Physiotherapy Studies: Paediatrics MSc

UCL’s Physiotherapy Studies: Paediatrics MSc combines practical teaching, specialist clinical knowledge and research, helping students connect what they learn in class with real paediatric physiotherapy practice. Students learn through lectures, tutorials, workshops, online learning and independent study, supported by experienced physiotherapists, clinicians and researchers. The programme also benefits from UCL’s strong links with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, specialist NHS hospitals and child-health research centres, giving students valuable exposure to specialist paediatric care and research.

Students build practical and professional experience through:

• Research placements: Students can undertake research placements with UCL’s clinical partners, giving them the opportunity to apply research skills in real healthcare settings.

• Specialist clinical learning: Students can choose modules such as Paediatric Neuro-Physiotherapy, Paediatric Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy, Paediatric Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, and The Young Athlete: Injury Prevention and Management.

• Expert-led teaching: Lectures, tutorials and workshops are delivered by experienced physiotherapy professionals, clinicians and researchers from organisations including the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital and The Royal London Children’s Hospital.

• Research project: The 60-credit Research Project allows students to investigate a paediatric physiotherapy topic while developing research skills through modules such as Physiotherapy Research and Dissemination and Applied Statistics for Health Research I.

• Practical assessments: Students complete practical assessments alongside written assignments, patient-resource creation, oral presentations, oral examinations, literature reviews and research work.

• Clinical case learning: Students examine established treatments and explore new and emerging approaches to the assessment and management of paediatric patients.

• Specialist paediatric connections: Students benefit from UCL’s relationship with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, together with other specialist paediatric NHS hospitals and research centres.

• Professional networking: Students can attend Otto Wolff lectures, which bring together national and international experts and provide opportunities to develop professional connections.

• International learning: Students study alongside peers from the UK and overseas, creating opportunities to exchange different clinical experiences and approaches to paediatric physiotherapy.

• Flexible digital learning: Teaching combines face-to-face sessions, online learning and independent study, giving students flexibility while developing their specialist knowledge.

Facilities and specialist environment: Students are based at UCL’s Bloomsbury campus and benefit from connections with the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital and other specialist paediatric clinical and research environments.

UCL’s Physiotherapy Studies: Paediatrics MSc helps qualified physiotherapists develop specialist expertise for advanced clinical practice with children and young people. The combination of clinical, research and leadership skills can help graduates progress into specialist healthcare, education, research and management roles in the UK and internationally.

Typical career opportunities include:

• Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist

• Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist

• Paediatric Clinical Specialist

• Clinical or Healthcare Manager

Students can strengthen their professional development through:

• Clinical and professional connections: UCL’s links with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Evelina London Children’s Hospital and other specialist NHS organisations provide valuable connections to leading paediatric healthcare and research environments.

• Research opportunities: The 60-credit Research Project gives students practical experience in planning, conducting and presenting research, which can support progression into research-focused clinical or academic roles.

• Professional networking: Students can attend Otto Wolff lectures, featuring national and international experts and providing opportunities to build professional connections.

• Graduate outcomes: UCL reports that physiotherapy graduates have progressed into specialist clinical practice, healthcare policy, university teaching, private practice and management, including roles within the NHS and leading healthcare and academic organisations.

• Employment and salary figures: UCL does not publish a specific employment rate or salary figure for graduates of this particular MSc, so no unsupported figures are included.

• Long-term professional value: The programme combines specialist paediatric physiotherapy knowledge with research, evidence-based practice and leadership skills, supporting progression into senior clinical, educational, research and management positions.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the MSc, students interested in research or academia can progress to doctoral-level study, including a PhD. The research experience gained during the MSc provides a strong foundation for further study in paediatric physiotherapy, rehabilitation, child health or related healthcare fields.