed this course to match the needs of the modern ever-changing health sector. We work closely with a network of clinical colleagues, primarily in the NHS, and these partnerships ensure that the course’s delivery and development are practice-led. 

Career prospects

When you successfully complete our BSc course, you will be able to apply for registration to practise as a physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This enables you to practise in a wide variety of environments and is mandatory for employment within the NHS. You will also be eligible for full membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Career destinations

Our recent graduates have found employment as:

• Physiotherapists
• Investment Consultants 
• Promotional Managers

Others have continued to further study in:

• Sports Medicine & Health Science MSc
• Orthopaedics
• Dentistry
• PhD