What is a Research Placement?
A research placement is a type of practice placement where a physiotherapy student joins a research team or project instead of a traditional clinical ward or department. In practical terms, this means your “practice environment” could be a university research unit, hospital research department, or other healthcare research setting. You work under supervision on research tasks – for example, assisting in a study or quality improvement project – rather than managing a patient caseload. The structure is similar to any other placement: you have an educator or mentor, defined learning objectives, and specific responsibilities. However, the focus is on developing research skills and understanding how evidence is generated. Such placements can vary in length and setting; some take place on campus in labs or offices, others in clinical research facilities or community health projects. They may involve different types of inquiry from service evaluations and audits to clinical trials (Council of Deans of Health, 2021). Regardless of the format, a research placement is an approved part of your course, designed to give you hands-on experience in the processes that underpin evidence-based practice.
Council of Deans of Health (2021). Becoming research confident: Research placements in pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health programmes in the UK. Council of Deans of Health, UK. (Accessed: 3 April 2025).