Research is an integral part of contemporary physiotherapy practice. We have a commitment to research activity by contributing to the evidence base which underpins physiotherapy practice and education. We provide all of our students with an environment that encourages them to engage with research and how it is translated into practice.

Our research is collaborative. We work with:

• sites of clinical practice
• patients and people living with conditions which impact on their lives
• other Higher Education institutions and
• other schools and departments within the University.

These collaborations promote and enable local, national and international level multi-disciplinary research and mutual sharing of expertise. In this way we ensure our research is of high quality, clinically relevant, answers questions important to patients and of benefit to the physiotherapy profession

Undergraduate physiotherapy research

Students on the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme are introduced to research during their first year when they learn about the foundations of research. In the second year, students develop their skills within the Research Methods module. In the third year, students develop their research skills further by working in collaborative groups and undertaking a module comprising of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
A pre-registration MSc Physiotherapy programme will commence in January 2022 (subject to validation – final meeting took place on 6 September 2021). This programme will also embed research skills from the outset and students will undertake their own research in their second year.

Postgraduate physiotherapy research

We support students undertaking research at both MSc and doctoral level including PhD, Professional Doctorate or Doctorate in Education. The MSc requires students to undertake 3 research modules. These are Research Methods, Preparing for Research and Research Project modules. Students are usually practicing clinicians who conduct their research on a part-time basis but, full-time students are also welcome. PhD students (full-time or part-time) are encouraged to consider how their area of interest relates to our research themes and the specific research interests and expertise of our staff. We then ask them to contact us to discuss their ideas/proposals.

The Musculoskeletal Research Unit

The Musculoskeletal Research Unit at the University of Hertfordshire aims to contribute high-quality research which leads to improving our knowledge and understanding of musculoskeletal conditions and improving the care for people living with these conditions.