Physician Associate Studies

At St George’s, we strive to ensure our admissions process is fair and transparent. In order to make sure every applicant is treated equally, we use a process based on objective measures.

The steps below outline our general admissions process and the way by which we determine which applicants will receive an offer to study the Physician Associate Studies MPAS at St George’s.

1. Each applicant that meets our entry criteria (see below) is ranked by their UCAT score.*
2. The number of interviews we run each year will vary. Our UCAT cut-off scores will be determined by the number of available interviews.
3. If, as a result of the number of MMIs we plan to offer, the cut-off score falls at a point where a number of applicants have achieved the same UCAT score, we may increase or reduce the number of MMIs we conduct to accommodate all applicants who have received that score.
4. Applicants will then be invited to attend an MMI which is a values-based recruitment process and reinforces objectivity.
5. Once all of our interviews are conducted, we rank MMI scores and the highest performing applicants within each group are made an offer to study the Physician Associate Studies MPAS at St George’s. Decisions from St George’s will be entered onto UCAS Track and applicants will be contacted via email.

*The use of UCAT for the MPAS programme is in its infancy. For 2025 entry, we may consider applicants who have not sat the UCAT at the point of application. However, achieving the UCAT minimum requirements would form part of the applicant's conditional offer, if successful at the MMI stage.

You should have, or be expected to achieve, a minimum of a second-class degree (2.2) in a life science or health care undergraduate degree, which includes, at minimum, a level 4 module of human physiology. 

All degrees must be awarded before 1 August on the year of entry.

Human Physiology is a necessity for all applicants. Please see below for a list of degree titles that are considered to contain suitable levels of Human Physiology content. 

Examples of degrees that are considered suitable are:

*Transcripts will be reviewed to ensure adequate levels of human biology and human physiology have been covered in these degrees. Those not meeting the requirements will not be interviewed.

We welcome applications from applicants around the world. For information on the requirements for your country, please visit our International Qualifications for Postgraduate Study page.

Please note that at present graduates of UK Physician Associate Studies programmes are not eligible to work as Physician Associates in other countries.

Additional information

UCAT results are used to select applicants invited to interview and may be used to rank a post-interview waiting list.

UCAT scores do not need to be included on your UCAS application as we will be informed of your scores directly by Pearson and UCAS. Please ensure that the name you use to register for UCAT is the same as that used on your UCAS form so results can be matched. We will receive any annotations UCAT include with your scores, however we are unfortunately unable to consider these as part of your application.

Below are some key dates that you may find useful. These are correct as of February 2024, however please do check the UCAT website for the most up to date information.

• Registration opens: 14 May 2024
• Testing begins: 8 July 2024
• Final booking deadline: 19 September 2024
• Last testing date: 26 September 2024
• UCAS application deadline: 31 January 2024

Test preparation

UCAT has developed practice tests and a toolkit to support your test preparation.

View the information on the UCAT Candidate Preparation Toolkit page.

Details of the exam and how to register to sit the test can be found on the UCAT website.

If you are applying with a degree from outside of the UK, you will need to meet the English language requirements here.

This is a Group 3 course.

You will be asked to submit a personal statement with your application. This statement should outline your reasons for applying to the MPAS, demonstrating evidence of experience and the transferable skills you gained from this. Your personal statement may be read as part of your application.  

You will need to provide one reference. This should be an academic or professional reference. 

We understand the challenges for our prospective applicants for medicine and allied health courses trying to gain work experience at this time, particularly in clinical settings.

In response to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have chosen to relax our work experience requirements for prospective applicants for our courses which would normally require these.

Despite the relaxed requirements, we still require our applicants to have an understanding of the realities of working as a healthcare professional and to show they have the necessary skills and attributes for their chosen career. Online resources can give you valuable insight into working in the healthcare sector and outline the wide range of careers and courses available. You can find a number of suggested resources for each of our courses here.

If you meet the entry requirements above, you will be invited to attend a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). This will usually be in-person, however we can also offer remote MMIs for international applicants.

You can find further information about this process on our MMI Guidance page, however please note that some of this information may change for those applying during the 2025 application cycle.

Should you receive an offer to study at St George’s, you will be required to complete a health check and be declared fit to study and practise by the Occupational Health (OH) department before you begin your studies.

The following vaccinations are mandatory for all healthcare students before you begin your studies:

• MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

• Meningococcal meningitis

• Diphtheria

• Pertussis (whooping cough)

• Poliomyelitis

• Tetanus

As part of the process, you will also be screened by the OH team for Chickenpox, Tuberculosis, HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

We do not currently require you to have been vaccinated against Covid-19, but we strongly recommend that you get double vaccinated before the start of your studies, unless medically exempt.

When admitting candidates to study and practice as a health practitioner, we have an obligation to both patients and to the individual student. Candidates who are concerned about a health issue are advised to contact us.

This course will include work with children and vulnerable adults, so you will be required to submit a series of declarations.

If you are invited to an interview, we will request some additional information from you, regarding your criminal record, educational history and employment history. You will also have the opportunity to make any other declarations that you’d like us to be aware of. We may not able to consider applicants who were suspended from previous study/work due to fitness to practise issues or failure in assessments/examinations.

If you are made an offer, you will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. More information about this is sent to applicants as part of the admissions process.

If you studied but did not complete a Physician Associate Studies, or another clinical course, please provide formal evidence as to why you withdrew when you apply, and no later than 1 February in the year of application. Please email the team ensuring you include your UCAS personal ID number and programme name in the subject line. Applicants will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Due to the demanding nature of the programme, it is important that applicants can demonstrate recent engagement in education. If the qualifications that you are applying on the basis of (e.g. Level 3 or degree level qualifications) were awarded more than five years ago (e.g. before summer 2020), it may still be possible for us to consider your application. In this case, we would look at supplementary level 3 qualifications, or relevant work experience, that you have undertaken within the last five years.

These applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, following submission of a UCAS application. 

The first year is dedicated to anatomy, clinical sciences, pathophysiology and pharmacology, with weekly problem-based learning designed to assimilate learning through application to clinical cases. Following a systems-based approach we deliver clinical examination and communication skills in small group sessions which focus on the body system being taught in that block. We begin with ear, nose and throat (ENT) and then target the ‘big three’: cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal. The majority of themes are covered in two to four-week blocks, with a large amount of information delivered in each.

Teaching is delivered across four days using a blended learning approach with a mixture of online remote and on campus sessions.

At various stages in Year 1 you will supplement your learning by attending clinical placement. 

The second year opens with intensive clinical and procedural skills training to prepare you for secondary care rotations. You will learn skills such as ECG interpretation, suturing, cannulation and advanced communication skills in simulation with actors. You will return to campus intermittently for teaching days but the emphasis shifts towards clinical work and placements, with the majority of the year spent in hospital and a long block in a GP surgery. 

This module lays the basis for future prescribing activity and ensures you have a good understanding of common drugs and their effects. (Please note that PAs do not yet have prescribing rights in the UK. However, strong pharmacology knowledge is essential for PA practice.)

This module enables you to locate and evaluate evidence underpinning decision-making in healthcare and to develop your skills in critically appraising this evidence.

This module runs across both years and covers integrated body systems, pathology, differential diagnosis skills, models of decision-making, and applications of the underpinning sciences to patient conditions. It also provides an overview of the clinically relevant elements of human anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, pathology and physiology

This module runs across both years of the course and addresses the common and pertinent investigations relating to the clinical practice of a Physician Associate. You will learn about the role of clinical investigations and their relevance in relation to common and important presentations in clinical practice. It will involve analysis of common investigations performed in primary and secondary care.

This module runs throughout the two years. Students will be taught and assessed on their clinical communication and examination skills and core procedural skills. They will explore reflective practice and professional values amongst many other values outlined in the PANE/PARA curriculum. The module uses simulation to support learning which can range from low to high fidelity. 

This module facilitates the application of clinical knowledge and examination skills with appropriate supervision from suitably qualified and skilled clinicians in real clinical environments, preparing you for entry into professional practice.

The PA as Professional Evaluation Report assesses your progress in developing appropriate attitudes, behaviours and skills and your ability to apply them in the academic and clinical environment. As a PA student you are expected to demonstrate the same standard of professionalism as any qualified healthcare professional. This module runs across both years of the programme.

We run remote learning on several days throughout the year and this allows students to manage their time without commuting to campus every day. We feel that blended learning reflects real medical practice, with many clinicians offering remote consultations.

Problem-based learning

With a small group of peers, you will be assigned a tutor to support you working through different clinical cases each week. You will use self-directed research to complete the learning objectives and proceed through each case and make suggestions on the appropriate management. Problem-based learning encourages learning in context and a deep, rather than surface, understanding.

Self-directed study

MPAS requires a significant amount of self-directed study, outside of teaching hours. In the first year, lectures are complemented by group work, designed to develop clinical and communication skills.  

Clinical supervision 

As part of your clinical placement rotations, you will be allocated a GMC registered clinical supervisor who is either a General Practitioner or Consultant and they will support you in developing your skills development throughout your GP placement. 

In the second year, you'll continue community placements, as well as rotating through core clinical placements, including:

• general medicine
• paediatrics
• obstetrics and gynaecology
• emergency medicine
• mental health
• surgery
• geriatric medicine.

Assessments are designed to prepare you for the Physician Associate Regulated Assessment (PARA), ultimately for professional practice. They include a mixture of knowledge-based assessments and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). The PA Applied Knowledge and Skills module includes workplace-based assessments and a clinical case presentation.

You must provide:

• full details of your Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications with grades
• full details of your Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications with achieved/predicted grades
• full details of your degree qualification(s) with achieved/predicted grades
• a personal statement (more information about this document is available on the UCAS website)
• an academic reference from your current or most recent institutions with predicted grades

The Physician Associate Studies MPAS only accepts applications for deferred entry in exceptional circumstances. Applications must be submitted by the January of the year in which you are applying to enrol.

Acknowledgement emails are sent out as soon as we receive your application. Please make sure that your email account is able to accept communications from St George’s as we will mainly communicate with you via email.

For more information, see our fees and funding pages.

In order to be registered with the GMC as a physician associate (previously on the FPA Managed Voluntary Register (MVR) held by FPA under RCP) you will need to pass the PA registration assessment (previously the PA national exam or PANE) after successful completion of the MPAS. The PA registration exam (PARA) is not part of this programme and the cost of the exam is not included in your course fees. Find out more at the Physician associate national examination (PANE) | RCP London

Regulation

The General Medical Council have been chosen to become the regulator for PAs. When statutory regulation for PAs comes into effect, the PA MVR will cease to exist.

The table below highlights the additional course-specific costs related to this degree. Visit the additional course-related costs for more information on general costs to consider alongside your studies.

We have a range of funding opportunities available for students. You may be eligible for the following.

• a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government of up to £12,167
• other funding for Postgraduate Study
• an alumni discount– if you're a former St George’s student you can qualify for an additional 10% discount from this course.

Find out more on the fees and funding webpage.

To be eligible for a scholarship you must:

• have completed an application for the course
• not already be qualified at Masters level or above (e.g. PhD)
• must be self-funding (courses fully funded by the NHS or students receiving employer or sponsor funding are not eligible)
• have or be predicted to obtain at least a 2:1.

Please note scholarships cannot be deferred to 2025 or later entry.

Applicants with the highest scores across all courses will be considered for the scholarship and may be invited for interview.

If you are a Home (UK) or International (EU or non-EU) applicant applying for a taught postgraduate programme which has a scholarship, you will be automatically considered for the scholarship, providing you apply by the deadline (31 January 2024).

You do not need to submit an additional application form. However, you may be asked to attend a physical or virtual interview.

Successful candidates will be those whom the Scholarship Committee consider will make a positive contribution to the academic environment at St George's and achieve the highest scores.

Your application will be scored based on:

• your degree classification
• your personal statement
• your interview
• your references.