Overview
The MSc in Surgical Sciences is delivered completely online and is designed to give students the freedom to study flexibly at the times and in the places that suit them.
Professor Stephen Wigmore is the Programme Director, providing strategic oversight of the programme as a whole. Day-to-day support and guidance is given by the Deputy Programme Directors and Programme Administrators who take responsibility for delivery and development of the programmes. Every module also has a lead clinician and e-tutors who teach on the discussion boards for that module.
The Certificate Year of this three year programme is designed to give you a firmer grounding in basic science as applied to surgery whilst the Diploma takes this further and offers an alternative, taught route to the MRCS. Most students complete the full qualification of MSc which can be used as a means of moving towards a period of full-time training towards an MD or PhD.
It is appreciated that the traditional approach of taking “time out” for a period of research training might not be appropriate for all training surgeons but the MSc will offer you a unique way of developing your research and educational skills while continuing to practise in the clinical environment. Furthermore, it will provide you with recognition of academic achievement and a strong foundation with which to progress through surgical training.
The MSc in Surgical Sciences degree is awarded by the University of Edinburgh, which is a top ranking accredited University recognised world-wide. The final award states the achievement of a Masters in Surgical Science, the mode of delivery (online) is not specified on the final degree certificate.
The MSc requires a considerable commitment and self-discipline on the part of the student. You are expected to undertake around 10 to 15 hours of self-directed online study per week and participate throughout in assessed online discussions. A considerable amount of this time will also be devoted to reflecting on or applying knowledge to real life situations.
Most of the work involves independent and group study using a clinical problem-based approach, supported by a systems-based review of the programme material which allows you to choose between two learning styles; problem-solving or systematic where specified learning objectives are followed.
Your study time could be spent in a wide variety of ways: making choices regarding treatment and diagnosis of virtual patients as you work through a virtual case, discussing coursework and sharing ideas with peers and tutors, trying out self-test MCQs, reading programme material or perhaps preparing another piece of written work.