The Masters’ in Physician Associate Studies (MPAS) programme at City St George’s, University of London is a 2-year postgraduate Masters level programme. Entry requirements for this programme can be found on the course webpage.
Course modules
Modules covered in the course are:
- Applied Pharmacology: Students taught basic principles of pharmacology and learn about medications used for common and important conditions. The module focuses on medications outlined in The Top 100 Drugs.
- Investigations in Clinical Medicine: Addresses the common and pertinent investigations relating to the clinical practice of a Physician Associate.
- Evidence Based Practice: Students are taught the critical skills required to introduce evidence into their decision-making within the time and resource constraints they face in everyday practice.
- Physician Associate Applied Clinical Knowledge and Skills: Placements module which also encompasses work-based assessments and skills training.
- Personal and Professional Development: Students are taught the core principles and skills needed to examine and communicate with patients effectively.
- Physician Associate as a Professional Evaluation Report: Assess the student's professional development through their demonstration of appropriate attitude, behaviour and skills in the academic and clinical environment.
- Foundations in Clinical Medicine: Teaches clinical anatomy, pathology, differential diagnosis skills, models of decision-making and applications of the underpinning sciences to patient conditions.
Programme overview
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Year 1 is divided into 3 terms:
- Term 1: September to December: Introduction sessions during the first 1-2 weeks followed by systems-based learning.
- Term 2: January to April: Systems-based learning and assessments.
- Term 3: April - August: Systems-based learning and assessments.
- Term 1: September to December: Special Topics Weeks, teaching contact days, clinical placements and assessments.
- Term 2: January to April: Teaching contact days and clinical placements, assessments.
- Term 3: April - August: Teaching contact days, clinical placements, assessments.
The structure of Year 2 consists of Special Topics Weeks (STW) at the beginning of Term 1 and clinical placements with university teaching contact time.
Upon successful completion of all modules and clinical placements, students will be awarded an MPAS in Physician Associate Studies. They will now be eligible to enter the Associate Registration Assessment (PARA). This is a two-part assessment comprising a single best answer written examination and an OSCE.
With success in both parts, graduates will then be eligible to work in an area of their choosing with a supervising physician, deepening and refining their professional and clinical skills throughout their professional career.