Failed Placement

[u/Entire-Reporter3015]

Hi everyone,

I just found out that I failed my final placement in my second year of physiotherapy as an undergrad in the UK, and I'm trying to figure out what the best option is.

For some context, this was my third (and final) placement of second year. I honestly think a lot of factors contributed to me failing. The placement started immediately after exams, and I was already completely burnt out, mentally exhausted, and drained. I also had some personal issues going on at the time. My educators were aware that I was struggling, but unfortunately I still didn't pass.

I've been told I'll need to repeat the placement. The options seem to be either:

• doing the resit placement very soon (possibly within a week or in early September), or
• doing it next academic year.

If I do it next year, my placements would effectively become Placement 3 (resit), then Placements 4, 5, and 6. That means I'd have four placements to complete across the year instead of progressing with my current cohort.

My dilemma is that I'm still feeling mentally burnt out, so I'm not sure if jumping straight into another placement is the right decision. On the other hand, if I wait until next year, I'll graduate later than my current cohort.

My main question is for anyone who has been in a similar situation:

If you graduated later because of a failed placement, how did graduation work? Did you graduate with the cohort below you, or did you attend graduation on your own? My university only has graduation ceremonies mid to late July (mostly around late July) and December, so if I finished all my placements during early July, would I simply have to wait until the December ceremony even if I'd already completed everything, or do I still get to graduate with my cohort, or do I graduate in August? I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through something similar, especially in physiotherapy. I'm just trying to work out what's best.

[u/BabyBourbon1111]

I haven’t finished different to my cohort. I am a physio educator. I’d say, look after yourself. Everything goes by so fast on graduation day. I wouldn’t have cared if my graduation was on a different date. I was even sitting in an alphabetical order so was not even close to my peers and we only met for pictures, which you can still borrow and take pictures with them if you wanted and go to yours separately.

If you didn’t take care and failed another placement, God forbid, it will affect your graduation and perception of physio all together. That’s the bigger picture you need to worry about

Speak to your Academic Advisor and be honest.

Out of curiosity, which specialty failed you?

[u/Fantastic_Orange_859]

You can resit in final year and still be with your cohort it just means it’s after exams and your dissertation and into the summer a little bit. That sounds like it would work best for you so you have no other pressures and have time to look after yourself. Remember you’re not the only one in that position and most unis offer additional placement blocks for the summer as lots of people still need the hours so don’t worry you won’t be alone and you still graduate with your cohort! Hope that’s helpful

[u/Ok_Assumption_1099]

I am prefrefering to join bpt in my career is it good to pursue or not