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2023/24
2024/25

MSc Physician Associate

Our MSc Physician Associate programme provides essential training for entering an exciting new career as a healthcare professional.

This course is suitable for life science graduates or those with significant healthcare experience.

You will receive training in the classroom and experience a wide variety of teaching methods. You will engage in workplace-based learning in NHS Primary and Secondary Care environments, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge as a healthcare professional in real settings. All curriculum content is delivered in close partnership with practicing clinicians. Our course provides significant clinical placement hours in primary/secondary healthcare settings. In your final year placement time 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.

Our teaching staff include a practising physician associate and medical practitioners who are able to support you, not only in your clinical learning, but also in the practicalities of working within the NHS. You will also encounter many of our past graduates on your clinical placements who have gained employment with our placement partners.

The oversight of education and training of physician associates is currently shared by the Department of Health, the Physician Associate Schools Council (PASC) and the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) from the Royal College of Physicians. Graduates who pass the Reading MSc programme must then pass the Physician Associate National Certification Examination and then will be able to register with the FPA who maintain the Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR).

97% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework [REF] 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy). For more information, please visit the Pharmacy website.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £11,900

New international students: £26,950

Fee information

International applicants: Please note that, due to UK Home Office rules on placements, the MSc programme is open only to international applicants who already have the right to work in the UK. The University is not able to provide student route visa sponsorship for this programme.

Please note

The fees listed are for one year of full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.


Additional costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. This course will require you to travel to placements in primary and secondary care settings throughout the programme and you will need to fund your own travel. You will need to have a professional standard stethoscope, these cost approximately £90 to £160. The Physician Associate National Certification Examination takes place outside of Reading and will therefore incur additional travel expenses.

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.

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. A lack of trained PAs in the UK means that career prospects for graduates are excellent. The predicted growth of the PA role across the NHS to fill an important resource gap indicates strong continued employment prospects for graduates.

Overall, 100% of graduates from Pharmacy are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation; of those in full-time employment, 100% are in graduate level roles. (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes postgraduate [taught] Pharmacy responders.)