Podiatry - BSc (Hons) Degree

This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year full-time degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

1. Students who aspire to enrol onto the first year of a science-based honours degree programme within the Cardiff School of Health Sciences, who have not achieved the standard entry requirements to enter at year one of the chosen degree.
2. Students who have not studied subjects that provide the necessary background within the scientific disciplines required to enter at year one of the chosen degree.

Find out more about the foundation year​.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

In addition, you will need to pass the foundation year with an overall mark of 65% at the first attempt, with a minimum of 65% from the Term 2 Biological Sciences module. See entry requirements for further detail.

The BSc (Hons) Podiatry degree is a full and comprehensive three-year programme, enabling students to develop reasoning, analytical and practical and leadership skills throughout their studies, with specific course content as follows:

Year One:

• Theory of Podiatric Practice (20 credits)
• Integrated Podiatric Practice (40 credits)
• Research and Governance for Podiatric Practice (20 credits)
• Professional and Interprofessional Development 1 (20 credits)*
• Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)*

The first year of the course provides you with a firm foundation in subjects which are core to the podiatry profession, such as anatomy and physiology, common podiatric pathologies, introduction to pharmacology and gait studies. Clinical education commences with pre-clinical practice that aims to prepare you with the clinical skills to begin patient contact later in the year. The emphasis is on supporting you to translate theory into practice to become confident and knowledgeable in the field of podiatry.

Year Two:

• Applied Theory of Podiatric Practice (20 credits)
• Applied Podiatric Practice (40 credits)
• Health Psychology and Wellbeing (20 credits)
• Professional and Interprofessional Development 2 (20 credits)*
• Research Methods (20 credits)*

In the second year of the course, the aim is to develop and apply knowledge acquired in year 1, with greater focus on topics such as diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders and podiatric pharmacology and administration of local anaesthetics. You will also further explore the assessment, diagnosis and management of a range of more complex patient groups, when starting to undertake specialist clinics.

Year Three:

• Extended Podiatric Theory (20 credits)
• Extended Podiatric Practice (40 credits)
• Health Behaviour Change (20 credits)
• Project (40 credits)*

In the third year of the programme, you will have access to an extensive range of complex patients and scenarios and the opportunity to developed extended clinical skills important for future employability. The wider aspects of practising podiatry within a professional context are also considered, with a focus on employability in both the NHS and private sector, as well as developing entrepreneurship skills. There will also be an opportunity to carry out data collection and analysis as part of a research project.

*modules available through the medium of Welsh

A variety of innovative and creative approaches to education are employed throughout the programme including lectures, tutorials, practical workshops and hands-on clinics. The use of skills labs involving small group work also encourages an interactive, hands-on approach to teaching more complex elements such as functional anatomy. 

The BSc (Hons) Podiatry academic staff have expertise in key areas of podiatry including the high-risk foot, wounds, diabetes, rheumatology, sports injuries and rehabilitation, podiatric surgery, nail surgery, podopaediatrics, orthotic manufacturing, administration of local anaesthetics and pharmacology. Many of our staff are research-active, with research areas of interest including screening for peripheral arterial disease, and assessment and management of patellofemoral pain; with much of this research rated as internationally excellent in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF). 

Clinical experience is delivered in each year of the programme, with students undertaking weekly patient clinics and block placements, culminating in the completion of 1,000 clinical hours over the duration of the course. All clinical staff are practicing podiatrists and include the podiatry academic staff, private practitioners, and NHS podiatrists, who all work within the clinical environment alongside the students. 

A collaborative approach includes local and global partnerships with industry, charities, professional bodies and practitioners offers students the experience of working in a variety of NHS and independent/private sector clinics to enhance their clinical learning experience. The wide range of clinics available to students allows access to an extensive range of patients and the opportunity to develop a broad range of clinical skills important for future employability.

Throughout the programme, you will be supported individually by year tutor, as well as with your own personal tutor who helps to guide them on their journey to becoming a podiatrist. 

Students will be assessed in a wide variety of ways throughout the programme. Assessments include essays, case reports, presentations, infographics, clinical examinations, and a research project which focuses in depth on a topic of your own choice. Written examinations are used sparingly and are limited to levels 5 and 6 of the programme. The assessments are carefully designed to enable students to develop the knowledge and capabilities which are central to working as a podiatrist. The innovative nature of some of the assessments has been praised by external examiners. The combined assessment of years two and three provide the degree classification.

Graduates from the BSc (Hons) Podiatry programme are qualified to practise as podiatrists (subject to registration with the Health and Care Professions Council after graduation). The course has a good reputation throughout the UK, and the most recent figures show that over 90% of our graduates were employed in podiatry posts six months after finishing the course. There is demand for podiatrists both in the NHS and in the private sector.

Graduates may also choose to progress to postgraduate study within the department as part ​of the MSc Advanced Practice (Musculoskeletal Studies).

There are also opportunities to work abroad. 

Information on current salaries can be found here. (newly qualified podiatrists start at Band 5).

Typical Offers

​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion. You will need to pass the foundation year with an overall mark of 65% at the first attempt, with a minimum of 65% from the Term 2 Biological Sciences module.

• Tariff points: 96-104
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy and Science.
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in all elements, or equivalent.
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels. Grades CC to include a Biological Science. Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject.
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DDM within a Biological Science subject.
• T Level: Science subject considered, alongside a further relevant Level 3 qualification.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction in Biological Science. Access to Higher Education Diplomas in the areas of Biosciences, Health Care, Health Science and Science are acceptable. A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above in English language, Mathematics and Science will also be required.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: Minimum two Grade 5 in Higher Level subjects to include a Biological Science.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2 to include a Biological Science. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DD to include a Biological Science. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.
• Other requirements: Successful interview, DBS and Occupational Health check.

You will be expected:

• To have arranged and undertaken your own observation of podiatrists/chiropodists at work in a clinical setting.
• To have a basic awareness of the scope of podiatry as a profession and of the everyday work of a podiatrist.
• To demonstrate enthusiasm for and commitment to podiatry as a career choice.
• To have a basic awareness of the demands of podiatry training.

We will interview all eligible applicants who are studying, or have studied, an appropriate Access to Higher Education Health related Diploma; level 3 or 4 work based learning qualification or similar level 3 programme; that meets the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) requirements for the programme.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

All healthcare students, including those who have not subscribed to NHS Wales Bursary which provides financial support for tuition fees and for some aspects of maintenance in return for their commitment to work in Wales after graduation, are eligible for support from NHS Wales in the form of reimbursement of clinical placement travel and subsistence expenses which may be claimed through the Cardiff Metropolitan University Student Services Placements Office. For further information on reclaiming placement expenses please contact cpt@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

Please contact financeadvice@cardiffmet.ac.uk if you have any queries about funding, including student finance and NHS bursary. For further information about the NHS Bursary Scheme, please click here.

For Admissions enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk​

​For course specific enquiries, please contact Dr Craig Gwynne: Email: cgwynne@cardiffmet.ac.uk​