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Musculoskeletal Science and Medical Engineering MSc

London, Stanmore

Explore a broad spectrum of the musculoskeletal system and orthopaedic bioengineering, including basic science and clinical aspects, on this highly innovative, specialist master's in musculoskeletal science and medical engineering. You will work with leading medical professionals, gain a holistic view of orthopaedic science and engineering, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and take away in-depth knowledge appropriate to your career and interests.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£18,400
£9,200
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£36,500
£18,250
Duration
1 calendar year
2 academic years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class medical degree or UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course is: Level 3

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

Expectations are growing that technology should improve healthcare outcomes and offer better value for money. At the same time, modern healthcare professionals need to understand and embrace the advances in treatment and how we rehabilitate musculoskeletal disorders. Our programme meets both of these needs.

We offer the combination of musculoskeletal science, practice, and innovation you need to adapt to a fast-moving, highly competitive discipline. You will learn to diagnosis and treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis, osteoporosis, trauma, fracture, bone cancer and spinal disorders. You will also develop your scientific knowledge and enhance your research skills in areas such as orthopaedic bioengineering, musculoskeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

This course attracts students from many different disciplines looking to advance in an exciting and rapidly developing field. We equip you to make a strong contribution to the development of musculoskeletal healthcare services. You can go on to develop your career in the healthcare sector, the medical device and bio-medicine industry sector, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and regulatory bodies, as well as in the academic community.

This programme runs at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, a tertiary referral centre. It is delivered by experts and consultants attached to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, where complex orthopaedic cases are referred. This means you will learn alongside renowned medical experts, including surgeons, academic professionals, biomedical scientists, tissue biologists and physiotherapists, and gain a strong grounding in this field.

Who this course is for

The programme is designed to suit the needs of three groups:

  • Medical trainees or MBBS students who wish to take their career to the next level in orthopaedics and sports medicine
  • Complementary medicine professionals, nurses, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals
  • Bioengineering, biomaterials, or biological graduates who wish to develop their careers in the healthcare sector, medical device and biomedical industries.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • Insight into the causes of human musculoskeletal disease and the chance to study in an environment which is developing innovative therapies and technology to improve quality of life.
  • The chance to study at one of the most prestigious medical schools in Europe, at the internationally renowned Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.
  • The Division of Surgery & Interventional Science is made up nearly 400 people, from surgeons, biologists, bioengineers and material scientists and oncologists to clinical trials specialists and researchers.
  • A grounding in musculoskeletal science and orthopaedic bioengineering, including a holistic view of clinical care as well as orthopaedic sciences and bioengineering.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates gain a wide variety of high-standard research skills and clinical knowledge. Most return to healthcare-related sectors to develop innovative therapies for musculoskeletal disorders and advise on, and monitor, the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders.

According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (2018-2022), around 85% of Musculoskeletal Science MSc graduates have progressed into work or further study, with the majority of those in work taking highly skilled roles.

Graduates have gone on to work for NHS Trusts, including the UCL Hospital, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, as well and medical device manufacturing firms such as Smith & Nephew and accredited cell and tissue banks in Europe. Their roles include specialist medical practitioners, GPs, physiotherapists, lab technicians and pharmaceutical technicians.

Employability

Whatever your career pathway, this MSc will help you to take your career to a more advanced level or to become more established. 

You will gain cutting-edge knowledge in a specialised field as well as transferable skills in how to carry out research in musculoskeletal science and bioengineering. The programme also gives you up-to-date perspectives on trends in the innovative therapies, diagnosis and approaches in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Networking

On this programme, there are many opportunities to network through our cross-disciplinary departments and research centres. We offer regular events where you can meet and hear from expert speakers and we encourage students to broaden their skills and expand their networks by attending and participating at conferences.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a mix of taught lectures, seminars, tutorials, group project work and workshops. The programme will be taught mostly at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London. Some teaching will also take place in UCL Bloomsbury and the Royal Free Hospital.

Assessment is multi-dimensional. It includes essays, short answer questions, multiple choice questions, online forum discussions, oral examinations, clinical case studies and a research dissertation. Candidates are examined in the year in which they complete the programme.

We provide around 30 contact hours for each taught module.

For full-time students, this equates to 12 hours of teaching, tutorial, and practical sessions per week during term-time. These are spread throughout the whole week, and full-time students should expect to spend most of their weekdays on Stanmore campus.

You will also spend around 30 hours per week on independent learning, where you do your own research and background reading, set your own goals and monitor your own progress. Each 15-credit taught module should take roughly 150 hours of study to complete.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months and flexible study up to five years) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time three months and flexible study up to two years) is offered.

Modules

The programme consists of eight taught modules (120 credits) and a research project (60 credits).

You study four compulsory modules covering 'Research Methodology and Generic Skills', 'Clinical Aspects of Musculoskeletal Medicine and Surgery', 'Musculoskeletal Tissue Biology - Form and Function' and 'Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Biomaterials'.

You take four out of six optional modules from a specific list within the department. 

You also complete a research project.

We recommend that two-year part-time students take four taught modules in each year and complete the research project in the second year.

However, we can be flexible to fit around your work commitments. You can usually split the modules unevenly between the two years to accommodate periods of time when you will have greater or less availability.

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 undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The course consists of eight taught modules (120 credits), and a research project (60 credits). Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Musculoskeletal Science and Medical Engineering. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Musculoskeletal Science and Medical Engineering. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Musculoskeletal Science and Medical Engineering.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health MSc

Join us for the online Graduate Open Event for the MSc in Sports Medicine, Exercise, and Health. Discover how our programme covers sports injury management, exercise physiology, and chronic disease prevention. Hear from programme leads and current students, and explore career opportunities in sports and exercise medicine. Ideal for those with a primary degree in medicine, physiotherapy, or sports science. Don't miss this chance to learn more and ask questions!

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £18,400 £9,200
Tuition fees (2026/27) £36,500 £18,250

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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 with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

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.

Students pay for their travel costs to teaching, work placements or project locations. Transport widely depending on distance travelled.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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

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

Sparck AI Scholarship

Deadline: 1 May 2026
Value: Full tuition fees plus £22,780 stipend (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
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 course 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 Musculoskeletal Science and Medical Engineering at graduate level
  • why you want to study Musculoskeletal Science ans Medical Engineering 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.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (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: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

dsis.msk@ucl.ac.uk

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