Emilia Martin – MPhysio Physiotherapy year 2 student

I had offers from all five of my university choices, but it was coming to the open day at Plymouth that really sold it to me. I fell in love with the area straight away. Having grown up near the sea, Plymouth helped with my longstanding desire to be near the coast. Christie Robinson , one of the lecturers, spoke with me on the day, and her supportiveness told me everything I needed to know about the environment here. While here, it was Christie who informed me of the MPhysio pathway. I was planning on doing the BSc, but to come away with an integrated masters-level qualification really suited me. I went home that very day and made Plymouth my first choice.

In addition to the programme drop-ins they also do course-specific talks and coach tours around the city. Out of all the open days I attended, I certainly found Plymouth to be the best for me.

I won’t sit here and pretend like they’re not. You’re going out into the big wide world from only your first year, but that’s all part of the learning experience. Placements are where you learn the most, and everyone would agree with me on that, I’m sure of it. My most recent placement was in Exmouth as part of a Community Physiotherapy team, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I was able to do something I love while applying all the skills I’ve been learning over the past two years. The team were the most supportive people, giving me any feedback I needed, as well as any help and resource they could provide. I certainly felt so much more confident.

On the course you’re given a placement based on the options that you choose. For my first two options I put Plymouth which, luckily, I was given, but on my third one I was placed in Exmouth. Given the distance I, at first, thought this would be quite challenging. I managed to find an Airbnb there, which meant that I had a five-minute commute into work. I worked Monday – Thursday 9:00-4:30 in the Exmouth Community Physiotherapy team. My educator would pick me up from the office and we would go around to patients' houses rehabilitating cases, such as fractured joints from falling down the stairs, to long-term medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Basically, treating people in the outpatient phase. On the Friday I would have a study day. Here I would be able to assess my week through a reflection, getting feedback from my educator and being able to research what I’d seen that week, allowing me to apply these skills further.

When I first came onto the course, I was very much in the headspace of, as I think lots of people are, wanting to be a sports physiotherapist, which is quite a narrow view of physiotherapy as a whole. Since being on my first placement in A&E, I have certainly broadened my view. While A&E wasn’t for me, I never would have expected that I’d be in love with the idea of rehabilitating the elderly like I did on my last placement. It was so fulfilling being able to spend time with the older generation and hear all about their life stories while helping them keep their independence. I still have two placements left so I am very open minded as to what these will bring.