Podiatry Plymouth University

I guess everyone have their own perception, a friend of mine did podiatry degree and is very much satisfied with his profession. I don’t know what kind of knowledge is provided in this course by Plymouth University because I don’t have a personal experience with this but as far as the podiatry is considered, I don’t think do its waste of time. In fact I came across one real life story shared by a student of http://bit.ly/1hmWJ7v where a professional having a podiatry degree saved her life, so for me it’s a valuable knowledge.

I think the course is a waste of time, you soon discover that the degree has no real value. I have been told that Foot Care Practitioners who train by correspondence with as little as one week practical training are taking most of the available work in the private sector. Cannot imagine anyone making a living from an "unregulated free for all", where anyone can set up a practice with very little or no experience. My advice is take up a profession that will have more status than a pedicurist. Try dentistry, train to be a vet, train to be something more tangible and free from mimicry. A profession with a sense of direction and autonomy, a reward for the all the years of hard work.

You may find some lecturers not particularly helpful!

I would not recommend the University of PLymouth podiatry course, although I cannot compare it with podiatry courses at other universities.

There is insufficient opportunity for practical experience with real patients- outside of placements, you get one afternoon a week in clinic, where you will be sharing two or three patients with two or even three colleagues, ie as little as one patient each per week.

PLacements are very variable, with minimal communication between placements and the Uni. Some mentors excellent, others don't want to know. Some placements only accept one student, which is especially demoralising if its a bad placement.

The teaching staff are of very variable quality- the biomech specialist is excellent but there is no guarantee of having much time with her. Some other staff are patronising, outdated or shallow in their knowledge, and in some cases really quite unpleasant.

Finally, the academic content is not taught at the Uni, but at Marjon, which is a bleak, dreary place several miles from the main uni.

If you do this course you will need to be very self-motivated and self-sufficient, and proactively seek every opportunity for practical experience.

The lecturers have their favorites, and are not very approachable if your are not one. Marking for most assignments is not confidential. Most of the study is self directed.

Overall most of the lectures are rude. I would not recommend anyone to study podiatry at Plymouth university and instead choose somewhere like Cardiff

Podiatry is a career in which you take your own path, wether others agree with you or not...it is an expanding profession, you may wish to specialise in such areas as arthritis, psychology of parient care or research, you decide.

My personal experience is that the course was extremely disorganized for all 3 years but this may change as things settle down.

The emphasis is on HIGHLY self-directed study. Be prepared to answer exam questions that have not been lecture topics.

I would not recommend this university for the degree whilst I was there. However, things change, lecturers change, it depends what you get when you are there. Things may improve.

Apparently all Plymouth pod graduates last year got jobs in podiatry - so that pretty much says it all.

The practice educators are a good link between clinic and classroom although academics teach in the clinic too which apparently they don't at some other schools.

It is an innovative programme, preparing us students for the future of podiatry. It is strong in biomechanics, but this underpins everything!

If you want a forward thinking podiatry degree, then this it!

You do 6 weeks placement a year and these will not be in Plymouth, they will be anywhere from Wiltshire to Cornwall.

The course has a huge emphasis on written reflective reports and it is extremely difficult to cope with the demands such a huge academic work load and practical learning.

If you are a mature student you may find as I do that it is very difficult to be spoken to like you are a 'child'.

If I could go back I would have chosen a different university. Please note these are my personal opinions.