Physician Associate
Entry requirements
- A first degree in life sciences (such as human biology, biochemistry, medical science or allied health degree) with at least a 2:1 classification or an equivalent qualification.
- Health experience in a clinical setting is preferred.
- An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will also be required.
- A satisfactory Occupational Health clearance will also be required.
- If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 7.0 with no element lower than 7.0 ( Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
You must have a satisfactory occupational health clearance in order to be allowed out on placement. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/IDC (Industrial Diagnostics Company) will undertake the vaccinations on behalf of ARU. However, if this is undertaken by a third party (your own GP), ARU is unable to reimburse the cost.
If you can produce acceptable evidence of already having the vaccinations you won’t need to have them again. However if you have not previously had the vaccinations you can expect to have the following.
- Measles immunity blood test
- Rubella immunity blood test
- Varicella (chicken pox) immunity blood test
- Hepatitis B immunity blood test
- IGRA blood test (TB screening)
- Hep B surface antigen blood test (Hep B surface antigen screening)
- Hep C blood test (Hep C screening)
- HIV blood test (HIV screening)
- Three or four Hep B vaccinations
- Two MMR vaccinations
- Two varicella (chicken pox) vaccinations
- One BCG (TB) vaccination
You’ll be contacted by Heales Medical after you have firmly accepted your offer (minimum of six months before your course starts) who’ll first ask you to complete a medical questionnaire and arrange a meeting with the nurse.
Covid-19 vaccine
As you’ll be aware, the Government has decided that they will make it mandatory that everyone working in care homes is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. This is subject to legislation being passed and if so, will be implemented from October 2021. Similar guidance may be implemented for all NHS staff as vaccination is both for your own protection and that of your patients. As your course uses work placements in care homes and/or NHS environments to fulfil Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, we encourage you to receive Covid-19 vaccination as soon as you are eligible (if you have not already done so). If you are not fully vaccinated, this may affect the range of clinical placements available to you, and your ability to progress on the course, based on current Government guidance and legislation. This information will be collected as part of your occupation health clearance.
Months of entry
September
Course content
Physician associates are 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 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. You’ll be able to take a patient’s history, perform physical examinations and procedures and request and interpret diagnostic test results.
This is an intensive and challenging two-year postgraduate course offering significant rewards.
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 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.
Fees and funding
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MSc
- full time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- ARU Applicant Enquiries Team
- answers@aru.ac.uk
- Phone
- 01245686868