Master of Podiatry (MPod)/BSc (Hons) Podiatry

As a podiatrist you will be a healthcare professional who has been trained to diagnose and treat abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. Podiatrists work with their patients to prevent and correct deformity, keeping people mobile and active, and helping to relieve pain. Podiatrists work with people of all ages, and your patients will count on you to support and help them with a broad range of mobility and medical conditions of the foot and lower limbs. These may include muscle and joint problems as well as broader health issues such as diabetes, blood disorders and disorders of the nervous system, which may involve complex wound management.

On this course you will:

• learn from staff with an outstanding reputation for the quality of teaching;
• be equipped with all the knowledge and skills that you require to work as a podiatrist;
• develop your expertise through indepth theoretical learning, clinical placements in each year and the close support of our very experienced staff;
• benefit from the interprofessional working focus of this course; and
• become confident in your own professional identity and have the additional skills that will allow you to work as an effective multidisciplinary team member.

Structure

This four-year undergraduate Master of Podiatry (MPod)/BSc (Hons) Podiatry course will equip you with the expertise and practical skills that you need to work as a registered podiatrist in the private or public health and social care sector. You will thrive in our supportive environment, and benefit from placements each year along with practical experience in our specialist clinical facilities on campus.

Find out about the benefits of studying an undergraduate master’s.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will learn in face-to-face and online lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical workshops. There will be a mix of classroom and online learning. Outwith timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue your own learning through self-study. You will be assessed by a variety of assessment methods (for example written and practical exams, written assignments, presentations) at the end of each module.

Placements

Placements are invaluable in consolidating theoretical study into practical expertise by working directly with patients and qualified staff. You will complete practice placements in each year. You will attend a variety of placements within the NHS at various locations across Scotland. QMU manages the sourcing and allocation of placements for each student.

To enhance future employability placements take place across Scotland. It is therefore likely that students will have to relocate for at least some of their practice-based learning unless they have individual requirements (eg specific health needs or school age children) that mean they must remain in a specific location.

Specialist facilities

QMU offers a variety of modern spaces for use by Master of Podiatry (MPod)/BSc (Hons) Podiatry and MSc Podiatry (Pre-Registration) courses. We have a large multipurpose clinical room, a large orthotics lab with a separate machine room, and a fully functioning surgical suite which are all used to facilitate student learning and our on-campus patient facing clinics. On-campus staff-supported clinics which we operate within the aforementioned spaces include: Nail surgery clinics, Nail surgery assessment and dressings clinics, and Musculoskeletal/Biomechanics clinics. We also provide simulated learning experiences within our clinical spaces to enable students to safely develop complex skills which can then be transferred into the practice education/clinical setting with patients. In addition, students will have access to additional laboratory based environments for specific teaching for Microbiology and Physiology, thus enabling us to contextualise complex theory into practice.

Teaching staff, class sizes and timetables

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

For more information, please also visit ‘How we teach and how you’ll learn’.

Year One

You will:

• be introduced to anatomy and physiolog;.
• study pathophysiology and microbiology, as well as beginning to learn about lower limb and foot conditions;
• prepare for clinical practice (and your professional development journey) by developing key skills, including communication skills, and explore the professional requirements to allow you to become a podiatrist;
• develop your academic and research skills including essay writing and how to access information to support your learning; and 
• ebnefit from an early introduction to podiatry in the form of learning about clinical practice on placement - this provides the opportunity to allow you to integrate into the clinical environment.

Modules

• Podiatric Clinical Practice 1
• Becoming an Allied Health Professional
• Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Microbiology
• Developing Resilience of Self and Others for Professional Practice
• Physiology
• Finding Your Academic Voice

Year Two

You will:

• undertake modules that explore human walking and musculoskeletal problems; 
• continue to broaden your understanding of health and wellbeing and how to influence and facilitate behaviour change;
• further develop your academic skills by exploring how knowledge can be acquired, applied and integrated into practice;
• learn more about medicine and pharmacology; and
• continue to develop your practical skills through further supported clinical placement.

Modules

• Podiatric Clinical Practice 2
• Mechanics of Normal and Pathological Gait
• MSK/Orthopaedics
• Health Coaching Conversations
• Developing a Spirit of Inquiry
• Pharmacology for Podiatrists

Year Three

You will:

• enhance your critical thinking, research skills and further develop your knowledge of foot and ankle imaging modalities through the modules offered this year;
• continue to broaden your healthcare awareness and challenge your understanding of health education and promotion, as well as develop your key skills in working as part of a multidisciplinary team;  
• continue to extend and strengthening your knowledge and skill in research; and
• continue to link theory and practice during a range of clinical placement opportunities.

Modules

• Podiatric Clinical Practice 3
• Theoretical and Clinical Approaches to Multidisciplinary Team Working
• Diagnostic Investigations for Podiatric Practice
• Active Citizenship
• Understanding and Appraising the Evidence for Practice
• Medicine and Pathology

Year Four

You will:

• enhance your critical thinking, research skills and further develop your knowledge of foot and ankle imaging modalities through the modules offered this year;
• continue to broaden your healthcare awareness and challenge your understanding of health education and promotion, as well as develop your key skills in working as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• continue to extend and strengthening your knowledge and skill in research; and
• continue to link theory and practice during a range of clinical placement opportunities.

Modules

• Podiatric Clinical Practice 3
• Theoretical and Clinical Approaches to Multidisciplinary Team Working
• Diagnostic Investigations for Podiatric Practice
• Active Citizenship
• Understanding and Appraising the Evidence for Practice
• Medicine and Pathology

NB The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2023) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2024. Please check back here for any updates.

It is up to you which path to take. There are excellent clinical opportunities in the NHS and in private practice. You may wish to start up your own business, or move on to do some postgraduate research. Our alumni are currently enjoying careers in the NHS and private practice, and in the areas of sports medicine, community clinics, foot surgery and paediatrics.

Read Podiatry lecturer, Joe McIntyre's blog 'Things you might not know about a career in Podiatry'

If you are interested in our Master of Podiatry (MPod)/BSc (Hons) Podiatry course, or would like to learn more about Podiatry at QMU, we offer opportunities for you to shadow our on-campus student clinic. This experience will give you the chance to speak to staff and current students and gain a greater insight into the profession, as well as a feel for student life at QMU. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Neil Pomfret (Admissions Tutor for the Podiatry Team).

Entry requirements

Scottish Higher: Standard: BBBC Minimum: BCCC

A Level: CCC

Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H3 H3 H3

International Baccalaureate: 28 points

International: IELTS of 6.0 with no element lower than 6.0

Required subjects: One science at Higher/A Level or equivalent. English and Maths at Nat 5/GCSE. We can also accept National 5 Application of Maths or Lifeskills at the same grade.

Am I a Widening Access student?: We apply the minimum entry criteria to applicants who meet one or more contextual factor. To see if this would apply to you, please refer to the access and application page.

Mature/Access: We welcome applications from mature students with other relevant qualifications and/or experience. Visit our College Leavers and Mature Students Advice page for more information. 

Direct Entry: Not available. Relevant HN qualifications may be considered for entry to Year One.

Other requirements

• A satisfactory criminal records check from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, an occupational health check and personal indemnity insurance (normally through membership of the professional body) are required.
• You may be requested to be immunised against Hepatitis B.

Other costs

• The cost of professional indemnity insurance is the responsibility of the student. For more information on this, visit the UG 2024 fees page on our website.
• The additional costs associated with placement travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. Students who receive SAAS funding may be able to claim for some of these expenses to be reimbursed.
• Uniform, PVG and badge costs – please see UG 2024 fees page on our website.

Disability/health conditions

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.

Terms and Conditions

The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2024/25 Entry Terms and Conditions (Undergraduate).

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