On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. As a successful graduate, you’ll be able to progress from student to full membership of the
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Studying physiotherapy at the University of Plymouth will open a wide range of career choices
both within and outside the NHS, for example in:
- private hospitals and clinics
- sports clubs and gyms
- private practice.
You could also consider related careers such as:
- healthcare or leisure management
- HE Lecturer
- health improvement practitioner
- personal trainer
Graduate Management Training schemes with organisations like the NHS or Civil Service as well as a range of post grad pathways such as teaching are also all options.
Researching your career options
Given the diversity of career options open to physiotherapy graduates, it is important to research and explore these fully so that you can make informed decisions about your future.
Take a look at the following useful websites for inspiration and further information:
Gaining work experience
As part of your course, you will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of practice placements spread across all three years, where you will work with patients under the close supervision of experienced physiotherapists.
The University of Plymouth encourages and supports a range of voluntary, additional opportunities to enhance your employability and professional development. These include providing physiotherapy services at events such as the Plymouth Half Marathon, Plymouth 10K and assisting court side with Plymouth Raiders Basketball Team, plus supporting students in their own charitable and community engagement.
You can also gain valuable skills and experience through part time work or through the many UPSU societies and sports clubs.
Employment Opportunities
Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth Physiotherapy graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as ‘stepping stones’ to other roles by providing relevant workplace experience.
- Chartered Physiotherapist
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
- Physical Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Physiotherapy Technican Hydrotherapy
- Rehabilitation Physiotherapist
- Rotational Band 5 Physiotherapist
- Rotational Physiotherapist
Employers
- Elliot Hospital
- Ascenti
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Livewell Southwest
- Mount Kelly Physiotherapist Centre
- NHS - The Royal Devon & Exeter, Respiratory Unit
- Northampton Hospital
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Swansea Bay University Health Board
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys of 2017/18 and 2018/19. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for 28 UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.