Exciting alternative route into Physiotherapy at Bangor University

With physiotherapists often in short supply, physiotherapy service managers and potential students in Wales have expressed a strong interest in the development of a 2 year accelerated post graduate pre-registration route aimed at graduate applicants. This type of programme is viewed as an exciting alternative mode of entry to the profession to the established undergraduate route. 

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) have commissioned physiotherapy pathways at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels across North Wales. The course at Bangor is a 2 year accelerated Physiotherapy programme complementing a 3 year undergraduate programme at Glyndwr University. 

The postgraduate accelerated programme has been designed as an efficient and innovative means to broaden access into the profession, whilst continuing to provide high quality physiotherapy workforce for the local Health Board and beyond. 

Dr Lynne Williams, Head of School of Health Sciences said;

 “We are very pleased to be offering this programme. Bangor University is fully committed to offering a physiotherapy programme as part of the portfolio of the School of Health Science and welcomes this new development as providing one of the key disciplines for promoting inter-professional learning for students." 

Talking shortly after his appointment Jonathan Flynn, PGDip Physiotherapy Course Lead said;

"I am looking forward to leading the physiotherapy programme, working in close partnership with HEIW as well as developing cooperative working with colleagues facilitating the undergraduate programme at Glyndwr.  My hope is that the course will grow and become pivotal in the all Wales strategic plan for health, as well as providing a strong foundation for all its future learners so they not only become the physiotherapists of the future, but healthcare leaders of the future."

Nesta McCluskey, Head of Physiotherapy (East) for BCUHB welcomed this new development saying;

“I am delighted that there is a new Physiotherapy course starting in North West Wales. This course increases the available options for students who aspire to be Physiotherapists and already have an associated first degree. Being in the heart of North Wales the course will offer an insight into the opportunities and challenges of working in a bilingual and geographically varied community. Students will spend time in many of the different hospital sites in North Wales where they will develop the skills they require to succeed in a rewarding and varied career.”

Potential applicants can find out more about the course here. 

This development is in line with a Healthier Wales Plan, Welsh Government (2018) and the AHP, UK Public Health strategy (Public Health England 2019-2024, 2019).

Publication date: 9 December 2019