This course is open for applications.
This course is offered every two years. The next intakes are September 2025 and September 2027.
Page last updated 11 September 2024
A distance learning course with an emphasis on contemporary leadership, this flexible Masters degree will give you the tools needed to design services and successfully implement change.
This MSc Rehabilitation course is for those with qualifications in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy who wish to take their career to the next level - whether in a leadership role, in academic research or by advancing their clinical expertise.
Designed by UWE Bristol academics with input from industry specialists, the core modules of the course equip students with the skills, thinking and perspective to be able to implement change in settings ranging from established health and social care settings to marginal communities. Not just within the UK/ NHS framework but within a global context.
With several optional modules available, you can tailor the course to your own areas of interest, including neurorehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, long term conditions, fatigue, health economics and knowledge mobilisation.
The course can be taken entirely by distance with only a minimal amount of set hours for online contact. Students can set their own study schedule within each module's delivery time, so you can fit the course around working life.
Two optional modules include approximately 5 days of face-to-face time. You can choose to attend conference days across other modules but all lectures and other resources are posted online to enable an entirely flexible and distance based learning.
Throughout the course, you will be stimulated to think about the broad scope of rehabilitation provision, exploring how to meet the needs of services users in all kinds of situations around the world.
We also support the development of your cognitive abilities. For example, writing skills, which are a vital part of requesting funding, communicating with stakeholders and future research.
Beyond the course, graduates will be ready to work autonomously, put their forward thinking into action, and make a positive impact in whatever type of setting they choose to work.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You'll study these core modules:
Plus, optional modules from:*
*The optional modules you take will depend on credit requirement and may be subject to Programme Leader approval.
**If you don't complete this as an optional module in Year one, you'll need to complete it as compulsory in Year 2.
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.
This Masters is one of several distance learning courses offered by UWE Bristol that make use of our established interactive Blackboard portal.
The majority of modules will be posted online, so you can access video lectures, virtual classrooms, forums and other resources from wherever you are. You will submit assignments online throughout the course. In addition to self-directed study, some virtual learning will be in small groups and with partners.
The face-to-face days that are part of the optional modules will be delivered in a workshop style, giving you the opportunity to practice your skills.
On the optional conference days, teaching will be delivered though lectures and facilitated group work. These conference days will be captured and made available online for all students.
For more details, see our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
The course has been designed to allow you to manage your own study schedule, completing tasks when you can within each module's delivery period.
For forums or group activities, you will be given a time frame to participate in the work.
The course uses a range of assessments chosen to help you develop skills for the real world, including presentations, posters, vivas and written assignments.
For more detail, see our full glossary of assessment terms.
While studying with us, you will have access to our excellent library facilities, which provide 24 hour support and assistance for distance learners.
Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE Bristol has to offer.
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On graduation, you will have the qualification required to advance to Band 6, 7 or 8 within the NHS and its partners.
Overseas students will be able to register with the UK's Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and be eligible for work in the UK or Europe.
This Masters enables British students to seek out licencing opportunities in the USA.
In addition to these routes, the course will equip you with the skills needed to innovate and design services for patients and users in a diverse range of situations around the globe.
For more information about funding for postgraduate courses see our funding pages.
Applicants will normally have a good honours first degree or equivalent qualification in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy from a recognised institution of higher education or overseas equivalent.
It is envisaged that applicants to the course may be from a diverse range of backgrounds both in terms of education and experience.
If you do not meet the above grade requirements but have at least 12 months relevant professional experience and/or equivalent qualifications, we will consider you on an individual basis.
As part of the selection process for this course we will invite applicants to attend an interview.
We welcome applications from international students.
If English is not your first language, you will be required to meet the University minimum language requirements, for example an IELTS score of 7 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in any section (or equivalent).
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.