Inquiry

Put your best foot forward and study for a career in this specialist healthcare sector. This programme will help you understand how to assess, diagnose and treat people with problems of the feet, ankles and lower limbs. You will get hands-on, practical experience in our excellent clinical facilities in Bishop Auckland and Durham and you will also work on placement in an NHS Trust to put your theoretical study into practice.

Aims

The aim of the programme is to enable students to develop the necessary skills to become an autonomous practitioner who is able to reflect on and enhance their practice using a contemporary evidence base. These skills are introduced in the first year and developed and employed throughout the programme, ensuring the prospective registrant is aware of the fundamental necessity for continued professional development. The teaching and learning in the School of Business, Management and Professional is underpinned by a teaching philosophy that encourages you to develop the knowledge and skills required to practice as a Podiatrist in the current health environment. The programme aims to enable you to:

Demonstrate fitness for practice, in line with recognised professional standards, through the application of heightened intellectual, analytical, and problem solving skills.
Produce autonomous practitioners with a focus upon evidence based practice.
Enhance the employability and career prospects of learners, equipping graduates to meet the employment demands of inter-professional working within the NHS, and as practitioners in the private sector.
Develop critically reflective practitioners, who, advocating the philosophy of continual professional development, will continue to meet the requirements of the skill base of the local, regional, and national economy.

Modules Level 4

Clinical Practice
Human Physiology
Dermatology
Functional Anatomy
Research.

Level 5

Clinical Practice
Podiatric Medicine
Prescriptions only Medicine
Musculoskeletal Pathology & Management
Research.

Level 6

Clinical Practice
Issues of Ageing
Enhanced Practice
Applied Podiatric Biomechanics
Research.

Interview Instructions

If your application is successful, you will be required to attend a selection event where you must:

Complete a piece of written work (value based).
Participate in a group discussion activity.
Attend presentations provided by the College, an NHS manager and a current podiatry student.
Embark on a campus tour led by Level 6 students.
Undertake an individual panel interview which includes either two podiatry lecturers or one podiatry lecturer and one NHS manager.

If an applicant is unable to attend the first interview date, a second date is then offered. In some circumstances a Skype interview is possible. In order to standardise this process, the panel interview is extended from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. You will also be provided with the same value-based piece of written work sent via email the week before the interview.

Entry Criteria

You are required to hold a minimum of the following criteria to be eligible for interview. If you do not meet the criteria, you will receive written feedback:

UCAS tariff points: 64
Five GCSEs (grade A-C) including English Language, maths and two science subjects.
Two A-Levels, or equivalent, with a minimum of 64 UCAS tariff points. Ideally, one of these qualifications will be in a science subject.
If no formal study at Level 3 has been achieved, within the past five years, an appropriate Access to HE qualification is required - with on overall pass rate that equates to 64 UCAS tariff points.
Evidence of English Language and maths at Key Skills Level 2 or above.

If you are unable to meet the above criteria, successful completion of the advanced apprenticeship in clinical healthcare support (Podiatry) at Level 3, or other similar apprenticeship routes, would be considered. If you are an overseas student, where English in not your first language, you will be required to hold an IELTS score of 7, with no element below 6.5 in all components: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing is required. A formative piece of written work may be requested during the application process.