MSc Physician Associate Studies
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2025
Course Overview
Train for a Master’s in Physician Associate Studies and you’ll be set for a career as a versatile, dynamic healthcare professional. You’ll play a vital role in the multidisciplinary team in both hospital and community settings, working closely with patients, and helping to diagnose and manage their conditions.
On this two-year course you’ll learn how to deliver the highest standards of care to your patients, working within an interprofessional team of aspiring medical and health professionals. Our physician associate degree is split 50/50 between theory and practice and, thanks to our strong relationships with local healthcare providers, you’ll benefit from placements that have been carefully tailored to be meaningful and rewarding to you.
You’ll study in the first-class facilities at Norwich Medical School, and at a level that will give you a more rounded experience and a deeper understanding of the needs of both patients and healthcare providers.
Our MSc Physician Associate Studies is a two-year, full-time, intensive postgraduate course in medical science and clinical reasoning. It consists of approximately 50% theory and 50% practice, including over 1,400 hours of clinical placement in both acute and community settings, starting from your second month.
Norwich Medical School has a reputation for pioneering teaching and research. You’ll have access to our first-class facilities, which include the Bob Champion Research and Education Centre and our bespoke Anatomy Suite. We’re also located next to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
We focus on ensuring our graduates are ready to enter and excel in the healthcare profession. We ensure that you not only get plenty of hands-on experience across a wide range of placements, but also work within a mixed team of trainee medical professionals on campus, giving you a unique understanding into other people’s working roles.
The course is divided into six modules, the first five of which are clinical in content, enabling you to acquire skills in theory, communication, clinical and procedural practice. Each module will then be followed by a placement when you can put your new skills into practice. Your sixth module will focus on health improvement and is a requirement for a Master’s-level qualification.
Studying for an MSc in Physician Associate studies will give you greater understanding of your future employers – and your future patients. Combine this depth of knowledge with placements tailored to your individual requirements, and you’ll have everything you need to get your career off to a brilliant start, benefiting from many and varied job opportunities both locally and nationally.
Our pass rate in the PA National Examination is 100% for theory and very high for the OSCE component, with the UEA average for both elements well above the national average.
Study and Modules
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
You’ll gain experience of mental health care as well as medical care beyond a hospital setting, such as primary care, community paediatrics, psychiatry, ophthalmology and neurology. You’ll use the time to learn and develop clinical and communication skills, with patients presenting with a range of undifferentiated conditions.
In this module you’ll be exposed to specialist healthcare for children and will get your second chance to experience acute adult admitting services. This module includes hospital paediatrics, emergency medicine and emergency surgery. By this point in your course it’s anticipated that, under appropriate supervision, you’ll play a more active role in the delivery of health care, and you’ll be fully integrated into the clinical team.
You’ll be exposed to specialist healthcare for children and will get your second chance to experience acute adult admitting services. This includes hospital paediatrics, emergency medicine and emergency surgery. By this point in your course, it’s anticipated that, under appropriate supervision, you’ll play a more active role in the delivery of health care, and you’ll be fully integrated into the clinical team.
Ensuring patient safety and continuous improvement in healthcare quality and efficiency are key responsibilities for all healthcare professionals. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in health improvement to a specialism that interests you. You’ll also be able to demonstrate higher academic skills including synthesis and analysis of evidence. And you’ll have the opportunity to develop real-time experience in planning and executing a clinically relevant health improvement project.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Your teaching will be delivered by a team of experts, including Physician Associates, academics from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and senior clinicians from local general practices and hospitals. You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, case-based learning, group work, and online resources. Your learning will be supported by electronic resources, such as Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment, where you’ll find presentations, supporting material, and reading lists. You’ll also be taught communication skills in small groups, with expert facilitators and trained actors.
In addition to these resources, you’ll have access to Clinicalkey, Capsule, and Clinically speaking. You’ll be expected to study full-time, five days a week. You’ll be on campus for approximately three days a week during theory blocks, from 9am to 5pm. On off-campus days, there will be online live sessions and time to engage with the suggested pre-reading and accompanying online resources. The workload will require full-time study to complete the weekly online material and tasks on the off-campus days.
In addition to theoretical sessions, you’ll be taught examination and procedural skills in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Resource Area (CSRA), next to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in the Bob Champion Research and Education Building (BCRE). The CSRA is equipped with high-fidelity simulation equipment (SIMMAN), which you’ll use during your training. You’ll also have access to our skills laboratory area, providing it is not being used for teaching or OSCEs (observed clinical examinations), enabling you to use the equipment for self-directed practice in your own time. You’ll also have the opportunity to use a range of training facilities when on placement at our partner teaching hospitals.
Independent study
As a Physician Associate Master’s student, you’ll be expected to identify and address your own learning needs. To get the most out of each session, you are strongly advised to read up on topics before your lectures, and supplement your formal teaching with group work and independent study.
Assessment
In the second year, there will be a mid year formative exam and further case presentations, with final summative written and OSCE examinations at the end of the year. These mirror the national Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) physician associate examination which you’ll be able to sit once you have passed the UEA final examinations.
You can find out more about the GMC regulation process and the national exam on the Royal College of Physicians.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Science or Health-related discipline
- Interviews
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview.
- Intakes
This course is open to UK applicants only. The annual intake for this course is in January each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
If a student has a bachelor’s degree but does not meet the normal admission requirements for the MSc Physician Associate Studies course, they may sit the GAMSAT. This was developed and validated by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and is used to assist in selection of students for graduate-entry programs and to assess capacity to undertake high level intellectual studies in a demanding course. The minimum admission requirement for the PA course is an overall GAMSAT score of 50 within the last two years. Please see the website for further details. Gamsat
Applicants will normally have 3 A-levels at grade C or above, including at least one science subject or equivalent.
Applicants are required to submit two references with their application - one related to their most recent Academic study, while the other may be a professional reference.
Academic study should have been completed within the last 5 years.
Occupational Health Check
As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
DBS Check
The offer made to successful applicants after the interview stage will be conditional on completing an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Where applicable, an Overseas Police Check may be required.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Students starting the MSc Physician Associate Studies in January 2025 will be eligible to receive support from the Health Education East of England (HEEoE), amounting to £2,500 per annum. All students must be UK nationals, or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK. There is an expectation that graduates from this programme would work within the National Health Service (NHS) on completion of their course.
Fees and Funding
UK Students: £19,800. Two year full-time course, £9900 per academic year.
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Early applications are strongly encouraged for this course.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to request further information or to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us.
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
Employability
After the Course
Our course was created as a direct response to new healthcare job opportunities at local acute hospitals in Norfolk and Suffolk. We developed the programme in partnership with these hospitals. They include Ipswich Hospital, James Paget University Hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trusts, as well as general practitioners in the area. The course has been developed with your future career and the demands of the healthcare system in mind.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
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Acute hospital trusts
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General Practice/primary care
- Mental health care
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Research
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Management
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Education
Discover more on our Careers webpages.