History Taking and Physical Assessment
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- 2025
- 2026
Why study history taking and physical assessment at Solent University
In response to demand from NHS and Health Education England, this course provides skills for health care professionals to accurately obtain a clinical history in a consultation.
- £0minvested in our campus estate and facilities in the last five years
- The course takes a case-based approach to teaching and learning by combining three strands of learning: applied theory, nursing simulation and action learning, and nursing practice.
- Students have access to our specialist nursing facilities, including a nursing simulation suite with a six-bed ward, GP consulting room, nurse's treatment room, care home bedroom, and a range of clinical equipment including simulation mannequins.
- Our lecturing team have excellent teaching and clinical experiences, and can help you to become a skilled practitioner to make a positive difference to people lives.
- Immersive Simulation is integrated into the curriculum on a weekly basis. You will be prebriefed on the simulation activity, actively participate in the simulation, and then debrief to discuss the content and reflect on the emotions that emerged during the experience.
- You'll interact with service users, who are standardised patients, that bring consistency and realism to simulation, allowing for controlled, repeatable scenarios to enhance clinical training and assessment.
Course overview
In response to demand from NHS and Health Education England, this course equips registered healthcare professionals with the skills to accurately obtain a clinical history during consultations. It prepares you to gather and interpret relevant physical examination findings, inform potential differential diagnoses, and outline appropriate treatment plans.
Designed to meet the demand from NHS and Health Education England, this course is for healthcare professionals to expand their practice and acquire skills traditionally performed by doctors, such as obtaining a clinical history, performing physical assessments, and formulating differential diagnoses.
This allows registered healthcare professionals who wish to develop competencies beyond their normal scope of practice, to have the opportunity to expand their traditional nursing and allied health professional roles as part of the wider delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
You'll learn to conduct physical examinations of various body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, neurological, and musculoskeletal) in individuals with complex healthcare needs, supporting high-quality, person-centred care using evi ence-based tools. You will engage in effective multidisciplinary teamwork while recognising the limitations of professional practice.
You’ll have access to a range of our specialist facilities inclusing high-fidelity mannequins - that provide an unparalleled level of realism, offering lifelike anatomical detail and dynamic functionality for advanced training and simulation. As well as anatomage tables that provide an interactive, 3D visualisation platform for detailed anatomical exploration and virtual dissection, enhancing education with precise, realistic simulations.
Solent University invites healthcare professionals with at least one year of experience and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or the Health and Care Professions Council to join this module. It runs twice a year and is available part-time, with weekly classes over the duration of one semester.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂCourse features
Professional membership
You have the opportunity to obtain a professional membership as part of this degree
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
This course is for
This course is designed for registered healthcare professionals seeking to expand their competencies beyond their usual scope of practice. It will prepare you to accurately obtain a clinical history during consultations, gather and interpret relevant information to inform potential differential diagnoses, and outline appropriate treatment plans.
What this course leads to
You'll develop the skills necessary to foster therapeutic relationships with service users through effective communication and history-taking techniques. This ensures that service users feel their concerns are heard with respect and compassion, creating an environment conducive to health-related behaviour change when clinically appropriate. Additionally, you'll learn to perform physical assessments and formulate differential diagnoses. This module will train you to conduct physical examinations of various body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, neurological, and musculoskeletal) in individuals with complex healthcare needs, supporting high-quality, person-centred care using evidence-based tools.Â
- History Taking And Physical Assessment
Meet the team
Learn from qualified staff with a wealth of experience working in a range of clinical settings.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
You’ll have access to a range of our specialist facilities, including a nursing simulation suite with a six bed ward, GP consulting room, nurse’s treatment room, waiting area/break out space, care home bedroom and working kitchen and bathroom. There is a wide range of clinical equipment including simulation manikins to facilitate various simulated scenarios.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces.
Year one
Core modules
History Taking and Physical Assessment
Students will develop clinical competencies in the scope of advanced clinical consultation with special emphasis on the importance of the clinical history, evidence-based physical examination interpretation of clinical findings and the formulation of differential diagnoses. On completion of this module, students will have collected a portfolio of evidence are expected to complete a systematic and structured history taking assessment alongside a physical examination which will allow the formulation of a diagnostic hypothesis in the context of a clinical consultation.
Learning resources
At Solent, our aim is to deliver innovative, inclusive and intellectually stimulating teaching to develop self-confident and highly employable graduates. All our courses are designed with employability in mind, which makes industry-based learning a priority.
Learn transferable skills
Interdisciplinary learning means you can develop the skills needed to make safe clinical decisions when assessing service users with diverse health needs across all healthcare settings and complete a systematic and structured history taking assessment alongside a physical examination which will allow you to formulate your diagnostic hypothesis and how you can relate your findings with your clinical decision making.
Why choose history taking and physical assessment?
This course has been designed in response to demand from NHS and Health Education England, in order to provide skills for health care professionals to accurately obtain a clinical history in a consultation.
This will allow health care profesionals to expand their practice and acquire skills traditionally performed by doctors, such as obtaining a clinical history, performing physical assessments, and formulating differential diagnoses.
Solent Careers
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
We also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Alumni network
As part of our global alumni community, you can take advantage of a range of benefits.
Whether it's been days or decades since you left us, or you're soon to don your cap and gown, things are constantly changing at Solent. We're always innovating, but we're also immensely proud of our heritage. And that means you.
Research and knowledge exchange
Research doesn't just live in publications and journals - the effects of groundbreaking research can be found everywhere you look. That's why research at Solent has always been firmly rooted in industry needs and real-world application.
Solent University prides itself on carrying out not only pioneering research, but also research that addresses real world problems. We offer opportunities to study for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in a number of areas.
At Solent, we want to help you achieve your best and discover new insights. Whether you're thinking about applying for a PhD, or already underway with your research studies, you'll find useful guidance and information in our research pages.
Research at SolentTuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 fees were:
- UK and Channel Island full-time fees: £1,477
- International and EU part-time fees: Students from outside the UK are usually unable to obtain a visa for part-time study. Please visit our visas and immigration page for more information.
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Alumni discount
Solent alumni are eligible for a 20% reduction of tuition fees if returning to study a postgraduate course.
Find out moreBursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
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Discover Solent University Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.Find out what Southampton has to offer Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
Subjects required:
- Nursing or paramedic science.
- Registered Nurse (level 1) and have minimum of 1 year experience post registration (or part time equivalent) prior to course entry with no restrictions to practice.
- Appropriate enhanced DBS Disclosure in place with nothing to declare.
- Acknowledgment of the programme rules whilst undertaking training (stated in the application form).
Key entry requirements
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please contact admissions.
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at our course entry statement document.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂYour application checklist
Applications for postgraduate courses can be made at any time prior to the start of the course. However, we strongly recommend you apply at your earliest convenience.
Please ensure you upload the following mandatory documents with your application:
- Two academic references.
- Certified transcripts of qualifications, including English language proficiency if non-UK student.
- Copy of passport.
- Copy of current visa (if applicable).
- A personal statement.
- Employer sponsor form, where appropriate.
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.5 overall with no component score below 5.5
- TOEFL IBT 92 with a minimum of 22 in writing and a minimum of 20 in reading, listening and speaking
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 100 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Study options
Make your application
- 6 months part-time
