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Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation MSc

London, Stanmore

This unique programme is designed to provide an education in the underlying scientific principles of physical therapy - physiotherapy, osteopathy, sports therapy - and an opportunity to experience the clinical application of specialist rehabilitation techniques with expert clinicians at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH).

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2022/23)
£16,500
£8,250
Programme fees on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2022/23)
£29,400
£14,700
Programme fees on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 academic years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2022
Applications accepted
All applicants: 18 Oct 2021 – 31 Mar 2022

Applications open

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Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a related medical, biological science or bioengineering discipline, a clinical qualification, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Advanced

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. International Preparation Courses

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 can expect to acquire a broad and deep understanding of the science underpinning a physical therapy approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. In addition, the MSc builds on cognitive skills, and students will become creative in their thinking and highly skilled in analysis and evaluation, and thus ideally placed to become innovative leaders within their field.

Who this course is for

The programme is aimed at physical therapists (physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, chiropodists), medical professionals (GPs, rheumatologists, nurses) with an interest in the musculoskeletal system, and biomedical science and bioengineering graduates with an interest in musculoskeletal science.

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

What this course will give you

This programme is unique in that it covers the basic science informing a physical therapy approach to treatment. The programme encourages students to integrate knowledge across modules and to use a multi-dimensional approach to patient management.

The programme is delivered through a partnership between internationally renowned UCL academics and world-leading specialist clinicians at the RNOH, providing students with excellent networking opportunities with academics, clinical professionals and like-minded peers.

UCL was rated as the best university for research strength in the UK in the latest Research Excellence Framework (December 2014). The RNOH has a worldwide reputation for ground-breaking neuro-musculoskeletal healthcare and specialist rehabilitation.

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

The foundation of your career

Graduates are likely to be highly attractive to prospective employers; not only will they have gained multidisciplinary knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and treatments for musculoskeletal disease and dysfunction, but importantly they will have developed their skills in analysis and evaluation of information and creation of new ideas. These higher-level cognitive skills are highly sought after by employers.

Employability

On successful completion of this programme, students can expect to assume leadership positions in clinical practice in the NHS, or in private practice for those with a prior clinical qualification. Graduates will also be well placed to enter academic or clinical research or a biomedical/healthcare-related position in industry. Please note that this programme does not hold accreditation with any professional bodies.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case-based studies, workshops and practical classes. Assessment is through MCQ examinations; coursework, including narrative reviews, structured questions and case studies; and poster presentation. The research project is assessed by a written dissertation and viva examination.

The programme will be taught mostly at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London. Some teaching will also take place in Bloomsbury.

For the Postgraduate Diploma, students undertake eight compulsory core modules of 15 credits each (120 credits). For the Postgraduate Certificate, students undertake four modules of 15 credits each (60 credits).

Modules

Full-time

The programme is formed of eight compulsory modules and a project.

In term 1, you will study four modules.  One of these modules are taught at our Bloomsbury Campus one day each week.  The remaining modules are delivered from our Stanmore Campus in three week blocks.

In term 2, you will take the remaining four modules.  All of these are taught on a specific day each week for the whole term.

Term 3, extends through the summer to September where you will undertake your research project and sit a Viva examination.

Note that it is also possible to pursue this MSc on a modular/flexible basis, where you as a student take as many modules as you wish each year and carry out your project in your final year.  

Compulsory 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 is subject to change.

For the MSc - Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation.

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 & Wellbeing team.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2022/23) £16,500 £8,250
Tuition fees (2022/23) £29,400 £14,700

Programme fees 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

The core textbooks for all modules are available electronically or in the UCL Library on the Stanmore Campus, and journal articles in your reading lists are also mostly available electronically through your UCL login.  Students will be required to print and bind two copies of their Research project.  Students will be required to travel between the main UCL campus in Bloomsbury and the Stanmore campus once or twice a week and should allow travel costs for this (London Underground).

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

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 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 Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation at graduate level
  • why you want to study Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare and Rehabilitation at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • 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 programmes in any application cycle.

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. The programme may remain open if places are still available after 31 March 2022 and will be closed as soon as it is full or by 30 June 2022.

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

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

h.birch@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

This page was last updated 28 Sep 2021