Master of Chiropractic

Placement becomes a more substantial part of your development. You will undertake supervised practice-based learning that helps you apply your knowledge to whole patient care, develop professional judgement and prepare for the extended clinical placement experience in the final year.

Placement is a flagship part of the course. You will undertake extended supervised clinical placement, which may include experience within HSU’s on-site clinical services and other approved practice settings. You will take increasing responsibility for patient care under supervision, developing your ability to manage clinical complexity, communicate with patients, justify decisions, reflect on feedback and work within professional and governance expectations.

Students can typically expect around 12 hours of scheduled teaching contact per week. This may include lectures, seminars, practical classes, clinical skills teaching, simulation, workshops and guided learning activities. Alongside scheduled teaching, students are expected to undertake around 15 hours of self-directed study per week, using VLE materials, recorded lectures, preparation activities, reading, practical skills rehearsal and assessment preparation.

Scheduled teaching contact increases slightly as the course becomes more clinically focused. Students continue to attend academic and practical teaching, while also beginning a more substantial placement experience. Placement activity from January through to August runs alongside academic study and includes a substantive summer period between Year 3 and Year 4. This supports the transition into the extended clinical placement activity of the final year.

Placement becomes a major part of the learning experience. Final year placement normally runs from September to June inclusive, with academic classes, professional development activity and assessment running alongside supervised clinical practice. This allows students to continue developing their clinical reasoning, professional judgement and readiness for practice while working within supervised clinical environments.

Students are also encouraged to make full use of the wider learning environment outside scheduled sessions. This may include attending additional supervised practical practice sessions, using open campus technique spaces for skills rehearsal, studying in the library, accessing digital learning resources and working independently or with peers to consolidate learning.

Assessment activity takes place across the academic year. Practical and portfolio-based assessments are developed progressively throughout the teaching semesters, while written assessments are normally held towards the end of teaching periods. This staged approach helps students build their knowledge, skills and confidence over time, while preparing for the expectations of professional chiropractic practice.

This unit introduces the normal structure and organisation of the human body, from tissues through to major body systems. You will learn anatomy through both theory and practical application, including surface anatomy, anatomical terminology, models, images and safe palpation. The unit provides an essential foundation for physiology, biomechanics, clinical skills and later chiropractic practice.

This unit introduces the core principles of normal human physiology, including homeostasis, cellular function, metabolism and regulation. You will develop the theoretical scientific knowledge needed to understand how the body maintains normal function. This provides the foundation for later study of body systems, dysfunction, disease and clinical science.

This unit introduces chiropractic as a person centred, ethical and regulated healthcare profession. You will combine theory, communication practice, reflection and observational learning to understand patient experience, healthcare systems and professional identity. Simulated and observational activities help you begin linking classroom learning with real healthcare contexts.

This unit introduces the role of evidence in healthcare and chiropractic practice. You will learn what evidence is, how research is generated, and how different types of evidence are organised and used. Through guided academic activities, the unit builds early research literacy and prepares you for later critical appraisal and evidence informed clinical reasoning.

This unit explores how the musculoskeletal system, nervous system and biomechanics work together to support movement and function. You will combine theoretical learning with practical skills such as surface anatomy, palpation, postural observation and range of movement assessment. This supports progression into clinical examination, movement analysis and chiropractic assessment.

This unit develops your understanding of how major body systems work together to maintain normal function. You will study cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, renal and endocrine physiology, alongside nutrition, metabolism, growth, maintenance and repair. It provides important theoretical understanding that supports later study of pathology, clinical risk and patient care.

This unit builds on early professional learning by introducing foundational physical examination, manual and soft tissue techniques, and basic imaging awareness. You will develop practical skills in safe handling, patient positioning, professional communication and introductory examination within supervised learning environments. The unit combines theory, simulation, practical teaching and observational learning to prepare you for later clinical assessment.

This unit develops your understanding of how evidence is accessed and used within healthcare and chiropractic contexts. You will learn how evidence informs guidelines, professional standards and policy, while recognising uncertainty, variation and potential bias. The unit uses applied academic tasks to help you connect evidence informed practice with safe and accountable healthcare.

This unit develops your ability to assess, diagnose and manage upper quarter presentations, including the cranium, cervical spine, thoracic spine and upper limb. You will combine theory, practical skills, imaging interpretation, clinical reasoning and supervised exposure to practice. Learning includes therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions, supporting safe and evidence informed patient care.

This unit explores how dysfunction and disease affect normal anatomy, physiology and human function. You will study pain, inflammation, healing, pathology, neurological and systemic disease, medication influences, red flags and clinical risk. The unit strengthens your theoretical understanding of abnormal findings and supports safe diagnostic reasoning in later clinical units.

This unit focuses on lower quarter presentations, including the lumbar spine, pelvis and lower limb. You will continue to integrate theory, physical examination, imaging, diagnosis, chiropractic therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation. Practical and case based learning help you build confidence in applying chiropractic skills to realistic patient scenarios.

This unit brings together public health, behaviour change, health inequalities, evidence appraisal and clinical reasoning. You will explore how wider social, lifestyle and healthcare factors influence patient outcomes and engagement with care. Applied learning activities support patient education, communication, collaborative care and evidence informed decision making.

This unit develops advanced clinical reasoning for more complex and chronic presentations. You will use theory, case based learning, practical reasoning and simulation to manage uncertainty, assess risk and adapt care. The unit supports your progression from structured clinical scenarios towards whole patient decision making.

This unit focuses on person centred care, health psychology, behaviour change, pain science and applied research. You will use theory and applied activities to explore how patient goals, beliefs, context and health behaviours influence care and outcomes. The unit supports the design and justification of patient centred interventions using evidence, communication and reflective practice.

This unit extends your ability to manage complex and diverse patient presentations. You will explore areas such as paediatrics, pregnancy related care, sport, older adults, disability, safeguarding, consent, risk and adapted management. The unit combines theory, case based learning, practical reasoning and assessment activities to support safe clinical judgement and referral reasoning.

This unit includes a substantial supervised placement experience and supports your transition into applied clinical practice. You will combine placement learning, reflection, communication, interprofessional awareness and professional judgement. The unit helps you integrate academic learning with real practice environments and prepares you for final year clinical placement.

This placement unit supports you to consolidate clinical reasoning, patient management, communication and professional behaviour in supervised practice. You will take increasing responsibility for patient care while continuing to receive guidance and feedback from clinical educators. Assessment includes competency evidence, reflection and viva voce, helping you demonstrate safe and developing professional capability

This unit supports your transition from student practitioner to graduate chiropractor. You will develop understanding of professional regulation, ethics, clinical governance, CPD, quality improvement and safe practice systems. The unit combines professional theory with applied tasks that prepare you for accountable practice after graduation.

This final placement unit supports you to demonstrate readiness for professional practice through extended supervised clinical activity. You will refine your clinical reasoning, risk management, patient communication, documentation, reflection and professional judgement. The unit helps you evidence consistent, safe and effective practice as you prepare to graduate.

This unit develops your understanding of leadership, management, innovation, sustainability and service development in chiropractic practice. You will explore how chiropractors contribute to safe, ethical and effective healthcare services. The unit uses applied professional tasks to support confidence, business awareness and leadership capability.

This optional unit allows you to explore paediatric and pregnancy related chiropractic practice through evidence synthesis and critical reflection. You will select a focused topic and evaluate evidence, guidance, governance, communication and safeguarding considerations. The unit supports deeper specialist interest while maintaining an evidence informed and professionally accountable approach

This optional unit allows you to explore sports chiropractic through a focused evidence based topic. You will consider athlete welfare, evidence synthesis, governance, performance, injury management and return to activity. The unit supports deeper understanding of sports related practice before graduation.

This optional unit allows you to explore complex pain management through evidence synthesis and critical reflection. You will examine biopsychosocial approaches, clinical uncertainty, patient centred care, governance and professional reasoning. The unit supports deeper understanding of complex pain and its relevance to contemporary chiropractic care.

This optional unit develops advanced rehabilitation reasoning and programme design. You will use theory, case based learning, practical evidence and applied tasks to create and justify rehabilitation strategies for complex musculoskeletal presentations. The unit supports clinical reasoning, adaptability and person centred rehabilitation planning

This optional unit explores the application of biomechanics, exercise science and technology informed practice to chiropractic and musculoskeletal care. You may work with movement analysis, performance data, ethical considerations and applied clinical reasoning. The unit supports students interested in movement, function, exercise and performance related practice.

Academic Requirements

·        Normally a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points

·        Achieved through A levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications

·        At least one science subject, which may include PE. Where A levels are presented, at least one science subject must be included (which may include Physical Education). For applicants presenting alternative Level 3 qualifications, a sufficient curriculum covering relevant scientific content must be demonstrated through formal documentation and qualification content mapping.

Accepted qualifications include:

·        A levels

·        BTEC National Diplomas and Extended Diplomas

·        T Levels in relevant subject areas

·        Access to Higher Education Diplomas in science or health related disciplines

·        International Baccalaureate

·        Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

·        Irish Leaving Certificate

·        Other national and internationally recognised Level 3 qualifications

All qualifications are considered in line with UCAS tariff equivalence and institutional admissions policies.

Internal Routes

Progression from Foundation Year Chiropractic
Students enrolled on the University’s Foundation Year Chiropractic pathway progress directly to Level 4 of the MChiro on successful completion of the course, in line with approved progression arrangements. These students are considered progression applicants rather than internal course transfers.

Progression from other Foundation Year courses
Students completing alternative University Foundation Year courses may be considered for entry to the MChiro via formal course transfer processes. In such cases, prior learning and credits will be reviewed and formally ratified to confirm equivalence and suitability for entry at Level 4.

Other routes

Recognition of wider experience
In line with University policy, applicants who do not meet standard academic entry requirements may be considered on an individual basis where they can demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and readiness for study through relevant prior learning, professional experience or other appropriate evidence, which will be assessed and formally verified through the admissions process.

There are no variations to institutional admissions regulations.

In addition to the general admissions criteria:

• Applicants are required to undergo a selection interview process as part of the admissions procedure.
• Applicants must obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, or an equivalent national police clearance for applicants residing outside the UK, in accordance with safeguarding requirements.
• Applicants are required to complete an Occupational Health screening prior to enrolment to ensure they are fit to undertake the demands of the course and professional training.
• Applicants must meet the University’s English language requirements (e.g. IELTS or equivalent), where applicable, to ensure safe and effective communication in clinical and academic contexts.
• The University operates Fitness to Practise procedures for healthcare courses and all students are required to adhere to these throughout the course.

Undergraduate standard: 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component. As home students but local police check or DBS equivalent.