Physician Associate Studies MSc
Ready to become a physician associate? Want to help with the diagnosis, management and care of patients? Undertake clinical training so you can work across the full range of medical specialities. Study with us and get started.
Closed to further applications for September 2022 entry.
Overview
| Course length: | 2 years full-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2022 September 2023 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Subject(s): | Medicine |
| Department: | Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine |
Eager to work in the field of medicine? Want to make a difference in an emerging healthcare role? Keen to learn through a combination of teaching and practical placements? Training to become a physician associate at Edge Hill University could be for you.
In our physician associate studies course, you’ll discover everything you need to know about providing patient care under the supervision of a doctor. Learn how to interview and examine patients. Conduct clinical examinations. Order and interpret diagnostic tests. Make decisions about patient management and therapy.
You’ll graduate as a flexible and adaptable practitioner. Once you pass the national exam set by the Faculty of Physician Associates, you can apply to be on the Managed Voluntary Register (MVR) of physician associates. The past ten years has seen a growing demand for newly-qualified physician associates within the NHS – in acute, primary care and mental health services.
Please note, regulation for physician associates is currently under national consideration by the GMC, therefore some requirements are under review.
Course features
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Professional Practice Placements
What you'll study
Our MSc Physician Associate Studies covers four central themes that are vital to this field. You’ll continue to build on these foundations throughout with critical application and practice. Increasingly complex medical conditions and different areas of speciality are introduced to put the role in its multidisciplinary context. The four central themes are:
Clinical research – explore the stages of research design, analyse different research strategies and methodologies for conducting research, and study the way findings are reported. A clear understanding of the research process is essential for the critical interpretation of evidence.
Personal and professional development – focus on the professional values, ethics and behaviours essential for the job. You’ll cover a range of subjects, including non-discriminatory practice, safeguarding, professional regulation and supporting vulnerable patient groups.
Clinical science – explore the underpinning scientific theory for the presentation of common diseases. You’ll look at the principles behind investigative techniques and management strategies. Learn to critically describe the structure and function of body systems. Discover the pathological processes which indicate common clinical conditions, and analyse approaches to clinical and pharmacological management.
Translation to practice – a series of supervised clinical practice placements to give you the experience to deliver care and treatment. You’ll gather comprehensive clinical histories of patients, conduct physical examinations, develop diagnostic investigations and action patient management plans. You’ll also apply clinical reasoning to monitor and identify changes in the patient’s condition.
How you'll study
The modules on this programme are interlinked and delivered through blended learning. Academic study comprises just under 50% of the course, with the remainder spent on clinical placements. There are 22 weeks of academic teaching each year, with a further 24 weeks per year spent on clinical placements.
The varied approach to teaching and learning includes lectures, video presentations, case-based learning, case study discussions, tutorials, small and whole group discussion, online learning, direct reading, portfolios (including reflections), simulation, clinical skills sessions, and various clinical placements.
You will receive over 1,800 hours of clinical training across the programme, with placements across the full range of medical specialities at teaching hospitals and in community settings. These specialities include general hospital, emergency medicine, General Practice, mental health, paediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology.
There are three 8-week placements in Year 1 and four six-week placements in Year 2 to enable you to gain extensive hands-on clinical experience. All placements will be arranged for you by the University and aligned to learning outcomes determined by the Competence and Curriculum Framework for physician associates. You will be responsible for travel and parking costs while on placement.
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed through a combination of written assignments, objective structured clinical examinations, short answer questions, multiple choice questionnaires, case studies, e-portfolios, seminar presentations, writing a research proposal and an appraisal of your subsequent research.
Who will be teaching you
The programme team comprises expert staff who are highly experienced in clinical practice in areas including intensive care, coronary care, forensic mental health, primary care, pharmacology and medical practice.
You will also be taught by associate tutors from primary and secondary care, neurology, paramedic practice, biological sciences and senior healthcare management.
While on placement you will be supported by an educational supervisor (either a consultant or general practitioner depending on the setting) as well as clinical supervisors and the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
You should have a degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above) in a science or health related subject. Within your degree you must be able to evidence studying some bioscience or anatomy content. You should also have GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics at Grade C or Grade 4 or above (or equivalent).
Previous experience of working in healthcare is desirable but not essential.
An interview forms part of the selection process. Interviews for September 2022 entry will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams.
If you accept an offer from Edge Hill you will need to submit a Declaration of Health in respect of physical and mental fitness and will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure indicating that you meet the mandatory criteria of ‘Clearance to Work with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults’. Further information will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.
How to apply
Apply full-time
Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.
International
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, are eligible to apply for this course.
Unfortunately this course is not available to other international students. Please see our A-Z of courses for alternative options.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
Did you know?
If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.
Discover our accommodation
Facilities
The Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine is one of the leading providers of education and training for health and social care professionals in the North West of England.
Offering some of the best facilities for health, social care and medicine students in the country, the outstanding teaching and learning resources include leading edge clinical skills facilities, an 860-seat lecture theatre, and a variety of teaching rooms and social learning spaces.
Where you'll study
Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre
Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine
Learning resources
The Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre offers a variety of simulated environments from home, through primary and emergency care, to secondary care and beyond. The flexible and adaptable facilities include a ward environment, operating theatre, an anatomy and ultrasound resource centre, a ‘Better at Home’ suite, clinical skills area and consultation rooms.
You will benefit from access to a wide variety of healthcare equipment, as well as a range of full-body patient simulators that can breathe, talk, have pulses and can simulate a wide range of symptoms and clinical conditions. This will enable you to undertake practical scenarios in realistic settings, providing ideal preparation for professional practice placements and future employment.
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,250
a year
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students. As an MSc Physician Associate Studies student, you can expect to receive a contribution of £2,500 a year from Health Education England to assist with travel costs to your clinical placements. There is no application process. Payment will be administered by the University and eligible students can expect to receive confirmation of scheduled payment dates during enrolment.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals should ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please see www.edgehill.ac.uk/eufinance for further details.
Your future career
To be employed as a physician associate, graduates must take the national exam set by the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA). You can find out more information, including current exam fees, on the FPA website.
Once you’ve passed the exam, you can apply to be listed on the Managed Voluntary Register (MVR) hosted by the FPA. Clinical trusts are recommended to hire from the register, so it’s strongly advised that you take this step. In the future, physician associates are likely to be regulated by the General Medical Council.
After taking these steps, you can go on to work as a physician associate in:
- general hospitals
- emergency medicine
- mental health
- surgery
- primary care
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
