University of Reading has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Train to become a fully qualified physician associate with our MPAS Physician Associate Studies programme. Gain the skills and knowledge to become a physician associate: a healthcare professional trained in the medical model, being developed across the NHS. As a member of a medical team, work alongside doctors in hospitals and GP practices, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Taught by experts from the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy and the School of Biological Sciences, this course offers: - industry-specific training.Designed in partnership with our local NHS partners to respond to career needs within the NHS, our course offers you the most relevant, practical content. - teaching from medical experts. You will be taught by NHS staff and academics whose research prevents disease, improves diagnoses, develops new therapies and advances clinical practice. Everyone who teaches you has on-the-ground experience. - clinical placements. Take part in placements within both primary and secondary healthcare settings throughout your degree. Learning structure of the MPAS Physician Associate Studies The first two years will equip you with a strong biological science base, and the ability to apply this learning to inform medical practice. Complete placements within many areas of medical practice, across a variety of hospital and community settings. During your third year, you will undertake longer periods of placement in primary/secondary healthcare settings. In your final year this will increase so that you are on placement 4-5 days most weeks, rotating around multiple healthcare settings to ensure that you are well prepared to practise anywhere as a Physician Associate upon qualification. For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/medical-sciences-ug/mpas-physician-associate-studies
Modules
The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. Core modules for this course: Fundamentals of Cell Biology Anatomy and Physiology Haematology and Immunology Integrated Anatomy and Physiology Clinical Knowledge Core Systems. The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme. Check our website for more details about the course structure.
How to apply
29Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- BB96
- Institution code:
- R12
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - AAB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - D: 33 credits M: 12 credits
Scottish Higher - AAABB
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - A - B
Extended Project - Not accepted
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Contextual offers for this programme are typically two grades beneath our standard entry requirement, e.g. BBB including A level Biology and Chemistry at grade B.
Additional entry requirements
Interview
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 88 | We require a minimum score of 88 overall with no less than 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | B | We require a grade B or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | C | We require a grade C or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
| PTE Academic | 69 | We require a minimum score of 69 overall with at least 59 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| Institution's Own Test | Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). | |
| Trinity ISE | Merit | We require a Merit in each element from ISE II. If you take ISE III or ISE IV, we require a Pass in each element. |
Full list of acceptable English Language Tests
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £29950 | Year 1 |
| International | £29950 | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Reading
Whiteknights House
PO Box 217
Reading
RG6 6AH