MSc Physician Associate Studies
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Two Years
- Start Date: September 2025 and January 2026
If you have a scientific background and enjoy being with patients, a role working in the healthcare profession as a Physician Associate can be both inspiring and rewarding.
The MSc Physician Associate programme is in alignment to Physician Associate Curriculum Framework to ensure that you succeed in the National Examination and can work as a physician associate in healthcare.
Our course includes a minimum of 1,600 hours of clinical practice, covering diverse placements such as General Practice, Acute Medicine, Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Mental Health, Surgery, and elective specialties like Cardiology and Neurology. This extensive hands-on experience ensures you are well-prepared for various medical scenarios.
Benefit from learning from a team of lecturers with significant experience in Physician Associate studies and various medical specialties. Faculty members have backgrounds in renal medicine, biomedical sciences, and medical education, providing a rich and diverse learning environment.
The curriculum incorporates anatomical and patho-physiological processes within a healthcare practice context, equipping you with the necessary knowledge and skills to practice as a physician associate in line with national standards.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
At BNU, we have great links with several partners within the local community such as , so you’ll add exceptional work experience to your CV. The programme has a strong employability focus, working with the trust to solve local skill needs and enable you to become an effective Physician Associate for the rest of your career. Should you wish to stay local and work in Buckinghamshire, your experience will put you in a prime position to continue your role after university.
BNU has a number of well-established partnerships with other health organisations in South-East England too, including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to enhance your experience and promote practice based learning. Therefore, you will be equipped with experience and expertise that will give you an excellent start to your career as a Physician Associate. In addition to our close links with local and regional trusts and organisations, we are in an ideal location close to London which makes commuting to your course easy and stress free, with a variety on online resources too.
The university has a wide range of resources available to students, and the location of the university is a huge bonus. Classes are detailed and taught well and being out on placement has really grown my confidence. I would recommend the course to others because of the great partnerships with health organisations, and other physician associates sharing their experience with us was really helpful.Jui Patel
What will I study?
Our experienced lecturers will prepare you with all the skills you need to provide care and treatment to patients. You will learn to carry out a range of medical activities such as physical examinations, medical histories, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The programme draws on broad science principles whereby anatomical and patho-physiological processes are incorporated into a healthcare practice context. This course was designed in partnership with trusts and placement organisations and we aim to provide all the required skills and knowledge to succeed in placement and in the world of work afterwards. We encourage you to identify and study subjects you would like to understand as well as our core programme, as our objective is to support you in your career goals.
Over the course of the programme, you will undertake a minimum of 1,600 hours of clinical practice (up to 200 hours of simulation) in order to achieve competency framework requirements. Practice will cover a variety of clinical placements, such as General Practice, Acute Medicine, Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Mental Health, Surgery and an opportunity to undertake an elective placement in areas such as: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Neurology and more.
During clinical placements, you will work on average an 8 hour day and across the 24 hour period to include, where appropriate, weekends and night duty since this exposes you to different medical challenges and to different working systems. Whilst in the clinical setting you will be able to apply learning to real patients/clients under the direct supervision of their clinical supervisor. University time is designed to support your work in placement, applying theory to placement, understanding the latest sciences, research and methodology and seeing your new skills work positively for you before your eyes.
By partnering with secondary care placement providers such as NHS Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as offering strong primary care placement opportunities with local GPs, we provide our students with excellent opportunities to gain clinical experience and develop core capabilities before joining the workforce.Esin Turkaslan Associate Professor and MPAS Programme Lead
What facilities can I use?
We have invested in state-of-the-art, simulated clinical skills areas. You will regularly spend time in these areas, to practise technical skills and use the newest technologies in a safe and supportive environment. In addition, as a student of BNU you will gain access to our gym, personal training sessions, physiotherapy and sports therapy clinic as well as our student union at a heavily discounted price. If you were thinking of doing something extracurricular, why not make use of our sports hall and live music events? All events, activities and societies are free of charge and you can find a range of interests no matter your age, fitness levels or preferences.
How will I be taught and assessed?
Taught lectures and seminars are led by industry specialists, with the aim of creating an ambience where you can express yourself in any form and understand the nature of working in the industry.
A range of learning and teaching methods are utilised. You will learn through:
- lectures
- seminar
- workshop
- group work
- tutored classroom sessions
- independent learning through individual learning plans
- case studies (skills and simulations)
- presentation
- problem-based learning.
You will be assessed using a variety of methods such as single based answer (SBA), OSCE and case study.
Please refer to the Useful documents section to access the Programme booklet, Primary Care and Secondary Care handbooks, and guidelines for students and placement providers.
I recommend my course at Buckinghamshire New University for its exceptional teaching staff who bring expertise and industry experience into the classroom. The university fosters a sense of community among students and faculty, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. BNU offers a unique blend of academic excellence and personalized support that sets it apart from other universities.Cresilda Marcelo
What are the course entry requirements?
- Applicants should hold an Upper Second (2.1) class degree in a life science (e.g. biomedical science, biology, physiology) or a healthcare profession (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy), or an equivalent overseas qualification.
- GCSE Maths and English Grade B (6) or above, or equivalent.
- For non-native English speakers, proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by achieving an IELTS score of 7.5, with a minimum of 7.5 in writing and 7.0 in the other three components, regardless of where the first degree was earned.
- Evidence of paid or voluntary work experience with people, preferably in a health or social care context.
- Appropriate personal qualities, motivation, communication skills, and understanding of the Physician Associate (PA) role demonstrated throughout the selection process.
- Successful completion of the interview and selection process.
Equivalent status of overseas awards will be assessed by the National Academic Recognition and Information Centre for the UK (NARIC). Certified translations of any certificates not in English must be provided.
Offers extended to successful candidates will be conditional upon satisfactory references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and occupational health assessments.
If you do not meet the entry requirements you may, if you have relevant professional experience, still be invited for interview, where you will be required to demonstrate the necessary knowledge and understanding for entry onto the course.
Previous study, professional and / or vocational experiences may be recognised as the equivalent learning experience and permit exemption from studying certain modules in accordance with our accreditation of prior learning (APL) process.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £11,250 per year *
International
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £17,000 per year *
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
Upon graduation you can progress to work as a Physician Associate in a range of clinical environments in Primary and Secondary care, including GP surgeries, hospital inpatient wards, and A & E departments. You can expect to work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team alongside doctors, GPs, physicians and surgeons. Most of your time will be spent working in hospitals or GP surgeries. Home visits may also be required.
Your varied clinical placements will prepare you for the working world and give you great employment opportunities after graduation. During placements, you will have the opportunity to work in the following areas: Accident and Emergency, General Practice, Mental Health and other clinical departments.
The relationships you will gain on your placements can sometimes lead to the offer of permanent employment on completion of your MSc. We recommend seeking employment opportunities with our partners, as they have identified the required skills and will often have need of you, however employers demand for graduates is high nationwide.
Course leader
- Associate Professor – Education: Quality Assurance and Enhancement
