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Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Play your part in advancing musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice, by equipping yourself with advanced clinical, academic and research skills. This Master’s degree places an emphasis on clinical reasoning and evidence-informed assessment, and you’ll get first-hand insight into new and emerging treatments to help patients with musculoskeletal disorders. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in Physiotherapy; or an approved Diploma in Physiotherapy together with evidence of appropriate clinical and/or teaching experience and a commitment to continuing professional development. We expect students to have had at least two years post-qualification clinical experience. UK state-registration (with The Health Care and Professions Council) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy membership is needed to undertake the Clinical Education (clinical placements) Module.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This Advanced Physiotherapy Musculoskeletal MSc gives you the chance to work alongside UCL and external experts to evaluate and challenge current physiotherapy practice, carry out your own clinical research, and learn about new and emerging assessment and treatment options.

You will study upper and lower quadrant musculoskeletal physiotherapy, build enhanced clinical skills, and learn about evidence-based practice in your field of specialisation.

With plenty of flexibility built into the programme structure, you can choose the modules that most interest you. Learn more in our Clinical Exercise and Physical Activity module, build your skills in The Young Athlete Injury Prevention and Management module or explore the latest developments in the Leadership and Professional Development module, to name a few.

As well as taught modules led by university staff and external clinical experts, you’ll have a 150-hour compulsory clinical placement(s) working in NHS hospitals, private clinics or sports clubs – to put your skills into practice and gain first-hand insight into current clinical challenges.

Studying at a top university that is helping shape new ideas in public health, you’ll benefit from teaching and clinical mentorship from recognised experts in physiotherapy.

The course has been planned largely in short blocks so that you can fit your studies easily around work or other commitments.

By the end of your Master’s degree, you’ll have the skills to progress into advanced practice roles, leadership or academic positions such as part-time teaching or lecturing. 

Who this course is for

This degree is only suitable for World Physiotherapy recognised qualified physiotherapists with at least two years musculoskeletal physiotherapy clinical experience which does not include internship.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

  • Study at one of the world's top ten universities. UCL is ranked 6th in the world for public health (ShanghaiRankings 2023), 9th in the world as a university (QS World Rankings 2025) and is rated No.1 for research power and impact in medicine, health and life sciences (REF 2021). 
  • Choose from an extensive range of compulsory and optional modules in specialist areas, including the Advanced Physiotherapy Management of the Upper and Lower Quadrant modules.
  • Learn through lectures, tutorials and practical workshops delivered by recognised experts in physiotherapy practice.
  • Benefit from our close links to the UCLH University Trust as well as many other specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapy teams and departments both within London and outside it.
  • Study and network with students from all over the world, and benefit from a cross-fertilisation of international experience and ideas, as part of an inspirational postgraduate learning environment.
  • Hear from expert speakers from within the university, external speakers from the NHS and from private organisations such as sports clubs.
  • Study at UCL’s Bloomsbury campus, in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.
  • Fit the course around your work and life with flexible study options.
  • At the end of your course, you’ll gain full membership of the Musculoskeletal Association of Physiotherapists (MACP) - the clinical qualification internationally recognised by the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT). 
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

By the end of your Master’s degree, you’ll be in a strong position to progress into academia, research, management or senior clinical practice.  

Several students have used the MSc as a springboard to gain funding to undertake PhDs at a range of high-ranking London universities. Others have secured senior positions, such as team leads and clinical specialist posts, at major London hospitals.

Graduates of this course have gone onto work with the NHS and hospitals all over the world.*  

* Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the cohorts 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22. 

Employability

The Master’s degree will transform the way you think about the theoretical foundation for musculoskeletal physiotherapy clinical practice and what defines expert patient care.  

You’ll receive rigorous, evidence-based training in the latest research, and go away with the skills and expertise to put forward strong applications for clinical, educational or research posts. 

Networking

The UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health offers seven MSc programmes as well as an MRes in Child Health encompassing a wide range of topics. Our students come from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, from the UK and overseas providing great networking opportunities within and across programmes. We hold social events throughout the year for the whole student cohort to enable networking between students. Students on the Master's programmes have the opportunity to join events such as the Otto Wolff lectures hosted by the research and teaching departments. These cover a variety of topics and provide an opportunity to hear from national and international experts and to network at the social event that usually accompanies these events.   

Accreditation

The Advanced MSc programme in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy has been accredited by the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) as well as the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT).

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of face-to-face, online teaching, and self-directed learning. The teaching sessions include lectures, seminars, and practical classes. The lectures and seminars focus on professional and scientific knowledge and research evidence relevant to musculoskeletal physiotherapy. The practical sessions focus on musculoskeletal physiotherapy assessment, rehabilitation, and manual skills.

Meet the academics currently leading this programme on the UCL GOS ICH website.

Assessment is through practical assessments, clinical assessments, written assignments, oral presentations, multiple-choice tests, submission of the literature review and research proposal, assessed coursework, unseen and prior disclosure written examinations, and the dissertation with an oral presentation.

Most 15 credit modules are delivered as blocks of study, normally over six days from 9 am-5pm. Overall, we expect full-time students to study a full 35-hour week, with time outside classes spent in self-directed study. Part-time and flexible students study at a pro-rata rate.

The Quadrant modules are 30 credit modules and usually have 12 days teaching (organised in blocks of three or four days spread over two to three months), in addition, there are two or three evening online seminars and two or three practical revision sessions before the practical assessment.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 12 months, flexible 2-5 years) is offered. The programme consists of five compulsory (105 credits) and one optional module (15 credits). A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, part-time 12 months) is offered. Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits. The programme consists of two compulsory modules and one core module

Modules

This programme is offered as full-time (one year) or as a part-time/modular flexible (two years +) course. The content includes a set of five taught compulsory modules, plus the research project (dissertation) module.

These compulsory modules are focused on the speciality (pathway) you choose. You must then choose one optional module to complement your speciality and complete the degree requirements. 

We continually review the optional modules on this course to ensure they fit the remit of this programme and reflect current research in our field.

In the First Term, you are likely to register for and focus on your compulsory modules, as these modules set the foundation for your degree, preparing you for further topics by introducing the fundamental principles of your speciality. You will also acquire the research and statistics skills necessary for conducting research.

In the Second Term and Third Term, you will work on your research project, as well as completing your compulsory and optional modules and attending clinical placements. You will hand in your research project towards the end of the academic year.

Students have two years to complete their programme of 180 credits. In the first year you will usually undertake 90 credits comprising both core and optional modules. In the second year, you will register on modules to complete the remaining credits (usually 90 credits remaining) including the 60-credit research project module. The clinical placement is undertaken after you have successfully completed the relevant core theoretical modules. This may be in either the first or second year.

Students have up to five years to complete their programme of study which consists of 180 credits. The 60-credit research project is usually taken in the final year.

The clinical placement is undertaken after you have successfully completed the relevant core theoretical modules.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules





















Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students on the MSc Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal programme undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal.

Placement

There is a compulsory 150 hours of clinical placement.

These placements may take place in a variety of healthcare settings over several weeks or months. They are part of the Clinical Education in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy module.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Physiotherapy Studies MSc and Advanced Physiotherapy MSc (all routes) Information Session

We welcome you to book your place at our virtual open events. You will meet our Programme Directors, hear about the MSc programmes in Physiotherapy available at UCL and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. These sessions are free and open to all. If you cannot join for the full length of the session, you are welcome to drop-in, or out, at your convenience.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500 £18,250

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There may be additional costs for students on the Advanced route during their compulsory clinical placement, which may include:

  • Travel to the placement site. The cost of travel will vary as some students may complete their placement in London, while others may undertake their placement elsewhere, depending on placement availability and student preference.  
  • Accommodation, if students need to live nearer to the site for the placement. The cost of accommodation will depend on where the student is completing their placement. 
  • Uniform costs: purchase simple white polo tops, navy trousers and navy /black shoes. These items can be purchased very reasonably from £5 to £20 per item. 
  • Occupational Health check. The cost of an occupational health check can range from £75 to £500 in the UK.
  • Students will also need to register with the Health and Social Care Professions (HCPC). Registration with the HCPC is required for working professionally as a physiotherapist in the UK. Students on the Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal programme are required to join the HCPC to permit them to work as a physiotherapist on clinical placements. The HCPC initial registration process may take several months and students are advised to start the process well in advance of starting the MSc programme. Initial registration with the HCPC and annual registration costs in the region of £700. Please see the HCPC website for further details on registration and fees.
  • Students will need to become members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) for professional liability cover as students on the Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal programme will be practising professionally on clinical placements. Annual membership of the CSP for a qualified physiotherapist costs in the region £400-£500. Please see the CSP website for further details on joining and associated fees.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Visit the funding and studentship pages of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health (UCL GOS ICH) website for details of funding available to students, including the UCL GOS ICH bursary.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Michelle Zalkin Scholarship

Deadline: 30 June 2025
Value: £10,000 (Duration)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Mukul Madhav Foundation Scholarship

Now closed for 2025/26 entry
Value: Full tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

The Peter and Loek Wheeler Child Health Scholarship

Deadline: 30 June 2025
Value: €32,000 (Euros) (Duration of study)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Scholarship

Deadline: 15 August 2025
Value: £3000 for one year for full time students, £1500 each year for part time students (over 2 years) ()
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal at graduate level at UCL.
  • Why you want to study Advanced Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal.
  • What particularly attracts you to this programme.
  • How your academic and clinical experience of working as a qualified physiotherapist meet the requirements of this programme.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.
  • What is your research experience and your research interests.
     

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL GOS Institute of Child Health

advancedphysio@ucl.ac.uk

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