Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.

Subject requirement

We accept degrees in any subject including a substantial element of human or animal biology.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

Interview

Applicants that are successful in our initial shortlisting process will be invited to an interview.

Disclosure and Barring Service

All applicants who are offered and accept a place on this course are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure check in order to study with us.

DBS checks

Health clearance

If you are infected with hepatitis C or HIV, or if you have a disability, medical condition or learning difficulty, including dyslexia, you must disclose this on your UCAS form. All potential students with significant support needs will be individually assessed to ensure that the University is able to support them on the course.

All new students will undergo health screenings known as an Occupational Health Check, which may require an individual assessment. This is to ensure that you meet the fitness to practise standards detailed on the Higher Education Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS) guidance and is in accordance with the Department of Health National Guidelines.

Occupational Health Checks

We offer support to students with additional needs, for example, through the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service or Student and Academic Services. You can find out more about the network of support services we provide. A very small number of conditions might, on health and safety grounds, affect your registration with the appropriate regulatory body and your ability to practise in certain clinical situations.

Excluded Student Database

Institutions educating healthcare professionals share limited information about fitness to practise exclusions via the Excluded Student Database. Any applicants who are identified as recorded on the database will be further investigated. If you are found to be on the Excluded Students Database, a rejection decision may be returned, or an offer of study may be withdrawn.

Find out more about the database

Clinical student entry agreement

As part of the admissions process, applicants will be asked to sign a clinical student entry agreement that sets out standards and behaviours that are expected of those working in the profession.

Find out more about the entry agreement

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Get the knowledge and skills to support doctors in all aspects of health care, in general practices or hospitals. We place the patient at the centre of care and help you develop your skills as a rounded clinician.

Course description

Physician Associates (PAs) are health professionals who address patients’ health needs while working under the supervision of doctors. Qualified PAs have direct contact with patients by taking histories, performing examinations, making diagnoses and considering management plans as part of the wider clinical team.

This course is designed to give you the skills, knowledge and experience to qualify as a PA through completion of the Physician Associate National Examination. It is aimed at graduates who are passionate about working in a frontline clinical environment as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Your training will give you a solid foundation in generalist medical care so that you can deliver ‘first contact’ health care in multiple health settings including general practice and secondary care trusts.

The course has an integrated, systems-based approach that places the patient at the centre. The first stage is mainly based on the University of Sheffield campus. In the second stage, you will apply your knowledge and skills to placements in our partner hospitals and GP surgeries.

The University of Sheffield works closely with local acute trusts (hospitals, mental health) and primary care providers (General Practice) so that our graduates are equipped to meet the needs of potential employers and the public as a whole. Our course team has a majority of practising Physician Associates as leads and tutors and has an excellent rate of students passing the Physician Associate National Examination.

Professional bodies

Physician Associate is a relatively new role in UK healthcare. PAs are supported by the Faculty of Physician Associates (part of the Royal College of Physicians) as it works toward the profession becoming registered with the General Medical Council. At present, a UK Physician Associate qualification does not automatically allow you to work as a PA in other countries.

Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses