A podiatrist will diagnose and treat a vast range of problems relating to the health and well being of the foot and the lower limb. A podiatrist must be able to recognise and diagnose a broad range of mobility and medical conditions that have a direct effect on foot health which include: diabetes, arthritis, heart and blood disorders and disorders of the nervous system. This course will equip you with all the skills that you will require to practice as a registered podiatrist in the NHS or private sector. You will study a range of modules each year and attend weekly placements in podiatry clinics where you will be involved in the treatment of podiatry patients. Clinical placements will begin in the very first semester when, with the support of QMU podiatry staff, you will be directly involved in caring for patients. QMU staff and NHS clinical staff will work with you as a student during your four years of clinical placements, to prepare you for working. In your Honours year (Year Four), you will study additional modules relevant for practice and you will also be required to work for six weeks as a practising podiatrist - this is a great opportunity for future job applications and will enhance your CV. During Year Four, you will also carry out research group projects, a clinical practice audit and experience working in clinical specialisms. In your optional modules you will study along side postgraduate students and this will provide you with a head start for your requirement for continuing professional development (CPD). We have implemented an Interprofessional Education (IPE) focus within all of our undergraduate healthcare courses to help produce graduates who are confident in their own professional identity but with additional skills that will allow them to work as effective team members. The IPE component will develop your mutual understanding of roles, expertise and values of other team members; skills and strategies in working in teams; problem solving, team decision making skills; and role flexibility; and ability to learn from others.

Excellent clinical opportunities in the National Health Service, private practice for those wishing to run their own business and postgraduate research. Recent graduates have chosen to work in the following areas: community clinics; sports medicine; foot surgery; paediatrics; disease-specific areas eg diabetes mellitus; health promotion; research; and clinical audit. Duncan Hamilton BSc (Hons) Podiatry When I left school I knew that I wanted to do something within healthcare, possibly incorporating sport, but I was still unsure exactly what and went to Edinburgh Napier University to do a degree in complementary therapies, specialising in reflexology. On graduation, I began to build a small part-time therapy business at a local gym, but I soon found that my client base wasn't large enough to sustain myself at that time and I decided that I'd go back to university to retrain. A podiatrist who worked at the local physiotherapy practice was a lecturer at QMU and gave me more information about this course and I decided to apply. The course has become more demanding over the years, which was to be expected, but I particularly enjoyed Year Three: I feel more comfortable with my skills as a practitioner and have been given more responsibility. I enjoy all aspects of the course, particularly biomechanics, diabetes management and nail surgery. This course uniquely gives you the option to leave after three years because you start your clinical hours and patient contact a year earlier than other courses. As I had already studied for three years at Napier, the three year option was attractive, however, I have chosen to do my Honours year. The support from the lecturers is excellent: class sizes are small and it means that they are able to provide lots of personal support. You work very closely with the lecturers because you work in a lot of patient clinics together and you all have a mutual interest on a daily basis. The clinical experience on the course is fantastic. In the first semester of Year One I was involved in a student-led NHS clinic where I was faced with real patients fairly swiftly. It was quite daunting at first but I think was very beneficial to give my confidence a head-start around patients. This placement continued for three years which allowed time to apply psychomotor, diagnostic and treatment skills. I also have been on observational placements to various diabetes departments and a working placement performing nail surgery and local analgesia procedures for patient with nail pathologies. This particular placement was where I could apply the skills and knowledge that I had and gave me a real sense of achievement as a practitioner. Hannah Kennedy BSc (Hons) Podiatry When I left school in Peebles, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. I soon moved to Edinburgh and began working for Lothian Buses whilst I contemplated my future. During my two years there, I obtained a qualification in customer service and retail, but I realised that I ultimately wanted to work as a health professional and would have to go to university. I wasn't quite sure what area I wanted to work in, but as soon as I read about the podiatry course at QMU, I knew it was for me. I applied through Clearing and was delighted to be accepted. I wanted to study podiatry at QMU as it is the only university in the UK where you become a registered podiatrist after only three years. It also offered clinical placements in Year One and I was able to treat patients by the end of the first few months. This ‘hands-on’ experience soon confirmed that this was what I wanted to work as. I really love the course: it's challenging, but very rewarding. I particularly enjoy the placements, which have taken place in a variety of locations across Scotland. I really enjoy applying the knowledge that I have learnt on each one to the next and it’s interesting to see how each one differs. Students on any health professions course at QMU also complete modules in Interprofessional Education. This not only gives us the opportunity to meet new people, but also allows us to mix with other health professionals, such as radiographers and physiotherapists that we will go onto work with after we graduate. When I graduate, I'd like to work in the NHS, but I'd also really like to come back to QMU to further my studies after a few years' experience. After the support that I have received so far, I know that QMU has started my career and will help me progress it.