Physician Associate Studies

Entry requirements

• 2:1 honours degree in a biomedical or health science related subject (e.g. biomedical science, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, healthcare science, pharmacy, audiology, nursing, midwifery, and physiotherapy).
• All applicants should hold GCSE Maths and English grade 6 (or B). Applicants with equivalent or non-standard qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
• Where English is not offered as a first language, applicants are required to achieve a minimum IELTS score no less than 7.5 (no less than 7 in any sub-set).
• Please note: all applicants will be required to submit a Roles & Responsibilities (R&R) form. The R&R form is an opportunity for candidates to evidence their communication and people skills. Download the PA Roles & Responsibilities Form to complete and upload as part of the application process.
• Shortlisted applicants will be called to interview, held in the David Weatherall (School of Medicine) building on the University campus. Each candidate will undertake a structured individual interview from a panel of three members of the team from the PA course.
• Before starting the Physician Associate Studies programme all successful applicants will need to pass health and criminal record screening.

Months of entry

January

Course content

Please note, all course information including entry requirements relates to the 2022/23 academic year.

The position of a Physician Associate is a pioneering and rapidly growing clinical career. This course will enable you to develop the skills and knowledge to be part of a clinical workforce delivering excellent patient care. A tailored combination of clinical placements and innovative teaching, delivered by PAs, scientists and clinicians, provides the ideal educational environment for learning and skills development.

Physician Associates (PAs) are healthcare professionals, trained in a generalist medical model to deliver care and treatment within hospital and community environments. A PA works independently, under the supervision of a senior doctor, to diagnose, manage and treat a range of patients as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Once qualified, PAs may also develop a specialist area of practice.

Keele’s PA course utilises a diverse range of teaching faculty including PAs, clinicians, scientists and researchers to maximise students’ learning potential. Furthermore, Keele’s placement providers are committed to developing PAs for recruitment into their organisations. Postgraduate medicine is closely affiliated to the North Staffordshire PA Internship Programme and is actively involved with the development of PA education nationally.

Watch the Royal College of Physicians video to find out about the role of the Physician Associate; where they work, what they do, and why they are of benefit to the team. Hear why their role is valuable for consultants as well as trainees, how they can increase access to care for patients, and why the job is 'really rewarding' from the Physician Associate student perspective.

TEACHING FACILITIES

Keele University School of Medicine is spread across several sites in Staffordshire and Shropshire. The three principal buildings are located at the University main campus and at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) three miles away. There are also facilities at our associate teaching hospital at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust in Shropshire, at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, at County Hospital, and at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust at both Stafford and Shrewsbury.

• The David Weatherall building at Keele campus contains everything that one would expect in a modern purpose-built facility, including a large lecture theatre, seminar rooms, IT laboratory, a first class anatomy suite, multi-user laboratories, student common room and refreshment area. The University provides library and information services in the nearby Information Services building.
• At the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) campus, there are two educational buildings: the Keele University School of Medicine (UHNM Hospital Campus) building and the Clinical Education Centre. As well as the usual teaching rooms, the Clinical Education Centre provides a multi-professional Health Library and superb clinical skills laboratory facilities.
• The Harplands Hospital (North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust) has a dedicated student common room/IT facility, seminar rooms and a small skills laboratory.
• At the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, facilities include seminar rooms, a clinical skills laboratory, a student common room/resource room, and an integrated Health Library. High standard living accommodation for students is available at the Shrewsbury site.
• At Stafford, County Hospital has several teaching rooms and library facilities. The Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has dedicated space for Keele medical students at St George's Hospital site in Stafford.

Information for international students

Unfortunately this course is not open to overseas students.

Fees and funding

For information related to fees and funding, please visit the individual course page on the Keele University website.