Eleanor Kidd

I wanted to study the MSc Physician Associate Studies postgraduate degree at a university which had a medical school as I felt this would possibly provide me with better teaching and opportunities. I chose to study at Edge Hill University as I really liked the campus on the open day, and the staff and students were all super friendly and supportive. In particular, the clinical skills simulation centre really stood out to me as the facilities all looked brand new and replicated clinical settings well. A couple of my friends studied their undergraduate degrees at Edge Hill, and they all expressed positive experiences in terms of student support and facilities.

The degree is two years and involves both academic teaching and clinical placements. The first year of the degree introduces the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology of specific human systems. Alongside the theory teaching, the degree also covers the clinical aspects of each specific system for example, the clinical examinations and procures associated. The rest of the year is spent on clinical placements, broken up by shorter teaching blocks in between. Second year involves attending placements in areas such as paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and psychiatry.

Studying this Masters degree will allow me to meet all the criteria needed to sit national exams in order to become a fully qualified physician associate. The clinical placements that the degree offers really helps build employability skills. You will gain many desired employment skills and importantly learn how to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Come to the open days, look round, meet the staff and students and really get a feel for the campus and degree. Really get a feel for the degree, how things are structured and take the opportunity to meet the lecturers and ask them any questions.