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    MSc Physician Associate
    Go to University of Reading
    University of Reading

    MSc Physician Associate

    University of Reading

    University of Reading

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    United Kingdom, Reading

    University RankQS Ranking
    173

    Key Facts

    Program Level

    Master by Course Work

    Study Type

    Full Time

    Delivery

    On Campus

    Campuses

    Main Site

    Program Language

    English

    Start & Deadlines

    Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026
    Apply to this program

    Go to the official application for the university

    Duration 24 month(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 31,650  / year
    Next Intake September-2026

    MSc Physician Associate

    About

    Our MSc Physician Associate programme provides essential training for entering an exciting new career as a healthcare professional.

    This course is suitable for life science graduates or those with significant healthcare experience.

    You will receive training in the classroom and experience a wide variety of teaching methods. You will engage in workplace-based learning in NHS Primary and Secondary Care environments, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge as a healthcare professional in real settings. All curriculum content is delivered in close partnership with practicing clinicians. Our course provides significant clinical placement hours in primary/secondary healthcare settings. In your final year placement time will increase so that you are on placement 4-5 days most weeks, rotating around multiple healthcare settings to ensure that you are well prepared to practise anywhere as a Physician Associate upon qualification.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    IELTS: 7.5 overall with no element less than 7.0.

    Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above), in a relevant life sciences subject, for example, biological sciences, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, pharmacy or psychology. A good lower second-class honours degree (2.2) combined with other relevant practical healthcare skills and experience (or qualifications and experience considered to be equivalent to the above) will also be considered.

    As part of the application process for this programme, you will be required to attend an interview. Interviews typically run from early April to the end of May/early June.

    Application window: Monday 20 January to Friday 25 April (deadline).

    Demand for places on this course is high and all successful applicants will be required to pay a £1,000 deposit to hold their place on the course.

    English Program Requirements

    IELTS: 7.5 overall with no element less than 7.0.

    Career

    A Physician Associate (PA) is a healthcare professional trained in the medical model who works as a member of a medical team under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon in a wide variety of workplaces (including GP practices, community health services and all types of hospital care). PAs support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients and are trained to perform a number of roles including:

    • taking medical histories
    • performing examinations
    • diagnosing illnesses
    • analysing test results
    • developing management plans.

    The PA role is flexible and is being developed across the NHS to meet major staffing strategies. A lack of trained PAs in the UK means that career prospects for graduates are excellent. The predicted growth of the PA role across the NHS to fill an important resource gap indicates strong continued employment prospects for graduates.

    Overall, 100% of graduates from Pharmacy are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation; of those in full-time employment, 98.5% are in graduate level roles. (Based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22; includes postgraduate [taught] Pharmacy responders.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee

    GBP 31,650 

    Application Fee

    GBP  

    How to Apply

    1. Check our entry requirements

    Please see our postgraduate subject finder for minimum entry requirements for the programme you are interested in; entry requirements can vary from one programme to another. International students can consult our country-specific pages for information and guidance on alternative qualification equivalencies for master’s study.

    If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on each course page. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

    If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

    2. Application and funding deadlines

    Although most master’s programmes do not formally close for applications, some programmes do have application deadlines; if your programme has a deadline it will be specified on the course page under the ‘Entry requirements’ section. For programmes that do not have a specific application deadline, places may be limited and programmes may become full. We recommend that you apply as early as possible (particularly if you are an international student) to allow time not only for us to process your application, but for you to ensure that you can meet any offer conditions, arrange your accommodation and, importantly, funding for your studies.  For admission in September, we do recommend that you apply by 1 August (if you are a UK applicant) and 1 July (if you are an international applicant requiring a visa to come to the UK) however, we are happy to still consider applications after these dates.

    International applicants should also see our advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

    Funding deadlines

    We require an offer of study for many of our master’s scholarships and bursaries. You should check deadlines for applications carefully, and each scholarship or bursary will have specific application instructions. We may add scholarships throughout the year, so it is a good idea to re-visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

    3. Submit your application

    You can apply for master’s programmes directly through our online application system, RISIS. For our PGCE/Teacher Training programmes, applications must be made via the Department of Education's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training portal. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation. 

    Various documents are needed to make your application. You should electronically upload:

    • full transcripts of all degree programmes taken. If these are not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Please do not mail original copies; we only require PDF copies via electronic upload,
    • an English language certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), if English is not your first language (this can also be provided after you submit your application),
    • contact details for two academic/professional references. Your references will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you have submitted your application. Please remind your references to check their junk/spam filters for the email and let them know that the link to the form is only valid for 20 days,
    • statement of purpose. Your personal statement should outline your academic performance, interest in applying to master’s study, any relevant work experience and skills gained,
    • a copy of your passport (for international students).

    Application fee

    We do not charge an application fee to apply for our master’s programmes.

    4. Track your application

    You can track the progress of your application using our applicant portal, Me@Reading, a personalised resource including information about your programme of study, student stories and what's happening here at Reading. It has everything you need to know, all in one place. When we have made a decision on your application, we will contact you via email. If we are able to make you an offer for a place to study, your offer will contain information about what to do next, including how to accept your offer, pay a deposit (if applicable), and any conditions you must meet to study with us.  

    University of Reading

    MSc Physician Associate

    University of Reading

    [object Object]

    United Kingdom,

    Reading

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