Physiotherapy and Leadership (pre-registration) MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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This master’s degree aims to develop you into an innovative and effective physiotherapist with the problem-solving, enterprise, resourcefulness and leadership skills to respond to the changing needs of future healthcare.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

2 years full-time

Course code

SCHT008

Start date

January 2026

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

The course is designed for people with a relevant previous degree and patient-facing experience. 

  • You will develop the theoretical understanding and practical skills required to be an effective physiotherapist.
  • Your learning experience will help you to adopt the professional values and behaviours expected of you in the role; working respectfully within a multidisciplinary team, providing healthcare underpinned by current evidence and placing the clients in the centre of the therapeutic process.
  • Simulation events are delivered throughout the course and inter-professional education is interwoven throughout the course to allow you to develop an understanding of integrated working and learning which is essential to becoming a collaborative, practice-ready healthcare professional.
  • All eligible students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the Government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs6.

 

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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • Working as an allied health professional requires emotional intelligence, resilience and a dedication to lifelong learning. Throughout the course you will be supported in your personal and professional development in order to meet these demands; allowing you to develop strategies to protect your own personal health and wellbeing as well as identify opportunities to flourish in your career.
  • This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)1. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply for membership of CSP and registration with the HCPC (additional costs apply).
  • Our facilities4 include mock wards with interactive manikins, a high dependency unit, a strength and conditioning suite and gym, and community houses. These allow the use of active teaching approaches including immersive high-fidelity simulation exercises which contextualise your learning. These simulation events allow you to develop an understanding of integrated working and learning. By recording these learning experiences in an e-portfolio, you create a foundation for a professional lifelong learning commitment. This also fulfils the requirements of the Health and Care Professions Council, with the aim of enhancing your employability upon graduation.
  • We aim to give you an insight into the patient, service user and carer experience.
  • Our strong collaboration with placement providers enables you to practice in a diverse range of environments such as acute and community services, and public, private and charitable organisations. Placements exceed the total number of hours specified by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and are sequential, building upon knowledge, skills and behaviours, culminating with a final placement where you complete a project to identify improvements to existing services2.
  • The course aims to elevate your existing understanding of research to apply evidence-based practice to clinical decision-making. In addition to this, the Chartered Management Institute module in Leading Diverse Workforces aims to enhance your contribution to improving the quality of the services you and others provide.
  • Coventry University has a long-standing history of providing outstanding physiotherapy education, both at an undergraduate and postgraduate level. We aim to constantly review our courses to reflect the latest knowledge and practice in the field and to produce innovative and creative physiotherapy leaders of the future.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 by the following bodies:

HCPC logo

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

This course is approved by the HCPC for the 2024/2025 intake. On successful completion of the Physiotherapy and Leadership (pre-registration) MSc course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as a physiotherapist (additional costs apply).

You are required to comply with the Code of Conduct of both the HCPC and CSP throughout the course. As a professional course a minimum level of 80% attendance is expected at all modules.  


Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)

This course is accredited by the CSP for the 2024/2025 intake. On successful completion of the Physiotherapy and Leadership (pre-registration) MSc course, you will be eligible to apply for membership of CSP (additional costs apply).

You are required to comply with the Code of Conduct of both the HCPC and CSP throughout the course. As a professional course a minimum level of 80% attendance is expected at all modules.  


Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2024/2025 intake. Upon successful completion of this module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice  at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the modules and on the Professional Development module homepage.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.



What you'll study

In year one of this course, you will develop the fundamental principles of physiotherapy. You will gain an understanding of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics and how this knowledge is applied in the treatment of patients. Through taking a problem-based learning approach you will explore the impact of health and disease and prescribe a range of physical activities and exercises to both individuals and groups. All modules are mandatory.

Modules

The first semester is taught within the university and the course then finishes with an eight-week placement, the dissertation and a final nine-week placement. All placements are sourced for you by the university2,5.

Modules


How you'll learn

This course is taught utilising a variety of methods including the use of simulation, role play, and service users. You will have a mixture of lectures, workshops and practical sessions and a problem-based learning approach is taken to enhance your understanding. You may also have the opportunity to participate in interprofessional events with other healthcare students.

In a typical week you will have between 10-23 hours per week in university, depending on the semester. When on placement you will work 8 hours per day in your placement setting.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 15-20 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. 

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • written coursework
  • practical viva exams
  • posters and leaflets
  • presentations
  • interviews
  • dissertation.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

You may have the opportunity4 to work with students at another university overseas as Collaborative Online International Learning opportunities are embedded into the course.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Applicants should normally hold an upper second-class honours degree or above in a health, sport or relevant science related subject (including level 6 English and mathematics). Other degree level qualifications may be considered with relevant work experience which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All students who meet the admission criteria are interviewed following a values-based recruitment process.  Enrolment is subject to undertaking the course selection process in accordance with the faculty’s policy and procedures, a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance and a satisfactory occupational health screening check clearance. Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section5.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Applicants should normally hold an upper second-class honours degree or above in a health, sport or relevant science related subject (including level 6 English and mathematics). Other degree level qualifications may be considered with relevant work experience which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All students who meet the admission criteria are interviewed following a values-based recruitment process. Enrolment is subject to undertaking the course selection process in accordance with the faculty’s policy and procedures, a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance and a satisfactory occupational health screening check clearance. Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section5.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page. 

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall, with no component lower than 6.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£9,250 per year
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees -£18,600 per year
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4.

clinical skills lab

Clinical Skills Labs

You will have access to clinical skills labs, with the opportunity to use equipment including assessment tools and simulation models.

Mock Operating Theatre

Mock Operating Theatre

Our Alison Gingell Building includes a full-size mock operating theatre, containing scrub sinks and theatre lights. We also have a mock hospital ward so that we can study a complete patient pathway.

Hospital Wards

Hospital Wards

We have two fully equipped mock hospital wards, each containing four beds. The wards are built to NHS standards and contain moveable beds, first aid equipment and patient monitoring tools.


Careers and opportunities

This course aims to produce competent and effective physiotherapists with leadership capabilities who are confident problem solvers and future leaders with the skills to influence healthcare delivery and innovative practice. It is designed to meet the academic, clinical and personal requirements of the HCPC and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

On successful completion of the course you will be able to:

  • demonstrate the application of knowledge, skills and behaviours that reflect the HCPC and CSP attributes for a physiotherapist
  • critically apply physiotherapy principles in the prevention and management of illness and maintenance of health
  • deliver and evaluate effective person-centred care in a variety of contexts for people across the lifespan including those with complex needs
  • be an innovative and creative practitioner who critically engages with evolving technological, social and political landscapes
  • examine and enhance your leadership capabilities to enable you to continually improve and influence service development
  • critically evaluate the principles for leading and developing people and equality, diversity and inclusion at a strategic level
  • critically appraise intercultural competencies at a national and international level, to practice as an autonomous health care professional, and to be able to appraise your own intercultural development in order to enhance your lifelong learning
  • appraise and create research as evidence-informed practitioners within the context of health and social care
  • apply collaborative capabilities that promote integrated learning and working, within public, private, and third sector organisations, for the health and wellbeing of people in our community
  • manage your own personal health and wellbeing and have insight and self-awareness of when and how to access support, as emotionally intelligent and resilient individuals.

Where our graduates work

Physiotherapy graduates from Coventry University work in a range of settings including the NHS, private practice and sports clubs at both grassroots and professional level. Some students use their qualifications to work overseas in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.


How to apply

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