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2026/27

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MPAS Physician Associate Studies

  • UCAS code
    BB96
  • A level offer
    ABB including Biology and Chemistry
  • Year of entry
    2027/28 See 2026/27 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

Train to become a physician associate with our MPAS Physician Associate Studies programme.

Our MPAS Physician Associate Studies programme is designed to prepare you for practice as a Physician Associate (PA), while also developing a strong foundation in clinical and biomedical sciences.

This four-year programme equips you with highly flexible, transferable skills that enable you to adapt confidently within a changing healthcare landscape.

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 and academic 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 secondary healthcare settings throughout your degree. 

This course is approved by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The future of the Physician Associate profession

Following the recent Leng Review, we welcome the clear direction it provides in strengthening and supporting the future of the Physician Associate profession.

Working closely with our partners at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we remain committed to this evolving role. We will continue to actively contribute at local and national level as recommendations are implemented.

We will keep current and prospective students informed as the General Medical Council and the UK government issue further guidance.

Learning structure of the MPAS Physician Associate Studies

Years 1 and 2 will equip you with core medical science knowledge and skills. This will begin with a strong biological science focus and develop into applied and integrated topics that fully prepare you for your clinical training years (years 3 and 4).

In these first two years, you will:

  • learn in our excellent clinical training facilities
  • engage in placement shadowing experiences within different healthcare environments
  • develop professional skills, reflective practice, problem-solving and communication skills
  • experience interactive teaching styles that help you embed your science knowledge in real-world examples.

In years 3 and 4, you'll develop your clinical knowledge and skills. The course includes extensive placement experience (approximately 1,600 hours) and in-house simulated clinical training. This ensures that you will be a confident practitioner on graduation.

These final two years align closely to the MSc Physician Associate course and consist of 45 weeks of training each year.

Real-world experience and training

Complete placements within many areas of medical practice, across a variety of hospital and community settings.

In the first two years, you will undertake mini work-shadowing placements to understand the working environment of the NHS. During your third year, you will undertake longer periods of placement in secondary healthcare settings. In your final year this will increase so that you are on placement four to five days most weeks, rotating around multiple healthcare settings to ensure that you are well prepared to practise anywhere as a physician associate upon qualification.

The responsibility for education, training and professional standards for physician associates sits with the General Medical Council (GMC). Graduates who pass the Reading MSc programme must then pass the Physician Associate Registration Assessment (PARA) and will then be able to register with the GMC.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: The home tuition fee for 2027 entry is £10,050. The home tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study.

New international students: £31,800 for 2027/28. The international tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study as set out in your student contract. For more details, please visit our Fees for International Students page.

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the University of Reading sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Become a Global Sustainability Leaders Scholar

Our innovative Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship is focused on creating a community of future leaders. We’re awarding up to 400 scholarships per year to high-achieving students from the UK and overseas who are passionate about environmental sustainability.

Each scholar receives £6,000 a year (towards living costs), for up to four years, plus a tailored development scheme. The scheme provides opportunities to develop knowledge and leadership skills relevant to addressing climate and nature issues, and to engage in cross-disciplinary learning and action. Terms and conditions apply.

Find out more about the Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship scheme.

A Physician Associate (PA) is a healthcare professional trained in the medical model who works as a member of a medical team under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon in a wide variety of workplaces (including GP practices, community health services and all types of hospital care). PAs support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients and are trained to perform a number of roles including:

  • taking medical histories
  • performing examinations
  • diagnosing illnesses
  • analysing test results
  • developing management plans.

The PA role is flexible and is being developed across the NHS to meet major staffing strategies. 

Build the skills to succeed in your career – and contribute to a sustainable future

At the University of Reading, we help you turn your environmental and sustainability values into opportunities that make a difference to your career and the wider world.

Employers are already reshaping their businesses to respond to climate change, and they increasingly value graduates with expertise in environmental stewardship – one of the fastest-growing skill areas (World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025).

During your time at Reading, you’ll have access to a wide range of opportunities and support. This will help you graduate with the knowledge and confidence to tackle environmental and sustainability challenges in your career.

In 2025, the University of Reading won the AGCAS Green Careers Award. Judges highlighted the impact of our Careers service and the positive outcomes our students achieve.

Explore climate and sustainability initiatives you can get involved with as a student at Reading.