Options for Physiotherapy Graduates after University

🎓 Are you a brand-new physiotherapy graduate in the UK? 🎓

I graduated from my physiotherapy degree with a 2:1 a year ago (summer 2024).

Here are 5 options to help you after graduation...

👇 OPTIONS 👇 

1) NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (NHS): The most heavily promoted career route in the UK & sometimes expressed as "the best & only option" by many lecturers, atleast when I was at university between 2021-2024. The NHS is one of the world's largest employers & you'll get good exposure to lots of clinical experience & training. You'll often have to do "rotations" for the first few years, before being able to specialise and ultimately gain experience & earn more. But it can be very fast-paced & highly stressful, amid staff-shortages, lack of funding & poor management. If this isn't for you, perhaps look into the private sector.

2) PRIVATE SECTOR: Most private companies don't recruit brand-new graduates with less than 1-3 years of post-graduate experience, but here are a few that do in the UK: Ascenti, Vita Health Group, Bodyset & gaia recruitment. Many will have you specialise straight away, which maybe desirable for some (including myself). To my knowledge, starting graduate salaries can be a little less than what the NHS offers, but they're often more flexible & supportive as employers (something I really appreciated, as an older graduate with ADHD & ASD). For those who want to travel, there are opportunities abroad via LinkedIn & Indeed job ads in locations such as Australia, Bermuda & New Zealand; countries keen to recruit employees in low-populace & remote parts of the world.

3) FURTHER STUDY: If you'd rather continue studies via a post-graduate degree, that's an option too. You can further specialise in physiotherapy studies, sports science or even something very different, such as global health or business management. If you love being an academic & want more knowledge prior to working, go for it! Do note, you can always choose to do this later or even do it while working.

4) TAKE TIME OUT: You don't have to rush. Do your research during placements, when networking & searching for job opportunities. Providing you have the option to "wait it out", you can take your time to find the best or perfect opportunity (that's what I did). Or even, just take time out to find out whether this is what you really want. Perhaps go travelling, near or far, if you want a break or need some life inspiration.

5) CHANGE CAREER: Some students I knew realised physiotherapy wasn't for them, by the time they graduated. Some went into sports, law, marketing, recruitment or business instead. Funny fact, I know a physio who became a lawyer & met a lawyer who became a physio! I myself left behind the world of the arts at 29, to pursue healthcare in 2016.

✨ SO BASICALLY... You Have Options! ✨

Nobody told me the above when I started out & it was a real struggle. I hope the above helps & wish you all the very best 🤞 

Chin-Yu 'Yoshi' Ng ps. If you appreciated this post, feel free to like & share on LinkedIn or Instagram, to help other physiotherapy graduates.

Any questions or comments, post below.

Also, no AI was used to create this post. This came straight from the heart & was kinda proof-read by my wife (my MVP).