MSc Physician Associate Studies

• Year 1

• The first year is predominantly spent in the University setting, establishing the foundations of clinical medicine and developing your clinical, diagnostic and communication skills. However, you will also experience community placements (including general practice) and secondary-care clinical placements in hospital throughout Year 1. Placements are across the South West. 

  Core modules

  • Foundations in Clinical Medicine 1 (PAS711)

    This module advances students' knowledge in pathophysiology and clinical reasoning appropriate to clinical practice. Students are exposed to relevant basic medical and human sciences and their application to practice; and a wide range of clinical experiences using Inquiry-Based Learning. They will develop clinical reasoning skills for managing undifferentiated presentations of common and important medical conditions.

  • Clinical, Diagnostic and Communication Skills 1 (PAS712)

    This module deals with the acquisition of the basic core clinical competences and communication skills underpinning modern clinical practice. Through supervised practice in a predominantly simulated environment students will develop and demonstrate the clinical competencies required of a Physician Associate and learn to effectively communicate with patients, carers and other healthcare professionals.

  • Personal and Professional Development 1 (PAS713)

    Modern healthcare requires students to be reflective, holistic practitioners to provide patient-centred care. During this module, students work in small groups and on clinical placement to achieve the professionalism standards required of a Physician Associate (PA). They are exposed to the ethical and legal principles relevant to healthcare, and are expected to take an active role in developing as reflective practitioners.

  • Evidence-Based Practice and Research Methods (PAS714)

    Medical knowledge is constantly evolving. Students must be able to 'keep up to date' with advances and know what evidence is relevant and appropriate to their clinical practice. This module enables students to develop the skills required to search, retrieve, critically appraise and synthesis conclusions from the current medical literature and make recommendations for clinical practice.

• Final year

• In your second year, you will be based predominantly in the clinical setting with speciality blocks in mental health, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, emergency medicine and general adult medicine (both hospital and community based). Placements are across the South West. Your timetable is designed to enable you to complete the required clinical hours, supported by a university based academic programme. You will also develop and apply your knowledge of evidence in practice to a clinical case you are particularly interested in to complete the Masters portion of your programme

  Core modules

  • Foundations in Clinical Medicine 2 (PAS724)

    The module gives students an opportunity to expand their theoretical knowledge and apply their learning to clinical practice. Students enhance their clinical reasoning skills in the management of a range of conditions. Students are exposed to advanced pathophysiological concepts relevant to their day to day practice.

  • Clinical, Diagnostic and Communication Skills 2 (PAS725)

    During this module, students are predominantly based in the clinical environment. They are to develop their basic clinical competencies with real patient encounters, and in doing so are able to apply the skills learnt in the simulated environment within both primary and secondary care. Students are expected to develop their communication skills to successfully support shared-decision making and patient-centred care.

  • Personal and Professional Development 2 (PAS726)

    As a qualified Physician Associate, students must exemplify the professional standards expected of a healthcare professional. This module enables them to develop the skills and values they have learnt in an immersive clinical environment. Students will also develop their skills of reflective writing and practice to enable them to use personal and professional experiences to enhance their future clinical practice.

  • Evidence in Practice (PAS727)

    This module allows students to apply and expand their knowledge of evidence based practice and appreciate the need for continuous clinical evaluation and improvement. They will and combine this learning with their developing clinical knowledge to create and disseminate a clinical case report in the style of a published report

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Physician Associate Studies Programme Specification 2023-24 6510