Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession concerned with restoring and maintaining movement and function in people who have been affected by injury, illness, or disability. Physiotherapists work across a wide range of clinical settings, from acute hospital wards and surgical rehabilitation to community clinics and professional sport. They assess the physical causes of reduced function and design individualised treatment programmes using exercise, manual therapy, education, and a range of other evidence-based interventions.

The profession requires both scientific knowledge and the clinical and interpersonal skills to work effectively with people in a wide range of circumstances.

At Brighton, this three-year full-time programme prepares you for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a physiotherapist. You will develop a thorough grounding in the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics that underpin physiotherapy practice, alongside clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluation of outcomes. Supervised clinical placements are a central part of the programme, giving you hands-on experience in diverse healthcare settings where you will learn to work with real patients under the guidance of qualified practitioners.

Brighton's programme has a strong reputation for the quality of its clinical training.

Registered physiotherapists work in the NHS across a range of specialisms, including musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, and paediatric physiotherapy, as well as in private practice, professional sport, occupational health, and research. The profession offers a clear career progression through specialisation, advanced practice, and leadership roles. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in areas such as advanced physiotherapy, sports and exercise medicine, or clinical research, and some move into academic roles teaching and researching in the discipline.