Podiatry Arena members do not see these ads

Hello all! I have just signed up to this very helpful website and desperately need some advice form you guys. I am 26 yrs old and a qualified Osteopath. I now would love to study podiatry this coming september (so need to get my skates on with applying!). I am fom Brighton and have just returned to live here after 6 years living in Oxford and London. So naturally Brighton Uni would be the top of my list , and it is. Especially with the great reputation it has. However, My funds are extremely limited so I would need to get a little oart time job to fund myself through the three years at uni. I emailed Brighton university asking how many days we are expected to be in during the week to see if I could indeed get a job a couple of days a week.
As the other universities like East London and Southampton state on-line that they are a three day a week course (which would be perfect) Obviously during block placements it would be more.
The response i got from Brighton was " as this is a full time course we would expect you to come in any day of the week and is typically 9-5" This is a fair response and I do understand that this is a full time course and priority is to be available when needed. However, it is still a little vague and it is such an important thing to find out as me being able to fund myself is the only thing standing between me and applying right now!
So after that long winded, around the houses story. My question is: Has anyone studied Podiatry at Brighton Uni and know how many days you attended during the week? and did anyone else work part time whilst at uni here?
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.
Many thanks, JJ

Tweet

Share

Hi jj,

I am sure someone else will be along soon with more uptodate information but a dozen years ago you only got Wednesday afternoons off. An awful lot of student had jobs then, just a fact of life. There were lectures most days and clinics if I remember were three sessions a week. It is a practical subject. I believe there are more out-placements now and the and the degree is modular, I believe two semesters a year.

The first year will be a doddle for you as it is basic anatomy and physiology with lower limb dissection. I imagine you will have done most of this. The second year covered foot mechanics and gait and the prescription and manufactureof orthotics, hopefully updated and the third year medicine, surgery are covered relevant to the lower limb, and your project. LA if I remember was in the second year. The course has changed since I was there though. Out-placements should be, an NHS clinic maybe a private clinic if you can get one, rhematology, diabeatology, orthopedic surgery and podiatric surgery, I think.

Like you I had to work, in my case to pay the mortguage. Northampton was hostile to the idea of work but it was no problem for Brighton. I worked twenty or more hours a week. I am in Hove "actually", you can find me at Goodwood Court Surgery, Cromwell Road, Hove if you would like to talk. 770822

Luke Hawkins.

Be worth giving Luke a ring. Nice bloke and will be very helpful to you.

__________________
Ian Linane

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Podia-Clinic
Manor Farm House
Southwick
England
www.podia-clinic.com

Soft Tissue and Joint mobilisation Courses.
Details available via PM

Thank you very much for the advice! I am getting in touch with Brighton's student rep to find out the ins and outs from a students perspective.

As I am changing my career path (well not a hugely dramatic change) I am obviously a little cautious of what lay ahead. In your opinion is a career in podiatry a good decision to make, regarding earnings and job prospects?
Thanks again
jj

Hi jj

I had the opportunity to speak to a member of the course staff this evening. As I understand it the course has three days of contact time per week but that doesn't mean that you don't have to work on the other days. There is e-learning which you will need to do and there are more out placements which could be at any time. The course content is being revised for next years entry but that has not yet been completed.

If you are able to manage your time away from the university then you should be alright but there is work to do. I think that this was always the case though.

I don't know for sure but you may have to pay the higher fee rate if you already have a qualification at the same level.

As to whether podiatry is a worthwhile career I have to say yes, it holds much promise. Fee levels in osteopathy are generally higher than in podiatry but that could be manageable by specialising in an area like bio-mechanics or sports podiatry where you will be dealing with clients who may be more motivated and able to pay. However the world and his wife would also like to do it and you would need to gain a sound clinical basis on which to draw. Experience gained in the NHS would be invaluable in any area of work. It is very difficult to 'practice' on paying customers and perhaps immoral. In the NHS you should have colleagues to advise and mentor you and nobody will ask for their money back.

There are big changes afoot in the NHS and the provision of health care. No one knows how this will work but the Health and Social Care Bill going through parliament at this time allows for service to be provided by 'any qualified provider'. How this will work out nobody knows but may eventually allow private practitioners to obtain work against quite strict criteria. Already under 'individualisation' individuals in receipt of Social Care Benefits can use the money to purchases car from their provider of choice. So yes, I believe there is a future in podiatry but it is not clear how yet.

Luke

My candid assessment might be more blunt.

Hi - I trained at Brighton but it was a while ago 1998-2001. I had to work to pay the mortgage too. I worked for the NHS in Brighton doing relief work for adults with learning disabilities so I could work weekends and night shifts. The 1st year of the course was 3 days a week but in the 2/3rd year it increased and was full time by the third year as we did full time placements and the workload stepped up. It also involved alot of study at home too. There are the long Uni holidays which helped though and I used to work in them. Many of the students had to work and we had many mature students on the course, some with families to support. It was a good course and I would recommend it.

I'm not sure if this issue has been resolved, but I have a copy of last years time table. It shows the time requirements of all three years. I'd be more than happy to forward it to any one who is in need of clarification.

kind regards

Hi, I trained in Brighton about 6 years ago. The course is fairly full on but don't despair. I had to work all the way through as i have quite a big mortgage and my husband was in and out of work at the time.
The first year is the easiest you get a lot of days off, the 2nd and 3rd year you are in a lot.
My solution to this was to work Friday and Saturday nights and the occasional evening in a nursing home (I'm a nurse) and then full time in the holidays.
I managed to do this even in my third year and get a 2:1.
So yes you can work part time in the first year and in the 2nd and 3rd year you will just have to be a bit creative or be prepared to work evenings or weekends.
it sucked but anything worthwhile is worth working for.
We had an osteopath on the course with a family and kids to support, he also worked weekends and then full time in the holidays and got a 1st so it can be done