Student Placement Feature Spring 2026
From Halifax to the Highlands: A Transformative Physiotherapy Journey in Scotland
I had the incredible opportunity to complete my fifth and final clinical placement in an inpatient elderly rehabilitation setting at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) in Scotland. Within the department, I had the privilege of working alongside a wonderful physiotherapy team to build my individual caseload over the course of six weeks. My clinical instructor, along with each physiotherapist and staff member, was remarkably kind and welcoming, and it was an amazing opportunity to learn from each of them. Throughout the placement, I enjoyed gaining insight into Scottish life and adding a few new words and phrases to my vocabulary, such as ‘tenement house’ and ‘four in a block’. Although the roles and responsibilities of physiotherapists are similar between Canada and Scotland, I found that physiotherapists had a larger role in cardiorespiratory management. It was further interesting to learn about the different gait aids used in the rehabilitation setting, including Zimmer and Delta frames.
Outside of placement, I had the opportunity to fulfill a dream of travelling through Scotland. Each weekend, I planned a day trip to a different location, then spent the rest of the weekend experiencing Glasgow. I was able to explore the Scottish Highlands, go on a boat cruise on Loch Lomond, visit the ‘Home of Golf’ in St Andrews, explore Stirling Castle, experience the Christmas markets in Edinburgh, and so much more. The PT team at the GRI were further committed to ensuring that I had the full Scottish experience by organizing a lunch that consisted of an entire spread of traditional Scottish food. By travelling to different areas of Scotland and learning more about its cuisine, I was able to gain a better understanding of Scottish culture.
This placement offered endless incredible opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. The invaluable professional experience gained will have a lifelong impact on my career and will contribute to the quality of care that I will deliver to my patients. I am immensely grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and wouldn’t change it for the world. The patients, staff, and people of Scotland were all extremely welcoming, and while it was difficult to leave Glasgow, I can’t wait to return to experience more of Scotland.
