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Medical Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MSc

London, Bloomsbury

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

£17,300

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)

£34,400

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

September 2024

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or related fields from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Undergraduate standard knowledge in programming languages (such as Python or C++) is essential, demonstrated, e.g., by relevant courses or by an individual project they worked on during their UG. Undergraduate level knowledge of mathematics is also required, in algebra, analysis and probability. Applicants must show an interest in developing thinking and problem-solving skills.

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

Students will cover key topics such as robot kinematics, motion planning, control and navigation along with data processing and analysis using modern methods that rely on Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In addition, students will learn topics such as surgical data acquisition, and develop an understanding of the devices used to capture surgical data (e.g. trackers, robots, imaging devices). They will also learn about the wider topic of medical device development.

Who this course is for

Suitable applicants will have a background in Computer Science, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related fields, looking to deepen their knowledge and specialise in applying it to healthcare. This MSc is fitting for applicants who enjoy problem-solving or innovating and are interested in redefining what is possible in healthcare with the goal of improving patient lives through medical robotics and AI.

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

What this course will give you

The MSc programme is offered by UCL's Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering: a hub for interdisciplinary research and collaborations between computer scientists, physicists, mechanical engineers, biomedical scientists and medical practitioners across UCL and its affiliated teaching hospitals. Students joining this department benefit from its network of internationally leading research, learning directly from the research staff in this close-knit community.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

This MSc offers students hands-on experience and transferrable skills as part of its coursework. A research project will give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and develop career skills such as project management, public presentation and teamwork. A mock operating room at Charles Bell House and at UCL Here East enable a practical understanding of ergonomics, human-computer interaction and deployment into the operating room.

Employability

Upon completion of this programme, a successful student will be ideally placed to pursue a range of careers and opportunities from academic research to careers in industry and contribute to emerging technologies such as the use of AI for computer and robot vision tasks, or the development of surgical robots for minimally invasive surgery. This MSc is an excellent starting point for further doctoral studies, as students learn from world-leading UCL researchers at the cutting edge of their fields. The healthcare sector also includes a field of medical technology (MedTech) start-ups and global companies, providing opportunities in industry or public healthcare.

Networking

As a global leader in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering research, our academics are at the forefront of healthcare innovations, with national and international collaborations across clinical, industrial and academic sectors. Students will have the opportunity to work within research groups, and across departments to develop their knowledge and enjoy the various clubs and societies at UCL, such as the UCL Med Tech Society.

Teaching and learning

The programme will be delivered through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, laboratories, workshop sessions and independent or group project work.

The modules of this MSc programme will be assessed by a series of methods including exams, coursework, group work, lab sessions and a research project.

Each module typically consists of around 30-40 hours of lectures, tutorials or problem classes over a ten-week term (excluding reading week). During each week you should therefore expect about 20 contact hours. In addition, you will need to spend your own time reviewing the material and completing coursework. You should expect to spend at least 40 hours per week on your studies as a full-time student. A pro-rata rate should be used as a guide for part-time or flexi-time students. Lectures are timetabled between 9am and 6pm apart from Wednesday afternoon when there are no lectures.

Finally, the students are expected to allocate a significant amount of that time to their research project, typically an average of 8 hours per week for a full-time MSc. The time allocation to the research project will need to be adjusted between Terms 1 and 2, and the summer term (following the exams) where the expectation is for the students to work exclusively on their research projects.

Modules

: The programme will be delivered through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, laboratories, workshop sessions and independent or group project work.

Compulsory modules

Robotic Systems Engineering

MSc Research Project

Artificial Intelligence for Surgery and Intervention

Medical Robotics and Devices

Surgical Data Science

Optional modules

Robotic Control Theory and Systems

Robotic Sensing, Manipulation and Interaction

Robot Vision and Navigation

Research Software Engineering with Python

Computer-Assisted Surgery and Therapy

Clinical Practice

Medical Device Enterprise Scenario

Machine Learning in Medical Imaging

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 undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Medical Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

Accessibility

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

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering Q&A

Pursuing a degree in Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering can help you change the world. You’ll learn from world-leading practitioners, gain practical experience in addressing healthcare challenges, & participate in student projects with a real-world impact. These projects involve developing innovative technologies or methods for diagnosing, treating, or managing medical conditions & diseases.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£17,300
Tuition fees (2024/25)	£34,400

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

It is expected that students will provide their own laptop. Robotics modules, for example, require a laptop with a minimum of 2GHz dual core processor, 2GB RAM, 30-40 GB of hard-drive space, an internet connection, and the capability of running Ubuntu 18.06 and ROS Melodic which is approximately £700 (as of September 2023).

Students will be required to print and bind two copies of their research project at approximately £25-£50.

Students will be required to pay for their travel costs to teaching or project locations. Project locations and teaching are based in London, as of September 2023, an anytime 18+ Student Oyster (Zone 1-5) pay as you go cap is £13.90.

In addition, some research projects may require a DBS check. This can cost students between £25 and £44. For the latest details, please check the government website.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

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

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

Why you want to study Medical Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at graduate level
Why you want to study Medical Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at UCL what particularly attracts you to this programme
How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
Where you would like to go professionally with your degree

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.

Successful applicants should show an interest in developing thinking and problem-solving skills.

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.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.