Physician Associate Studies
University of Brighton
UCAS Code: BB96 | MSc
University of Brighton
UCAS Code: BB96 | MSc
Entry requirements
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About this course
The Physician Associate MSc is taught by UK trained PAs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and paramedics. You learn from the multidisciplinary team that you will work with in the future. It equips you with the skills to take a medical history, perform physical examinations, request and interpret investigations, diagnose and develop treatment and management plans.
The integrated curriculum ensures our graduates are optimally prepared for the PA Registration Assessment (PARA). It includes significant time in local and regional clinical placements and simulation facilities.
The PA programme launched in 2016, with the first graduates exiting in 2018. We have a 100% pass rate on the PA National Exam. The student experience is at the heart of how we deliver the course and we encourage an open and honest dialogue with our students throughout their two years. It is a very challenging but ultimately very rewarding experience.
At a time of significant change in the NHS, PAs are playing a valuable role supporting doctors and the wider team in the diagnosis and management of patients. For further information on Physician Associates, please visit the Faculty of PAs at the RCP website here. To understand what a Physician Associate does on a day-to-day basis, visit the NHS ‘explore roles’ page where you will find more information and videos. You can also keep up-to-date with our own BSMS PAs Twitter channel @BSMSPAs.
Modules
Year One
Biomedical and Clinical Sciences for PAs – A (includes problem-based learning) (60 credits)
Clinical Skills for PAs – A (includes communication and physical exam skills) (30 credits)
Clinical Practice for PAs – A (GP placements) (15 credits)
Pharmacology and Prescribing for PAs (15 credits)
PA as a Professional Evaluation Report (PAPER) – A (10 credits)
Year Two
Biomedical and Clinical Sciences for PAs – B (15 credits)
Clinical Skills for PAs – B (15 credits)
Clinical Practice for PAs – B (clinical placements in regional secondary care trusts and GPs) (70 credits)
Preparation for Practice (student selected placement within affiliated trusts) (10 credits)
Evidence Based Practice (3000 word dissertation) (20 credits)
PA as a Professional Evaluation Report (PAPER) – B (10 credits)
Assessment methods
Year One
One day a week is spent in a General Practice placement and the remaining three days on campus for large and small group teaching, clinical skills and anatomy.
Friday teaching is delivered online, consistent with the latest evidence and best teaching practice. There will be some Fridays, were assessments or teaching are best suited to in-person delivery, and attendance on campus is required. Adequate notice is provided as to mode of delivery.
In the second year of study, students are on placement in one of the three regional trusts; East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT), Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH), University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Time is also spent at Sussex Partnership NHS Trust for Psychiatry placements in Crawley.
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
A training grant of approx. £5,125 split across the two years from NHS England (NHSE) has been available for students. This has been available to all students of PA programmes regardless of the university they study at. Universities do not receive confirmation that this will continue until the start of the academic year. Should this continue, it will be received by the university and automatically deducted from your fees. Please note that students do not need to apply for this.
The Uni
Brighton
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)
What students say
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Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
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The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
£33k
£31k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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