Oxford Brookes University

What you'll study

This three-year honours programme combines biomedical science, clinical skills development and professional practice to prepare you for frontline physiotherapy work. Core teaching covers anatomy, human physiology, biomechanics, movement analysis, and the principles of rehabilitation. You will study condition-specific modules such as musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary and paediatric physiotherapy, together with modules on professional development, clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.

Practical learning is delivered through anatomy and clinical skills labs, simulated patient encounters and extensive workplace-based placements across hospital, community and private-sector settings. Research methods and a final-year research or service-improvement project develop your ability to evaluate evidence and contribute to service delivery. Interprofessional learning with other health and social care students is woven through the curriculum to reflect real-world team working.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong academic achievement in relevant subjects and a clear commitment to a career in physiotherapy. Typical offers ask for successful completion of post-16 qualifications with a science or health-related subject such as biology or human biology. Applicants presenting vocational qualifications (for example BTEC) are considered if they show equivalent depth of learning in health or science units.

All applicants must satisfy professional suitability checks that usually include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or equivalent, occupational health screening and provision of satisfactory references. Selection commonly involves an interview, and some applicants are asked to provide evidence of experience or observation in healthcare or rehabilitation settings to demonstrate understanding of the role. Requirements for GCSE-level English and maths are normally applied.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with eligibility to apply for professional registration and typically secure roles across the NHS, private practice and community services. Early-career posts often include rotational positions on hospital wards, outpatient musculoskeletal clinics, community rehabilitation teams and local authority services. With experience and further postgraduate training, physiotherapists progress into specialist practice (for example sports, neurological, respiratory or paediatric physiotherapy), advanced clinical roles, management, research or education.

The degree also provides a route to postgraduate study, including master's-level clinical specialisms, research degrees or programmes in advanced practice and healthcare leadership.

Why study at Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes combines practice-focused teaching with strong clinical partnerships across local NHS trusts and community providers, ensuring students gain substantial, supervised placement experience. Facilities supporting the course include well-equipped anatomy and movement analysis laboratories, clinical skills suites and simulated practice environments that mirror contemporary clinical settings.

The course is designed around professional standards and includes input from practising clinicians, ensuring curriculum relevance to current service needs. Small-group teaching, accessible academic staff and structured placement support are emphasised alongside opportunities for interprofessional learning and involvement in applied research and improvement projects.

Graduates benefit from the university's employability resources and local healthcare networks when seeking first posts or planning postgraduate routes in specialist physiotherapy, research or clinical education.