PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc in Musculoskeletal Science
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
(where stopping off points exist they should
be detailed here and defined later in the
document)
MSc for students who have successfully completed the whole MSc
programme;
Diploma for students who have completed the eight taught modules,
chosen not to complete dissertation;
Certificate for students who have only completed four modules,
chosen not to complete the remaining modules.
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)

Awarding institution/body:
Medical orthopaedic trainees or GPs with an interest in
orthopaedics, osteoarthritis, rheumatology, geriatrics and sports
medicine;
 Nurses, physiotherapists and other allied health service
professionals;
 Biologists and biomedical engineers who are interested in the
musculoskeletal system,
 Industry trainees for pharmaceutical or medical device sectors.
 Graduates who want to develop their career in musculoskeletal
tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Medical Science
Parent Department:
(the department responsible for the
administration of the programme)
Departmental web page address:
(if applicable)
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time/Other
The programme can be taken either full-time, part-time or flexible
time, and distant learning
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Minimum requirement: 2nd class Hons degree or equivalent.
For foreign students, Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 required.
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from
UCL, such as study abroad or placements
in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
One calendar year full-time study;
Two calendar years part-time study
Up to five calendar years distant learning/flexible time
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/surgery/research/ioms
Masters Level (Level 7)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
N/A
Programme includes a structured lecture series, seminars, skillslaboratory sessions, supervised study, and a research project leading
to a dissertation. Assessment is multi-dimensional, including essays,
short answer questions, MCQs, online forum discussions, oral
examinations, clinical case studies and research thesis.
Specifically, the programme comprises three components:
Part 1: Four modules – ORTHG007/ ORTHG009/ORTHG011/
ORTHG013.
Part 2: Four out of five optional modules – ORTHG008/ ORTHG010/
ORTHG012/ ORTHG014/ORTHG015.
Part 3: Research project
Board of Examiners:
Distant learning students and attending students are assessed
similarly as suggested by external examiner and Faculty teaching
and research committee.
Name of Board of Examiners:
MSc in Musculoskeletal Science
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The programme aims to (1) provide the students with essential knowledge of human musculoskeletal system to
enable them to understand the musculoskeletal disorders and clinical challenges in treat these orders; (2) to arm the
students with skills in research and knowledge-acquirement to allow them to undertake independent practice in
dealing with multidisciplinary musculoskeletal problems emphasized within NHS framework and in align with the Bone
and Joint decade.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. The burden of musculoskeletal
conditions which have an enormous and
growing impact worldwide and within the
UK NHS framework. The musculoskeletal
disorders covered include osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis,
fracture related to osteoporosis and low
back pain, and soft and hard tissue
damages.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Structured lectures and seminar programme
Essay assignments;
Lecture recordings and online materials
Supervised self study and tutorial sessions.
Online discussion forum
Supervised research project leading to dissertation.
2. Basic anatomical structure, molecular
composition and cell biology, and function
of musculoskeletal system.
3. Basic principles in biomechanics and
biomaterials in analysing and treating
musculoskeletal disorders.
4. Research methodology in
musculoskeletal science and tissue
biology.
5. Knowledge and skills in data analysing,
researching for information and problem
solving
6. Understanding healthcare
bioinformatics and management
Formative assessment:
 Continual monitoring of activity over teaching
 Written assignments
 Mock online MCQs
 Scheduled regular tutor-tutee meeting to check
academic and research progress.
 Online discussion forum.
Summative assessment:
 Written examination (short answer questions,
essays, MCQs)
 Oral examination
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
a) The programme aims to provide a
problem based learning, in which
students will be able to combine all the
knowledge and logical thinking skills to
solve complicated clinical problems.

b) Encourage students to develop
individual thinking and problem solving
skills as well as group communication
skills.
c) Encourage to develop research skills
d) Information acquiring skills and broad
knowledge based are encouraged.
Active participation in the learning
process is
encouraged by judicious use of questions
 Questioned-based approach is used in all elements of
the programme (academic and clinical)
 Academic or practical tasks may be set to encourage
independent problem-solving
 Online discussion form to encourage students including
distant learning students to actively involving the
teaching, and encourage interaction amount the
students.
Specially, (a) and (b) are fostered in all multidisciplinary
teachings which include lectures, seminars, course
work, group project and discussion. Students will be
encouraged to demonstrate their individual skills as well
as their group organisation and communication skills
which include teaching each other from their different
academic background.
(c) and (d) is fostered through various stages of
supervision on conducting research projects; that
include literature review and form a research idea, setup hypotheses, use statistical methods to analyse the
results and to verify the hypotheses, draw a final
conclusion.
Formative assessment:
 Continual monitoring of activity
 Through seminar/ tutorial performance
 Coursework assignments
 Scheduled regular tutor-tutee meetings
Summative assessment:
 Oral examination
 Online MCQ exam
 Continuous evaluation
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
a) Skill in identify problems and find
adequate solutions
b) Technical skill in experiment and
carry out research project
c) Statistical analysis and data
interpretation skills
d) Skill to select medical device for treat
musculoskeletal disorders
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. Supervised research project
2. Coursework
3. Dedicated practical lab sessions
4. Supervised clinical ward experience (RF)
5. Research methodology and good research practice
module.
Assessment:




Through MCQ online exam, course work,
dissertation and viva.
Continuous monitoring over the course.
Regular meeting with their tutors
Case study.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:











essays/coursework writing, and
poster / oral presentation;
grant applications
paper publication
searching, critical review and
background reading
Acquiring new knowledge.

Supervised Self-study
Supervised clinical experience sessions
Essay and coursework presentation.
Research project and dissertation preparation
Workshop and dedicated seminars
Research methodology and good research practice
module.
Group discussion and coursework presentation.
Assessment:



Continuous monitoring of the progress and
coursework feedbacks.
Regular tutor-tutee meetings
Viva and coursework presentation.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Chaozong Liu
Name(s):
Date of Production:
16 Feb 2015
Date of Review:
16 February 2015
Date approved by Head of
Department:
16 February 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
17 February 2015
12 May 2015