Musculoskeletal Medicine PGCert

Experience a unique online course designed to enhance your musculoskeletal medicine skills

Musculoskeletal medicine (MSK) is a rapidly developing field of medicine practised by a variety of clinicians including general practitioners and allied healthcare professionals. This online course is specifically designed to provide you with the ultimate flexibility, tailor your time to suit your schedule.

Our online PGCert in MSK medicine is built to meet the needs of those wishing to work in this field within both primary care and community MSK services. The course has been developed by some of the UK’s leading MSK clinicians, ensuring it provides you with the skills and knowledge to work in a range of MSK settings.

This comprehensive course will provide you with everything you need to know to begin or progress your career in MSK medicine.

Course highlights

• Flexible learning via an online education platform.
• Monthly live online tutorials.
• Individual topics taught by UK clinicians who are experts within their specialist field.
• Direct academic and career support from our tutor team.
• The course is aligned with the joint MSK Diploma exam of the Primary Care Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine Society and the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine.

Our teaching faculty

Our teaching faculty consists of a wide range of academics and clinicians including sport & exercise medicine consultants, GPs with an extended role in MSK medicine, advanced practice practitioners, consultant physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons. The course is led by Dr Richard Collins, Sport & Exercise Medicine Consultant and experienced GP with an extended role in MSK, who was the lead author for the syllabus of the PCRMM-FSEM’s MSK Diploma exam, meaning our course will prepare students wishing to sit this exam in the future.

Our Postgraduate Certificate is delivered via the Faculty of Biological Sciences and includes a variety of expert clinicians within their specialist field.

• Dr Camilla Nykjaer – Programme Lead
• Dr Dane Vishnubala – Academic Clinical Lead | Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine | General Practitioner
• Dr Richard Collins – Clinical Lecturer and Curriculum Development Lead | Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine| General Practitioner | Lead author for the PCRMM-FSEM’s MSK Diploma exam
• Dr Craig Zalecki – Clinical Lecturer | Consultant in Sport & Exercise Medicine | General Practitioner

Aimed at doctors, physiotherapists, allied healthcare professionals and others working in the field of MSK medicine, your programme is divided into the following modules:

MSK issues of the upper and lower limbs (30 credits) - After an introduction to essential MSK medical science and practice, you will go on to develop an understanding of relevant anatomy and pathology of the upper and lower limb along with the key elements in the history and on examination needed to assess these areas.

This leads to an overview of the key MSK conditions affecting these areas along with the development of the clinical reasoning needed to diagnose these presentations. Our topic experts will also teach you how to manage these conditions using an evidence-based approach aimed at the primary care and community MSK setting.

Rheumatology, spine and chronic pain (30 credits) - Having developed your knowledge and clinical reasoning skills in the upper and lower limb, you go on to cover the more complex topics of primary care rheumatology, spinal conditions and chronic pain. Again, our topic experts will guide you through the assessment, diagnosis and management of various conditions aimed at the primary care and community MSK setting.

Throughout both of your modules, there is a focus on the clinician. Topics such as consultation and critical reasoning as well as activities such as case based discussions bring musculoskeletal medicine to life and ensure you have the knowledge and skills to improve the care of your patients.

Learning and teaching

Course material will be delivered by means of online lectures, course workbooks, regular online tutorials and forum discussion reinforced by student self-directed study, which will include recommended reading, creation of logbooks derived from clinical practice and reflection and presentation of cases seen.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment will be through completion of all the online modules, formative workbooks and summative linked MCQs, participation in online tutorials and forum discussions, creation of logbooks and reflection on these along with case presentations. There will also be a poster presentation and a viva assessment with two-course tutors validate the knowledge gained.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have at least a 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent). Currently, we are accepting candidates with degrees in medicine, physiotherapy, sports therapy, sports rehabilitation/training, podiatry, osteopathy, or other allied healthcare professions. Appropriate professional registration should also be held with the GMC, Health and Care Professions Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers. Applicants without professional registration with the GMC, Health and Care Professions Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers are required to have at least one year of relevant post-graduation clinical experience.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. You could study a part-time online course starting in January, or a full-time course in summer. Find out more about online pre-sessionals.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Apply

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Next steps

• we process your application
• we inform you of our decision
• if we make you an offer, you respond by accepting, declining or deferring.

Applications missing any of the following will not be considered:

• completed online application form

  • a full CV

  • transcript of degree examination marks achieved to date

  • copy of final degree certificate.

Taught postgraduate confirmation

Taught postgraduate applicants are required to submit their results for consideration as soon as possible. Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK are recommended to submit their results no later than 31 July, although they will still be considered if submitted after this date.

Interviews

It is standard procedure to interview applicants, prior to making a decision on their application, for MRes Neuroscience, MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial) and MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine. Interviews do not form part of the standard admissions process for other programmes in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Fees

• UK: £4,083 (total)
• International: £4,083 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Scholarships for Faculty of Biological Sciences students

The Faculty of Biological Sciences offers a number of Masters scholarships to support and reward students from the UK and around the world. Don’t miss out on available support, visit our dedicated faculty scholarship page to check your eligibility.

Many of our students are currently working in the field of musculoskeletal medicine or looking to enter it. This PG Cert will provide you with the knowledge needed to work in MSK in a primary care or community setting. Through support with your clinical mentor on the course, a range of opportunities for career development are available.

Graduate roles and destinations

• Sport and Exercise Medicine Doctor
• MSK Sonographer
• FCP Physiotherapist
• GP with extended role in MSK
• GP Trainee

Careers support

The Careers Centre and staff in your Faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website. Alongside the support, advice and guidance from the University’s Careers Centre, you will have a clinical mentor who will meet you regularly. They will help you to plan your career path and identify the experiences, qualifications and people that can help you on your way.