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Physiotherapy Studies: Musculoskeletal MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Equip yourself with the clinical, academic and research skills to help advance musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice. On this one-year MSc, there’s an emphasis on clinical reasoning and evidence-informed assessment, and you will get first-hand insight into evidence-based and new emerging treatments to support patients with musculoskeletal disorders. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,000
£8,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£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 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

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.

The English language level for this course 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 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 become familiar with evidence-based practice in your field of specialisation.

With plenty of flexibility built into the course 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.

Studying at a top university that is helping to shape new ideas in public health, you will 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 will have the skills to progress into senior practice roles, leadership or academic positions such as part-time teaching or lecturing.

Who this course is for

This degree is suitable for World Physiotherapy recognised qualified physiotherapists with more than 12 months of supervised work experience, beyond their internship, within the Musculoskeletal field. Also suitable for experienced practitioners who prefer not to undertake clinical placements for reasons including restrictions on study leave.

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 3rd in the world for public health (ShanghaiRankings 2024), 9th in the world as a university (QS World Rankings 2026) 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 academic and clinical experts in physiotherapy practice.
  • Benefit from our close links to the UCLH University Trust as well as many other specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists who work in a variety of healthcare settings 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.
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 will be in a strong position to progress into a career in academia or research, or to pursue more senior clinical or management positions within your chosen field.

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 careers in healthcare policy, university lecturing, private practice, management or highly specialist clinical practice. 

Graduates of this course have gone on to 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, 2022-23.

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 will 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

We hold social events throughout the year for the whole student cohort to enable networking between students. Students on the Master's courses 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.

Teaching and learning

The course 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.

Assessment is through practical 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, either over six consecutive days or two blocks of three days from 9am–5pm. The Lower and Upper Quadrant modules are 30 credit modules and both modules are delivered as 12 days teaching (in three blocks of 4 days), in addition, there are three student-led revision days to prepare for practical exams and two to three online evening seminars.

Full-time students can expect to attend 24 days from 9am–5pm approximately over 12 weeks in Term 1, 15 days from 9am–5pm approximately over 12 weeks in Term 2 for the core modules, plus an additional 6 days over 2 weeks depending on option module choices in Term 2 and/or Term 3. This equates to approximately 16–21 hours per week of face-to-face teaching.

In the weeks where no modules are being delivered, you would expect to spend 35 hours per week in self-directed study. Part-time and flexible students study at a pro-rata rate. For further information, please contact us by email.

Modules taught in blocks of study include:

Core

  • Research and Dissemination
  • Research methods and statistics
  • Advanced Physiotherapy Management: Upper Quadrant
  • Advanced Physiotherapy Management: Lower Quadrant

Optional

  • Clinical Exercise and Physical Activity
  • The Young Athlete: Injury Prevention and Management
  • Leadership and Professional Development

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time 12 months, flexible 2-5 years) is offered. The course consists of four compulsory modules (90 credits) and two optional modules (30 credits). A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, part-time 12 months) is offered. The course consists of 1 compulsory module (15 crdt) a choice of 1 core module (30 crdt) and 1 optional module (15 crdt).

Modules

This course is offered as full-time (one year) or as a part-time/modular flexible (two years +) course. 

The content includes a set of four taught compulsory modules, plus the research project (dissertation) module. These compulsory modules are focused on the speciality (pathway) you choose: Cardiorespiratory; Neurophysiotherapy; Paediatrics or Musculoskeletal. You must then choose two optional modules 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 course and reflect current research in our field.

In Term 1, 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 Term 2, while you may still be completing your compulsory modules, you are probably also now doing your optional modules and developing the concepts you learnt in Term 1. You will be choosing your research during this time and beginning work on this project.

In Term 2 and 3, you will work on your research project and you will hand in your research project towards the end of the academic year.

Students have two years to complete their course of 180 credits. In Year 1, you will usually undertake 90 credits comprising both core and optional modules. In Year 2, you will register on modules to complete the remaining credits (usually 90 credits remaining) including the 60-credit research project module.

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

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

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

UCL Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AL, United Kingdom - Open day

Life and Medical Sciences Postgraduate Open Evening

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Are you interested in postgraduate studies at UCL in health, medicine, psychology or life sciences? Join us at our upcoming open evening where you can discover Masters degrees delivered by six UCL faculties: Brain Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Population Health Sciences, and Social & Historical Sciences.

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 (2026/27) £16,000 £8,000
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.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 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 this course related to undertaking a research project linked to a clinical site, which may include:

  • Travel to the placement site. The cost of travel will vary.  
  • Accommodation, if students need to live nearer to the site for the period of data collection. The cost of accommodation will depend on where the student chooses to undertake their data collection.
  • Uniform costs: simple white polo tops, blue trousers and blue/black shoes. These items can be purchased very reasonably from £5 - £20 per item. 
  • Occupational Health check. The cost of an occupational health check can range from £75 to £500 in the UK. 

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

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 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 Physiotherapy Studies: Musculoskeletal at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study Physiotherapy Studies: Musculoskeletal at UCL.
  • What particularly attracts you to this course.
  • How do your academic, clinical experience and professional background meet the demands of this course.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.
  • What is your research experience and research interests.

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

Frequently asked questions

Question: Do you need work experience to be eligible for a place on the Physiotherapy Studies: Musculoskeletal MSc course?
Answer: Yes, you need work experience of at least 1 year working as a qualified physiotherapist predominantly in the field of musculoskeletal physiotherapy to be eligible for a place on the MSc in Physiotherapy Studies: Musculoskeletal course.
 
Question: Can internship work experience be used towards the requirement for 1 year’s work experience as a physiotherapist?
Answer: No, internship work experience does not usually count towards the 1 year’s work experience requirement.

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

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

advancedphysio@ucl.ac.uk

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