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Advanced Physiotherapy: Cardiorespiratory MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This postgraduate programme integrates the advanced clinical, academic and research components of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy practice. The emphasis is on the management of patients with cardiorespiratory disorders. Flexibility in the selection of modules allows for physiotherapists with particular interests to be accommodated.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£14,100
£7,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£32,100
£16,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in Physiotherapy; or an approved Diploma in Physiotherapy together with evidence of appropriate clinical and/or teaching experience and a commitment to continuing professional development. We expect students to have had at least 2 years post-qualification clinical experience and UK state-registration is preferred.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This programme offers you the opportunity to extend your knowledge of the key practical and theoretical aspects of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. You will challenge the foundations of established but poorly justified treatments, develop and undertake clinical research and learn about new and emerging treatment options. You will also benefit from the teaching and clinical mentorship from recognised experts in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.

Who this course is for

This degree is suitable for World Physiotherapy recognised qualified physiotherapists with a minimum of two years cardiorespiratory physiotherapy clinical experience which does not include internships.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL is a world-class university and this well-established and popular postgraduate physiotherapy programme is very highly regarded both locally and internationally. The Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy degree offers an extensive range of compulsory and optional modules in specialist areas.

Lectures, tutorials and workshops are delivered by recognised experts in physiotherapy practice. We have close links to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, UCLH and Harefield and the Brompton Hospital, as well as many other specialist Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy teams/departments both within London and outside.

Our students come from all over the world. This cross-fertilisation of international experience and ideas generates a powerful and inspirational platform for postgraduate physiotherapy learning that combined with the central London location makes UCL an attractive choice for physiotherapy students.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The programme aims to transform the way you think about expert patient care and the theoretical foundation for cardiorespiratory physiotherapy clinical practice. You will receive rigorous, evidence-based training in the best research and clinical practice, which provides you with the skills and knowledge to apply for clinical, educational or research posts.

Employability

The programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge for a career in academia or research, or a more senior clinical or management position within your chosen career field. Recent physiotherapy graduates have pursued senior careers in healthcare policy, university lecturing, private practice, management or highly specialist clinical practice. Several past physiotherapy students have used the MSc successfully to gain funding for PhD studies.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, online learning and self-directed learning. Assessment methods include: written assignments, online assignments, oral presentations, multiple-choice tests, literature review and research proposal, assessed coursework, unseen and prior disclosure written examinations, and the dissertation with a written report and oral presentation.

Each 15 credit module equates to 150 student effort hours. Most modules are delivered as blocks of study, normally over six consecutive days. Face to face or online teaching for each of these days is normally from 9-5pm. Face to face/online teaching hours normally comprises about one third of the study hours expected for the module.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 12 months, flexible 2-5 years) is offered. Students take 75 credits of core modules and 45 credits of optional modules. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, part-time 12 months) is offered. Students take 60 credits of core modules

Modules

This programme is offered as full time (1 year) or as a part-time/modular flexible (2 years +) course. The content includes a set of taught clinical core and compulsory modules plus your research project (dissertation) module. These clinical core and compulsory modules are focused on the Cardiorespiratory pathway. There is some choice in the core clinical modules to allow specialism or a more generalist route. You must then choose optional modules to complement your specialty and complete the degree requirements. We continually review the optional modules on this course to ensure that they fit the remit of this programme and reflect current research in our field.

In Term 1, you are likely to register for and focus on your clinical core and compulsory modules as these modules set the foundation for your degree and prepare you for further topics by introducing the fundamental principles in your specialty. You will also acquire the research and statistics skills necessary for conducting research.

In Term 2, while you may still be completing your compulsory modules, you are probably also now doing your optional modules and developing the concepts you learnt in Term 1.

In Terms 2 and 3, you will work on your research project, as well as completing your optional modules and attending your clinical placement. You will hand in your research project towards the end of the academic year.

In Term 1, you are likely to register for and focus on your compulsory modules, as these modules set the foundation for your degree, preparing you for further topics by introducing the fundamental principles in your specialty. You will also acquire the research and statistics skills necessary for conducting research.

In Term 2, while you may still be completing your compulsory modules, you are probably also now doing your optional modules and developing the concepts you learnt in Term 1. You will be choosing your research during this time and beginning work on this project.

In Terms 2 and 3, you will work on your research project, as well as completing your optional modules. You will hand in your research project towards the end of the academic year.

Students have two years to complete their programme of 180 credits. In the first year you will need to undertake 90 credits comprising both core and optional modules. In the second year you will register on the remaining 90 credits including the 60 credit research project module. The clinical placement is undertaken after you have successfully completed the relevant core theoretical modules. This may be in either the first or second year.

Students have up to 5 years to complete their programme of study which consists of 180 credits. The 60 credit research project is usually taken in the final year.

The clinical placement is undertaken after you have successfully completed the relevant core theoretical modules.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules















Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy: Cardiorespiratory. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Advanced Physiotherapy: Cardiorespiratory. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Advanced Physiotherapy: Cardiorespiratory.

Placement

There is a compulsory three-week placement (105 hours of contact time) and an optional second placement. These placements are part of the Clinical Education in Advanced Physiotherapy modules.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £14,100 £7,050
Tuition fees (2023/24) £32,100 £16,050

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There may be additional costs for students on the Advanced route during their clinical placement, which may include: 

  • Travel to the placement site
  • Accommodation, if students need to live nearer to the site for the three-week placement
  • Uniform costs: purchase simple white polo tops, blue trousers and blue/black shoes 
  • Occupational Health check

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Visit the funding and studentship pages of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health (GOS ICH) website for details of funding available to students, including the GOS ICH bursary.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Advanced Physiotherapy: Cardiorespiratory at graduate level
  • why you want to study Advanced Physiotherapy: Cardiorespiratory at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree
  • what is your research experience and research interests

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL GOS Institute of Child Health

advancedphysio@ucl.ac.uk

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