Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course in brief

The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy MSc is for qualified physiotherapists wanting to build on their skills and knowledge, advance their professional practice, and earn a further professional and academic qualification.

This course has been developed with the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT). Course graduates benefit from being able to apply for full membership of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP).

You will develop your advanced evaluative and problem-solving skills for the examination, assessment and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction.

A wide range of optional modules means you can create your own CPE study programme to suit your professional or personal interests and aspirations.

The course is designed to fit around your existing physiotherapy practice hours. Week-long intensive study blocks allow attendance for students based in the UK, EU and internationally.

We are known for our flexible approaches to practice-based learning, with course durations and intensities that can be adapted to your individual needs and outside commitments.

Our high quality teaching and research are renowned, and have an applied focus. We have established strong links with specialist practice educators to ensure the provision of support and guidance both within the university and in practice.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for this course. Find out if you are eligible in the fees and funding tab below.

Key facts

Location Eastbourne

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2–6 years

Course graduates are eligible for membership of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP)

We are a top 10 university for world-leading research impact in allied health professions, nursing and pharmacy (REF 2014)

Apply online

You can apply for 2016 and 2017: please check that you meet the entry requirements before you make your application.

Apply now for your place

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2017. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

Degree and/or experience

This course is for qualified physiotherapists. Applicants should normally hold an honours degree in physiotherapy but those with suitable alternative qualifications, such as a diploma in physiotherapy, will be considered.
Professional registration as a physiotherapist is required, and students enrolling for the PGDip or MSc must be registered by the Health and Care Professions Council and be a full member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or hold their own indemnity insurance. However, this is not a requirement if you are enrolling for the PGCert.
We would normally ask for a minimum of one year's post-registration experience in a musculoskeletal physiotherapy setting.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 7 overall with no element below 6.5.

We normally require overseas applicants to hold a degree qualification in physiotherapy, which is equivalent to a UK qualification, and appropriate English language skills.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

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

You will need to 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 high-tech 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 a range of interdisciplinary modules across a broad selection of health and social science subjects. Find out more

Syllabus

Modules

Musculoskeletal Management – Upper Quadrant
Musculoskeletal Management – Lower Quadrant
Research Methods for Health Professionals
Dissertation (not necessary for award of PG Dip)

And

Clinical placement 1 – Lower Quadrant
Clinical placement 2 – Upper Quadrant

Plus

Key Issues in NMS Management

an option of your choice from the School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme.

Facilities

Human Movement Laboratory

The high-tech Human Movement Laboratory is used widely in teaching and research for students in the school of health professions studying physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry, and is also used for commercial consultancy.

In the lab you will use the latest technology to measure and assess all aspects of human movement, joints, muscles, soft tissue structure and nerves. The laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment for conducting cardio-pulmonary investigations including Cosmed metabolic system and spirometry.

Practical Skills and Simulation Rooms

There are a range of practical skills rooms, equipped so that you can learn and practise practical skills including palpation, massage and manipulation with other students before you work with real patients and clients.

We also have specialist classrooms for physiotherapy practise, including manual skills and exercise therapy rooms, which are equipped with treatment couches.

Modules in focus

Musculoskeletal Management - Upper Quadrant
This module critically discusses the theoretical underpinning of clinical examination, differential diagnosis, assessment, treatment and overall management of patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction of the upper quadrant. In addition, this module develops the student's manual and clinical reasoning skills used in examination, assessment, treatment and management of these patients. The module requires three weeks' attendance at the university.

Musculoskeletal Management - Lower Quadrant
This module critically discusses the theoretical underpinning of clinical examination, differential diagnosis, assessment, treatment and overall management of patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction of the lower quadrant. In addition, this module develops the student's manual and clinical reasoning skills used in the examination, assessment, treatment and management of these patients. The module requires three weeks' attendance at the university.

Clinical Placement 1-Lower Quadrant module and Clinical Placement 2-Upper Quadrant module
Two supervised clinical placements take place in approved locations. These modules will enable you to develop a high level of clinical expertise in the examination, assessment, treatment and management of patients with musculoskeletal dysfunction to ensure that you graduate a capable and confident practitioner. Each placement requires 90 hours of clinical practice.

Physiotherapists discussing a patient file

Research Methods for Health Professionals
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 from the school.

Study plans

Plan for full-time study

September
Research methods (1 week)
Key issues in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (1 week) or an option from the Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences

October/November
NMS management lower quadrant (3 weeks)

November
Work on ethics proposal*

January – April
Clinical placement 1 (90 hours)
Ethics submission and pilot work, potential period for data collection/ writing literature review*

April/May
NMS management upper quadrant (3 weeks)

June - Aug
Clinical placement 2 (90 hours)
Remaining data collection and write up of dissertation*

*These elements are not necessary for PG Dip

Example plan for part-time study over three years

Year 1
Research methods (1 week)
Key issues in NMS Physiotherapy (1 week) or option of your choice from the Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences
NMS management upper quadrant (3 weeks)

Year 2
NMS management lower quadrant (3 weeks)
Clinical Placement 1 (90 hours)

Year 3
Clinical placement 2 (90 hours)
Dissertation*

*These elements are not necessary for PG Dip

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

Dr Clair Hebron Course leader and module leader for Musculoskeletal Management of the Upper Quadrant and the second clinical placement module.

Clair completed her undergraduate physiotherapy degree in 1991, at which point she began clinical work in the NHS. She commenced study for a Manipulative Physiotherapy MSc in 1997 and became a full member of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) in 1999. Clair completed her MSc in 2002, during which time she also fulfilled a year-long lecturer practitioner role, at which point she started lecturing full-time. Clair continues to work clinically at the University of Brighton's ‘Physiotherapy at the Leaf’ clinic.

Clair is a member of the International Advisory Board and reviewer for Manual Therapy journal. She was a member of the MACP executive committee from 2008–2014 where she had a number of roles including secretary, vice-chair of the Committee for Educational Approval, representative for the International Federation of Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) and from 2012–2014 chair of the MACP.

Clair's research interests include low back pain, the effects of treatment dosage, health promotion, exercise prescription and patient centred practice. In 2014 she completed her PhD entitled ‘The Biomechanical and Neurophysiological Effects of Lumbar Mobilisations’.

Colette Ridehalgh Clinical placement co-ordinator and module leader for Musculoskeletal Management of the Lower Quadrant and the first clinical placement module.

Colette graduated in 1992 from the University of East London with a Physiotherapy BSc(Hons). She worked in the NHS in London for eight years before starting her Manipulative Physiotherapy MSc at the University of Brighton. She worked in Brighton at this time as a clinical specialist in low back pain. Colette completed the MSc and gained her membership of the Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) in 2002, after which she began teaching at the University of Brighton. She was secretary of the MACP from 2004-2007. Colette is a reviewer for Manual Therapy journal.

Colette is currently studying for a PhD entitled ‘Is the response to neurodynamic treatment linked to specific group characteristics in people with referred posterior leg pain?’.

Careers and employability

Masters-level education is an important component of advanced and specialist practice. It allows you greater autonomy and to accelerate personal and professional development or promotion in your practice.

The course enhances professional and academic development, enabling graduates to pursue careers in research, lecturing in higher education, or expanding and developing their own clinical practice.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 8,550 GBP

International (full-time) 14,400 GBP

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for this course. Find out if you are eligible.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2016–17. 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. Further details regarding tuition fees are available from 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- 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, field trips 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.

Location and living here

Location

About Eastbourne

Eastbourne is known for being sunny, friendly and relaxed, with natural attractions such as the beach and the beautiful hills of the South Downs. Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, is just outside of town and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Arts and culture: Eastbourne is home to the award-winning Towner Art Gallery, one of the finest contemporary art museums in the south-east. The town also has four Grade II listed theatres: the Congress Theatre, the Devonshire Park Theatre, the Winter Garden and the Royal Hippodrome Theatre.

Festivals: Set in the Winter Garden and the Birley Centre – a contemporary performing arts venue – the Eastbourne Music and Arts Festival promotes the study and practice of music, dance and drama. Eastbourne’s Annual Beer Festival meanwhile is the biggest beer festival in East Sussex, featuring 150 real cask ales, a cider bar, a wine bar and live music.

Nightlife: Eastbourne has a great selection of clubs for your night out. Top picks include Cameo – the town’s largest nightclub – and Atlantis on Eastbourne Pier. If you don't feel like dancing, take advantage of the student deals at Hudsons Bar.

Shopping: The town’s main shopping centre is the Eastbourne Arndale Centre. For a more boutique experience, head to Little Chelsea – an independent shopping and dining district specialising in contemporary art, interior design, antiques and jewellery.

Sports: Eastbourne hosts some major sporting events, from Eastbourne Extreme – one of the biggest extreme sports festivals in the UK – to Eastbourne International, an annual tennis tournament where some of the world’s finest players prepare for Wimbledon.

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Located in one of the sunniest towns in the UK, our Eastbourne campus sits between the hills of the South Downs National Park and the south coast.

The campus has extensive sporting facilities, including a sports hall, fitness suite, climbing wall, swimming pool, three gyms, a dance studio and an artificial training pitch. For sport and exercise students, there are also exercise physiology labs, a human movement laboratory and an environmental chamber.

Podiatry students gain real-life experience in the Leaf Hospital clinic, with its comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, while physiotherapy students are taught in specialist practical skills rooms. The Culinary Arts Studio allows hospitality students to engage in workplace simulations and consumer research.

Accommodation

Eastbourne

Our Eastbourne hall of residence, Welkin Halls, is in the residential Meads area, next to the Hillbrow and Welkin site and within walking distance of Darley Road. The train station is about 20 minutes away on foot.

You can choose between a standard room and a large room. In both cases, the rent covers bills and internet access, as well as breakfast and an evening meal during term time. There are more than 150 rooms available here, with six to eight rooms per flat, and all are ensuite.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. The rent covers internet and £5,000 of contents insurance but excludes gas, electricity and water.*

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

If you have any questions about accommodation in Eastbourne, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accomeastbourne@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 643810.

*Please note that all Eastbourne Unihomes have been let for students starting in September 2016.

Welkin Halls

Welkin bedroom

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Eastbourne campus map

Find out more

School of Health Sciences
01273 643818
sohpadmissions@brighton.ac.uk

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Student views

Laura Finucane

Consultant musculoskeletal physiotherapist, East Surrey Hospital

At the time I completed the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy MSc I was a clinical specialist/superintendent of an out-patient department. I came to the course uncertain of my practice knowledge but I had a strong internal drive to enhance my clinical practice and career development.

I valued sharing knowledge and hearing alternative perspectives from my peers and this was crucial to my learning. The course gave me the ability to learn through rational argument and reflection.

Being assessed helped to drive my practice to a higher standard and made me able to be more critical of my practice knowledge which helped to inform and change my practice. This criticality was developed through the questioning and challenging of my practice knowledge by peers and tutors; this was particularly useful on placement with the clinical educator. Through their direct observation of my practice and through questioning, I identified gaps in my knowledge and learnt a framework of questions to ask myself of my practice. Enhanced critical understanding of my practice knowledge led to an enhanced capability to be patient-centred.

Overall the process led to a critical understanding and a transformation of my practice. I gained the capacity to continually question my practice and become a critically reflective learning professional. I feel sure my confidence in my own ability has enhanced my practice and led to better outcomes for patients. Following the completion of the course I became a consultant physiotherapist.

Christopher Mercer

Consultant Physiotherapist, Western Sussex NHS Trust

I have had time to reflect on the impact the MSc Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy has had on me both as a clinician and in terms of my career development. Clinically, it has given me great confidence to examine and treat any patient. The emphasis from the course on critical analysis and focus on the patient's story and individual clinical presentation means that I am confidently able to tailor treatments to all individuals and their needs. I am confident to integrate research into this process where appropriate, but the real benefit of the course, and actually the real "release" I have felt from completing this course, is that I feel I have the freedom to be guided by the patient, free from the constraints of the limited evidence base that we have.

The emphasis on treating each patient like an individual case study, with close questioning, excellent listening skills and constant reassessment has revolutionised my patient management. Perhaps more importantly it has transformed the outcomes for my patients.

The detailed analytical skills fostered by the course have given me the confidence to be able to justify all my treatment choices in discussion with colleagues, both within physiotherapy and with medical colleagues, helping me to develop sensible patient pathways of care. This questioning approach also inspired me to develop my skills as a clinical educator, and led me to undertake the PG Cert in Clinical Education. I have been an MACP clinical mentor now for 9 years, and in that time have used the MSc course as the basis for my approach to clinical education.

These skills have proved transferable into the research and strategic components of my current role, as consultant physiotherapist, and have been invaluable in helping me to develop the role to its full potential. This approach has been pivotal in helping to turn around the culture within my current workplace. We now have a vibrant, questioning, forward thinking department, full of physiotherapists questioning their practice, and that of others at every stage.

I feel that these wider lessons that I have learned, especially the critical analysis of all situations, and the questioning approach, has given me life long skills that will see me continue to develop into the future. It is interesting to look back on the impact I feel the course has had on my professional development, and if anything, I feel the impact is more relevant now than it was when I first completed the course.