Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course structure

The flexible modular framework enables you to tailor your degree course to suit your professional and personal interests and aspirations.

You will complete two one-week modules and two three-week modules at the university, as well as two three-week clinical placements which can be completed part- or full-time.

The course is delivered in a variety of ways, typically via group discussion, case studies, supervised placements, lectures, seminars, and practical sessions in our Human Movement Laboratory, and Clinical Skills and Simulation Rooms.

Assessment is via the method most appropriate to your chosen modules. 

School of Health Sciences postgraduate education
This course is part of our School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme. The programme allows you to sign up for one module at a time and build your qualification as you go. It also gives you access to interdisciplinary modules across a broad selection of health and social science subjects.

Syllabus

Modules

• Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb
• Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb 
• Research Methods for Healthcare
• Dissertation (not necessary for award of PGDip)

And

• Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb 
• Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb

Plus

• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Exploring Practice

OR

• a module of your choice from the School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme.

Facilities

Modules in focus

Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral and lower limb 
This module considers the holistic management of people experiencing pain in the lumbosacral region and lower limb. In this module students will consider the experience of people suffering from pain and dysfunction, and develop strategies to effectively examine, assess, treat and manage such individuals. Students will evaluate the theoretical concepts with specialist practical skills used in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. The module requires three weeks' attendance at the university.

Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic and upper limb
This module considers the holistic management of people experiencing pain in the cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb. In the module students will consider the embodied experience of people suffering from pain and dysfunction (including biopsychosocial, emotional, political and cultural aspects). Students will evaluate theoretical and philosophical concepts along with specialist practical skills used in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. The module requires three weeks' attendance at the university.

• Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Lumbo-sacral and lower limb
• Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement  – Cervico-thoracic and upper limb 
Two supervised clinical placements take place in approved locations. In these modules students will integrate the communication and practical skills, clinical reasoning and theoretical aspects of musculoskeletal therapy and demonstrate holistic management of people with musculoskeletal disorders in a practice-based setting.

Research Methods for Healthcare
This module discusses the variety of research methods available and the selection and implementation of an appropriate research strategy in preparation for your dissertation. It enables you to develop specific research skills in the preparation of research proposals, project design, methods of data collection, analysis and presentation of research findings.

Dissertation
The dissertation will be in a topic related to musculoskeletal physiotherapy. All dissertations are individual pieces of research on a topic chosen by yourself, which you will complete under the guidance and support of a supervisor.

Study plans

Example plan for full-time study

October/November
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Exploring Practice (one week) 
Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks)

November
Work on ethics proposal*

January
Research Methods
Ethics submission and pilot work, potential period for data collection and writing literature review*

April–May
Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb (three weeks)

June–August
Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (90 hours)

October–December
Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb (90 hours)

December–April
Remaining data collection and write up of dissertation*

*These elements are not necessary for PGDip

Example plan for part-time study over three years

Year 1
Research Methods for Healthcare
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy – Exploring Practice (one week) OR a module from the School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme

Year 2
Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks)

Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (90 hours)

Year 3
Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb

Musculoskeletal Clinical Placement – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb (90 hours)

Dissertation undertaken alongside other studies*

*These elements are not necessary for PGDip

Study advice

The Academic Study Kit website now includes dedicated pages for taught and research postgraduate students to support you with the transition to postgraduate level study and introduce some of the complexities of conducting postgraduate research.

Find out more on the ASK website.

Staff profiles

International requirements

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Eastbourne campus map