| 25 November 2025
Introduced in 2018, physiotherapy degree apprenticeships offer a hands-on way for learners to gain a BSc in Physiotherapy whilst developing their skills in the workplace. They have become an important pathway for widening participation and providing a financially viable alternative to traditional higher education.
In collaboration with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Skills for Health adopted a mixed methods approach to survey 127 apprentices and 97 employers. In addition, 11 interviews were conducted with apprentices, employers, and education providers (33 in total). The findings were used to identify avenues for supporting the sustainability and quality of the degree apprenticeship model into the future.
A report ‘Experience, Delivery and Impact of Physiotherapy Degree Apprenticeships’ has been published covering the key findings of the research and is summarised below.
Key findings:
Widening participation and recruitment
Over half of apprentices (61%) indicated they were unlikely to pursue a career in physiotherapy without the apprenticeship option.
Support for apprentices
Most apprentices felt supported by their line manager, but less than half considered the partnership between them, their employers and the university to be effective.
53% of employers were satisfied with their partnership with the university. Apprentices also reported (45%) limited employer understanding of off-the-job requirements.
Course quality
Over half of employers (55%) and apprentices (65%) were satisfied with the quality of teaching from the university. However, difficulty in finding suitable placements remains an issue for apprentices, employers and education providers alike.
Challenges and benefits
Nearly half of apprentices struggle to maintain a work life balance, often completing course requirements in their own time. Despite this, almost all apprentices agree the apprenticeship will improve their career prospects, with 86% believing they are better at their job as a result. Employers see apprenticeships as offering improved stability in the workforce, including improved retention, as well as helping to tackle skills shortages as part of workforce planning.
Key recommendations:
26 recommendations were made focusing on improving consistency, sustainability and quality across all stages of the apprenticeship journey. They can be summarised into five overarching themes:
- Alignment of recruitment practices
- Support tailored to the needs of the apprentice
- The mapping of current guidance to enable targeting and embedding
- A new funding model to ensure the sustainability of apprenticeships
- A more strategic management of apprentice opportunities and placements
In conclusion
Physiotherapy degree apprenticeships are widening access and producing skilled practitioners who “hit the ground running”. Addressing recruitment, support, funding, and placement issues will be key to ensuring their long-term success.