Study options
- Starting in
- January 2026
- Location
- Whitechapel
- Fees
- Home: £12,650
The course fee is charged per annum for 2 years. Note that fees may be subject to an increase on an annual basis - see details on our tuition fees page.
What you'll study
This course will prepare you to become a physician associate; a collaborative healthcare professional with a generalist healthcare education. In the UK, Physician Associates (PAs) are clinically trained healthcare professionals who work under supervision of doctors, surgeons, and GPs to provide medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary teams, in community, primary or secondary care.
The programme of this course is aligned with both the needs of healthcare employers and the strategic aims of the NHS.
In your first year you will gain experience through clinical placements. At this time, you will be trained in the relevant theory and necessary practical skills so that you can make the most of your clinical placements.
In the second year, your basic clinical skills will be consolidated and you’ll develop knowledge and skills in medical specialties. You’ll also complete placements in specialty hospital departments.
You will get to undertake clinical training that’ll take place in a range of settings, including:
- Community Medicine
- Accident & Emergency
- Mental Health
- General Surgery
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Acute medicine.
During your studies you'll have access to support at every stage in your degree, including one-to-one academic guidance, tailored workshops, and external guest speakers.
Structure
- Seven taught modules
- Research project
- UK Physician Associate national examination
Core modules
- Year 1
- Applied Medical Sciences (30 credits)
- Clinical Medicine: Physical & Mental Health (30 credits)
- Community Medicine I (15 credits)
- Year 2
- Clinical Medicine & Surgery (30 credits)
- Care of Women and Children (30 credits)
- Community Medicine II (15 credits)
Compulsory module
- Year 1 and Year 2
- Healthcare Improvement (30 credits)
Compulsory/Core modules
There are two areas within this module: a. Clinical Medicine: Physical Health - this area establishes the basic foundation of knowledge that is relevant and essential to a PA¿s practice of general medicine. A basic introduction to pharmacology will be included. Communication and clinical skills will form an integral part of this module. b. Clinical Medicine: Mental Health ¿ this area will take a holistic view of how to care for individuals with mental health, psychiatric, substance misuse and cognitive problems. You will have the opportunity to apply and develop this knowledge further within your first clinical placement.
This module is taught in year 1 but is linked to module IHS7115 taught in year 2 of the course. Most weeks, you will spend at least one day learning in the community. As your skills develop, you will start to manage your own caseload under the supervision of your GP tutor. We will focus on the management of chronic conditions as well as introduce new fields of medicine, not previously studied in detail. For example; dermatology, ENT, ophthalmology, rheumatology/ musculoskeletal medicine. The end of year assessments will encompass elements from all aspects of the course taught in the first year, and will not be restricted to the module. This highlights the integrated nature of the course.
This module is a natural extension of the 'Clinical Medicine: Physical and Mental Health' module students undertake in year 1, where they cover much of what might generally be regarded as core clinical knowledge and skills as they relate to medical practice. The first part of the module includes taught theory components in the fields of cardiology, critical care, endocrinology, haematology, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology and respiratory medicine. Clinical medicine and surgery is taught as 3 blocks; 1. The first block focuses on general surgical problems seen in adulthood 2. The second block constitutes medicine for the elderly, and end of life care 3. The third block constitutes the emergency medicine component of your training Care of the Older Adult - will provide a comprehensive overview of the health and social needs of the older adult, the problems and challenges we may face as we age and how services might be reorganised in order to meet them. A special emphasis will be placed on the understanding and evaluation of frailty, dementia, rehabilitation and social care as well as end of life care.
Year 2 begins with Care of Women and Children. This module will deliver a comprehensive exposure to the specific health needs of women throughout their lives as well as caring for children and the unique skills and knowledge required to do so. You will explore the various stages of human development from conception difficulties to puberty. Many students find this an exhilarating experience; being part of and witnessing the anticipation of a new human life coming into the world can be very rewarding. Equally, the loss of child can be the darkest moment of someone¿s life. These experiences can have a profound effect on a professional¿s future career choices. You will spend time learning theory before clinical placements in gynaecology, community obstetrics, sexual health and paediatrics.
You will study this module which builds upon IHS7112 during Year 2 of the course. Most weeks, you will spend at least one day learning in the community. As your skills develop, you will start to manage your own caseload under the supervision of your GP tutor. We will focus on the management of chronic conditions as well as introduce new fields of medicine, not previously studied in detail. For example; dermatology, ENT, ophthalmology, rheumatology/ musculoskeletal medicine. The end of year assessment will encompass elements from all aspects of the course taught over the two years, and will not be restricted to the module. This highlights the integrated nature of the course.
Students will learn how to answer clinical questions using a systematic evidence-based approach. Students will develop skills in constructing literature searches and critically evaluating evidence and will be able to make a reasoned and well-informed interpretation of the evidence behind the NICE Guidelines. This module also provides students with the knowledge and skills to support and guide patients in improving their own health, and to deliver evidence-based patient care. This will be achieved through taking a holistic approach encompassing health promotion, health education, quality improvement and health literacy in the context of public health and social determinants of health. Students will learn to troubleshoot challenges using evidence based and quality improvement methodology and principles and apply these skills through simulated exercises.
The aim of this module is to establish a core foundation in the fundamental of clinical medicine and introduction to the healthcare system in the UK. This module will provide the core foundation necessary for MSc Physician Associate students to commence their training in clinical medicine in NHS. This module covers introduction to basic medical sciences, anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology. It is anticipated that most students would have covered some of these areas as part of their undergraduate degree programmes. However, the module aims to review and revise this core material, whilst tackling any deficiencies in knowledge. The module is delivered through a combination of lectures, practical, and self-directed learning.
Assessment
- Modules are assessed by group work, oral presentation, coursework, clinical log books, objective structured clinical exams and written exams
- Year 1 exams will cover the learning objectives of the first year
- Year 2 exams will cover the learning objectives from the whole course (24 months)
Teaching
This course is delivered through blended learning - a combination of classroom team-based learning, and a flipped classroom model - where you will digest the learning material before your lecture.
All clinical skills will be delivered face-to-face at Lynton House, Ilford campus or the Robin Brook Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital. The majority of the module teaching will be held at Lynton House, Ilford campus. You will have clinical placements throughout.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
- Apocrita – Queen Mary’s high performance computing cluster
- Brand new Graduate Centre, offering purpose-built study spaces and an exclusive rooftop common room
- Think Pod - an interactive collaboration space with presentation, recording and video conferencing facilities
- Access to some of London’s outstanding facilities including the British Library, Senate House Library and Copac
Campus
Learning and teaching occurs in a variety of educational settings both at Queen Mary University of London's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and at local NHS Trusts. All clinical skills will be delivered face-to-face at Lynton House, Ilford campus or the Robin Brook Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital. All module teaching will be at Lynton House, Ilford campus.
Watch this video which showcases the facilities at Lynton House.
Clinical placements will take place throughout north east London at a number of leading GP practices and NHS Trusts including:
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
- Barts Health NHS Trust
- East London Foundation Trust
- Homerton University Hospital Foundation NHS Trust
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
About the Institute
Institute of Health Sciences Education
The programme is taught at the Institute of Health Sciences Education (IHSE). The IHSE has a long history in medical and clinical education. In addition to a wealth of advanced courses, it conducts medical education research and evaluations, and leads quality assurance processes.
The Institute is part of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry – a leading UK medical and dental school and major faculty of Queen Mary University of London, which is at the forefront of medical education and research. We continue to make a real impact on health-related challenges for the benefit of local and global populations while providing the best in modern medical training. Our academics are leaders in their respective fields committed to sharing their expertise with aspiring clinicians and health professionals.
Career paths
The Physician Associate (PA) career path is highly attractive for anyone who wants a career in healthcare.
Our graduates work as Physician Associates in General Practice and hospitals in London and further afield.
- 100% of Institute postgraduate taught graduates are in highly skilled work or graduate study (2020/21)
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—“I chose Queen Mary because it’s a very reputable medical school. I’d say my favourite thing about being a post-grad student at Queen Mary, is that it gives you the strength and resilience to continue in your studies since it’s quite a challenging degree. But it’s also very rewarding. It’s a really nice little community.” J
Jhanvi Karia, MSc Physician Associate Studies (2024)
Fees and funding
Full-time study
January 2026 | 2 years
- Home: £12,650
Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in a Biological, Biomedical or Health Profession degree.
Applicants will be considered primarily on the basis of their first degree, which includes integrated Masters programmes such as MSci, and performance in the CASPER test. Please note, those holding Medical Degrees (MBBS) are not suitable for entry.
Additional information
All applicants will be required to take the CASPER situational judgement test as part of the application process. Results from the CASPER exam will factor in the admissions selection process and applicants are invited to take the CASPER exam on 15 August 2024 at 5pm (BST). Details on how to book this test can be found here (https://my.acuityinsights.app/dates-times). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they meet minimum academic entry requirements before booking on to the CASPER test. We recommend that applications to our programme are made in good time and that you add your Queen Mary applicant ID number as reference on your CASPER test, so that we can link your application to your CASPER test result. Please note the final application deadline for our MSc programme is 1 August 2024. Also note applicants will not be required to take ‘Snapshot’ or ‘Duet’ for the admissions process.
Entry to this programme is competitive and places are limited. Meeting the minimum criteria will therefore not guarantee a place on the programme. Applications will be scored as part of the selection process, for instance, applicants with higher than the minimum 2.1 requirement in their first degree or those with higher level degrees will have an advantage. In addition to this, the whole application will be considered, including the personal statement and any relevant work experience, in order to determine which applicants receive an offer.
All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed as part of the selection process, and final decisions will be made after this stage.
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the Institute of Health Sciences Education falls within the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.