About the course

The course provides students with a sound academic core to their relevant clinical practice, encourages a broad approach to health provision, and gives a thorough understanding of research methodology. The overall philosophy is to encourage an analytical, questioning attitude, which in turn will lead to an increase in evidence-based practice together with innovation in clinical practice.

Allied health professionals and members of other related disciplines often require both academic accreditation and flexibility when seeking continuing professional development (CPD) and our postgraduate courses endeavour to fulfil these needs. This flexible course is available part-time, or modules can be taken as independent stand-alone programmes of study.

The School of Health & Rehabilitation is based on Keele campus and has a well-established undergraduate physiotherapy programme. It has strong connections both with local clinical units and with other Schools within the University such as the Schools of Nursing & Midwifery, Medicine, and Pharmacy.

The part-time MSc programme can be completed in two years although up to three years is permitted. Students who opt for the modular route may take up to five years if they wish. The structure of the course therefore allows flexible learning in accordance with individual student interests and needs.

Aims of the course

The aim of this flexible modular course is to broaden the student’s knowledge and understanding of neuromusculoskeletal health care, and encourage personal development. It is also about fostering greater insight into how different disciplines, through a programme of shared learning and teaching, can contribute to this aim.

This course facilitates analysis, discussion and critical appraisal of scientific and clinical knowledge.

Entry Requirements

The course is open to therapists, (e.g. physiotherapists, occupational therapists), other allied health professionals and members of other related disciplines such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and psychologists. Applicants should normally have a first or second-class honours degree (2.1 or 2.2) (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, or an equivalent professional qualification.  

In addition, applicants must have completed at least 12 months of professional work experience by 30 June prior to admission or be registered with the UK Professional Council or overseas equivalent. Registration with your Professional Council is strongly recommended; if this is not obtained then this will severely limit your choice of options since you will not be able to undertake practical clinical modules.

Forms for UK Professional Council registration are available from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), at www.hcpc-uk.org General Medical Council (GMC) information obtained from www.gmc-uk.org and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) via www.nmc-uk.org

This process can take at least eight weeks, so please do apply early.

For students whose first language is not English, evidence will normally* be required of successful completion of an English Language qualification such as IELTS (minimum 6.5 with at least 6 in each sub-test).

All applications are assessed on an individual basis. Applicants should ensure that their personal statements identify why they wish to study this course.

*In exceptional circumstances, if the school believes a student to be academically strong but has a borderline IELTS (or equivalent) score (e.g. a student with an UK equivalent high first class degree qualification and misses one component of the IELTS by 0.5 in a speaking or listening section), the applicant may be interviewed by the academic from both the School and the Language Centre. If the student is successful in the interview they maybe considered for entry.

Course content

The MSc programme comprises taught modules to the value of 120 M Level credits and a dissertation of 60 M Level credits, giving a total of 180 credits. Students may choose to finish their studies after completing 60 taught credits (Postgraduate Certificate) or 120 taught credits (Postgraduate Diploma), or they may study any module on a stand-alone basis and obtain the relevant credits. The part-time MSc programme can be completed in two years however up to three years is permitted. Students who opt for the modular route may take up to five years if they wish. The structure of the course therefore allows flexible learning in accordance with individual student interests and needs. Visit the school website to view module block sessional dates, and details of all modules.

Course Modules

Core Modules (each 15 credits totalling 60 credits)

• Research Methods in Health
• Evidence-Based Practice – this is delivered electronically entirely via distance-learning 
• Applied Clinical Anatomy 1
• Physiology of Neuromusculoskeletal Tissue

The core modules meet the needs of individuals to review and evaluate the scientific background of their own specialism and to integrate this into their clinical practice. The option modules allow students to devise a programme to suit their own specific requirements in terms of professional and personal development. The Research module and Evidence Based Practice module together with the dissertation develop the student’s research capabilities and critical evaluation skills.

Option Modules (credit value in brackets – 60 credits required for MSc and PgDip)

Availability of options may be subject to change in any year and other modules may also be available. A list of modules run by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences can be found at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Module Listings, some of these are listed below.

• Introducing Acupuncture (15)
• Essentials of Manual Therapy Assessment (15)
• Motor Control Retraining of Movement Dysfunction(30) (in conjunction with Kinetic Control International)
• Musculoskeletal Management at the Interface (15)
• Applied Clinical Anatomy 2 (30)
• Dynamic Ultrasound Imaging (15)
• Concepts of Neurological Rehabilitation (15)
• Physiology and Pharmacology of Pain (15)
• Assessment and Measurement (15)
• Psychosocial Aspects of Pain (15)
• Independent Study (15)
• Advanced Therapeutic Management of Respiratory Problems (15)
• Behaviour Change for Health and Well-Being (15)

Candidates can also apply for assessment of prior learning (APL) exemptions against option modules, or choose to take option modules from a range offered by other schools in the University provided they are consistent with the aims of the programme and are approved by the Course Team.

Dissertation (60 credits)

A dissertation of 15,000 words on a topic related to the course. Dissertation workshops provide support for students.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching sessions are led by a variety of experienced authorities in their field. Therefore, the student receives a wide knowledge base from academics and practising experts.

The programme is assessed by a variety of techniques chosen to reflect the aims and objectives and teaching methods of individual modules, for example: essay, critical evaluation, paper review, seminar presentations, examination, the use of the Virtual Learning Environment, and dissertation. The pass mark for all modules is 50%.

Additional costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines we do not anticipate any additional costs for this post graduate programme.

Student testimonials

William Cobb, MSc Neuromusculoskeletal Healthcare

"I was a student on the MSc Neuromusculoskeletal healthcare at Keele. The course was absolutely fantastic. The course provided me as a clinician excellent insight into diagnostic methodology that I had never before considered. Furthermore, the modules really tested ones analytical skills. I found that I produced very good quality academic work which was eventually published all thanks to the guidance of the excellent academic team at the school. My favourite part of studying at Keele was the cadaveric research within the clinical anatomy modules. This far surpassed any other medical school I had been before and indeed spring boarded my professional development as an anatomy professor. I choose Keele although several hundred miles from where I lived because of the excellent teaching staff and the most up-to-date teaching methodology's.  Keele University is without doubt an amazing and initiative University and I recommend highly to anyone post or undergraduate level.”