BSc (Hons) Podiatry with Foundation Year

This module introduces you to the core principles of podiatry practice and helps you develop an understanding of health, disease, and wellbeing and how these can affect different people. You will be introduced to person-centred care and explore how, as a future podiatrist, you can support patient choice, shared decision-making, and self-management. The module will help you understand how common microorganisms, such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, can cause skin and nail conditions that are frequently seen in routine podiatry clinics. You will also learn about a range of common podiatric conditions encountered in clinical practice. In addition, the module introduces the normal wound healing process and highlights the importance of effective wound management and infection control to ensure safe practice. This module provides the foundation knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours needed for your progression to Levels 5 and 6 of the programme.

Podiatry Practice 1 introduces the foundation knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required of a Level 4 podiatric practitioner. You will develop your learning through simulated practice and supervised clinical sessions, allowing you to apply theory from lectures to real and realistic patient scenarios. Throughout the module, you will learn how to undertake basic vascular and neurological assessments and understand their relevance to safe podiatric practice. You will also begin to develop musculoskeletal assessment skills, working alongside your learning in Lower Limb Musculoskeletal Medicine 1, enabling you to recognise common skin and tissue presentations and appreciate their impact on patient care. Professionalism is a key focus of this module. You will work towards achieving the required competencies outlined in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD), demonstrating safe, respectful and person-centred practice. Simulation and supervised clinical exposure will support you to develop confidence in gaining consent, clerking patients, conducting assessments and managing common podiatric conditions. By the end of the module, you will be more confident in assessing patients independently, understanding your professional responsibilities, and applying your developing clinical knowledge safely as you prepare for progression to Level 5 practice.

This module gives you the essential building blocks of professional practice in podiatry. You will be introduced to what it means to work professionally, how to use evidence in practice, and how psychological factors can influence foot health and wellbeing. You’ll learn about the expectations of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and other professional bodies, helping you understand the standards you will be working towards. The module also supports you in developing key skills such as critical reading, reflective writing, and effective professional communication. You will explore how people’s health beliefs, emotions, and social circumstances affect their engagement with foot care. This includes looking at wider social factors, such as income, environment, and access to healthcare, that can impact health outcomes. By the end of the module, you will have built a strong foundation in professionalism, reflective practice, and evidence-informed thinking. You will also have a clearer sense of your developing identity as a future podiatrist.

This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed at Level 4 and focuses on understanding the causes, progression, and management of a range of common acute and chronic diseases encountered in podiatry practice. You will explore the theoretical foundations that underpin clinical assessment and decision-making, including key principles of pharmacology relevant to podiatric care. This will support you in developing a deeper understanding of how both acute and long-term conditions affect patients, inform treatment choices, and influence safe and effective podiatric management. Learning activities are designed to support you in applying theoretical knowledge to clinical scenarios, recognising and interpreting risk factors, and developing evidence-based clinical reasoning. The module is assessed through a 2-hour written examination, which evaluates your ability to demonstrate understanding, apply knowledge in context, and justify podiatric management decisions, including the pharmacological management of common conditions encountered in podiatry practice. You will receive feedback throughout the module during taught sessions and through online learning activities. This feedback is designed to support your development and help you prepare effectively for the examination.

Podiatry Practice 2 prepares you to take a more active and confident role in patient care by building on the clinical skills you developed in first year. You will continue to work with real patients under supervision, developing your assessment, communication and decision-making skills in the clinical environment. Throughout this module, you will learn more about vascular assessment, including recognising signs of peripheral arterial and venous disease, and understanding how these conditions affect foot health. You will also continue to develop your musculoskeletal assessment skills, working alongside the knowledge you gain in lower limb Musculoskeletal Medicine 2, so that you can recognise common MSK presentations and understand their impact on gait and function. In addition, you will build your understanding of pharmacology and safe local anaesthetic use to support future nail surgery training. You will practise carrying out structured podiatric assessments, documenting findings accurately and making safe, appropriate referrals. You will strengthen your professionalism by working towards the required competencies in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD), demonstrating safe, respectful and person-centred practice. Simulation and supervised practice will help you develop confidence managing consent, clerking and responding to unexpected situations or adverse reactions. By the end of the module, you will be more confident assessing patients independently, understanding your professional responsibilities, and applying your clinical knowledge in a safe and effective way as you progress towards Level 6 practice.

Professional Practice 2 develops your confidence as a growing podiatrist by helping you apply professionalism, leadership and evidence-informed thinking to more complex situations. Building on what you learned in Professional Practice 1, this module moves beyond the basics and encourages you to think critically about the choices you make in clinical practice and how these impact patient care. You will learn how to appraise research in more depth and use evidence to support your clinical reasoning and decision-making. The module also explores ethical and legal responsibilities at Level 5, helping you understand how professional judgement, accountability and communication shape safe and effective podiatric care. A key focus of the module is understanding how your behaviours, values and leadership qualities influence your practice. You will explore how mentoring, peer support and effective teamwork contribute to a positive and professional learning environment. You will also examine how health beliefs, motivation and behaviour change affect how patients engage with treatment. By the end of the module, you will feel more confident in using evidence, reflection and professional judgement to manage increasingly complex situations. This prepares you for Level 6 practice, where greater autonomy, leadership and advanced clinical thinking will be expected of you as a future podiatrist

Podiatry Practice 3 prepares you to take a more active and confident role in patient care by building on the clinical skills you developed in your second year. You will continue to work with real patients under supervision, developing your assessment, communication and decision-making skills in the clinical environment. Throughout this module, you will learn more about the of patients that could be considered complex within a podiatry setting. You will continue to develop your assessment and management skills, working alongside the knowledge you gain in Podiatric Medicine 3, allowing you to manage high-risk presentations. In addition, you will apply your understanding of pharmacology and safe local anaesthetic use to support in the provision of nail surgery. You will practise carrying out structured podiatric assessments, documenting findings accurately and making safe, appropriate referrals. You will strengthen your professionalism by working towards the required competencies in your Practice Assessment Document (PAD), demonstrating safe, respectful and evidence-based person-centred practice. Simulation and supervised practice will help you develop confidence managing consent, clerking and responding to unexpected situations or adverse reactions. By the end of the module, you will be more confident assessing patients independently, understanding your professional responsibilities, and applying your clinical knowledge in a safe and effective way as you progress towards professional registration.

This module gives you the chance to explore an area of podiatry you are passionate about and complete an independent project that showcases your skills as an emerging professional. You can choose one of two pathways depending on your interests and strengths. You may complete a traditional research project, where you critically explore a topic and produce a 4,000-word written review. Alternatively, you may complete an applied project, where you create something useful for practice, such as a patient leaflet, teaching resource, small service improvement idea or digital tool, and complete a 3,000-word write-up explaining the evidence behind it. Throughout the module, you will be supported by a supervisor who will help guide your planning, research, academic writing and project development. You will learn how to design a study or applied project, search and evaluate evidence, justify your decisions and communicate your ideas clearly. By the end of the module, you will have produced a substantial piece of work that demonstrates your ability to work independently, think critically, use evidence effectively and contribute to the development of podiatric practice. This module prepares you for lifelong learning and future roles where research, innovation and service improvement are expected.

This module builds on the knowledge gained at levels 4 & 5 and will provide you with the opportunity to engage with advancing practice and proficiencies in the assessment and management of a range of musculoskeletal disorders. You will have the opportunity to apply your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to enhance your ability to reflect on clinical practice. You will critically analyse contemporary theories related to the development of a range of musculoskeletal disorders. Where possible, service users will be involved with a range of these topics, to provide a depth of understanding from the individual’s perspective. You will explore and critically analyse the current evidence available for emerging practice, reflecting and contributing to changes in clinical practice, at a service level. You will identify opportunities available to you as a registered podiatrist to support and enhance the delivery of high-quality and cost-effective musculoskeletal care.