Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course structure

There are two pathways and both can be completed part- or full-time.

The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MSK) pathway enables you to choose from a number of university-based modules with a musculoskeletal focus.

Alternatively, you may be eligible to follow the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MACP) pathway, which is approved by the Musculoskeletal Associations of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP), the UK member organisation of the International Federation Manipulative of Physical Therapists (IFOMPT).

This second pathway includes two clinical placements and to follow it you will normally be registered with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) which gives you a licence to practice in the UK. Please see the syllabus, modules in focus and study plans for further information.

Health sciences postgraduate education
This course is part of our 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.

Both pathways have a flexible modular framework which enables you to tailor your degree course to suit your professional and personal interests and aspirations.

To discuss your options, contact the course leader Dr Clair Hebron by email at c.l.hebron@brighton.ac.uk who will help you decide on the best pathway and course of study based on your clinical experience and professional registration status.

The course is delivered in a variety of ways, typically via group discussion, case studies, supervised placements (MACP pathway), lectures, seminars, and practical sessions in our Clinical Skills Rooms. Assessment is via the method most appropriate to your chosen modules.

Syllabus

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MSK)

Modules

• Research Theory and Application
• Dissertation (not necessary for award of PGDip)

Plus four from

• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Evaluating Practice
• Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb
• Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb
• Exploring Pain
• Physical Activity and Rehabilitation

And

• a module of your choice from our postgraduate education programme.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MACP)

Modules

• Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb

• Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb

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

Plus

• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Evaluating Practice

Or

• a module of your choice from our 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 Theory and Application
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.

MSK Study plans

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Example plan for full-time study (12 months)

October
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Evaluating Practice (one week) 

October/November/ December (exact dates depending on year) Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks)

November
Work on ethics proposal*

January
Exploring pain: Ethics submission and pilot work, potential period for data collection and writing literature review*

February
Research Theory and Application

March
Leadership for Allied Health Professionals (example of an optional module)

June
Physical Activity and Rehabilitation.

May/June
Remaining data collection / analysis and write up of dissertation*

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Example plan for part-time study (three years)

(registration is for six years so these modules could be taken over a more extended period)

Year 1
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy – Evaluating Practice (one week)
This is recommended for students who did not qualify or have not worked in the UK OR Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks) AND Physical Activity and Exercise Rehabilitation

Year 2
Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks) OR if taken above Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper limb (three weeks) And Exploring Pain 

Year 3
Research Theory and Application
A module of your choice from our postgraduate education programme

Dissertation undertaken alongside other studies*

* not necessary for PGDip

MACP Study plans 

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy(MACP): Example plan for full-time study (18 months)

October/November/ December (exact dates depending on year)
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Evaluating Practice (one week) 
Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks)

November
Work on ethics proposal*

January
Exploring Pain:  Ethics submission and pilot work, potential period for data collection and writing literature review*

March/April/May (exact dates depending on year)
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 – Lumbo-sacral spine and upper limb (90 hours) 

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

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy(MACP): Example plan for part-time study (three years)

(registration is for 6 years so these modules could be taken over a more extended period)

Year 1
Research Theory and Application AND
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy – Evaluating Practice (one week). This is recommended for students who did not qualify or have not worked in the UK OR
 Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks)

Year 2

Musculoskeletal Management – Lumbo-sacral spine and lower limb (three weeks) OR if taken above, Musculoskeletal Management – Cervico-thoracic spine and upper 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

There are lots of resources to support you with postgraduate level study. Our Build your study and digital skills page contains advice and tips for developing your key skills, alongside guidance on how to make the most out of your learning experience.

For further support and resources make sure to visit the library support pages and our LinkedIn Learning site.

Staff profiles

International requirements and visas

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

Visas and immigration advice

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 2022–23.

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 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.

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