UCL DIVISION OF SURGERY AND INTERVENTIONAL SCIENCE

The programme is designed to give a broad understanding of sports medicine, sports injuries and exercise prescription in healthy and disease states. It will introduce the key areas relating to sports and exercise medicine, namely musculoskeletal and sports injury, exercise physiology, psychology, working with sporting teams and the promotion of physical activity to prevent and treat disease. Students will gain a thorough grounding in the management of injury and exercise prescription. This will prepare you for potential work in many areas from NHS musculoskeletal clinics and community exercise services to elite sports.

Applicants must hold a primary medical or allied health sciences degree (e.g. medicine, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, nursing, sports science) from a UK University (or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard) AND a minimum of one years' post-graduation clinical experience in a relevant field.

Applicants whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is of a high standard. All applicants must hold a standard level (of overall grade 6.5) of proficiency on the IELTS English language test or an acceptable equivalent. For more information please see UCL's English Language Proficiency Requirements.

This MSc is open to both medical and non-medical graduates with an appropriate background who wish to gain a grounding in the management of injury and exercise prescription. Students are accepted from diverse backgrounds including medicine, manual therapy, nursing and sports science. Other disciplines will be considered on merit.

Students should apply by 30th April each year for the first round of applications. If there are any places unfilled following the first round then students will be able to apply by 31st July each year. It is strongly recommended that students apply by 30th April as there is no guarantee that places will be available after this date.

All applicants must complete a UCL Graduate Student application form.

For the online application, when prompted to choose the UCL Department you are applying to please select "Division of surgery and Interventional Science" and "Postgraduate Taught" then "MSc Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health".

Full-time students, please select “Full-time”.

Part-time, flexible and distance learning students, please select “Modular /Flexible Study.”

Please ensure that your referees submit your references as formal offers cannot be made without these.

Distance learning students should apply in the same way but you must make it clear in your personal statement on the application form that you wish to study via Distance Learning.

Applicants must hold a medical degree or a good honours degree (2:1 or equivalent) in an allied health science such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, nursing, or sports science.

First round applications close on 30th April each year. Applications will be assessed on merit and successful applicants will be informed within 4-6 weeks.

No, unfortunately not. All students will start together in September, the beginning of the academic year in the UK.

This may vary from country to country and the UCL Applications team will make a final decision on each application. They have produced a helpful guide for international students which you can access on the link below. Follow the links to your own country and click on “Entry Requirements”:

• International Student Information

Deadline for receipt of completed applications (including references) is 30th April each year (in the first round).

Difficult question. Just having a medical degree does not necessarily mean that the course is suitable for you. It depends somewhat on your career aims and what you wish to do with your MSc following the course.

Yes, please contact Zoe Lau, the course administrator, in the first instance. If you then want to speak with one of the course tutors she will arrange this.

If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place in the first round of applications and wish to be considered again in the second round please let us know. You are also more than welcome to apply again the following year.

The course demands a high level of background clinical and scientific knowledge. If your undergraduate degree was not in a related field to sports medicine (e.g. medicine, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, nursing, sports science) but you still wish to apply please contact us to discuss this further.

Yes, if you need any further information before applying to the course please contact Zoe Lau, the course administrator, in the first instance. 

Yes, many students study the course on a part-time basis. The majority of part-time students take it over two years i.e. two taught modules per semester along with the research project.

Yes, in 2012 we will be launching a Distance Learning option for the course. This will be part-time, up to two modules per semester. The emphasis will be on significant and regular online interaction with tutors and fellow students. Campus-based lectures will be recorded and available to watch online at your convenience on a week-by-week basis. There will be a mandatory short residential at UCL at the end of each semester. Clinical requirements during the course will be the same as for the campus-based students. Examinations will be identical and completed at UCL alongside the campus-based students. For more information, please contact Zoe Lau, the course administrator, in the first instance.

The majority of part-time students take the course over two years i.e. two modules per semester along with the research project.

With students coming from such varied backgrounds, what they go onto to do afterwards also varies. Some use their MSc to enhance their practice in their previous role (eg as a GP or physiotherapist) and others develop new roles. For example, junior doctors may go on to do further training in the speciality of sport and exercise medicine or in related specialties such as orthopaedics or accident and emergency. Therapists and sports scientists have been able to successfully apply to work in elite sports settings or expand their current clinical roles. Whether you want to work in elite sport, general musculoskeletal medicine or in an exercise rehabilitation setting, an MSc will enhance your CV and in many cases it is an essential criteria on job specifications.

Lectures take place at UCL in central London on a Tuesday and Thursday. This allows sufficient time for students to read around the lectures, attend individual clinics and prepare their research projects. Learning is through a variety of methods including self-directed learning, small-group problem-based learning, clinical-based discussions, hands-on examination, clinic visits and formal lectures. Lecturers are invited on the strength of their expertise in their field and quality of their teaching. Up to date, evidence based practice will be emphasised throughout and students' contribution through discussion is considered key. From 2012 the MSc will also be available via Distance Learning.

Full-time study is one year; part-time students take the course over two years.

The brochure can be found from the following link:

• View the brochure

The MSc in Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health is designed to give students a broad understanding of sports medicine, sports injuries and exercise prescription in healthy and disease states.  It will introduce the key areas relating to sports and exercise medicine, namely musculoskeletal and sports injury, exercise physiology, psychology, working with sporting teams and the promotion of physical activity to prevent and treat disease.  Students will gain a thorough grounding in the management of injury and of exercise prescription. This will prepare you for potential work in many areas from NHS musculoskeletal clinics and community exercise services to elite sports.

Learning is through a variety of methods including self-directed learning, small-group problem-based learning, clinical-based discussions, hands-on examination, clinic visits and formal lectures. Lecturers are invited on the strength of their expertise in their field and quality of their teaching. Up to date, evidence based practice will be emphasised throughout and students' contribution through discussion is considered key. From 2012 the MSc will also be available via Distance Learning.

We may be biased, but UCL has been described by the Sunday Times newspaper as ‘an intellectual powerhouse with a world-class reputation’ and is consistently ranked amongst the world’s finest universities. UCL is one of the highest ranked universities in the UK and in the top ten universities worldwide (QS World University Rankings). It was ranked third in the UK for world leading research (Research Assessement Exercise (RAE) 2008).

For more reasons why, please visit the UCL site.

There is no difference in the degree obtained between part-time, full-time or distance-learning options.

Current students have password-protected access to the clinics calendar to book slots in a wide variety of relevant clinics via the clinics calendar.

During the course, students must attend a minimum of 36 clinics. This is equivalent to one clinic per week over three 12 week semesters for a full-time student.

Prospective students can see an example timetable here. Current students can view their timetables on Moodle.

From September 2012 students will be able to study for the Diploma or MSc in Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health by Distance Learning.

The Distance Learning (DL) option will be part-time and students will take up to two modules per semester. The emphasis will be on significant and regular online interaction with tutors and fellow students. Campus-based lectures will be recorded and available to watch online at your convenience on a week-by-week basis. This will be accompanied by a variety of online interactive resources, such as case-based discussions, quizzes and related forum discussions. There will be a mandatory short residential at UCL at the end of each semester to facilitate teaching of important hands-on skills such as joint examinations. Clinical requirements during the course will be the same as for the campus-based students. This includes regular attendance at appropriate clinics with logbooks. These may be done locally by prior agreement, or at UCL. Examinations are the same as those taken by the campus-based students (written examinations and OSCEs) and will be completed at UCL at the same time.

Entrance requirements for those applying for the Distance Learning programme are the same as for the campus-based programme.

• More details on How to Apply .

Fees for the Distance Learning programme are the same as for the campus-based programme.

• More information on Fees and Funding.

All applicants must complete a UCL Graduate Student application form.

If you are applying for the Distance Learning MSc or Diploma please make it clear in the Personal Statement on the application form that you wish to study via Distance Learning

• More information on How to Apply.

If you have further questions please contact Zoe Lau, the course administrator, in the first instance. 

Information about studying and living in London can be found on the following links:

• New International Students
• Living in London (video)

No, not necessarily, although it may be easier if you do. Many students live outside London and commute into central London to attend UCL and clinics. If this is not possible for you, the distance learning option may be appropriate.

Fees for the 2013/14 academic year will be £11,250 (FT) for UK/EU students and £21,000 (FT) for overseas students. Distance learning students pay the same fees.

More Information on Tuition Fees

Full details of funding opportunities can be found on the UCL Scholarships website.

Information on visas for international students can be found on the following link:

• Immigration & Visas Information

Yes. Applicants whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is of a high standard. All applicants must hold an advanced level (of overall grade 7.5) of proficiency on the IELTS English language test or an acceptable equivalent. For more information please see UCL's English Language Proficiency Requirements.

If you have any questions that are not answered above or need any further information before applying to the course please contact Zoe Lau, the course administrator, in the first instance.