My experience studying a postgraduate course in Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy student Eva shares her experience of the course from the teaching quality to the amazing experiences she had on placement.

Dear reader. Hi, my name is Eva. I am an international student from Slovakia, currently living in Aberdeen and finishing my MSc (pre-registration) degree in Physiotherapy. My undergraduate degree was in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation in England, and that’s where my life in the UK started.

Every time someone asks me how I ended up in Aberdeen, I have to smile. It wasn’t my plan. In all honesty, it was just a crazy idea on a Tuesday morning. I was applying for a master’s degree in physiotherapy and had been unsuccessful at a different university. RGU’s course was rated as one of the best, and I didn’t believe in myself enough to apply; however, thanks to the little moment of hopelessness I decided to send my application to RGU because – what do I have to lose? I remember the moment I got my acceptance email; I couldn’t believe it.

So here I am, last few months ahead of me and I can say with all honesty that one email changed my life. I have always dreamed about Scotland and its castles, shore lines and temperamental weather. To have had the chance to call it a home for two years is still unbelievable to me. The reputation RGU has is very much deserved. From the moment I received my ID card I knew that I will be proudly representing this institution and have a lot of learning ahead of me.

The teaching really stands out, and I believe that’s why the course is so highly ranked. The balance of tutorials, practical classes and placements provided me with the skillset to start my journey. I especially love the practical classes – they are immersive and hands-on, providing real-world experiences that build confidence and essential skills needed for a successful career.

There is always someone from the lecturing team willing to help and be there for you – and there were definitely moments when I needed that. And on top of that, I gained around 40 other people I could turn to – my classmates, who were always ready to help each other, even during those exam seasons.

Some of the things I will look back at the most are memories from placements. I was so lucky to have been part of amazing teams, and gain the experiences I got. To be able to say I saw surgeries on my birthday? Pretty cool. To make a room of seniors laugh during an exercise class? Wholesome. And to see a patient walk for the first time in months? Surreal. The opportunities for students are really endless and the university is very supportive to help you achieve the experiences you want.

I fell in love with acute and respiratory physiotherapy, and the team did their maximum to help me gain a placement in this field. I know that experience is going to be fundamental to my career aspirations.