Name: Veterinary Physiotherapy & Clinical Rehabilitation, MSc/PGDip
Price: £5,500 GBP

Interested? See

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

2 - 3 years

Start

September 2025

Delivery

Blended learning

Want to practice as a qualified veterinary physiotherapist? Our MSc/PGDip Veterinary Physiotherapy and Clinical Rehabilitation will develop your underpinning knowledge, professional skills and clinical skills.

Our course allows you to become a qualified veterinary physiotherapist (subject to accreditation). You'll be able to work in therapy centres, veterinary practices or on a self-employed basis.

Delivered part-time over two to three years, you’ll take part in a blend of in-person practical hands-on days and online learning sessions. Our flexible course structure fits your study around existing work and home commitments.

You’ll get taught by an expert academic team. This includes professional veterinary physiotherapists, veterinary surgeons and researchers. You’ll learn through interactive and engaging sessions. You'll develop the clinical competencies required for veterinary physiotherapy practice. You’ll also get the chance to build your work experience through placements with qualified veterinary physiotherapists.

You'll have access to a state-of-the-art Physiotherapy and Clinical Rehabilitation Suite including:

Hydrotherapy treadmill
Consulting rooms
Clinical skills room
Clinical anatomy room
Digital anatomy room

You can choose to complete the full master's degree (MSc) or leave with a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) after two years. Prior postgraduate qualifications in a relevant subject area (up to 60 credits at Level 7) can also be credited towards a full MSc qualification. This allows you to build on prior learning to gain a master's degree.

Why study with us

You’ll be able to practice as a qualified veterinary physiotherapist. Work in therapy centres, veterinary practices or on a self-employed basis.
You’ll be part of our brand new School of Veterinary Medicine. You'll have access to state-of-the-art clinical and rehabilitation facilities.
We use a multi-disciplinary approach. This emphasises the veterinary physiotherapists role in clinical rehabilitation for acute and chronic cases.

Interested?

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What you'll do

You'll get access to extensive, interactive e-learning material. Engage with this in your own time alongside scheduled online tutorials and group activities.
Hands-on practical teaching sessions using state-of-the-art facilities. This includes clinical skills suites and a veterinary physiotherapy centre.
Gain practical and clinical experience in supported veterinary physiotherapy placements. We offer a flexible approach to fit around existing commitments.

Modules

This module aims to develop the practical and professional skills required to practice as a veterinary physiotherapist. This practical module contributes towards your 250 hours of clinically relevant, hands-on practice of veterinary physiotherapy skills. It's delivered in an animal environment with an approved musculoskeletal practitioner, needed to meet the accreditation requirements of the course.

Module code: VM4003

This module allows your to develop and apply research methodologies in veterinary contexts. It includes an online course and exam, which you must pass before starting your research project. You'll design, conduct, and interpret an investigation. You'll then submit a proposal, obtain ethical approval, write a journal article, and present your project, reflecting on your experience.

Module code: VM4002

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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Students and academic staff using virtual dissection tables in Clinical Skills Suite

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image overlay — Vet Clinical Skills Suite

vet-physiotherapy-anatomage-table-alyssa-james-nadhi-hettie — Vet Clinical Skills Suite

doctor-business-administration-dba — Lecture theatres

Academic expertise

Dr Hettie Thomas

Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Medicine

Natalie Harrison

Veterinary Education Lecturer

Morven Webster

Lecturer in Veterinary Education

Dr Kayleigh Cook

Senior Veterinary Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical and Communications skills

Leanne Stagg

Veterinary Clinical Lecturer

Dr Heather Bacon OBE

Dean of Veterinary Medicine

Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock

Senior Lecturer in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Dr Peter Holland

Director of Veterinary Partnerships

Elizabeth Wilcox-Wood

Veterinary Lecturer Inter-professionalism and partnerships

Dr Louise Dingley

Lecturer in Veterinary Primary Care Education and Leadership

Veterinary physiotherapist jobs

After graduating, you’ll be able to practice as a qualified veterinary physiotherapist. You'll be able to work in therapy centres, veterinary practices or on a self-employed basis. Veterinary physiotherapists and other musculoskeletal therapists work as part of a vet-led team. This allows a holistic service to veterinary patients.

You'll gain extensive practical and clinical experience throughout the course. This ensures you have the knowledge and skills to practice independently. You'll also have the academic skills to continue life-long learning. And, you'll be able to specialise in a preferred area of clinical practice through further study.

As well as this, you’ll get a chance to learn business skills including marketing and finance. This will help if you want to build your own veterinary physiotherapy practices.

Our strong evidence-based approach will help if you want to progress onto PhD research. It will give you underpinning knowledge and research skills for potential progression.

Entry requirements

Please note if your application is deemed unsuccessful, subsequent applications submitted within the same academic cycle will not be considered.

Good Honours Degree in Animal Science/Health or a related subject such as Zoology, Bioveterinary Science, Veterinary Nursing, Physiotherapy (Human), Veterinary Medicine/Science or equivalent experiential learning
Plus minimum two weeks recent, hands-on experience working with small animals and two weeks working with large animals
Successful admissions interview
Work experience references will be required for applicants who are made an offer
A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) and Occupational Health clearance is required for this course

This course will involve you working with vulnerable groups of individuals, this may include children. In order to ensure that the University offers places on their programmes to suitable candidates you will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB).

We will be able to guide you through this process once you have been offered a conditional place of study at the University of Central Lancashire.

It is important to note that should your Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prove to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of the course you have applied to, your offer of a place for that course may be withdrawn. If you have already enrolled on a course and your DBS check subsequently discloses a criminal conviction, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started. If you are aware that your DBS check will disclose a previous conviction, please contact the course leader for advice as not all convictions may preclude you from continuing with the course.

Fees and funding

2025/26

First year£5,500

Second year£5,500

Third year (dissertation)£3,000

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Carers Bursary
If you need extra support because you have unpaid caring responsibilities alongside your studies.
Find out more about Carers Bursary
Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Postgraduate Law Scholarship
The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust scholarship will cover the tuition fee of a postgraduate course for a student who can demonstrate academic promise, commitment to the legal profession and financial need.
Find out more about Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Postgraduate Law Scholarship
Sports scholarships
We offer student athletes support and opportunities for their playing careers whilst they study a high-quality degree.
Find out more about Sports scholarships

The PGDip/MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy and Clinical Rehabilitation course uses a blended approach. You'll learn much of the theoretical content through online e-learning. You'll also enjoy in-person practical teaching delivered at our School of Veterinary Medicine.

Content is in a variety of formats including: presentations, videos, podcasts, directed activities and directed reading. All accessed within an interactive and engaging digital learning environment. There will be further opportunities to interact with staff and other students. This is through online tutorials, discussion boards and in-person practical teaching days.

Assessment will be progressive through the course. This allows feedback from each assessment to be fed forward into the next. Early assessments will focus on key knowledge or skills. This includes reviewing literature and developing case studies.

Later assessments will build towards your portfolio. You'll develop your communication skills by delivering scientific information in alternative. For example as scientific posters, videos or podcasts. Students will also undertake practical and clinical assessments. These relate to the skills required to practice independently as a veterinary physiotherapist.

Interested?

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This course is delivered by the School of Veterinary Medicine

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Veterinary Physiotherapy & Clinical Rehabilitation

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Year 3

Compulsory modules

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Veterinary facilities

Academic expertise

Veterinary physiotherapist jobs

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Postgraduate Law Scholarship

Sports scholarships

Veterinary Physiotherapy & Clinical Rehabilitation

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

Gallery01 / 09

Veterinary facilities

Academic expertise

Veterinary physiotherapist jobs

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Postgraduate Law Scholarship

Sports scholarships

Learning and assessment