2025-26 entry

Physician Associate Studies MMedSci

School of Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Health

Get the knowledge and skills to support doctors in all aspects of health care, in general practices or hospitals. We place the patient at the centre of care and help you develop your skills as a rounded clinician.
  • Start date
    September 2025
  • Duration
    2 years
  • Attendance
    Full-time
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    MMedSci Physician Associate Studies

    Course description

    This course is now closed to new applications for 2025 entry.

    Physician Associates (PAs) are health professionals who address patients’ health needs while working under the supervision of doctors. Qualified PAs have direct contact with patients by taking histories, performing examinations, making diagnoses and considering management plans as part of the wider clinical team.

    This course is designed to give you the skills, knowledge and experience to qualify as a PA through completion of the Physician Associate National Examination. It is aimed at graduates who are passionate about working in a frontline clinical environment as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

    Your training will give you a solid foundation in generalist medical care so that you can deliver ‘first contact’ health care in multiple health settings including general practice and secondary care trusts.

    The course has an integrated, systems-based approach that places the patient at the centre. The first stage is mainly based on the University of Sheffield campus. In the second stage, you will apply your knowledge and skills to placements in our partner hospitals and GP surgeries.

    The University of Sheffield works closely with local acute trusts (hospitals, mental health) and primary care providers (General Practice) so that our graduates are equipped to meet the needs of potential employers and the public as a whole. Our course team has a majority of practising Physician Associates as leads and tutors and has an excellent rate of students passing the Physician Associate National Examination.

    Professional bodies

    This course is approved by the General Medical Council and is a member of the PA Schools Council. At present, a UK Physician Associate qualification does not automatically allow you to work as a PA in other countries.

    Open days

    Interested in postgraduate taught study? Register your interest in studying at Sheffield or attend an event throughout the year to find out what makes studying at here special.

    Duration

    2 years full-time

    Teaching

    Our teaching is designed around the 2023 Physician Associate National Curriculum. We will also go into more detail in key areas to support your development as an all-around clinician. You will learn through lectures, small group teaching and practical sessions.

    You will have contact with patients throughout the course both through our Patients as Educators programme, where you will hear first-hand from patients about their experience, and on placements in GP practices and local hospitals. Clinical skills will be developed in simulation and then in practice, to support both your academic and practical skills progression.

    Assessment

    You will be assessed through written assessments, multiple-choice tests, clinical examinations and workplace-based assessments. 

    To practise in the UK, Physician Associates are required to pass the PA National Examination. This exam is not included as part of this programme and you will be required to cover the costs of taking it. However, the final exam on the MMedSci will mirror the PA National Examination, so that you are well prepared to take it.

    Your career

    After successfully completing your course and passing the Physician Associate National Examination, you will be able to apply for a variety of Physician Associate roles.

    Our graduates have gone on to work in GP surgeries, acute hospital trust departments such as A&E and respiratory medicine, as well as mental health trusts.

    There is more information about becoming a Physician Associate on the Royal College of Physicians website.

    Student profiles

    Jill Mabon PGT Student

    I chose Sheffield because I liked the city and the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the people on the Open Day

    Jill Malbon Physician Associate Studies graduate

    Jill studied Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield. 11 years later she returned to study Physician Associate Studies.

    A photo showing a doctor writing on a clipboard

    I chose to study in Sheffield due to the superb reputation of the Medical School

    Emma Bunting Physician Associate Studies graduate

    Emma was amongst the first cohort of students to qualify as a Physician Associate from the University of Sheffield. She now works across medical services.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.

    Minimum grade of BBB at A Level.

    Subject requirement

    We accept degrees in any subject including a substantial element of human or animal biology.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

    The lists of required degree subjects and modules are indicative only.  Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.

    English language requirements

    IELTS 7.5 (with 7 in each component) or University equivalent.

    Other English language qualifications we accept

    Interview

    Applicants that are successful in our initial shortlisting process will be invited to an interview.

    Disclosure and Barring Service

    All applicants who are offered and accept a place on this course are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure check in order to study with us.

    DBS checks

    Health clearance

    If you are infected with hepatitis C or HIV, or if you have a disability, medical condition or learning difficulty, including dyslexia, you must disclose this on your UCAS form. All potential students with significant support needs will be individually assessed to ensure that the University is able to support them on the course.

    All new students will undergo health screenings known as an Occupational Health Check, which may require an individual assessment. This is to ensure that you meet the fitness to practise standards detailed on the Higher Education Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS) guidance and is in accordance with the Department of Health National Guidelines. 

    Occupational Health Checks

    We offer support to students with additional needs, for example, through the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service or Student and Academic Services. You can find out more about the network of support services we provide. A very small number of conditions might, on health and safety grounds, affect your registration with the appropriate regulatory body and your ability to practise in certain clinical situations.

    Excluded Student Database

    Institutions educating healthcare professionals share limited information about fitness to practise exclusions via the Excluded Student Database. Any applicants who are identified as recorded on the database will be further investigated. If you are found to be on the Excluded Students Database, a rejection decision may be returned, or an offer of study may be withdrawn.

    Find out more about the database

    Clinical student entry agreement

    As part of the admissions process, applicants will be asked to sign a clinical student entry agreement that sets out standards and behaviours that are expected of those working in the profession.

    Find out more about the entry agreement

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

    Fees and funding

    NHS Grant

    Students studying on the MMedSci Physician Associate Studies course may be eligible to receive a grant of £5,000 (£2,500 per year) from the NHS.

    You do not need to apply for this grant. Once you have registered on the course, the department will confirm your attendance and process your grant. 

    For further information about the grant, contact the department via aume-pgt-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk.

    Funding for postgraduate taught courses

    Alumni discount

    Save up to £2,500 on your course fees

    Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.

    Apply

    This course is now closed to new applications for 2025 entry.

    Contact

    Start a conversation with us – you can get in touch by email, telephone or online chat.

    Contacts for prospective students

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.