This course is open for applications
Page last updated 4 November 2024
This innovative and practice-focused course offers you the education you need to prepare for Physician Associate practice in the UK. Our course puts you at the centre of a broad, medically-focused experience that is underpinned by the GMC’s Good Medical Practice and UK Physician Associate curriculum
Physician Associates are an invaluable part of the wider multi-professional healthcare team, practising under the supervision of a doctor to provide care for patients.
You'll develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills, learning how to consult with patients; perform physical examinations; and apply clinical acumen to the diagnostic and therapeutic journeys that patients face in contemporary healthcare.
Extensive clinical placement opportunities are integral to the course, giving you the chance to gain experience across a range of settings on your 2-year course.
At UWE Bristol, we apply our bespoke Physician Associate values system across the course to ensure you develop a professional and value-based approach to patient care.
Glenside Campus, our specialist healthcare campus, allows you to train alongside other healthcare professionals. You'll benefit from access to state-of-the-art simulation suites, and replica wards and consultation rooms, where skills can be practised in a realistic, controlled clinical environment.
Learn from a dedicated teaching team, comprising healthcare professionals from a range of disciplines, including UK trained and registered Physician Associates.
There's a growing demand for Physician Associates across the UK in line with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. After successfully completing this course, if you’re eligible, you can qualify to sit the Physician Associate Registration Assessment to then register with the General Medical Council as a Physician Associate.
With further training and experience, you may choose to focus on a medical speciality or continue to work in a generalist field, or undertake roles in management, research or teaching.
You'll study:
You'll study:
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Teaching learning takes an applied and practice-focused approach. We deliver problem based learning skills through regular case-based scenarios and small group sessions. You’ll also learn through practical clinical skills labs, simulation and peer-to-peer learning, as well as a range of web-based resources and e-learning.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
This course takes place over two years for 45 weeks a year. Your learning consists of alternating blocks of campus-based teaching and clinical placements.
We use a range of assessment types, both summative and formative. You'll undertake unseen examinations, presentations, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), as well as building a clinical portfolio of evidence of competencies.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
On graduation, you'll need to pass the The Faculty of Physicians Associates National Certification Examination before you can practice as a Physician Associate in the UK. Once you have passed the National Examination, you're required to register with the General Medical Council, subject to application.
Over the two years, your clinical placements will cover a broad range of practice exposure to support your learning and development. These can include general medicine, primary care, emergency department as well as areas such as paediatrics, mental health and surgery and more. Simulation supports your practice experiences, so you build confidence in developing your practice on campus.
Your placements are spread across the Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire areas, and any travel involved will be at your own expense.
While studying at UWE Bristol, you'll have access to an extensive range of teaching and learning resources.
Glenside Campus Library has a huge selection of books, journals and audio-visual materials including access to specialist health and social care packages.
The Inter-professional Simulation Suite provides excellent opportunities for demonstrating and practising your professional competencies.
You'll have access to extensive online learning materials, including your own online portfolio of evidence, Pebble Pad, and the Blackboard platform where you'll find learning materials to support the structured teaching elements of the course.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Health Professions facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
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Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
UWE Bristol healthcare courses have a strong record of producing students who are successful in gaining relevant work. Because you'll have undertaken placements in the South West, you'll be in a strong position to seek work locally.
For information about fees and funding for courses please see our fees and funding pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
You'll have:
We will consider applications with a 2.2 on an individual basis.
Work experience in a patient-facing healthcare setting is encouraged but not compulsory.
You must support your application with two satisfactory references, both dated within the last year. One must be a recent academic reference and the other should be either a second academic reference or a relevant professional/employer reference. Your referees should be able to comment on your suitability to undertake the course. You can send these to us after making the initial application.
UWE Bristol prides itself on being disability–friendly and supportive of physical and mental wellbeing, therefore disclosing any needs you might have through the Occupational Health Assessment will enable us to create reasonable adjustments to suit your needs. As part of the assessment you will be required to complete a questionnaire and must be prepared to undergo a medical examination if required. Offers of places are subject to Occupational Health Clearance and students are expected to disclose pre-existing and historical health conditions. You must be in good health and up-to-date with all routine immunisations that are required for working in health and social care settings. You will also be required to confirm your status in respect of a number of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, varicella, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV antibodies) and be prepared to have all required vaccinations. Please note that the list of required vaccinations may change, in response to advice from the Department of Health. If your vaccinations are not up-to-date, this will affect your ability to continue on your course. If you have any concerns with regards to vaccinations please raise this at the point of application.
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 doesn't apply and all convictions, including those which are spent, must be disclosed. Applicants who are offered a place must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and will be required to complete a Disclosure Application Form. All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary. UWE Bristol will initiate this process by contacting prospective students directly.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a 30 minute interview. This will be conducted virtually on Microsoft Teams. Please note that interviews will be running as of January 2025.
If you are a current or past member of a registered professional body, please provide details with your application.
We do not accept deferred applications, and any places we offer will need to be taken within that year.
A UK Physician Associate qualification does not currently entitle graduates to work as Physician Associates outside of the UK.
Please note, the Physician Associate qualification may not currently be recognised in some countries
Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in any section (or equivalent). Please note the University's published list of alternative English Language qualifications.
The course is aimed at graduates of a life or health sciences degree with experience of healthcare and patient contact.
We acknowledge that as graduates you add life experience and context to your learning on the Physician Associate course, and the course encourages this mature approach towards creating more rounded professionals.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
This course is not open to applicants previously enrolled on a Physician Associate/Assistant course or individuals wishing to transfer from other Physician Associate/Assistant courses.