personal statement for physician associate uk

A Winning Personal Statement Physician Associate UK

The Personal Statement for the Physician Associate Programme

Becoming a physician associate (PA) can lead to a fulfilling career aligning with your personal and professional goals. PAs learn about human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, and other basic sciences. In addition, they must complete two years of clinical training before being licensed to practice.

If you are passionate about caring for patients and have the required communication, leadership, empathy, and determination , this career will be perfect for you.

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a physician associate, you need to gain work experience or shadowing.

This will be useful to write about and will help you understand their roles as collaborators, empathetic clinicians, and problem-solvers in healthcare.

You can also supplement your experiences by volunteering to gain experience caring for patients in various healthcare settings.

What to add in a Personal Statement - Physician Associate

The personal statement for a physician associate applicant can MAKE or BREAK your application.

They provide admission committees with information on your professional experiences and characteristics to help them determine whether you will be an asset to their program.

Personal Statement Physician Associate UK Format

If you’re applying through UCAS, then you’re limited to 4000 characters (including spaces) and up to 47 lines. Check your length by pasting your draft here

Personal Statement Physician Assistant U.S. Format 

Those applying to Physician Assistant Studies in the U.S. will apply through CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants). The personal statement will be uploaded to CASPA and should be no more than 5000 characters.

Table of Contents

• What to include
• How to structure the personal statement
• Winning Personal Statement Physician Associate Example UK

What to include!

A well-crafted personal statement for a physician associate course should show your strengths as an applicant. You must include details about your academic background, employment, volunteering , extracurriculars, and future goals .

If you’ve taken courses related to healthcare, you should include these too.

A personal statement begins with an introductory paragraph introducing the admission team to you and explaining your motivations, a bit about your background, and how your experiences have led you to this application.

The introduction also provides context for the rest of the statement by explaining how you chose PA school as a career path.

What makes you unique?

In addition to providing context for your application, the introductory paragraph should explain why you chose to become a PA.

You should demonstrate your interest in helping others through patient experiences, research, and wider reading while emphasising your desire to help patients in need.

The best way to stand out is to be very specific with your statement.

Think about it, if someone else can copy your personal statement and use it as their own, it’s far too generic.

To overcome this and make it more authentic , you want to be specific with your experiences.

Make it personal by using anecdotes from your experiences to explain your point.

To explain your journey, pick your most unique and influential work experiences, employment, and extracurriculars.

How to structure the Personal Statement for the PA course

Step-by-step

I am going to break it down as simply as possible with a short description and example of each:

Introduction

Always remember that the admission tutors will skim through hundreds of application essays. It’s a competitive course, so how can you get them to slow down and really pay attention?

THIS IS HOW:

Grab their interest immediately , evoke their emotions and make them feel what you felt. Go straight to the point by starting with an anecdote or explaining the highlights of your experience.

“What if I’m starting with a negative experience, for example, a close family member receiving a cancer diagnosis?”

Same situation- get straight to the point

“ My mother came home, and her expression was enough to determine the outcome of her scan. “It’s cancer,” she mumbled as she slumped herself on the sofa, looking lifeless, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. At merely sixteen years of age, I found out my mother was diagnosed with metastatic cancer amid a pivotal academic stage of my life. I was helpless, heartbroken, and entirely unaware of the toll chemotherapy would have on our family. ” MY THOUGHTS ON THIS This story evokes sympathy and curiosity. We know the applicant was young, which would have impacted their family, home life, and education. We now want to know how things pan out, and it’s clear this is their biggest motivation for applying to become a physician associate.

Body of the Personal Statement

This main chunk of the statement will include the essential ingredients to creating an outstanding personal statement.

Work experience/Shadowing

Discuss your experience in a healthcare environment—roles you had and what you observed. Note which skills are required in that role. Include any encounters that inspired you. If you don’t have work experience, talk about your employment or your undergraduate education – research, dissertation, clinical skills work.

Volunteering

Include your top two meaningful experiences. Alternatively, you can talk about tutoring, mentorship, leadership positions during your undergraduate, and involvement in societies. Relate these experiences to the skills you’ve gained. Reflect on each experience and relate it to your future goals.

Include any other extracurriculars, hobbies, or future goals – Work with a sports team, coaching, sports, cooking, listening to podcasts, wider reading, and content creation. This paragraph shouldn’t be too serious; it can show your human side and focus less on academia.

Summarise your experiences and how these have led you to your application. Tell them what you wish to bring to the university.

Do you hope to become a student rep, join their research team, continue existing research, create a society for likeminded PAs, contribute to a specific cause, etc…

Tell them EXACTLY how the physician associate course aligns with your personal and professional goals.

-What can they offer you that other programmes can’t?

-How will THEIR course structure and opportunities enable you to become a successful PA?

Personal Statement for Physician Associate Studies- Winning Example

“Mrs P eagerly asked if I would be coming to the residential home the following week. I was a weekly volunteer and would regularly catch up with her when I came to help. I reassured her I would be there weekly and offered to bring her favourite magazine during my next visit. During my time at the home, I came to learn about Mrs P’s time as a nurse in the 80s, and she was always keen to learn about my goal of becoming a physician associate (PA). Helping to provide for patients like Mrs P and many others confirmed my desire to serve patients in my community. Not only was it rewarding, but I expanded my knowledge of various physical conditions and the impact of ageing on one’s ability to care for themselves. This further drew me to becoming a physician associate, and I was eager to gain insight into the profession.” Transition into your second paragraph, where you will talk about your most meaningful academic experience or shadowing. Highlight the roles of the PA, skills required, and how your experience has developed those skills. Show, don’t tell. “Shadowing a physician associate at a primary care facility helped me to understand the skills required. I observed the variety that each patient brought. The most memorable aspect was the PA’s ability to determine the cause of their concerns, convey possible diagnoses, and calmly discuss the next steps of the investigation. His tone of voice suggested confidence, which I feel built the patient’s trust in his decision. I genuinely felt that he could effortlessly build a rapport and make a patient feel cared for by recognising how their issues were affecting their daily lives. This empathy was supplemented with superior teamwork, analytical skills, and organisation.” So we know they shadowed in a primary care setting. Observed a PA in action and noted their rapport-building and other essential skills. What else did they learn, and how have they developed the specified skills? “I aided the PA by relaying information between the staff and helping behind the reception desk. I gauged the pressure of meeting the demands of many patients and being unable to tend to their needs due to a lack of appointments. Nevertheless, I apologised and provided alternative options to help the patients. I learned to prepare for each day, write notes during consultations and organise the patient records during the afternoons to help the reception staff with any backlog. This experience enabled me to see the rewarding and challenging aspects of primary care. However, I was drawn to the dynamicity and variety .” What makes you a better candidate than others? In other words, how can your experiences make you stand out? “My work experience at my brother’s physical therapy clinic provided additional insight into another aspect of care. Rehabilitation brought patients with diverse conditions, from musculoskeletal issues and trauma to post-operative cases. I witnessed the practical side of care and the need for physicians to liaise with physiotherapists. From speaking to many patients, I learned that physical conditions took a mental toll on their lives. I recognised how simple activities that I would often overlook could become so complex for a patient. My brother would encourage preventive physiotherapy, which intrigued me. Prevention has become a running theme in my experiences, and I hope to use this knowledge to become a forward-thinking PA who can advise my patients on the best preventive measures, such as having balanced meals, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and alcohol.” You should include any relevant extracurricular, leadership, research, mentorship positions, or tutoring experience. If you have volunteered in non-healthcare areas such as a local animal shelter, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or other organisation, then you can add them. “Aside from my work experience, I often helped at homeless shelters in London and aided in providing nutritious meals to those on the streets. I delegated which team member would cook, prepare, and distribute food among the volunteers. As the most experienced volunteer, I was able to identify the task which best suited each member, which increased our efficiency, and we delivered the maximum number of meals – beating our record. Furthermore, I liaised with multiple organisations and the charity manager to plan how to expand our reach. This was a rewarding role, highlighting the medical issues that are more prevalent in the homeless communities. Many people I spoke to shared their fear of COVID-19 and blood-borne diseases. Being a volunteer enabled me to make a difference in their day. In the future, I wish to make a greater impact via preventive education, increased healthcare access, and offering medical care.” Now, reiterate the primary motivation, summarise the essential experiences, and conclude with what you hope to bring to the programme. “I have worked with many people in a range of healthcare and non-healthcare settings, which has taught me to connect with those of various backgrounds, sexual orientations, ages, and ethnicities. I truly feel these experiences have built my resilience and increased my awareness of prevalent issues in healthcare. I now wish to further supplement my knowledge and community work in a physician associate program dedicated to providing quality healthcare. An opportunity to meet these goals at your university would be invaluable to me.”

This personal statement for Physician Associate Studies led to interview invites from St. Georges University, the University of Reading and the University of Surrey.

**Disclaimer: Copying any part of this statement will lead to an immediate rejection due to plagiarism** The writer of this statement was highly ambitious and wanted to gain acceptance that year despite nearing the application deadline.

We worked closely to create this personal statement from scratch. This involved us detailing each and every experience that could be mentioned—determining the most valuable experiences and working through each paragraph to create a coherent and engaging personal statement. If you’re suffering from writer’s block or simply need a fresh pair of eyes to read your personal statement, please get in touch with Dr Radhika.

Sentence structure, flow, spelling, and grammar are equally important. Without flow and good transitional sentences, it becomes difficult to read, losing the admission tutor’s interest.

Therefore, I advise getting professional help with your personal statement. Invest in your future to increase your chances of getting into your dream physician associate course.

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Writing your Physician Associate Personal Statement

So, you’ve decided you want to become a Physician Associate. Great! Now its time to actually write your application. It can be a daunting task but I’ve put together some hints and tips that will help you stand out from the rest.

Why do you want to be a Physician Associate?

This is the obvious question you’ll need to think about and answer. Whatever your answer is, make sure its personal and honest because if you get an interview, its potentially something you will get asked about. There may be variations on this e.g. why PA Studies over Medicine? There are many advantages to being a PA such as the job flexibility (primary care to secondary care and vice versa), potential better work-life balance, providing continuity of care and much more. Again, its about being personal and honest to ensure your application is unique and reads well.

Sell yourself

This is not the time to be shy and modest. Don’t want to brag but I thought my application was pretty good. This was because I read the application requirements and made sure I matched nearly all if not all of the specification. Make sure to do the same. This course is intense so you want to be using key words and skills to show that you’re ready to take on those challenges. Time management, organisation, commitment and professionalism are just some examples. Don’t just dump them in there either, show examples of where/when you’ve been these things. Each uni might word their specification (what they’re looking for) differently so make sure you’ve read carefully and tweak if you’re applying for more than one course.

Any clinical or relevant experience

It’s not always possible to get clinical experience, sometimes you have to think outside the box. Hospitals aren’t the only place to gain experience. Although I worked as a Healthcare Assistant before applying for my PA course, I also volunteered twice a week at a Neurodisability centre which provided rehab and long-term care for patients. You can also consider approaching local GPs, walk-in centres, charities, anywhere that involves giving up your time to help and care for others.

I’m a big believer in turning past experiences into relevant experience. If you’ve worked or volunteered in positions where you’ve been public facing or worked with confidential public information you can turn this into relevant experience. You’ll find that a number of the skills you have are transferable to working in a medical environment, you just have to reflect on this and sell it the right way.

Show you know about the PA profession

You need to demonstrate that you understand the profession that you’re applying for as this will massively strengthen your application. It is also a topic that is likely to be discussed at interview. Here are a few topics you can think/write about:

Why does the NHS need PAs?

How you think the PA profession will improve patient experience?

How do you think PAs fit into the MDT (multidisciplinary team)?

Where do you see the profession in the future? – here you should read up on the situation with statutory regulation and what this means in terms of prescribing rights and furthering our scope

The Faculty of Physician Associates has information here http://www.fparcp.co.uk/about-fpa/Who-are-physician-associates.

There are articles like this you can read with helpful information

https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/case-studies/the-physician-associate-will-see-you-now-new-role-to-assist-patients-in-primary-care/

You can also look at information and studies done in America looking at the impact of PAs on their healthcare system.

Check and Optimise

Give yourself enough time to write your application, you don’t want to be rushing and scrambling something together at the last minute. It took me a few drafts before I was happy with my application so give yourself a few attempts. Take a break and come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. You’ll be more likely to phrase things better and find those mistakes you missed the day before. Obviously use a spell-checker and ask friends and family to have a read and get feedback. These are the people that are likely to remind you abut things you’ve done and not mentioned, or help you phrase things in a way that better reflects you.

All that’s left to do is apply! Hopefully you’re feeling more confident and inspired to write a great application using these tips. Good luck!

If you like what you're reading feel free to leave a comment or share on social media.

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Physician Associate MSc

Key information.

Course code

Subject area

Physician Associate

Mode of study

2 years full-time

International £23,615

Entry requirements

Application is now closed for 2024 entry

Watch our latest virtual open day talk here

By graduating as a Physician Associate (PA) from Brunel Medical School, you’ll be part of an exciting, important, and emerging group of clinical professionals who support doctors and medical teams within the NHS.

Working in the healthcare profession can be inspiring and rewarding. A career as a PA will mean that you’ll support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. This might be in a hospital or a GP surgery. You’ll be part of a growing profession in the NHS where vacancies currently exceed the supply of skilled professionals.

Our experienced and passionate lecturers will prepare you with all the skills you need to provide care and treatment to patients.

You’ll learn to carry out a range of medical activities such as medical histories, physical examinations, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. You’ll also learn how to request and interpret test results, diagnose illness, and develop treatment and management plans.

At Brunel, we have great links with some of the most highly regarded health providers in London, so you’ll add exceptional work experience to your CV. Your Physician Associate qualification includes over 1,700 hours of professional practice, so you’ll be equipped with the experience and expertise to give you an excellent start as you then embark on your career as a Physician Associate.

As a Physician Associate student, you will be joining the internationally renowned and well-established College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences.

In the past, Health Education England, now merged with NHS England, has provided a national funding strategy for Physician Associate courses in England. This funding provided £5,000 per student via their university; £2,500 in Year 1 and £2,500 in Year 2 and is available for students entering in 2023.

Please note that this funding is subject to annual review and may not be available in the future.

Physician Associate National Examination

Successful completion of the Physician Associate MSc programme provides eligibility to sit for the Physician Associate National Examination and join the Managed Voluntary Register, until regulation by the General Medical Council (GMC) comes into effect .

Physician Associate recognition

Please note, the Physician Associate qualification may not currently be recognised in some countries e.g. USA. Please contact [email protected] for further information.

National Health Service (NHS) Values

The NHS Values as shaped by patients, public and staff have helped inspire passion in the NHS and that should underpin everything it does. Individual organisations will develop and build upon these values, tailoring them to their local needs. The NHS values provide common ground for co-operation to achieve shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.

If you are considering studying the Physician Associate MSc Programme at Brunel then you're committed to working jointly with the NHS to demonstrate the values and beliefs of the constitution.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +44(0)1895 268083

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour .

Got a question about this course? Please view our Frequently Asked Questions .

Course content

Your course will be delivered over a period of 45 weeks in year one and 48 weeks in year two. The programme is exciting, innovative, and intense, usually requiring you to study on campus from 9am to 5pm, five days a week. You’ll have significant contact hours.

Your first clinical placement will start in the first term of year one, with weekly one day GP placements. In year two most of your time will be spent on clinical placements in a variety of practice settings. You’ll adopt the working patterns of your supervising clinician, so you’ll be working a 40-hour week.

Please note that in July 2019, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has asked the General Medical Council (GMC) to regulate the Physician Associate profession in the UK. Information will be updated for applicants when further details are available.

This course can be studied 2 years full-time, starting in August/September.

• PH5608 - Applied Pharmacology This module looks at some of the more important groups of drugs encountered by healthcare practitioners. Students will study drug actions, therapeutic and adverse effects, important interactions and examine individual drug responses. The module runs parallel with the Foundations of Clinical Medicine module so that the two complement each other. For example when the student is reviewing the cardiovascular system and diseases in FCM, they will learn about present hypertension medications and anti-anginals.
• Applied Research for Health and Social Care
• Foundations of Clinical Medicine A
• PA Placement Year 1 - General Practice 1
• PA Placement Year 1 - General Practice 2
• PA Placement Year 1 - General Practice 3
• Personal and Professional Development A
• PH5520 - Dissertation In this module, students will learn how to design and conduct an original piece of research. They will work with an academic supervisor on a topic relevant to their disciplinary major.
• Foundations in Clinical Medicine B
• PA Elective Placements
• PA Placement – Accident and Emergency
• PA Placement – Acute Medicine
• PA Placement – General Practice
• PA Placement – Mental Health
• PA Placement – Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• PA Placement – Paediatrics
• PA Placement – Surgery
• Personal and Professional Development B

This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.

This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel

Careers and your future

Your varied clinical placements will equip you for the working world. In fact, the positive relationships made on your placement can often lead to the offer of permanent employment on completion of your MSc.

On your placements, you’ll have the opportunity to work in the following areas:

• Accident and Emergency
• Acute Medicine
• General Practice
• Mental Health
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics

Whilst on clinical placements, you’ll be supervised by doctors and physician associates. All clinical placements are organised on the student's behalf by the clinical co-ordination team. This allows us to provide you with a balanced clinical experience both in terms of the specialities/patient groups you work with and the range of healthcare settings you work in. At Brunel, we recognise the importance of ensuring you're exposed to a variety of health settings which are reflective of current clinical practice.

We're sympathetic to your needs when we assign clinical placements. However, we're unable to guarantee your clinical placements will be located close to your home, or term-time address, and you may have to commute or live away from home for the duration of a placement or two. We do try to give special consideration to students whose personal circumstances fall within specified criteria, i.e. they have young children, are a main carer, or have a declared disability etc.

You’ll be joining a growing profession where there are currently plenty of vacancies. Typically, Physician Associate salaries start in band 7 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale. However, some Physician Associate roles where an internship is offered fall within band 6.

Physician Associates work in a variety of clinical settings and specialties including GP surgeries, hospital inpatient wards, and A & E departments. Please see the FAQ page of the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Physician Associates (RCPFPA) website for more information. The RCPFPA’s most recent census information can be viewed at Census Results .

For additional information regarding the Physician Associate profession please explore:

Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Physician Associates

Matrix Specification of Core Clinical Conditions for the Physician Assistant

UK entry requirements

How to apply

Please be aware that to apply for this course you will need to submit an application through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Undergraduate degree

A UK first or 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in a Life or Health Sciences subject area (e.g. Anatomy, Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Medical Engineering, Nursing, Operating Department Practice, Paramedic Pharmacy, Physiology).

Postgraduate degree

We also accept applicants who have a Master's degree graded Merit or above in a Life or Health Sciences related subject provided they have a solid foundation of the basic sciences (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Pathology, etc.).

All applicants must have a minimum of GCSE English grade 4/C or above or equivalent qualification.

Personal statements

You should submit a personal statement focused on your motivation to become a physician associate detailing your experience, qualifications and personal qualities as they pertain to becoming a member of the profession. You will be able to submit your statement when you apply through UCAS.

We require a copy of your up-to-date CV. This should detail your education and work backgrounds and a meticulous history of your patient contact experience. The latter should include your role, responsibilities and completed hours, etc.

One satisfactory reference is required to support your application this must be dated within the last year. If you have studied in the last 3 years the reference must be an academic reference. Your referee should know you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. We do not accept references from family, friends, partners, ex-partners or yourself.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an invite to a Selection Day or a place on the programme.

Health screening

Successful applicants will have a satisfactory health clearance and are required to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations such as hepatitis B, MMR, TB, chicken pox, tetanus and polio (please note, this list may be updated).

Disclosure and Barring Service

Successful applicants are required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly a Criminal Records Bureau check). 

Professional registration

If you are a current healthcare professional or a member of a registered professional body, please provide details of your registration.

Applicants may apply for the next entry point only. While the Physician Associate MSc does not typically permit the deferral of offers, should you receive an offer and need to defer your offer to the entry point following the one you applied for, you should put your request in writing to the Admission Office. They will liaise with the Admissions Tutors for the course and let you know the outcome. You should have a strong reason for the deferral and we regret that we are not able to guarantee that we can accommodate your request.

EU and International entry requirements

English language requirements.

• IELTS: 7.5 (min 7.0 in all areas)
• Pearson: 73 (64 in all subscores)
• BrunELT : 73% (68% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 108 (min 20) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our  English Language Requirements  page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our  Brunel Language Centre .

Please check our Admissions  pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2024/25 entry.

£12,650 full-time

International

£23,615 full-time

More information on any additional course-related costs .

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase. 

See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Scholarships and bursaries

• Brunel Graduate Discount
• Postgraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship

Teaching and learning

The course will be delivered by Brunel Medical School using a variety of methods that have been chosen to optimise your learning of clinical theories and skills. All methods have been designed to maximise the level of interaction and engagement with your tutors and fellow students.

All modules will be delivered on campus via in-person teaching with mandatory attendance. Students will therefore be required to attend campus for all modules. Each module will be supported by the provision of additional online learning.

Campus-based teaching will be delivered in small group tutorials within our purpose-built clinical skills rooms.

You will have access to Brunel Medical School’s dedicated Student Support & Wellbeing services along with the wider University support services.

A member of the academic team will act as your personal tutor throughout your time at university. They will be a source of support and will help you to make the most of your studies and time at university. You'll have scheduled tutor meetings and be able to access your tutor as required either online or via face-to-face meetings on campus.

Assessments

A variety of assessment formats will be used to support your learning. This will include campus-based clinical assessments and online exams.

Clinical Placements

You'll be supported by our dedicated clinical placements team, and allocated placements within the NHS.

The schedule of teaching and assessment has been developed to maximise your enjoyment and support during the programme. Through the provision of campus-based teaching we will provide an engaging and stimulating programme that helps you to maximise your learning and professional development in preparation for clinical practice.

Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.

We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here .

From lecturers with over 30 years’ experience of working as a Physician Associate to an examiner for the national exams at the Faculty of Physician Associates for the Royal College of Physicians, you’ll benefit from the expertise of our highly regarded academic team when you study at Brunel.

Our lecturers have taught, worked or carried out research across the world and this feeds into their teaching. Your learning experience will be a mixture of classroom-based, problem / evidence-based, peer-assisted team-based learning, clinical practice, independent and e-learning and assimilated learning in clinical labs.

Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.

Assessment and feedback

You’ll be assessed on single best answer/multiple choice questions, written short answer questions, papers and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to begin early preparation for the National Examination. Other assessments will include written assignments, oral presentations, reflective writing and a portfolio of evidence.

You will be assessed on placement by your supervising clinician(s). The assessments from clinical placement modules will contribute to your final degree classification.

All modules must be passed in order to proceed through the course. Normally you’ll be given two attempts at passing each assessment.

Peninsula Medical School

MSc Physician Associate Studies

(with placements)

Programme code	6510
Duration
Course type	Full-time
Study location	Plymouth

This full-time, 2 year course is ideal for life sciences graduates wanting the opportunity to train for a new healthcare role, or for healthcare practitioners who would like to develop and expand their skills and scope of practice.

Key features

• High graduate pass rate at National Certification Examination
• Experience an integrated curriculum designed to prepare you for clinical practice
• Sharpen your skills on this intensive programme which uses multiple forms of teaching and learning methods to support your personal and professional development
• Benefit from early patient contact, continuing and increasing throughout the programme, ensuring that your personal, practical and professional development is patient-centred
• Clinical placements with key NHS partners across the South West
• Access highly-developed teaching resources
• Learn and practice clinical skills in our advanced and dedicated clinical skills centre, including using high-fidelity simulation
•  Advance your understanding with fully integrated clinical skill development and clinical placements throughout the programme
• Join one of England’s top medical schools and make a difference to patient care

Course details

Core modules.

PAS711 Foundations in Clinical Medicine 1

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.

PAS712 Clinical, Diagnostic and Communication Skills 1

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.

PAS713 Personal and Professional Development 1

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.

PAS714 Evidence-Based Practice and Research Methods

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.

PAS724 Foundations in Clinical Medicine 2

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.

PAS725 Clinical, Diagnostic and Communication Skills 2

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.

PAS726 Personal and Professional Development 2

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.

PAS727 Evidence in Practice

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

Entry requirements

• Chiropractic Studies
• Dietetics and Nutrition
• Paramedic Medicine
• Physiotherapy.
• Biochemistry
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• Physician Associate

MSc Physician Associate

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Introduction to Physician Associate Masters

Train to become a physician associate and gain the clinical skills vital to the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients in primary and secondary care.

Studying MSc Physician Associate at ARU

Find out more about how our course is structured, and where you'll study.

A Physician Associate is part of a rapidly growing medical profession in the UK. If you have a first degree in life or health sciences, our MSc Physician Associate course will equip you to fill an important clinical role.

We’ll train you to diagnose illnesses, develop treatment and management plans, perform procedures and deliver patient education, counselling and health promotion. In our Physician Associate degree, you'll be able to take a patient’s history, perform physical examinations and procedures and request and interpret diagnostic test results.

This Physician Course Associate is an intensive and challenging two-year postgraduate course offering significant rewards.

Why study a Physician Associate course?

At ARU, your postgraduate study will be divided equally between theory and practice, following the medical model of teaching, learning and assessment.

In your first year of this Physician Associate Masters degree course you’ll study on ARU’s Chelmsford campus in the School of Medicine. Alongside lectures, tutorials, practical workshops and simulated skills work, you’ll also go on primary care placements in GP surgeries.

You’ll spend all of the second year following a programme of clinical placements in general practice, hospital wards and outpatient settings across the East of England. Clinical specialties will include:

• community-based medicine
• general hospital medicine
• front door medicine (A&E)
• mental health
• general surgery
• obstetrics and gynaecology
• paediatrics in an acute setting.

You’ll learn to become a caring, capable, knowledgeable and research-aware physician associate, with high-level clinical and communication skills.

As the availability of work placements in the UK health service is limited, our MSc Physician Associate is open to UK applicants only.

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Fees and Paying for University

Facilities and accreditation.

Hands-on learning

As a Physician Associate student at ARU you will:

• spend 50% of your study time out on placement
• complete clinical placements in hospital wards, outpatient settings and general practice
• develop a range of important clinical skills, alongside high-level communication skills
• study in our state-of-the-art School of Medicine in Chelmsford.

You’ll spend the majority of your second year in rotational hospital placements, and you can choose to be placed in Essex, or Peterborough with Northwest Anglia Foundation Trust (NWAFT) which includes Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough City hospitals. When applying to your MSc Physician Associate, in your personal statement please let us know your preference for Year 2 placements.

Take a guided tour and meet our students .

Outstanding student support

Join our postgraduate student community and:

• benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
• learn from expert staff who will guide your research interests and career development
• receive full support from our Employability Service , while you're studying with us and after you graduate
• access support, should you need it, with study skills, health and wellbeing, and more.

Stephen Hughes

Senior Lecturer

• [email protected]

Sanaa Noman

Senior Lecturer Practitioner

Albie James

James Catton

Krishna Gnanaseelan

Connect with Krishna on LinkedIn

Samantha Marriott

Louise Angwa

Jody Hinchliffe

When you graduate from your Physician Associate course, you’ll be ready for nomination to the Physician Associate national certification exam. This is a professional entry exam and is external to ARU. Only students who graduate from recognised UK courses are eligible for nomination. ARU is a recognised provider and by graduating from our course, you’ll be eligible for nomination.

Once you have passed the professional entry exam (national exam at the Faculty of Physician Associates – Royal College of Physicians), you’ll be able to register as a physician associate and practice in the UK.

Physician associates fill an emerging and increasingly important role in the UK. They provide continuity of care in medical specialities and general practice and are a stable member of the team who does not rotate.

There are increasing opportunities for physician associates to work in the NHS primary and acute healthcare service sector across the East of England. Graduates from the Physician Associate course are frequently appointed to roles in general practice, emergency medicine, cardiology, surgery and other specialties.

Physician Associate graduates may use their qualifications as a springboard into other careers including:

• Public health
• FE and HE teaching
• Clinical research
• Health promotion
• Overseas aid and development
• Universities
• Voluntary organisations

Apply now for MSc Physician Associate

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If your application to study MSc Physician Associate is successful, we'll invite you to an interview day. Here’s how to get prepared.

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Chelmsford has something for everyone, and our green, modern campus is just ten minutes from the city centre.

Benefits of postgraduate study

Improve your employability, progress in your career, and take on an intellectual challenge with our flexible postgraduate degrees.

Physician Associate Studies MSc

Become part of a skilled new workforce, with the knowledge and practical experience to improve patient access to care. This course will train you to support doctors with the diagnosis and management of patients across general practice, hospitals and community healthcare.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

• Entry Criteria

Structure and assessment

Facilities and features, opportunities and careers, take your next steps.

Physician associates perform an integral and skilled role in healthcare, supporting medical supervisors in performing physical examinations, formulating differential diagnoses, interpreting diagnostic tests, and recommending treatment plans. 

Designed and delivered in collaboration with practitioners from local healthcare providers, this course will equip you with the experience and expertise required to practice as a physician associate. You will develop transferable skills that are invaluable in both the healthcare sector and across industries. 

We deliver teaching through tutor-led sessions and clinical placements, reinforcing your knowledge through self-directed study. We will develop your ability to work as part of a multi-professional team and provide contemporary and informed insight thanks to input and guidance from experienced clinical colleagues.

During the course you will cover a range of modules, gaining comprehensive understanding of clinical human anatomy and physiology, diseases and health conditions associated with major organ systems, an in-depth view of community health, and key clinical and professional skills such as history taking, physical examination and ethics. You will also complete an independent supervised practice-related project.

Key features

• This programme is designed and delivered by dedicated academic staff and healthcare professionals who have a wealth of knowledge in the field.
• Benefit from mandatory placements in general practice, community and acute hospital settings to equip you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career as a physician associate
• Purpose-built clinical skills areas will allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment
• Improve your critical thinking skills and your ability to design, execute and present findings of practice-based research
• Study a range of modules including; Anatomy and Physiology, Community Health, General Medicine and Speciality Medicine 
• There is currently a high demand for physician associates in the East Midlands NHS workforce

I really enjoyed my time at placement, as I was able to apply my clinical skills in real time, which helped consolidate my learning. My favourite placement was at the General Practice, as I was able to hold my own clinics and was able to develop my skills in patient interaction. Joyti Verma - Second Year Physician associate student

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

• EU/International

Duration:  Two years full-time

Start date: September 2024

Attendance:  This is an intensive course; you should expect to attend university/placement full-time (e.g. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri) and complete self-directed study in your own time. Placements may include shift work outside of these hours.

Location of study:  All academic studies take place at De Montfort University, Leicester. Placements may take place at locations across the East Midlands (please note that you may be required to travel to attend placement).

Application deadline:  The application deadline for the next intake is 31 January 2024 . Due to limited number of places on the course, applications received after this date cannot be guaranteed an interview or place on the programme for an Autumn 2024 start.

Fees and funding:  

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,500 per year

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Not available to international students

Entry criteria

• Minimum of a 2:1 BSc Hons, or equivalent, in a life sciences or health-related subject (anatomy, biology, biochemistry, biomedical science, healthcare science, medical science, medical engineering, nursing, paramedic, pharmacy, physiology, etc.)
• Alternatively, applicants with a 2:2 or equivalent and significant experience (6months) within a patient-facing healthcare/clinical role may be considered on an individual basis if the above requirement is not met.
• Equivalent international qualifications will be reviewed with the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of at least 7.0 in each domain (speaking, listening, reading, writing), with an overall score of at least 7.5, is essential. This must be achieved in a single sitting and within 24 months of the time of application to this course.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited  Centre for English Language Learning  (CELL), is available both before and during the course.

As part of the application you will be required to write a personal statement outlining your motivation for becoming a Physician Associate, and your relevant experience and personal qualities.  

We will select candidates for interview based on their application and personal statement. If selected for interview, you will be invited to a Multiple Mini interview (MMI).

Non-academic requirements

Professional behaviour

Whilst working towards becoming a physician associate, you will be expected to display a high standard of professional behaviour, as you will be joining a soon to be regulated profession.  

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) 

You must complete a declaration form and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) application form before starting the course, which needs to be cleared in accordance with DMU’s admission policy.

We strongly advise that you opt for the DBS update service as it is possible that future placement providers may request a recent DBS and not one from the start of the programme. If you decide not to opt for this service then you will have to pay for the DBS again if requested by your placement provided – the university will not cover this cost. 

Applicants must also complete a satisfactory health screening.

Please note that it is not currently possible for Physician Associates who have trained in the UK to practice outside of the UK.

Course modules

Teaching and assessment, accreditation.

Anatomy & Physiology (15 credits): This module will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Clinical anatomy will be taught using a combination of lectures and hands-on workshops using 3D anatomical models. The knowledge gained on anatomical structure will be complemented with functional knowledge through teaching on medical physiology topics.

Community Health (15 credits): This module provides an in-depth view of community health, with a focus on populations and communities rather than individual patients. Content includes primary care, mental health and public health, with discussion on the impact of significant health issues upon local and national health services. 

Clinical & Professional Skills (30 credits): In this module, you will develop key clinical and professional skills related to working as a Physician Associate. For example; research methods, clinical skills, history taking, physical examination, ethics, communication skills, professional guidelines and regulation, evidence-based medicine, inter-professional education. 

General Medicine  (30 credits): This module provides a systemic approach to learning about organ systems and clinical pharmacology.  Content will include diseases and health conditions associated with major organ systems (e.g. muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, endocrine, urinary,  and digestive), and how they are treated. The role of the Physician Associate in therapeutics and prescribing will also be discussed.

Specialist Medicine  (30 credits): This module will equip you with a sound knowledge of different areas in the clinical setting, and the role of such specialisms in primary and secondary care. Content includes: Dermatology, Ophthalmology, ENT (ears, nose and throat), Haematology, Neurology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Practice-Related Project (60 credits): This module involves completion of an independent (but supervised) evidence-based, practice-related project. The project will develop your ability to relate research concepts and topics to a clinical setting.

You, in conjunction with a clinical supervisor, will identify a research question or area for development and then design an original project to highlight potential solutions.

You will also complete a clinical portfolio – this module is not credit-bearing, but essential for a qualification which enables eligibility to sit the Physician Associate National Exam administered by the Royal College of Physicians and once passed, allows practice as a Physician Associate. The cost for sitting this exam is borne by the applicant.

All modules are compulsory and all modules must be passed in order to complete the qualification of MSc in Physician Associate Studies.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching typically includes lectures, group seminars, practical skills sessions and workshops. You are encouraged to become an independent and proactive learner, and we will recommend reading and electronic resources for independent study to help develop the breadth and depth of your knowledge.

The majority of your studies will take place at the university but we also incorporate hospital and community-based learning experiences on your placement activities.

Learning activities are designed to help you develop your teamwork, presentation and problem-solving skills, plus more traditional academic skills such as synthesis, evaluation and application. We also help you to develop your skills and understanding in professional areas such as ethics and reflective practice.

You will benefit from the support of a personal academic tutor, who you are encouraged to meet with regularly. We also offer a range of additional support services to help you develop the skills required for MSc level study.

Assessments include a variety of forms, including written and practical exams, case study reports and presentations. You will also be expected to undertake formative assessment, such as self-reflection and peer-review of fellow students. Bespoke guidance materials are provided for all forms of assessment on the course.

Year two of the course is largely placement based, however students will still be expected to attend university for revision sessions and engage in personal study

Physician Associate courses in the UK are not currently subject to formal accreditation; however this is going to change in the near future, as Physician associates will be regulated by the GMC. The course is working to meet the General Medical Council standards.  

Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Purpose-built clinical skills areas allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff, to ensure that your practical ability in the clinical skills suites is accurate.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our  Library website , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live  LibChat , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our  Learning Services , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Find the people who will open doors for you

The first year of this programme will include some short clinical placements. The second year is predominantly placement-based, and you will spend approximately 41 weeks on clinical placement.

Placements will be provided in general practice, community and acute hospital settings. Placements will be across the east midlands and it will be your responsibility to arrange travel to placements.

Graduate careers

This programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to pursue a career as a Physician Associate.

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Physician Associate Studies MSc

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Course overview

Physician associates are healthcare professionals who support doctors, alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team, in the diagnosis and management of patients. Qualified physician associates work in a patient facing role under the supervision of a named senior doctor in primary, secondary and community care settings. Their generalist medical training and defined scope of practice allows physician associates to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to provide high quality and compassionate care to patients, meaning they have a key and valuable role to play in the future of the NHS workforce.

The MSc in Physician Associate Studies is an intensive and challenging but highly rewarding two-year course that requires commitment, discipline and organisation to manage the demands of academic studies alongside clinical placements. Students are supported in developing their learning style to meet the demands of the course and to prepare them to become a lifelong learner.

Our course has been carefully developed to meet the requirements of the General Medical Council (GMC) pre-qualification education framework. Over the course of the two years, you’ll be taught the clinical skills and knowledge, and supported to develop the professional values and behaviours, expected of a qualified physician associate. On qualification you’ll be required to pass the Physician Associate Registration Assessment to register with the GMC and work as a qualified physician associate.

Why study at Leeds?

MSc Physician Associate Studies sits within the Leeds Institute of Medical Education in the School of Medicine. This means you’ll be taught by academics, clinicians and clinical educators who have a range of professional backgrounds and a wealth of experience, and whose teaching is underpinned by the latest clinical and pedagogical research. Whilst taught sessions are designed specifically for the needs of physician associate students to support you in developing your professional identity and understanding of core competencies, you’ll have opportunities to learn alongside students from other courses within the school. We feel that this is highly beneficial in preparing you for a role where teamworking, communication and other interpersonal skills are of vital importance in providing care that is founded on the NHS Constitutional Values.

You’ll gain experience from a range of placements within Yorkshire and Humber, including major teaching hospitals, district general hospitals, general practices and mental health trusts. This will provide you with the opportunity to encounter patients from diverse backgrounds and allow you to develop your understanding of the role of a physician associate in different healthcare settings, helping to inform your future career direction.

As well as training you to work as a newly qualified physician associate, the course at Leeds will also support you to develop your academic writing and critical thinking skills. In the final year of the course, you’ll design and undertake a quality improvement project before completing a dissertation. This will prepare you for a career where there are opportunities to progress in research and lead on quality improvement, as well as enhancing your employability.

Student support and wellbeing is extremely important to us, and you’ll receive close support from your Academic Personal Tutor throughout the course of your studies as well as benefitting from the community spirit and peer-to-peer support that we strongly encourage. In addition, you’ll have access to a dedicated School of Medicine Student Support team, who have a wealth of experience in working with students undertaking clinical courses.

Specialist facilities

Clinical skills teaching for our physician associate students is delivered by the School’s designated Skills and Simulation Team, based on Level 9 of the Worsley Building on the University campus. This centre provides excellent clinical skills training facilities, including simulation and state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment, and allows you to access independent learning opportunities and one-to-one clinical supervision. The centre also provides a safe learning environment for our students to combine teaching with the hands-on practical application of clinical skills.

Anatomy is one of the first and most important core subjects studied by physician associate students when they begin their studies.  Its importance cannot be overstated because the study of anatomy helps lay the foundations for much of the future learning.  The University of Leeds is very proud to be able to support the learning of anatomy through a range of different methodologies including prosection-based teaching and digital technology enhanced learning. We firmly believe that this provides students with the most authentic and efficient learning experience.

Accreditation

From December 2024, the General Medical Council will be responsible for accrediting courses that lead to a qualification conferring eligibility for graduates to sit the Physician Associate Registration Assessment and register to work as a qualified physician associate in the UK. The University of Leeds has been fully engaged with all quality assurance activities in preparation for accreditation, as well as holding membership with the Physician Associate Schools Council.

For more information about how GMC regulation of physician associates and how this applies to physician associate students and educators, please visit the Student and educators guide .

Course details

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

The first year of the MSc is mainly based on campus in the Worsley Building where a systems-based approach is taken to curriculum delivery. You’ll also spend one day a week on placement in primary care, allowing you to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical scenarios and learn from experienced clinicians. During this year you’ll gain an understanding of the role of the physician associate in healthcare, learn the clinical knowledge and skills required of a PA and develop an understanding of the professional values and behaviours expected of a physician associate student.

You will complete three modules:

Classroom to Clinic 1 (45 credits): This module will introduce you to the clinical skills and knowledge required of a physician associate using a systems-based approach. You’ll learn how to take a history, examine patients and perform practical clinical procedures in a simulated environment in our purpose-built Skills and Simulation Suite. Weekly Case Based Discussions will provide the opportunity to learn how to assess and manage core and critical clinical conditions, and how this relates to underlying pathophysiology. This learning is complemented with clinical anatomy teaching, allowing students to develop an understanding of how human anatomy relates to body function in health and illness. As this module progresses, you’ll develop your clinical reasoning skills and understand how to approach key clinical presentations to form a differential diagnosis with the support of a supervisor. Learning on campus is applied and consolidated on placement under the supervision of experienced clinicians, reinforcing how the knowledge and skills you’re developing are of relevance to your future practice as a physician associate. Clinical pharmacology and the role of the physician associate in safe medication management is also a core theme which runs throughout this module.

Personal and Professional Development 1 (15 credits): This module will introduce you to the role of the physician associate in healthcare, with a focus on primary and community care. You’ll learn about the roles and responsibilities of different healthcare professionals in providing high quality person-centred care, whilst developing your own professional identity through interactions with qualified physician associates. You’ll be taught about the professional standards expected of physician associates, as outlined by the GMC in Good Medical Practice, and how these apply to you and can be achieved as a student. You’ll be introduced to the role of the physician associate in population health and learn how physician associates can support health promotion and illness prevention through their interactions with patients and other professionals and organisations. Over the course of the module, you’ll be taught the basic concepts and principles of medical ethics; your legal and ethical responsibilities as a student and qualified physician associate; and how to apply ethical reasoning to clinical scenarios.

Criticality in Healthcare (15 credits): This module will introduce you to the principles of clinical research, evidence-based medicine and quality improvement, and how they apply to the role of a physician associate. You’ll be taught about the importance and complexity of patient safety and how you can promote a culture of safety. You’ll develop your critical thinking and academic writing skills and learn how to critically appraise relevant research and use the results to inform your own clinical practice.

The second year builds on the knowledge and skills developed in the first year, but with a bigger focus on placement experience and application of learning. You’ll undertake block rotational placements, mainly in secondary care, interspersed with campus weeks during which scheduled sessions will prepare you for the upcoming rotation and provide peer-to-peer and academic support.

You’ll be supported to develop your practice to meet the competencies expected of a newly qualified physician associate and to prepare you for success in the Physician Associate Registration Assessment. This will enable you to register with the GMC. You’ll also use the academic writing skills and the understanding of quality improvement in healthcare you developed in Year 1, to design and undertake your own quality improvement project over the year.

Classroom to Clinic 2 (45 credits): This module is designed to build on what you have learnt in Campus to Clinic 1 to develop your ability to assess and manage core and critical clinical conditions and presentations relating to a broad range of areas of clinical practice under supervision. You’ll rotate through a number of specialty placement blocks in secondary care, primary care and mental health trusts, each with clearly defined aims and objectives which you’ll be supported to achieve by experienced clinical and educational supervisors. These rotations are interspersed with campus-based weeks during which you’ll receive face-to-face teaching in preparation for the next block and interprofessional education workshops with students from other healthcare professions.

By the end of this module, under appropriate levels of supervision, you’ll be able to:

demonstrate the knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgment needed to formulate differential diagnoses and in clinical decision-making

understand the physician associate role in safe medication management

recognise the acutely deteriorating patient and the need to escalate, participating in acute interventions and the delivery of resuscitation

assess and manage patients in a range of healthcare settings, including management of long-term conditions

deal with complexity and uncertainty.

Personal and Professional Development 2 (15 credits): In this module you’ll be supported to develop your professional identity, values and behaviours. You’ll learn more about the role of the physician associate in different clinical settings and develop your skills as an educator in the teaching and training of less experienced colleagues and other healthcare professionals. You’ll learn how to approach and manage more complex and ethically challenging clinical scenarios with support and supervision. Towards the end of this module the focus will be on preparation for practice and support in transitioning to a qualified physician associate.

Quality Improvement in Clinical Practice (45 credits): This module gives students the opportunity to design and undertake their own quality improvement project in clinical practice. Students will be supported through each step of the process through taught sessions, workshops and individual supervision to allow them to implement an intervention resulting in a real impact on the quality of patient care.

Learning and teaching

This course will be delivered using a blended learning approach, combining interactive lectures, tutorials, case-based discussions and skills sessions with Self-Directed Learning (SDL) to facilitate deeper learning, allowing for a range of student learning preferences and preparing students to become lifelong learners.

Clinical placements are an important opportunity to get practical experience in a variety of specialties and settings, and the chance to interact with a diverse range of patients. They’re designed to help equip you with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours you’ll need as a newly qualified PA. You will be supported throughout by dedicated and experienced clinical and educational supervisors.

In addition to taught sessions and clinical placements, you’ll have access to a range of e-learning resources, the Health Sciences Library and Skills@Library to support you whilst you study.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

A range of formative and summative assessments are used to test your knowledge, understanding and clinical competence. These include written assignments, presentations, end of year exams, and a portfolio for personal and professional development. Assessments have been designed to ensure that they are fair, inclusive, authentic and can determine that student have met the capabilities required of a newly qualified physician associate. Methods of assessment are selected which are appropriate for the capability being assessed and which develop key transferrable skills that are relevant to the role of a physician associate, such as teamworking, communication and critical thinking.

End of year exams are designed to reflect the Physician Association Registration Assessment and include written exams and OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations). The written exams assess core knowledge and understanding of the material taught in that year (and previously) through multiple choice questions.

OSCEs assess core clinical skills and their application in the clinical specialties relevant to that examination and are held in both years of study. They typically involve 14 or more clinical stations that require you to demonstrate a specific skill or consult with a patient. These patients are trained actors and their views on your behaviour also feed into the assessment. To pass, candidates are required to achieve the overall pass mark and pass a minimum number of stations. Both the OSCE and written exams have criterion-based pass marks set by examiners.

Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirement is a Bachelor degree with a minimum 2:1 (hons) in a biomedical science, health-related science or equivalent qualification. For example - but not limited to - Anatomical Science, Applied Medical Science, Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Medical Genetics, Anatomy and Human Biology, Healthcare Science (E.g. Cardiac Physiology), Nursing, and Allied Health Professions such as Radiography, and Paramedic Studies.

If you hold a 2.2 (hons) in a biomedical science or health related science you may still be able to apply if you have a substantial amount of clinical healthcare experience and/or relevant continuing professional development (CPD). We encourage applications from candidates already working in healthcare and can demonstrate/evidence (usually through CPD activities) the ability to study at Masters Level. This should be within the last 5 years. To help us determine whether you meet these requirements you should ensure it is included in your UCAS supporting statement.

• Human anatomy and physiology is key to providing a foundation of learning for this course. Degrees such as Public Health, Speech and Language Therapy and Psychology will be reviewed for suitable levels of human anatomy and physiology content.
• We will consider alternative academic qualifications on a case-by-case basis and - where necessary - ask for additional details of course and module content to review for suitable physiology content.

If in doubt, please email the Admissions Team to discuss the suitability of your degree and alternative options of study.

Ideally, you should have recent experience of volunteering or employment in a healthcare setting/environment. However, we are also looking for transferable skills from other similar activities, such as voluntary work or paid employment.

Candidates should have completed any prior study and be able to meet conditions of offer by 31 August 2025 .

Health and Disclosure and Barring Service Screening As part of the student offer for our clinical programmes, an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate is required for students to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. The certification process is undertaken on entry to the programme and any offer made to study is conditional on meeting this requirement.

The Enhanced DBS certificate can only include background checks for time in the UK. Students who have been resident outside the UK will require a criminal record check from each relevant country.

The University of Leeds is obliged to refuse admission to applicants for certain courses, which are regulated by national or statutory bodies, where an Enhanced DBS certificate or International Criminality check reveals prior criminal behaviour giving rise to concern for the protection of the public. Clinical placements cannot be attended by those who fail to comply with the clearance processes.

Additionally, any offer of a place to study Physician Associate Studies is conditional upon a satisfactory confidential occupational health assessment, which will include a health questionnaire, and if necessary further telephone consultation and/or an appointment with an occupational health clinician. Screening for serious communicable disease, (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and a review of immunisation status and needs, which includes COVID-19, will also be arranged before beginning your studies.

For students and applicants to the Faculty of Medicine and Health, please visit our dedicated webpage  for more information about Occupational Health.

How to apply

Applications should be  submitted via UCAS  rather than the CRM system used for other School of Medicine postgraduate programmes.

The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. The closing date will be aligned to the UCAS January deadline and can be found on the  UCAS website . It should be noted that this programme does not accept applications for deferred entry.

Values-based recruitment is carried out across our vocational programmes. Candidates who apply to more than one vocational course in the School of Medicine will only be considered for one course. Please note that if a candidate demonstrates motivation and insight for another non-School of Medicine vocational course (e.g. nursing or dentistry) they will be rejected without further consideration.

Where possible, candidates who apply for multiple programmes within the School of Medicine will be informed that they must choose one course only.

The School of Medicine does not normally participate in the UCAS Extra scheme for entry onto the MSc Physician Associate Studies. The programme is not open to international applicants.

Please see the latest School of Medicine  Admissions Appeals and Complaints Procedure .

Application & Selection Process

Offers are made on the basis of the ranked interview score and performance and the merit and ability of each candidate to meet the academic and non- academic criteria for the course. The decision is not made on achieved or predicted grades or work experience.

Applications for 2025 entry should be made via UCAS by their January deadline date.

If you are a recent graduate (less than one year) an academic reference must be supplied at the point of application. This should confirm your academic performance.

If you are entering with a 2.2 the reference MUST include information about your relevant healthcare related work experience and support your experience in a health related field.

If you graduated with a 2.1 but more than one year ago, the reference may be from an employer or other appropriate professional

Your reference should be provided on a headed document with either a stamp from the institution or an electronic signature. Please note we are unable to accept references from a personal email address (e.g. @gmail, @hotmail etc). The reference must be dated within the last 6 months and in a pdf format (not on a Word document).

A successful application passes through several stages before we can make an offer:

All applications received on time are reviewed looking at degree relevance and other academic evidence. The UCAS personal statement for each candidate will be screened for:

• Insight into motivation for the physician associate profession and the course
• Insight and understanding about the role of the physician associate in modern healthcare
• Where suitable, relevant healthcare experience

As part of the application process for the MSc Physician Associate Studies course at the University of Leeds we invite all applicants to complete a further online information form (the Additional Information Form). The link to the form will be sent to applicants once they have submitted their application on completion of Stage 1. Applicants will be provided with several days to complete it.

Please be aware that we do not accept late submissions of Additional Information Form under any circumstances and failure to complete the form means that the applicant will not be considered for shortlisting for interview.

We would like applicants to consider their answers to the Additional Information Form carefully. Answers will be scored using predetermined descriptors and these scores, along with previous qualifications and the information of your UCAS form, will be used to shortlist applicants for interview.

The questions have been selected to allow applicants to demonstrate their motivation and insight into the profession along with some of the attributes we think are important in a Physician Associate. We hope that this process allows applicants to inform us about why they want to be a Physician Associate and why they want to study at the University of Leeds.

Candidates should be able to expand on their answers at interview.

The questions cover topics such as

• Previous experience in a role relevant to the work of a Physician Associate (including non-clinical experience) and how they have helped you making the decision to join this profession.
• Working in a clinical environment can be difficult. Applicants would be expected to consider if they have encountered a difficult situation.
• Hobbies and Interests. What do you as the applicant do outside of work or study and what impact does this have on their work/life balance?

We anticipate inviting around 90 candidates to interview. Using a face to face multiple mini interview format, the MMI process allows us to further assess candidates non- academic qualities. There are currently six interview stations, each interviewer will award marks according to a pre-determined standardised scale. From this a ranked score for each candidate. Those who do not rank high enough will be rejected from the process.

Those with the overall highest marks are offered places.

Offers are made on the basis of the ranked interview score and performance and the merit and ability of each candidate to meet the academic and non- academic criteria for the course.

Unfortunately, because of the nature and volume of applications and interviews, we are unable to provide specific individual feedback.

Admissions policy

School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

School of Medicine Postgraduate Admissions

Email: [email protected] Telephone:

UK: £25,000 (Total)

This programme is eligible for applicants to apply for the Postgraduate Master's Loan

All accepted applicants will receive a monthly paid bursary of 2.5K per year of study (5k in total for 2 years).

Read more about paying fees and charges .

Additional cost information

You’ll need to purchase equipment such as white lab coats and stethoscopes. You’ll also have to meet some travel costs whilst on placement. Placements will be throughout the Yorkshire region for both primary and secondary care placements, which have been approved and authorised by the School of Medicine.

To be registered as a Physician Associate on the GMC register you’ll need to pass the Physician Associate Registration Assessment after you’ve gained the Physician Associate Studies course qualification. This exam is not part of this course and the cost of the exam is not included in your course fees. Find out more at the  Faculty of Physician Associates website .

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our  living costs and budgeting page .

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page .

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview .

Studying in the School of Medicine at Leeds is an amazing opportunity, but we know that the cost can be difficult for many people to meet. If you are keen to join us, a range of funding opportunities are available.

Career opportunities

After qualifying as a physician associate you can expect to begin work as a Band 6 or 7. You’ll be part of an emerging UK profession, supported by the NHS and the Department of Health and featuring in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, and will follow a career path with proven success in the United States.

As a graduate physician associate, you’ll help to increase the numbers of the medical workforce and improve access to quality care for patients. You’ll act in an enabling role, helping to reduce the healthcare team’s workload. You’ll bring new talent to the NHS and add to the skill mix within the teams.

While trainee doctors and surgeons rotate through different specialties, physician associates offer continuity of care for patients as well as institutional memory for the team in which they work. Physician associates are key to ensuring service provision is maintained when other members of the team are attending training, clinic or theatre.

More information about the profession and up to date information regarding regulation by the GMC can be found via the  Faculty of Physician Associates .

8 Standout PA Personal Statement Examples to Inspire Your Own

Your PA personal statement is one of the most important  PA school requirements . A well-crafted, memorable statement is your golden ticket to a PA school interview and getting into the  best PA schools in the US or even a PA program in Canad a , so in today's blog, you'll learn what to include in your PA personal statement, common mistakes to avoid and you'll even be able to review PA personal statement examples.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 14 min read

Pa personal statement example #1.

During my kindergarten graduation, I walked on stage and gave my exit speech: “When I grow up, I want to be a teacher because it’s easy.” Reflecting back, I see the comedy in my naivety as every profession has its own unique challenges. I had no intention to pursue medicine, as I often had a sense of jealousy towards the field. Growing up, my mother was also attending school, first undergraduate then medical school. Exposed to the rigor and competition of higher education, she felt the need to share the importance of dedicating my time to education. While my classmates had work-free weekends, I spent my time completing extra homework, assigned by my mother. Initially, I misinterpreted her teachings as favoritism for studies over spending our days indulging in games.

My passion to become a physician assistant took root the day my grandmother fell from the top of a ladder. My mother shouted for my help with two simple tasks: grab a blanket and call 911. Trapped by fear and hesitation, I was unable to react. This response may seem understandable; however, I was my harshest critic and felt shame from my inability to aid. Sitting in the hospital waiting room, I reflected on my actions and vowed to never again be a mere observer. With this experience, my outlook on the medical field began to change from that of jealousy to intrigue. I started to understand that my mother’s intentions were not to spend less time with me but rather she aspired to be in a position where she could offer herself to support others, an attribute I strive to emulate. My kindergarten dreams to teach were expanded to embody care and compassion, with goals to empower and provide protection to others feeling helpless.

Aware of my lack of knowledge pertaining to handling trauma, I enrolled in an emergency medical response course that equipped me with the skills to handle unforeseen situations, and the strength to grow from criticism. Others questioned my ability to complete this physically rigorous course, given that my stature is a mere four feet and nine inches. Using this criticism as motivation, I excelled in the course and partook in a twelve-hour responder shift. This exhilarating experience strengthened my ambition to study medicine, as my interests lie in the shortcomings of human-design.

As an emergency medical responder, I felt qualified to take care of my grandmother who had developed Alzheimer’s. Having younger siblings, I am accustomed to watching over others; however, caring for someone suffering from disease requires a greater state of patience and serenity. When her memories began to slip away, I felt uneasy trying to converse about false stories and recollections. As I spent more time with her, I became accustomed to quick-thinking and no longer felt nervous or scared. I was able to speak with her about any topic and noticed an overall improvement in my confidence. My role as a caregiver tested my ability to handle stressful situations as I learned to deal with feelings of both frustration and anxiety, improving my compassion and understanding of others.

Losing my grandmother sooner than anticipated fueled my drive to provide quality care. Physician assistants require more than academic knowledge, additionally keen characteristics of sociability, emotional and mental strength, and the ability to educate. I have been fortunate to have adopted these lessons and skills. In an effort to pay these gifts forward by healing, supporting, and teaching, I began to shadow a physician assistant in internal medicine.

My experiences alongside my grandmother are not unique to me. Through shadowing, I have seen various forms of physical and emotional trauma that patients face. However, unlike my grandmother, not everyone has a support system. When it comes to dealing with such obstacles, I have a passion to serve as a guide; always trying to consider different perspectives. Some may see my empathetic nature as a weakness, but in a healthcare setting, it is my greatest strength. When rooming patients at the doctor’s office, I would converse and inquire about not only their medical concerns, but their feelings and experiences. When nervous patients thanked me for making them feel comfortable, and patients struggling emotionally held my hand for comfort, I knew I had succeeded in passing on both strength and encouragement.

Although I was raised in a household where education was prioritized over indulgences, I matured to form my own beliefs. Life is not about choosing between learning and pleasure, but rather intertwining the two. I have found a field of study that to me is both a sweet and bitter indulgence, but gratifying nonetheless. Medicine is balanced by both miraculous and shattering moments each requiring their own forms of nurturing. Negative occurrences do not weaken my belief in medicine but rather serve as my motivation to continuously learn and be active in political and research-based medicine. Similarly, positive patient outcomes serve as a reminder for why I cannot let setbacks get in the way of working towards progress. I promise to use my knowledge and experience to foster a tangible outcome of health and manifest invaluable relationships.

• This statement utilizes strong transitional sentences to link paragraphs which creates an easy-to-read essay with excellent flow.
• At the end of each experience, this writer does an excellent job of reflecting. They discuss what they learned, why it was significant, and how it will help them in a career in medicine.
• Instead of discussing a variety of different experiences, the writer focussed on quality experiences over quantity. This allows each experience, whether the experience with their grandmother or the experience as an emergency medical responder to really develop throughout the essay, ultimately creating a unifying theme that ties together well in the conclusion.
• The essay really comes to life due to the inclusion of details that describe experiences and interactions that were significant to the writer such as time spent with their grandmother and patient interactions during shadowing.

Potential areas of improvement

Sarah’s statement was, overall, very well written—this is one we’d have a student submit with their PA application. However, we still asked an advisor to critique this statement (just to provide some perspective) and here is what they shared:

While this statement is compelling, in my opinion, it could benefit from a tighter focus by refining or trimming some earlier details to keep the narrative more concise. Additionally, balancing the emotional reflection with more specific examples of clinical skills would strengthen the overall message and showcase readiness for a PA role. It’s well done and certainly acceptable as-is, but if I had the chance to sit down with this student and offer this as a piece of final advice before they submitted it, I would!

7 More PA Personal Statement Examples

Pa personal statement example #2, pa personal statement example #3, pa personal statement example #4, pa personal statement example #5, pa personal statement example #6, pa personal statement example #7, pa personal statement example #8.

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The PA school personal statement is one of the most important of the PA school requirements.

Before you begin writing your physician assistant personal statement, it's important to understand the purpose of the personal statement. Essentially, your personal statement will serve as your introduction to admissions committees. It's a way for you to demonstrate why you have chosen to pursue medicine, and why you want to become a PA specifically.

Admissions committees want to understand where your first interest in becoming a physician assistant began, what memorable experiences you've had since that moment, and what steps you've taken towards turning that initial interest into desire and passion for the profession. As with all types of personal statements, your personal statement must address the “why” behind the profession. In this case, why do you want to be a PA? Why did you choose PA school over a related discipline, such as medical school or nursing school? What about the PA profession appeals to you and what have you done to explore the field? What contribution can you make to the PA profession?

Your PA personal statement is the first introduction of who you are and serves as a first impression to the admissions committees. It’s also a way to clinch a PA school interview and move on to the final round of admissions evaluations.

Keep in mind that you'll also be expected to answer this question, and other common PA school interview questions during your interview, so be sure to reflect a bit on your answer and craft a strong response for both your personal statement and your interview answer. Similar questions to this can come up during your PA school interview essay or you can explore your “why” when you’re asked “tell me about yourself” during your interview.

In short, your personal statement is an important tool to getting through the initial rounds of PA school admissions, it provides background information on you to admissions committees and puts a face to your application.

Here's a summary of the requirements for PA school:

How to Write an Impactful PA Personal Statement

#1 be honest.

No two personal statements should be alike, each person has had their own set of experiences that have led them to want to pursue this vocation. So don't try to fabricate your statement, butter up the admissions committees, or exaggerate your experiences. Instead, be honest, tell the admissions committees about your exposure to medicine, what you've learned, how you've grown, what you have accomplished, why it was important and how all of these experiences led to you wanting to become a PA. Stick to the main reasons why you want to be a PA and why you want to pursue the profession specifically.

#2 Highlight Your Experiences and Skills

You want to highlight a few experiences that have helped you understand more about the life and work of a PA and ultimately helped solidify your decision to pursue this field. You can talk about your reasons for choosing  PA vs MD  if its relevant to your experience. Reflect on the instances that sparked your interest in the field or made you consider a career as a PA. Think about your volunteering, shadowing, and clinical experiences and reflect on any moments that have stood out for you or were significant in developing your interest in the profession. Remember to use details and specific examples to highlight the skills and lessons you earned from these experiences, including how they’ll help you accomplish your goals as a future PA and why they motivated you in the first place. Perhaps your participation in creating a treatment plan for a particular patient stood out for you or you witnessed an interaction between a physician assistant and a patient during your shadowing that gave you further insight into the profession. In short, you need to be able to answer why the PA is the best route for you, and what you’ve done to prepare yourself for this career.

For example, if you want to work specifically with underserved communities, and you’ve taken on volunteering opportunities that put you into contact with such communities, this is a great experience to include in both your personal statement or as some of the  best extracurriculars for PA school . If you want to work among immigrant or refugee communities and took the time to learn a new language in order to better communicate with these individuals, that will not only show initiative, but also dedication to effectively communicating with patients you want to help serve in the future. Also think about which of the  PA specialties  you might want to work in and what experiences you have which can contribute to this specialty.

When it comes to sitting down and writing your PA personal statement, it's important to note that the most successful statements are those that tell a story. Not unlike a  medical school personal statement , your PA personal statement is not a recitation of your CV. Listing accomplishments, awards, and your education will not interest the admissions committee; as mentioned above, you have to be quite specific and choose only the most important experiences to touch on. Information about your life and accomplishments is already available in your  medical school resume  and elsewhere in your application; the personal statement is a piece of art, not a dry informational document. It should allow members of the admissions committee to gain insight into your personal story and take them on your journey to becoming a PA.

In addition to being captivating (humans love stories; they elicit emotional responses), writing your personal statement in the form of a story is also beneficial because it helps communicate vital information in a chronological manner. The last thing you want, other than a boring personal statement, is one that doesn’t make sense and leaves admissions committee members confused. Jumping from one point in time to the next, from one experience to the next without order will only create a disjointed, unstructured essay. Instead, tell your story chronologically, beginning with an introduction to your interest or exposure to medicine, flowing into a few significant experiences throughout your life, and ending with a powerful conclusion that ties the entire essay together.

#4 Be Original

You are not like anyone else; despite what you might think, you're an original personal with individual thoughts, experiences, and interests. Don't get sucked into using clichés, common quotes, and unoriginal statements. It's not about writing what you think the admissions committee wants to hear such as “I want to be a doctor because I want to help people” or “I've always dreamed of becoming a doctor”.

Let your personal statement highlight what makes you unique as an applicant, how your personal qualities complement the profession, and what skills and key competencies you can bring to the entering class. Overall, it's important to consider what experiences and skills distinguish you from other applicants. Admissions committees will be reviewing hundreds if not thousands of PA school personal statements; what is going to make your statement stand out? What do you have to offer? How can you contribute to the profession?

Why show, don’t tell is the #1 rule to follow for personal statements:

Common PA Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid

#1 reciting your cv.

Admissions committees already have this information, so this isn't suitable for your personal statement. Focus on quality of experiences. When brainstorming, write down the most significant experiences, either professional or personal, which led to you pursuing a career as a PA.

#2 Casting Yourself as the Victim

Many people have experienced difficult situations, such as emigrating from another country or suffering an injury. This can be powerful to discuss in your PA personal statement, but only if you can show resilience and ensure you're not playing the victim. As a general rule of thumb, be sure to only include an experience if you can discuss how it shapes you as a person, how it helped you grow, and will help you become a better future physician assistant.

#3 Telling Instead of Showing

It's not enough to say statements such as “I am a good listener” or “My experience shadowing has made me compassionate”. You need to show, or demonstrate, how you are a good listener, and how shadowing has helped you become compassionate. Discuss how interacting with patients helped you develop compassion or how your listening skills helped a specific patient with their problem. Discuss real experiences that can support and provide evidence for any statements.

The opening sentence in your PA school personal statement is the hook for your entire essay. If it's not enticing, unique, and memorable, you risk your essay blending in with the thousands of other admissions essays and ending up at the bottom of the pile. Your opening sentence and paragraph need to be engaging, you want to create a sense of desire so that admission committee members won't want to put down your statement, they should want to continue reading to find out the rest of your story. Remember that admissions committees tend to read these essays quickly, so if you don’t grab their attention right away, your essay will be quickly forgotten. PA school personal statement editing can be a big help in rewriting or tweaking your essay so it is polished and engaging. It’s always a good idea to get another set of eyes on your essay, too, to make sure there are no mistakes or get objective feedback. For students who want professional feedback on their work, expert physician assistant application help can be a great resource to use.

Having trouble writing a good introduction? Check out our tips:

#5 Failing to Have a Strong Conclusion

Just like a strong introduction, a good conclusion bookends a strong PA personal statement. A strong concluding paragraph not only sums up the main points of your previous paragraphs, but it should end on an engaging note. You want to leave the admissions committee wanting to know more about you, as this makes them more likely to call you for an interview. Your conclusion should be more than just “this is why I’ll make a good PA”, or “and that is why the PA profession is for me.” Your conclusion should bring back your main points, but an excellent closing statement can call back to your engaging opening sentence while also inviting the reader to continue the conversation.

#6 Relying on Clichés

The purpose of your PA personal statement is to stand out, not blend in. So don't use clichés and popular quotes that are tired and dry. Be original and use your own thoughts instead of the thoughts of others. It can be easy to fall into the habit of using common phrases or cliched language, but revising your draft can help you pick these out and rewrite them.

#7 Failing to Reflect

Any experience you describe in your PA personal statement should be followed by thoughtful reflection. You can't simply state that you worked as a research assistant in a lab and contributed to a publication. Think about why you want to discuss an experience in the first place and always be answering, why was it significant? What did you learn from it? How will it help you in your career as a physician assistant? How did this experience encourage me to become a PA? Your personal statement should demonstrate a deeper understanding of yourself and your goals, so self-reflection and self-insight is key here. While you’re brainstorming ideas for your personal statement, take some time to ask yourself these questions.

#8 Grammatical Errors and Spelling Mistakes

Your PA personal statement should be free from all errors and mistakes. Keep in mind that your personal statement is a direct reflection of who you are as a person. Mistakes indicate that you rushed your statement, are not detail-oriented and that you're not really invested in your potential career. An excellent PA personal statement has been through many revisions and has had multiple reviewers. It's a good idea to seek professional help such as a medical school advisor not only to ensure your statement is free from errors but so that you can receive personalized feedback on your statement to ensure you are putting your best self forward.

Want more PA personal statement tips?

Your personal statement will be structured as a short essay, with an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Your opening paragraph should serve as a short introduction of yourself and why you want to become a PA. The body paragraphs will outline specific examples or experiences you have which contributed to your journey to become a PA, and the conclusion will sum up your statement while inviting the reader to continue the conversation.

To write a good personal statement for PA school, you’ll need an intriguing and engaging introduction, 1-3 significant experiences or examples of how you are suited for the PA profession or why you want to become a PA, and a strong conclusion which invites admissions committees to learn more about you.

Your PA school personal statement should be between 500 and 750 words. The typical limit for personal statements is 5,000 characters, with spaces included.

PA school admissions committees are interested in your personal statement because they want to know more about your background, personal qualities and why you want to become a PA. It should include significant personal and professional experiences you have which led you to the profession and contributed to your desire to become a PA. Admissions committees expect to see some self-reflection and insight into your goals and motivations. They also want to see that you have the skills and qualities of a good physician assistant.

The best way to stand out in a PA personal statement is to have both strong writing and a strong story. Admission committees will read thousands of personal statements outlining many different stories, but you can stand out by providing interesting details and weaving an engaging story. The details of a personal story will be remembered more clearly by your reader than generic statements about your experience shadowing a PA, so remember to personalize your essay and make it unique!

In a PA statement, avoid reciting your resume or relying on cliches. It’s also important not to have any grammar or spelling mistakes. Most importantly, don’t talk about pursuing a career as a PA due to a failed medical school application or because you view it as a “back-up” option. You should have a strong reason for applying to PA school specifically, not because it is “easier” than medical school or related professions.

Yes. You should write out “physician assistant” in the first instance, but you can include the “PA” abbreviation in follow-up instances. 

Your opening statement needs to “hook” your reader or engage them right off the bat. A good way to start is with a personal story or statement that sums up the key theme of your essay. 

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Our Physician Associate Master's course has been designed for those interested in meeting the challenges of the evolving healthcare landscape and who have a desire to work as part of a medical team in all areas of medicine. 

You will develop skills and knowledge to become an integral part of medical teams in a diverse range of clinical environments, by managing patients and providing high-quality medical healthcare support. On successful completion of the course, you will become eligible to sit the national qualification of the Faculty of Physician Associates (a part of the Royal College of Physicians) registration examination, which will give you formal registration as a Physician Associate, enabling you to practise. This registration will be transferred to the General Medical Council in the coming years.

"The Physician Associate course is challenging, yet for me, extremely exhilarating. My favourite aspect of the course involves patient interaction, where theoretical knowledge is applied to clinical practice. The satisfaction of positively impacting a patient's life and enhancing their health outcomes inspires and motivates me to excel in this master's programme".

Why Physician Associate Practice at Aston University?

Physician Associates are key healthcare practitioners that work collaboratively with patients and clinical colleagues to diagnose, investigate and manage clinical cases competently and safely; provide emergency care to adults and children; draw up care plans in collaboration with other healthcare professionals; recognise complex and uncertain situations and seek appropriate supervision and support in a timely manner. 

What we will provide First-class teaching in the UK's second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you, fantastic facilities that will bring your course to life through hands-on, practical experience; years of close industry collaboration that is harnessed to provide you with learning based on real-world needs. 

What you will provide As an postgraduate student, you will be required to balance academic work and research projects. You will be expected to engage with teaching materials, online lectures, and in-person sessions. It is important you learn how to adapt a growth mindset to your studies - understand that intelligence and success come from applying yourself, you must be able to demonstrate critical thinking and have ambition and drive to excel. 

What skills we teach You will develop key skills to be able to support clinical specialists, be trained in the medical framework, and learn how to formulate patient healthcare management plans. 

Career prospects There is a significant demand for Physician Associates within the healthcare workforce.  The NHS is moving towards a multidisciplinary team of Physician Associates, advanced nurse practitioners, and paramedics, to support clinical workload.

How you will learn

This role works collaboratively with a variety of multi-disciplinary professional teams in a clinical healthcare environment such as hospitals and general practices. The Aston Physician Associate Practice MSc programme is designed to ensure you achieve all key competencies specified by the Faculty of Physician Associates in order for you to be fit for practise as a Physician Associate. 

Your learning will include a mixture of lectures, seminars, face-to-face tutorials, skills lab training, communication skills, and clinical placements. 

Group learning will include medical case-based learning to encourage collaborative learning and group discussions.  There will also be elements of personal independent study. 

Teaching will be a mixture of on campus learning and clinical placements.  Your clinical placement experience will start from year 1, term 1, one day per week, supported by a high proportion of on-campus skills lab learning in Aston Medical School.  

From term 2 of the first year your clinical placements will expand to periods of 6-8 weeks at a time, returning to the campus skills lab to develop further training on medical sciences. 

Blackboard. You will access theoretical learning materials for general study, revision and assessment. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, recorded lectures, online tutorials, scientific journals, e-journals, databases and much more. 

What you will learn

You will develop knowledge of integrated healthcare and practice, the principles and values of integrated care, and the complex interaction of physical, psychological and social considerations of the patient, and sustainable healthcare to improve the health of the patient, and access patient vulnerabilities and needs.  

You will also develop knowledge of the principles and values of holistic and integrated healthcare relating to the management and prevention of disease, identify and respond to patient vulnerability. On the course, you will also plan and develop an independent healthcare project of your choosing, negotiated with your Course Director, over the period of the two years of learning. 

Clinical placement

Students will attend clinical placement from week 2 of the programme, where they will experience General Practice one day per week. In term 2 and students attend General Medicine placements at hospital trusts across the greater Birmingham and West Midlands area for 15 weeks. In year 2 students are exposed to the clinical specialities including emergency medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and women’s health.

On clinical placement you will work collaboratively with your clinical supervisor and other healthcare professionals to manage patient care. Clinical placements will vary. You will support medical professionals by identifying patient medical histories, understanding patient treatment plans, formulating management plans, monitoring medications, and gaining knowledge of patient safety and ethics, working in a collaborative medical environment with medical staff. You will develop key interpersonal skills with patients and colleagues and in clinical placement working with a professional multi-professional, and multi-disciplinary teams in a variety of clinical environments, to prepare you for professional practice on graduation. 

As a student on the Physician associate progrmame, you able to enhance your skills in real-life scenarios using our new, £1.5m state-of-the-art healthcare simulation facilities in our Aston Medical School; including our high-fidelity manikins, which allow students to simulate treating patients with acute health conditions, and our clinical skills simulation room, where students can practice in emergency settings in a safe learning environment. 

At Aston University, enjoy full access to all the facilities including the university’s library, labs, study spaces, cafes and more. 

• Teach you to put the safety of patients first throughout teaching and assessment and by modelling and assessing this approach, ensure you adopt patient safety as the central tenet of their clinical practice  
• Promote equality and opportunity, and respect diversity by training, and by requiring all students and staff to treat others with respect and empathy and to apply the principles of equality and diversity to the safe care of all patients.  
• Help you enhance their your and ensure that you feel supported and are able to take responsibility for your own welfare and personal and professional development by graduation, so you can progress to look after the welfare of others; and in particular 
• Ensure you graduate as caring, competent, effective and safe Physician Associates by providing a challenging and engaging curriculum within a supportive environment.  
• Develop the skills, understanding and attributes required to become self-regulated learners, and cope with complexity and changing clinical practice.  

"Aston Medical School's new Physician Associate programme, developed in partnership with outstanding NHS colleagues, will offer you the opportunity to train with leading experts in Physician Associate education, in a nurturing environment and join this team of innovators, to make a difference in the lives of countless patients every day and to have one of the most fulfilling careers you can imagine."

Modules and learning outcomes

Stage 1 modules.

In the taught stage, you will study the following core modules:

Module Year 1	Credits
Foundation Clinical Sciences
Clinical Placements 1
Practice of Medicine
Health Improvement Project Research Methods
Total	120

Stage 2 modules

In the dissertation stage, you will study the following core modules:

Advanced Clinical Sciences
Clinical Placements 2 & 3
Elective Clinical Placement
Health Improvement Project
Total	120

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

• An undergraduate degree qualification in human life sciences or healthcare-related subjects at the level of 2:1 or above. 
• GCSE or equivalent in Mathematics and English at grade 4 or above. 

Successful applicants will need to: 

• Hold an acceptable enhanced DBS certificate. 
• Take part in occupational health screening and undertake to adhere to changing requirements for healthcare students.   

We look forward to receiving your application, along with the required academic entry requirements (min 2:1 in Health/life sciences subjects). We will also be looking for a strong motivation to study in the personal statement. 

Following the shortlisting process of those who meet all of the entry criteria, we will select candidates for attendance at a two-stage interview day, There are limited places on the programme (currently 40 for 2024)  and successful candidates will be selected based on interview performance and problem-solving at a group work exercise. Please note that currently, this course is only available to UK students. 

The interview process

The interview process includes two stages. Upon successful completion of the first stage, a 20 minute online interview, successful candidates will be invited to a one day interview. This will include a team working station and formal face to face interview with the Programme Directors.  

Speak to our Admissions Team

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: [email protected]

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 09.30am-4.30pm)

Course fees

Annual tuition fees UK:

£10,750

More information on fees

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as UK students.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

You will be assessed through a mixture of practical assessments, your healthcare clinical placement assessment, and your ongoing professional development. 

Career prospects

On successful completion of the course you will be eligible to sit the national qualification of the Faculty of Physician Associates (a part of the Royal College of Physicians) registration examination, which will give you formal registration as a Physician Associate, enabling you to practice. 

There is a significant demand for Physician Associates within the healthcare workforce.  The NHS is moving towards a multidisciplinary team of Physician Associates, advanced nurse practitioners, and paramedics, to support clinical workload. 

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Frequently asked questions

Why study physician associate practice msc at aston university.

Physician Associates have existed in many countries across the world for decades. The profession first started in the UK in the late 1990s and has grown ever since. The NHS has ever-increased demands and has to deliver services in the right place at the right time, with highly qualified high-quality clinical staff, so innovation in the delivery of healthcare is paramount. 

The Physician Associate is that innovation and has become one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the NHS. Working as part of the medical team, alongside other great clinical staff, Physician Associates get the opportunity to practice medical healthcare in almost every specialty across the NHS. From Orthopaedics to ENT, Dermatology, Oncology, Neurology, Women's Health, Surgery, Transplantation and every conceivable specialty Physician Associates are working in these teams. 

At Aston University, will be learning in a nurturing environment with clinical academics who have vast experience in teaching and training Physician Associates in the UK. 

You will engage in a patient environment from year 1, term 1, to work with clinicians and general practice experts to get an understanding of the healthcare environment. You will always be supervised by a clinical practitioner. 

As the study develops you will become part of a key clinical support, working as an independent practitioner, working with patients, and supporting medical professionals in a collaborative working way. 

On successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to apply to sit the national qualification of the Faculty of Physician Associates (a part of the Royal College of Physicians) which will give you formal registration as a member of the Physician Associates Register, the qualification clinical practices are looking for. 

Extensive partnerships with NHS regional trusts in the wider West Midlands area ensure you are best placed to get the most beneficial clinical placements throughout the course, gaining real-world, first-hand experience which is key to a successful future career as a Physician Associate. 

You will also be able to enhance your skills in real-life scenarios using our new, £1.5m state-of-the-art healthcare simulation facilities in our Aston Medical School; including our high-fidelity manikins, which allow students to simulate treating patients with acute health conditions, and our clinical skills simulation room, where students can practice in emergency settings in a safe learning environment. 

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

• Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife.  Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
• Fantastic food.  Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
• World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
• Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
• Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
• Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

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MSc Physician Associate Studies / Course details

Year of entry: 2025

• View full page

Course description

Physician associates first joined the NHS workforce over ten years ago and are now employed throughout the UK across numerous specialities and in primary care.

Physician associates are permanent members of the clinical team, responsible for performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and recommending therapy. The role of physician associates is increasingly important within the healthcare workforce.

Our MSc in Physician Associate Studies aims to develop the skills required to become an effective practitioner through a combination of teaching and practical placements.

You will be trained according to the medical model and will work in collaboration with physician associates, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage a wide range of diseases. The master's research project is undertaken in a clinically relevant area in the second year of study.

A range of benefits are provided by the University to support your career development:

• you may be eligible to receive some financial support during the course;
• Year 2 provides you with an elective period and the opportunity to develop your skills through working abroad;
• develop your skills with the help of our excellent tutors and state-of-the-art clinical teaching facilities;
• integrated training in prescribing safety (in anticipation of prescribing rights for physician associates) and communication skills is provided;
• the University will provide iPads with access to a range of online resources, which are essential during placements.

You will develop:

• intellectual skills in problem solving and enquiry, critical analysis, logical thinking, clinical reasoning and reflection;
• your knowledge and understanding of relevant principles and practical approaches in the clinical, behavioural and social sciences;
• patient-centred consultation skills;
• advanced clinical skills;
• a detailed knowledge of pharmacology and precribing safely (in anticipation of changes to legislation to allow physician associates to prescibe).

Special features

Extensive clinical experience

You will receive over 1,600 hours of clinical training, including placements across the full range of medical specialities at teaching hospitals and in community settings. Placement time is split between the first and second years of the programme and you'll spend 20 weeks on placement during Year 1 rather than having to wait until the second year to get hands-on clinical experience.

Specialist course

This course has been developed as a stand-alone postgraduate taught programme with a graduate-entry ethos and a fully integrated course structure based on clinical presentations rather than body systems.

Excellent teaching

We use a combination of case-based learning (CBL) tutorials, small group teaching and lectures to deliver a course with very high levels of staff-student contact time and excellent student satisfaction. The curriculum is delivered through a mixed methods approach incorporating early clinical skills training, reflective practice, clinical immersion, a short elective, distance learning, and a dedicated preparation for practice block.

Whole body anatomy

You will learn about the intricacies of human anatomy through whole body pro-section based teaching.

Excellent reputation

Graduates of our programme rank amongst the highest achieving cohorts in the National Examinations. We have an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research, including close links with the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre - the only academic health science centre outside of the south-east.

Coursework and assessment

We use a structured programme of formative and summative assessments to examine the knowledge and skills that you must develop. You will undertake written and OSCE examinations at the end of each year and will maintain a portfolio for personal and professional development (PPD).

Course content for year 1

Course content for year 2.

The second year of the course provides more advanced specialist instruction in the core medical and clinical sciences alongside a comprehensive programme of clinical reasoning to prepare you to sit your national postgraduate examinations. You will also complete a master's research project in clinical area.

Course unit details

The course is non-modular, providing you with an opportunity to develop and consolidate skills throughout each year of the course.

Taught content is delivered in blocks of study of increasing complexity alongside the two longitudinal themes of Personal and Professional Development (PPD) and Consultation Skills (CS), with assessment periods at the end of each year. Each taught block feeds seamlessly into the next and all components of the programme are compulsory.

You have the option of spending an elective period in the Second Year experiencing healthcare or socially responsible activities overseas, carrying out a research project or experiencing a new medical or surgical specialty.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Title	Code	Credit rating	Mandatory/optional
	MEDN60010	60	Mandatory
	MEDN60020	60	Mandatory
	MEDN60040	60	Mandatory

Course collaborators

This course is part of a wider collaboration across the north-west. We work in partnership with NHS Education and other universities across the region.

You will have access to medical facilities at the University (similar to students studying the Medicine MBChB course) with a focus on clinical teaching and highly advanced clinical simulation.

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• Physician Associate

Are you interested in a career as a Physician Associate? Read on for everything you need to know if you're considering this option

• Find out what a Physician Associate is
• Understand how you can become a Physician Associate
• See the entry requirements for Physician Associate studies
• Learn what you can expect from being a Physician Associate

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The NHS Guide

• Parents’ Guide

Physician Associates are Allied Health Professionals that support Doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. This page will give you a detailed guide to the Physician Associate role, PA studies and careers.

What Is A Physician Associate?

A Physician Associate is somebody who provides support to Doctors taking care of patients. Their range of tasks includes noting medical histories, analysing test results and diagnosing patients with the Doctor’s supervision.

The role is extremely varied: some Physician Associates may work in GP surgeries, or some may work in hospitals. Either way, you will have direct contact with patients.

Is Medicine The Path For You?

Get some advice on whether being A Doctor or Physician Associate is the role for you!

What Is The Salary Of A Physician Associate?

The Physician Associate salary generally starts at £31,072 after training and can rise to £35,000 per year. A standard working week is roughly 37.5 hours.

How Can I Take Physician Associate Studies?

Most Physician Associates will possess a Biomedical Sciences undergraduate degree – and then complete a Physician Associate degree. Currently, 29 universities in the UK run postgraduate Physician Associate Studies programmes. You can see these below:

University	Programme
Anglia Ruskin University	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Brighton and Sussex Medical School	Postgraduate Clinical Diploma in Physician Associate Studies
Bucks New University	Postgraduate Diploma Physician Associate
Canterbury Christ Church University	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Hull York Medical School	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Sheffield Hallam University	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
London, St George’s University of London	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Birmingham	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
UCLan, University of Central Lancashire	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Norwich, East Anglia	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Leeds	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Manchester	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Reading University	Postgraduate Diploma Physician Associate
Surrey	PgDip Physician Associate
Bristol, University of the West of England	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Wolverhampton	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Worcester	MSc Physician Associate
Bradford	MSc Physicians Associate Studies
London, Brunel University	MSc Physician Associate Studies
Newcastle University	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Sheffield	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Swansea	PgDip Physician Associate Studies; MSc Physician Associate Studies
Liverpool	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Aberdeen	PgDip Physician Associate Studies
Bangor, University of Wales	PgDip Physician Associate Studies

These programmes usually last two years. The course structure will cover patient-centred learning approaches, clinical reasoning strategies for diagnosis and clinical practice. Most programmes will also usually involve weeks of clinical placements in primary care in the second year of study.

What Are The Entry Requirements To Become A Physician Associate?

Entry requirements for Physician Associate courses vary from school to school – so double check these before applying! Brighton and Sussex Medical School require that applicants will possess a first or second class honours degree in Life Sciences, or another healthcare-related undergraduate degree.

The University of Manchester requires a first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject – in this, they include Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, as well as Nursing , Midwifery and Pharmacy. Some universities also highly value relevant work experience , so it’s a good idea to try to undertake work experience as a Physician Associate before applying.

What Can I Expect From A Physician Associate Job?

A career as a Physician Associate involves working across a wide range of areas in the NHS . Your day-to-day tasks can include diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, managing patients with long-term chronic conditions, examining patients and analysing their test results. Physician Associates are unable to prescribe medicines or to conduct X-Ray scans.

Your work will largely focus on adult and general practice, rather than providing speciality care – and you will need to pass a recertification test every six years to demonstrate you possess this general medical knowledge. The two-year training at UK universities will include 1,600 hours of clinical training, and you will also spend 90 hours across the areas of mental health, surgery and gynaecology.

Physician Associate Preparation

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Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Degree level: undergraduate, physician associate studies, course options, course summary.

The Physician Associate MSc is taught by UK trained PAs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and paramedics. You learn from the multidisciplinary team that you will work with in the future. It equips you with the skills to take a medical history, perform physical examinations, request and interpret investigations, diagnose and develop treatment and management plans. The integrated curriculum ensures our graduates are optimally prepared for the PA Registration Assessment(PARA). It includes significant time in local and regional clinical placements and simulation facilities. The PA programme launched in 2016, with the first graduates exiting in 2018. We have a 100% pass rate on the PA National Exam. The student experience is at the heart of how we deliver the course and we encourage an open and honest dialogue with our students throughout their two years. It is a very challenging but ultimately very rewarding experience. At a time of significant change in the NHS, PAs are playing an increasingly valuable role supporting doctors and the wider team in the diagnosis and management of patients. For further information on Physician Associates, please visit the Faculty of PAs at the RCP website here. To understand what a Physician Associate does on a day-to-day basis, visit the NHS ‘explore roles’ page where you will find more information and videos. You can also keep up-to-date with our own BSMS PAs Twitter channel @BSMSPAs. The course has a full-time schedule across the week with additional study required at evenings and weekends. There is very little opportunity to undertake work alongside the course. Travel expenses to GP placements in year 1 (once a week) and secondary care placements throughout year 2 will also be payable by the student. Currently we are not able to offer accommodation at placement sites. Please consider this carefully, together with the fees and funding information, before applying.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Points of entry.

The following entry points are available for this course:

International applicants

EU nationals are required to pay international fees and are not eligible for student funding from the UK government. However, there are exceptions to this for Irish nationals and EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. For the latest information, please see gov.uk/student-finance. If you do not have settled status in the UK and require a work visa, then you will be fee assessed as Overseas and will therefore be subject to the International fee rate. Fees are charged per year. There are expected rises each academic year in line with inflation.

Qualification requirements

Applicants require a 1st or upper second-class (2:1) degree in life sciences or another health-related undergraduate degree within the past five years. Applicants should also have some healthcare related experience in the form of work or shadowing.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.bsms.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught-degrees/physician-associate-studies.aspx

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Applicants require a DBS Enhanced disclosure and an Overseas Police Check (if required)

Health checks

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	7.5	With no less than 7.0 in any element.

Student Outcomes

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website .

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Provider information.

Visit our website

Brighton and Sussex Medical School Medical Teaching Building University of Sussex Falmer BN1 9PX

Course contact details

1 course options.

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			Duration
Main Site		Full-time	2 years	September 2025	Available to Apply

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MSc in Physician Associate Studies: Guide to Completing Your Personal Statement

Your Personal Statement is the opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have the enthusiasm and aptitude required to be a successful student and Physician Associate. This guidance will tell you what the Admissions Team look for in a personal statement. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm and aptitude for studying the Physician Associate programme. It is also an opportunity to provide an insight to the research you have carried out to develop your understanding of the role of the Physician Associate. We wish to hear about: General principles The MSc in Physician Associate Studies is aimed at students who have prior experience in health sciences or the health sector and who wish to undertake a clinical career in healthcare/medicine in the UK. As well as academic achievement, applicants for the Physician Associate Studies programme will need to be able to demonstrate they have the right skills and values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care and experience.

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Physician associate

Physician associates support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients.

As a physician associate, you might work in a GP surgery or be based in a hospital, but wherever you work, you'll have direct contact with patients.

Working life

You’ll be a graduate who has undertaken postgraduate training and you'll work under the supervision of a doctor. You’ll be trained to perform a number of day-to-day tasks including:

• taking medical histories from patients
• performing physical examinations
• diagnosing illnesses
• seeing patients with long-term chronic conditions
• performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
• analysing test results
• developing management plans
• provide health promotion and disease prevention advice for patients.

Most physician associates currently work in  general practice , acute (internal) medicine and emergency medicine.

I’ve always had an interest in medicine from being young and I was influenced by my nan who was a nurse many years ago.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need a bioscience-related first degree to get onto one of the training programmes available. Undergraduate integrated Master of Physician Associate Studies programmes are now available and these courses require A-levels or equivalent for entry.

Alternatively, if you’re a registered healthcare professional such as a nurse, allied health professional or midwife you can also apply to become a physician associate. There is also a level 7 apprenticeship for physician associates. Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn a living while gaining your qualification.

Must have skills

Don’t forget – academic qualifications aren't everything. You’ll need to be able to demonstrate experience of working with the public, an interest in health or social care, the right values to work for the NHS and excellent communication skills.

Training and development 

Physician associate training usually lasts two years, with students studying for 46-48 weeks each year and involves many aspects of an undergraduate or postgraduate medical degree. The training focuses principally on general adult medicine in hospital and general practice, rather than specialty care.

There will also be 1,600 hours of clinical training, taking place in a range of settings, including 350 hours in general hospital medicine.  You'll also spend a minimum of 90 hours in other settings including mental health, surgery and paediatrics. You may be eligible to receive some funding but financial arrangements differ between universities so you'll need to contact them to see what might be available.  

With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for vacancies in areas such as further specialisation, management, research, or teaching.

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours with the need to work flexibly over a seven day period. As a physician associate, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change ( AFC ) pay system, typically starting on band 7 with internships starting at band 6.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

Find your course to become a physician associate

Physician associate studies - postgraduate taught (uk students only).

Swansea University

• Qualification MSc Study mode Full-time Duration of the course 2 Years Leading to a career in Physician associate studies
• Contact details [email protected] 01792 513400
• Region Wales Admissions address Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP United Kingdom

Physician Associate Studies (PGDip)

University of Manchester

• Qualification Postgraduate Diploma - PgDip Study mode Full-time Duration of the course 2 Years Leading to a career in Physician associate studies
• Contact details [email protected] +44 (0)161 275 5220
• Region North West Admissions address University Recruitment And Adm Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL United Kingdom

Physician Associate Studies (Taught Postgraduate)

University of Chester

• Qualification Master of Science - MSc (PG) Study mode Full-time Duration of the course 2 Years Leading to a career in Physician associate studies
• Contact details [email protected] 01244 511000
• Region North West Admissions address Parkgate Road Chester CH1 4BJ United Kingdom

Physician Associate Studies (Postgraduate)

Edge Hill University

• Contact details [email protected] +44 (0)1695 657000
• Region North West Admissions address St Helens Road Ormskirk L39 4QP United Kingdom

Physician Associate Studies

Canterbury Christ Church University

• Contact details [email protected] 01227 782900
• Region South East Admissions address Rowan Williams Court 30 Pembroke Court Chatham ME4 4AW United Kingdom
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