Understanding how placements work is essential for planning your clinical education journey.

How placements are allocated

Your university coordinates your clinical placements throughout your podiatry degree. Placements are typically allocated based on:

• your stage of training

• required learning outcomes

• available placement providers

• geographical considerations

Practice-based learning (PBL) is a key part of your training to be a podiatrist. It allows you to apply theoretical knowledge in clinical settings.

PBL offers a varied environment that helps you develop in clinical and non-clinical areas. It helps you, colleagues and peers to collaborate better. This boosts your learning journey and improves your interpersonal and therapeutic skills.

Patients and service users play a key role in your learner experience. They often let you join their treatment appointments. This helps you build your clinical skills. 

Speak to your course tutor about:

• specific allocation methods used by your universities

• how your preferences or special considerations are considered

• the typical notice periods you'll be given before your placement starts

Types of placements

Placements can happen in various settings. This lets you explore varied learning environments and different models of practice-based learning. Settings include:

• NHS podiatry clinics 

• private podiatry practices

• specialist units such as diabetic foot clinics or biomechanics services

Not all learning environments have to be patient-facing. You can find learning opportunities in non-clinical settings. These hours can count towards your practice hours. You need various experiences to reach the required proficiency standards.

Speak to your course tutor about:

• the full range of placement settings available to you

• the typical sequence of placements during training

• specific learning outcomes for each placement

• the proportion of time spent in different settings

Placement locations

Your university will arrange placements that:

• provide appropriate learning opportunities

• allow you to meet your required competencies

• expose you to a range of patient populations

Speak to your course tutor about:

• the location of placements and your ability to choose where you go

• your university's policies on travel distances

• accommodation arrangements for distant placements

• what financial support might be available for placement expenses

Timing and duration

The HCPC requires podiatry students to complete at least 1,000 hours of clinical practice.

Whether you are a student or an apprentice, practice-based learning unites both types of learners. Both apply and consolidate their learning, bringing together academic theory and workplace learning to develop the skills and competencies needed to become an HCPC registrant.

Your placements will be distributed throughout your training, with increased clinical time in your final years of study.

Speak to your course tutor about:

• how placement hours are distributed across your training years

• typical placement patterns (block vs weekly)

• maximum daily or weekly hours for student placements

• how you make-up missed placement time (for instance if you are unwell)

Who to contact about placements

Your university's placement team will be your main point of contact for:

• confirming placement details

• addressing logistical issues

• helping with placement changes

For specific placement enquiries, contact your university's podiatry placement coordinator.

Placement allocation timeline

Speak to your course tutor about:

• standard notification periods for placements

• how changes to placement schedules are communicated

• deadlines for raising issues about allocated placements

• contingency arrangements for placement disruptions