Helpdesk
*NHS Scotland Physiotherapy Funded Places Scheme Announcement
We are delighted to advise that the Scottish Government have confirmed funding for the NHS Scotland Physiotherapy Funded Places Scheme 2025/26. This is the final year of the scheme and we are now OPEN to applications.
The scheme will close to applications on Wednesday 16th July.
Updated: 24.06.25
What is the Physiotherapy Funded Places Scheme?
In response to the national workforce demand the Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland to facilitate implementation of the Funded Places Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to support students who fully intend to develop their future career within NHS Scotland to enter and undertake an MSc (Pre-Registration) Physiotherapy course at one of the Scottish HEIs. The scheme offers payment of tuition fees for 2 years and agreement that a minimum of 50% of practice-based learning placements will be located within one health board area; or within NHS Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles in the case of the Inter Isles opportunity. Information on the geographical health boards that are part of the scheme can be found at the bottom of this webpage.
Please note the scheme covers tuition fees. Placement and other expenses will still apply.
Further information on the scheme is available within this short video: video link and below. Please note if applying for the inter isles experience your placements would be split be over the island boards and not within one host board.
Application to the Physiotherapy Funded Places Scheme 2025/26 is through completion of the online application form available here: https://forms.office.com/e/9j0qjp3r2K. Further information is available in the advert and application guidance available below.
The application guidance contains the scheme's inclusion criteria. Please note allocation of places is through a competitive interview process and not all applicants will receive funding.
If you have any queries or require assistance with your application please contact nes.nhspa@nhs.scot.
In order to be eligible to apply for to the Physiotherapy Funded Places Scheme you must hold an offer for or be in the process of applying for the MSc (Pre-Registration) 2-year course at one of the Scottish Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) listed: Edinburgh Napier University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, or Robert Gordon University Aberdeen. The funding scheme application is completed separately to university application. Evidence of HEI application is required as part of your funded places scheme application.
Timeframes to apply for a university place are different for each Higher Education Institute. A summary can be found below for 2025/26 university applications. Please note that the deadline for applying for a funded place through the NHS Funded Places Scheme is the same regardless of which university you apply / have applied to.
Information to consider at point of application and to assist identification of Board preferences. Please note that if successful a minimum of 50% of your practice-based learning placements will take place within your host board, this may be within any area of the host board. Please note NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles are offering an inter isles experience and therefore this can be selected as one Board preference instead of selecting these Boards individually.