Veterinary Physiotherapy
Explore and learn a diverse array of subjects—from hands-on therapies and electrotherapies to biomechanics and rehabilitation—with our acclaimed, industry-recognized Integrated Masters program, designed to elevate your career in a rapidly evolving industry.
in the country for Learning Opportunities.
Source: NSS 2024
Your studies will involve both large and companion animals, with a particular focus on horses and dogs.
Our expert veterinary surgeons make anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics come alive, while our skilled veterinary physiotherapists—specialists in equine and canine rehabilitation—offer dynamic lectures and hands-on practicals covering a wide range of rehabilitation techniques. Join us for an engaging learning experience designed to unlock your full potential as a Veterinary Physiotherapist!
You’ll receive an MVetPhys in Veterinary Physiotherapy upon successfully completing all academic and clinical components. If you pass the academic elements but not the clinical component, you’ll earn an MAnimTher in Animal Therapy. Students entering through the BSc (Hons) in Animal Therapy who achieve a stage average of 50% in their first year will have the opportunity to transfer to the second year of the MVetPhys program and continue on the Mvetphys award.
Accredited by RAMP and AHPR
Our course is accredited by the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) and the Animal Health Professions' Register (AHPR). It allows direct entry onto both registers when you graduate.
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Study on a course that allows access directly to RAMP and AHPR professional registers
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Learn from highly-qualified Veterinary Physiotherapists and Veterinary Surgeons, many of who have teaching qualifications.whom are also certified educators
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Learn and immerse yourself in our state-of-the-art equine facilities, featuring an expansive equine yard, an underwater treadmill, indoor schools, and therapy barns designed to treat a variety of equine patients!
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Master your canine skills at our brand-new Canine Centre—a commercially operated facility featuring two underwater treadmills and a hydrotherapy pool!
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Join an innovative four-year qualification enabling you to progress directly onto a masters after three years
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Get hands-on experience treating real patients in our commercial facilities, offering 1,900 appointments yearly—an educational journey unlike any other!
Study at an award-winning university
We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.
Careers
I have been able to put research into my own subjects of interest and learn a new skill that I can take with me on my journey to becoming a Veterinary Physiotherapist.
As a graduate of our industry-renowned Level 7 (Masters) program, you'll unlock a wealth of career opportunities in the ever-evolving veterinary industry.
From self-employment to positions in veterinary practices, referral centres, charities, industry manufacturers, research and management roles, the possibilities are vast. You might even return to academia as a lecturer or explore other postgraduate pathways.
But graduation doesn't have to be the end of your journey with us! Consider continuing your studies at ARU with a research program and take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship for a 20% discount on your fees!
Teaching and modules
This course goes beyond textbooks, immersing you in hands-on learning that builds the confidence and expertise to excel as a veterinary physiotherapist while fostering personal growth and essential real-life skills.
Focusing on mammals, especially dogs and horses, you'll dive into anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and biomechanics—integrating hands on taught sessions. Explore animal behaviour and motivations, and discover key training factors and how these impact performance such as saddle fit and farriery.
Our facilities support your learning, and you'll benefit from state-of-the-art super lab facilities and gain invaluable experience working with real-life cases in our commercial facility. Your studies will cover nutrition, exercise, health science, preventative medicine, pharmacology, pathology of disease progression and sport and performance rehabilitation, equipping you to understand the injuries horses and dogs may face.
Master advanced therapeutic and rehabilitation techniques like massage, electrotherapies and remedial exercise. You’ll also tackle the ethics of animal use and develop essential workplace skills in research, business, and teamwork, all while learning alongside industry professionals in a clinical setting.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
- Introduction to Veterinary Physiotherapy (30 credits)
- Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology (15 credits)
- Functional Anatomy (15 credits)
- Human-Animal Interaction (15 credits)
- Saddle Fit and Farriery (15 credits)
- Ethics of Animal Use (15 credits)
- Canine and Equine Nutrition (15 credits)
- Into ARU
- Research Methods (15 credits)
- Applied Anatomy (15 credits)
- Animal Therapeutic Techniques (15 credits)
- Rehabilitation and Performance (15 credits)
- Exercise Physiology (15 credits)
- Animal Health Science (15 credits)
- Introduction to Animal Biomechanics (15 credits)
- Working in a Multidisciplinary Team (15 credits)
- Major Project (30 credits)
- Massage Therapy and Remedial Exercise (30 credits)
- Animals in Motion (15 credits)
- Sports Medicine (15 credits)
- Business and Client Management (15 credits)
- Veterinary Pathophysiology (15 credits)
- Comparative Anatomy, Biomechanics Injury and Disease (15 credits)
- Advanced Physiotherapeutic Techniques (15 credits)
- Clinical Practice for Veterinary Physiotherapists (30 credits)
- Taught Masters Degree - Dissertation (MVetPhys) (60 credits)
Our veterinary surgeons help to teach subjects such as anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. Meanwhile, our veterinary physiotherapists, who have extensive experience in equine hydrotherapy and canine rehabilitation, will be lecturing in rehabilitation, remedial exercise programmes and electrotherapy.
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Robin GillHead of Veterinary Physiotherapy
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Dr Roberta BlakeAssociate Professor
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Hope JamesonSenior Lecturer in Veterinary Physiotherapy
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Jade TerrySenior Lecturer
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Amber-Jane MasonLecturer
Facilities
Use specialist campus facilities including our equine and canine therapy centres where you can explore therapeutic techniques, exercise, sports medicine and rehabilitation.
You’ll also be able to make full use of facilities including extensive library and IT resources and access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.
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Academy barn - Writtle students are able to bring their own horses to university with them on DIY livery.
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Central track and turnout which leads to our Equine Training and Development Centre
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Our Equine Training and Development Centre, home to all things equine and approximately 70 horses.
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Horse water treadmill
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This is the largest of our arenas (24m x 60m), each of which have a different surface. This allows students to assess the impact of surfaces on equine biomechanics.
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Our outdoor arena is 20m x 60m in size and located next to the horse walker.
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Tempo arena is one of our indoor arenas, 24m x 55m in size. DIY Livery students have access to all of our facilities when not being used for teaching purposes.
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The Therapy Barn is a large teaching space that allows presentations to be shared with students while simultaneously apply their learnt techniques.
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Our Canine Therapy Clinic features a new hydrotherapy pool, two underwater treadmills and clinical consultation rooms. There are also classrooms and lecture rooms.
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Alongside the Therapy Clinic, our dog grooming centre is equipped with grooming tables, a bathing area and preparatory spaces.
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Our underwater treadmill therapy for dogs offers numerous benefits, primarily related to rehabilitation, pain management, and fitness improvement.
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Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Apply now for Veterinary Physiotherapy
Clearing places available
UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start
UK students
Call our Clearing line
01245 686868
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