Physiotherapy BSc (Hons)

BSc (Hons)

Attendance mode

Entry year

Typical offer for 2027: 128
Duration: 3 years
UCAS code: B160
Start date: September
Location: City Campus

Suitable for UK and international applications.

Overview

Physiotherapy plays an essential role in the overall health and well-being of a wide range of patients. Physiotherapists work with a diverse caseload across all healthcare settings, often as part of multidisciplinary teams.

As a student at Bradford you’ll develop the skills you need to take a key role in the management of both acute and long-term conditions, helping restore and maintain function and activity, and prevent of injury or illness. You will develop strong leadership skills enabling you to manage and lead teams often working in emerging roles with new providers.

The Bradford approach emphasises the integration and application of theory and practice to produce an adaptable, innovative graduate with excellent professional skills who can use a research-based, evaluative, problem-solving approach to physiotherapy practice.

You will have access to the University's Physiotherapy and Sport Rehabilitation Clinic, and the majority of students will complete one of their clinical placements in this setting.

Professional accreditation

This course is approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the statutory body for Allied Health Professionals. By the end of your studies, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC, and will be eligible to apply for full membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

Entry requirements

At Bradford, we take into consideration a number of factors when assessing your application.

Below outlines the typical entry requirements for this course. If you’re not sure and want to check if your qualifications would be suitable, fill in an enquiry form at the bottom of this page.

Typical offer - 128 UCAS tariff points.

A levels

From 3 Full A Levels. Science or Social Science subjects may be helpful but are not essential.

T levels

Merit in Health with an Anatomy/Physiology module passed.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM in a Health or Science or relevant Sport subject.

Applicants on Access Programmes

128 UCAS tariff points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions or Science subjects.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

128 UCAS tariff points from 3 HL subjects, plus Mathematics at HL2 or SL2 and English A at SL5 or HL5, or English B at HL6 or SL7.

Plus minimum of

GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade 4. Level 2 equivalencies are accepted in their place.

Additional entry requirements

As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making offers.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants with Criminal Convictions

Once you accept your offer, you will be asked to declare any criminal convictions you hold (including spent convictions). Having a criminal conviction does not mean that you cannot enrol on the course, you will need to go through a criminal convictions panel process.

English language requirements

6.5 overall with no sub-test less than 6.0.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

Occupational Health (OH) check

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an on-line occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.

Students on health care programmes must be able to meet the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency. Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness.

This screening process complies with UK Health Security Agency requirements for protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.

All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance and an agreement to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations.

The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfil the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.

Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as CRB check) disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon HCPC registration.

As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making offers.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants with Criminal Convictions

Transferring from another university

Applications to transfer into year 2 or 3 will not be considered for this programme.

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2026/7 entry and is subject to change.

First year

Core

Clinical Knowledge Foundations

The module will provide you with a basic knowledge of human physiology, pathophysiology and anatomy for application into practice. This provides the foundational skills required for the module Foundations of Clinical Assessment, in which you will begin working with patients attending the university-based physiotherapy clinic.

Foundations of Clinical Assessment

The module will provide you with direct patient contact through our physiotherapy clinic enabling you to contextualise theoretical learning from previous level 4 modules Clinical Knowledge Foundation and Exercise Theory and Prescription. You will begin to assess and treat patients under supervision enabling you develop your communication and professionalism.

Exercise Theory and Prescription

The module will provide you with knowledge regarding safe and effective evidence-based and person specific exercise prescription. You will develop the skills to devise and teach a range of people in a variety of settings.

Personal and Professional Development 1

This module will enable you to develop the professional attributes and behaviours that are the foundation of professional practice, including working with a diverse group of people and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This module will provide the foundational knowledge and skills for all academic and professional activities within the programme.

Investigating Health

This module will introduce you to the fundamental research concepts and includes the lived of experience of how different types of data are collected. This provides the foundational skills for the research themed modules throughout the programme.

Health Promotion and Public Health

This module is an introduction to the concept of public health and the role of the physiotherapist in public health promotion. Within this module you will develop an awareness of strategies which can be used within physiotherapy and the wider multidisciplinary team to enable public participation in health promotion activities and strategies, from a local through to global health perspective.

Second year

Core

BSc year 2 practice placement A

This module builds upon clinical experiences from Year 1. You will apply knowledge, clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice to undertake physiotherapy assessment and utilise therapeutic skills in the efficient and effective application of physiotherapy management appropriate to level 5 and do this in a professional manner.

BSc year 2 practice placement B

Fundamentals of Assessment and Rehabilitation

This module will build on skills and knowledge delivered at Level 4 in the clinical-themed modules 'Exercise Theory and Prescription', 'Foundations of Clinical Assessment' and 'Clinical Knowledge Foundations' and prepare you to gather information from multiple sources. Using this you will formulate and justify appropriate methods of assessment and treatment across the range of physiotherapy specialties including neuromusculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurology.

Developing Physiotherapy Practice

This module will build on 'Fundamentals of Assessment and Rehabilitation' and practice placement experience to develop a breadth of physiotherapy skills and depth of clinical reasoning. It will enable you to understand how pathophysiology influences physiotherapy assessment and clinical decision making. Within this module you will practice a range of assessment and intervention skills and consider how patient response to physiotherapy can be evaluated.

Critical Analysis of Research

This module introduces critical appraisal of research and how to use it to inform clinical practice. It builds on the foundational research knowledge provided in the Module 'Investigating Health' from Level 4 to now evaluate the evidence and is in preparation for Level 6 module 'Research Proposal'.

Personal and Professional Development 2

This module aims to develop your leadership skills, building on your awareness of professional responsibilities and help apply these principles within professional practice. The module builds on foundational professional practice concepts introduced in Level 4 Personal and Professional Development.

Final year

Core

BSc year 3 practice placement A

To enable you to further advance your knowledge, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, and reflection skills appropriate to your level of study, in order to undertake physiotherapy assessment and use therapeutic skills in the safe and effective application of physiotherapy, incorporating patients' values and goals.

BSc year 3 practice placement B

Complex Case Management

This module will prepare you to clinically reason complex cases to provide a holistic plan of care. It will prepare you to manage the complex cases you will encounter in contemporary and multi-professional clinical settings.

Leadership and Management

This module aims to develop skills in quality improvement methodology, enabling you to develop your professional practice and the practice of others, and to improve services. This module builds on the leadership concepts introduced in Level 5 'Personal and Professional Development 2'.

Employability

This module aims to prepare you for recruitment, supporting your transition from student physiotherapist to employable graduate. This module builds on content from the Level 4 Module 'Personal and Professional Development 1' and the Level 5 Module 'Personal and Professional Development 2'.

Research Proposal

This module will enable you to further develop research knowledge and skills acquired at both level 4 and level 5 and to critically and ethically develop a research project proposal.

Practice Placement Hours

This module confirms that you have completed the 1000 hours of practice placement to be eligible to apply for professional registration with the HCPC and CSP.

The hours on placement will have occurred during practice placements across the entire programme.

Teaching, learning and assessment

A major focus of the course is on problem solving and clinical reasoning. Some large group teaching utilises the concept of team-based learning (TBL) whereby some knowledge-based content is studied out of class and is then assessed by answering multiple choice questions individually then as a small group or ‘team’.

Lectures are supplemented with small group tutorials and practical sessions to facilitate an active and collaborative approach to learning. Case-based scenarios are used to facilitate the development of clinical reasoning skills. Reflection is embedded at all levels. These skills are ultimately evidenced in the practice setting.

The programme uses a diverse range of assessment strategies that accommodate different learning styles. These include:

some continuous assessment of competence-based clinical skills
practical assessments that are designed to mirror the clinical environment
assessments that require you to demonstrate academic writing skills
a common assessment tool for practice placements, used collaboratively with three universities in the region
group and individual presentation tasks

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

UK: £10,050 per year
International: £17,312 per year

The University of Bradford will charge home rate tuition fees up to the maximum allowed by the UK Government. For 2027/28, those fees are still to be confirmed.

Should the UK Government choose to increase the maximum tuition fee allowed in the second and subsequent years of your course, the University will raise tuition fees in line with UK Government policy and approvals.

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

From January 2027, the UK government will introduce the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), offering a more flexible way to study. It is designed to support learners at different stages of their student journey or career, whether you want to retrain, upskill, or change direction. For further information about the variety of options available to help fund your studies and maximise the support available, see our funding your studies section.

Additional course costs

Essential costs

Costs of travelling to, and staying at, placement. You can reclaim these costs if you are eligible for the Learning Support Fund, but you must pay for them first.

An initial set of uniforms will be included in your course fee. If these are lost or damaged, you will be required to purchase replacements (£15 for a tunic and £15 for trousers).

You will need to purchase appropriate footwear for placement - typically black soft-soled shoes that are closed over the foot and toes.

Optional costs

Student membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (£35.32 per year, or £3.96 per month).

Funding your studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

The government has outlined new funding for nursing, midwifery and other allied health professions courses. Students at English universities will receive up to £8,000 with a minimum of £5,000 a year in funding.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Physiotherapy is an Allied Health Profession, and opens up a range of dynamic and exciting career opportunities in a variety of fields. Most physiotherapists work in the NHS, but opportunities also arise in the private sector, sport, research, education and industry.

Career opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers section.

Support for your studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions. We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment. In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Got a question?

Make an enquiry about this course, and sign up for news updates about studying at Bradford.

Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.