Podiatry BSc (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Upon completion of the BSc Podiatry course you will be equipped to establish and run your own clinical practice and will have a wide variety of work opportunities both in the UK and overseas.

  Our Podiatry course comprises theory and clinical studies modules. At the end of stage one you will undertake a local placement which is preceded by pre-clinical studies. During the second stage you will undertake orthopaedic and physical medicine clinics in-house as well as completing local and national placements. During the final stage you will have the opportunity to practise at several specialist clinics which include at risk, sports and paediatrics. You will be trained to undertake selected procedures under local anaesthesia. At the final stage of the podiatry degree you may have the opportunity to attend to injuries at the London Marathon under the guidance of academic staff.

  The Podiatry degree at the University of Northampton aims to develop your skills through clinical activity and rigorous academic content, this combination will help to transform you into the highest quality practitioner.

  If you were once a registered allied health professional but took a career break and are looking for more information about financial, clinical and academic support available to return to practice visit the Health Education England site.

  Placements

  You will undertake a number of placements in a range of clinics and settings and will be trained to undertake selected procedures under local anesthesia.

  You will benefit from clinical placement and education at our Podiatry Clinic allowing you to put your skills into practice and gain valuable experience. We run busy clinics which include sports, paediatrics, at risk, orthopaedic, physical medicine, general and nail surgery.

  At the final stage of the course you may have the opportunity to attend to injuries at the London Marathon.

  As part of your second year you may be able to take part in a three week placement within an EU or international healthcare setting.

  List of modules:

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Interprofessional Education (IPE)
      Module code: FHS_IPE20

      Status: Compulsory
    • Functional Anatomy (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD1101

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide introduction to human anatomy with reference to the foot and lower limb in support of further study of podiatry, podiatric biomechanics, pharmacology, pathology and surgery. It will also provide the student with an introduction to normal human bipedal stance and locomotion and develop competence in analysing gait.
    • Clinical Reasoning and Professional Issues (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD1109

      Status: Compulsory
      The aim of this module is to provide students with skills and understanding of professional and clinical practice within podiatry and wider healthcare settings.
    • Clinical Studies 1 (30 Credits)
      Module code: POD1110P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the clinical environment and practical skills in the assessment and management of patients.
    • Pathology (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD1111

      Status: Compulsory
      Pathology is the study of disease and provides a bridge between basic biological science and clinical medicine. The purpose of this module is to develop a foundation knowledge of pathological principles in preparation for clinical practice.
    • Physiology (30 Credits)
      Module code: POD1112

      Status: Compulsory
      To provide students with the necessary background knowledge in normal human physiology for podiatric practice.
  • Stage 2
    • Clinical Studies 2 (30 Credits)
      Module code: POD2108P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enhance clinical and practical skills within defined areas of podiatric medicine and Musculoskeletal podiatry.
    • Podiatric Medicine (30 Credits)
      Module code: POD2109

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop an understanding of disease processes to support effective, evidence-based diagnosis and management of conditions affecting the lower limb.
    • Pharmacology (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD2110

      Status: Compulsory
      This module will provide students with fundamental concepts of pharmacology relating to podiatric practice. It will equip students with the knowledge and skills to link patients? administered or supplied medication safely, within the constraints of the legal framework.
    • Musculoskeletal Podiatry (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD2111

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide students with key skills, concepts and knowledge of the assessment diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal foot and ankle pathologies.
    • Exploring Evidence to Inform Practice (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD2112

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enhance students? academic research skills through critiquing local, national and/or international evidence related to socio-cultural issues relevant to professional Podiatric care. With a focus on advocacy for people across the lifespan and the wider family, students will develop a proposal for research.
  • Stage 3
    • The Foot at Risk (20 Credits)
      Module code: POD3110P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide students with specific theory and practical approaches to assessment and management of at risk podiatry patients. The module enhances clinical skills in this specialist area and enables students to practice safely within their scope of practice upon qualification.
    • Paediatric Podiatry (10 Credits)
      Module code: POD3111P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide students with specific theory and practical approaches to assessment and management of Paediatric patients. Enhancing clinical skills in a specialist area of podiatric scope of practice.
    • Advancing Clinical Practice (40 Credits)
      Module code: POD3112P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide students with exposure to more advanced clinical skills and theory, and prepare them for an evolving and advanced practice workforce.
    • Sports Podiatry (10 Credits)
      Module code: POD3113P

      Status: Compulsory
      To provide students with specific theoretical and practical approaches to assessment and management of sports/athletic patients. Enhancing clinical skills in a specialist area of podiatric scope of practice.
    • Embedding Evidence to Inform Practice (40 Credits)
      Module code: POD4102

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable students? to use academic research to enhance current practice. Using evaluation and synthesis of local, national and/or international evidence related to socio-cultural issues relevant to professional podiatric care. Students will focus on advocacy for people across the lifespan and the wider family to present the findings of their chosen research output.

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• Entry requirements

  All applicants for the Podiatry BSc course must have:

  • BBC at A Level including Level 3 Science or
  • DDD at BTEC/Cambridge Technical 
  • DDM at BTEC Extended Diplomas
  • M at T Level

  We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

  You will also need to have completed some work or volunteering experience within the Podiatry field. If you do not have this experience you may be asked to gain experience and, as evidence, provide a written reflective account which is to be signed by the facilitator.

  You also need one of the following qualifications:

  • Applicants must also have GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English Language at Grade C/4 or above.
  • Functional Skills/Key Skills or credits taken within an Access to Higher Education course (12 credits at Level 2 or 6 credits at level 3) as equivalent for both Maths and English Language are also acceptable.

  All offers of a place on the podiatry course will be made to applicants after completion of successful interviews, and will be conditional subject to:

  • a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check;
  • a satisfactory occupational health check, including evidence of required immunisations that includes vaccinations for exposed Prone Procedures (EPP) via the University of Northampton’s Occupational Health provider. Please refer to the department of health document used by occupational health providers.

  For more information on how to make an application for podiatry courses, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.5 overall with of 6.5 in each section 

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  2024/25 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • International – Full Time: £16,200

  2023/24 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted for the podiatry degree relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • International – Full Time: £15,750

  Additional Costs

  • we currently pay indemnity insurance for all of our commissioned students, this is £85
  • £36 for 3 years of membership of the Royal College of Podiatry
  • instruments are provided for you, you will only need to buy scissors
  • the clinical uniforms (two tops and one pair of trousers) are provided by the H.E.E. NHS funding (although extra may be purchased if needed)
  • additional expenses include a white lab coat and an optional lower limb skeletal model, approximately £85
  • students receive travelling expenses to placements. International students however will have to fund expenses incurred when travelling to placement locations although this will be less than other schools of podiatry due to our designated clinical unit
  • you will need to purchase and have suitable footwear for the clinical environment.

  Financial contribution towards your travel, and expenses in relation to your practice learning opportunities, may be available to you from the NHS Learning Support Fund. Details, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the NHS website.

  For more information about possible funding options for podiatry courses, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join our full-time Podiatry degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your podiatry course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  * UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

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• FAQs

  How will I be assessed on the podiatry BSc course?

  Assessment methods used on the BSc Podiatry include coursework and examinations.

  What are the specialist teaching facilities for Podiatry?

  You will benefit from clinical placement and education at our Podiatry Clinic allowing you to put your skills into practice and gain valuable experience.

  We run busy clinics which include sports, paediatrics, at risk, orthopaedic, physical medicine, general and nail surgery.

  Our Podiatry course aims to develop your skills through clinical activity and rigorous academic content, this combination will help to transform you into the highest quality practitioner.

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