# What can you do with a Physiotherapy degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/physiotherapy/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Physiotherapy degree commonly leads to roles such as newly qualified physiotherapist, rehabilitation assistant and community physiotherapist (entry). Five years after graduating, Physiotherapy graduates had median earnings of £36,600 (middle half: £31,500–£41,000), and 93.2% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Allied health graduates is health and social work (55.6% of those in work).

Physiotherapy is a professional qualifying course when HCPC-approved. First jobs are usually rotational NHS posts. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Physiotherapy degree?

- **Newly qualified physiotherapist**: Works a rotational caseload under local preceptorship, progressing treatment plans with a senior. Skills often asked for: assessment, exercise plans, notes.
- **Rehabilitation assistant**. Skills often asked for: supervised exercise, equipment, session logs.
- **Community physiotherapist (entry)**. Skills often asked for: home visits, falls awareness, goal setting.
- **MSD clinic physiotherapist (entry)**. Skills often asked for: subjective assessment, outcome measures, advice.

## Where do Physiotherapy graduates work?

Allied health graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Health and social work | 55.6% | £35,900 |
| Education | 9% | £29,600 |
| Wholesale and retail | 6.9% | £38,400 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5.8% | £37,300 |
| Public administration and defence | 4.8% | £35,100 |
| Administrative and support services | 3.7% | £26,400 |
| Manufacturing | 2.4% | £34,800 |
| Information and communication | 1.8% | £40,300 |

## How much do Physiotherapy graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Physiotherapy (CAH02-06-05). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £29,300 | £28,200–£31,500 | 93.9% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £35,100 | £31,100–£37,700 | 93.4% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £36,600 | £31,500–£41,000 | 93.2% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £38,400 | £25,800–£45,800 | 91.5% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Allied health graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £52,700 | 140 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £46,100 | 50 |
| [University of Exeter](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-exeter/) | £43,600 | 95 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £42,800 | 55 |
| [University of Greenwich](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-greenwich/) | £42,800 | 215 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £41,700 | 90 |
| [London South Bank University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/london-south-bank-university/) | £40,600 | 80 |
| [Aston University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/aston-university/) | £40,300 | 100 |
| [University of Birmingham](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-birmingham/) | £40,300 | 195 |
| [University of Hertfordshire](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-hertfordshire/) | £40,100 | 200 |

## Is Physiotherapy the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want hands-on rehabilitation and exercise prescription.
- You accept placements across wards, outpatients, and community.
- You like anatomy as a daily working language.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a sports-coaching course without clinical regulation.
- You dislike documentation and MDT meetings.
- You expected no night or weekend working in some settings.

## Interview questions for Physiotherapy graduate roles

Newly qualified physiotherapy interviews usually test clinical reasoning, consent, and how you progress a simple case. These prompts are editorial illustrations, not a trust’s actual stations.

- A patient is in pain and asks you to ‘just click it’. How do you respond? (What it tests: Consent, explanation, and not performing a technique to please.)
- Walk us through your first assessment of someone after a simple ankle sprain. (What it tests: Subjective, red flags, and a plan — not a protocol dump.)
- The patient is not doing the home exercise. What do you try next? (What it tests: Barriers and shared goals, not blaming them.)
- You are unsure whether something is musculoskeletal or needs medical review. What then? (What it tests: You escalate; you do not hold a case you cannot safely hold.)
- How would you write a discharge note another clinician could use? (What it tests: What you did, what changed, what is outstanding.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Physiotherapy degree?

Common starting roles include newly qualified physiotherapist, rehabilitation assistant, community physiotherapist (entry) and mSD clinic physiotherapist (entry). Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Allied health graduates in work were health and social work (55.6%), education (9%) and wholesale and retail (6.9%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Physiotherapy graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Physiotherapy graduates of £29,300 one year after graduating, £35,100 three years after graduating, £36,600 five years after graduating and £38,400 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Physiotherapy degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 93.2% of Physiotherapy graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £36,600. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Physiotherapy 50 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Allied health graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Allied health were at University of Cambridge (£52,700), University of Bristol (£46,100) and University of Exeter (£43,600). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Physiotherapy in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Physiotherapy