Jasmine - Things you should know

Hello! My name is Jasmine and here’s my guide to what I think you should know before studying Physiotherapy at Herts!  

Do your research and gain work experience

Many people have the belief that Physiotherapy is all about sports or massaging which is not the case. It is important that before applying for Physiotherapy you have researched what is included within the course, have some knowledge around the main components (Cardiorespiratory, Neuromusculoskeletal and Neuroscience) and know what you are getting yourself into! Gaining work experience is not only a requirement before applying for Physiotherapy but this will also give you an insight into what you may be doing once completing your degree and whether it is for you or not. (TOP TIP: Ensure you have had some work experience within the NHS, whether it be working as a rehabilitation assistant or as a work experience student). 

Hard work and perseverance

As many of you may have already been told, physiotherapy is HARD WORK!! It is NOT a course for those who do not want to put in the work as it can be very stressful, time-consuming and at times can be emotionally draining BUT it is extremely rewarding when you see patients progress, achieve goals or get better which makes it all worthwhile. There is also LOTS of support along the way and always someone to speak to. At Herts, the Physiotherapy team have an ‘open door’ policy which means that if a lecturer’s door is open you can always knock and ask questions or ask for help which is great! 

Assessments

When studying Physiotherapy, you need both the knowledge but also the hands-on skills therefore there are so many ways in which you are assessed over the three years. Different assessments include assignments, practice placements, OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations), written exams and presentations. This is great if there is a specific assessment type that you do not enjoy as you will be assessed on a variety however I would say if you do not like speaking in front of people then get some practice in before starting Physiotherapy as this is a skill you will definitely require throughout both your degree and career! 

Work/Life balance

A work/ life balance is SO important. It is so easy to get carried away with work as there is so much content to learn throughout all three years therefore time management is crucial. Make sure you are available for friends, family, and hobbies. As mentioned before, Physiotherapy CAN be incredibly stressful therefore find something that you can use to de-stress and completely take your mind off things. For me this was sport; I made sure a few nights a week I took part in sporting activities with friends! (TOP TIP: Start learning and reading around different topics or anatomy the summer before starting university to give yourself a head start… you will be very grateful for it!!)

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and I wish you the best of luck!