Course overview
MCh Surgery
Sarah Clarke, Course Leader, talks us through the course and a graduate, who is now a Robotic and Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon, describes his experience, and how this course has been a gamechanger for his career.
Develop yourself as a doctor with clinically relevant skills and knowledge in your specialism. You adopt an evidence-based approach to practice to help your career progression with the support of consultant specialist surgeons. This course is relevant if you are a surgical trainee or international medical student.
You can choose one of the following specialist pathways:
- MCh Surgical Gastroenterology and Minimally Invasive Surgery
- MCh General and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
- MCh Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
- MCh General and Minimal Access Surgery in Urology
- MCh Gynaecological, Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Supporting information for applicants
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Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Data Management in Clinical Research
This module is delivered three hours a week for 10 weeks. You gain a solid understanding of statistical concepts to analyse basic clinical and medical data and statistics. You learn the basic fundamentals leading up to multivariate analysis. There is one assessment for this module, submitted in week 11, where you analyse a dataset according to three given tasks and give a 20-minute presentation on your findings.
Develop the knowledge and skills you need to design and manage primary or secondary research, audit or evaluation project relevant to your practice, preparing you for dissertation. You also cover research governance and ethics, to prepare you to apply for ethical approval or release.
You are assessed through a written 4,000-word proposal for a research, audit or evaluation study, which is worth 100% of the module marks and should be submitted in week 13.
Introduction to Research, Ethics, and Governance
Gain an understanding of the basic premises of ethical clinical research, with a solid foundation to build on as you progress. Explore the concept of clinical governance and the importance of evidence in a clinical context. To ensure a good understanding of research outcomes, you examine data and basic analysis techniques, enabling you to complete more advanced modules that follow. You also explore the concept of mastery and studying at level 7.
The module is delivered in the first semester across 10 three-hour sessions. You work with students from a range of courses to enable cross profession discussion and learning.
and one specialist module
General and Minimal Access Surgery in Urology
Study topics including anatomy and physiology, clinical assessment and investigation, evidence-based surgical urology and minimally invasive surgery practice, and advanced clinical decision-making.
General and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Develop your understanding of anatomy and physiology, clinical assessment and investigation, evidence-based practice for oncoplastic breast surgery, and advanced clinical decision-making.
Gynaecological, Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Learn about anatomy and physiology, clinical assessment and investigation, evidence-based gynaecological oncology, and advanced clinical decision-making.
Surgical Gastroenterology and Minimal Access Surgery
Consider anatomy and physiology, clinical assessment and investigation, evidence-based surgical gastroenterology and minimally invasive surgery practice for common upper and lower gastro-intestinal disorders, and advanced clinical decision-making.
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Study topics including anatomy and physiology, clinical assessment and investigation, evidence-based practice for vascular and endovascular surgery, and advanced clinical decision-making.
Year 2 core modules
Dissertation and Research Article
In this module, you build on the skills you have learned previously and become a more independent learner. You also enhance your employability by developing the ability to produce work to a publishable standard.
Component 1 is a detailed written account of the research project (15,000 words, worth 70% of the overall module mark).
Component 2 is the production of a research article ready to be submitted for publication (worth 30% of the overall module mark).
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, clinical simulations and group work. Teaching is a blend of online and face-to-face learning for UK-based students and 100% online for students outside the UK.
Specialist modules are delivered at James Cook University Hospital.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through written reports, computer-based statistics exams, statistics mini-projects, research proposals, written exams, oral exams, and a dissertation thesis and research article. You also receive regular feedback whilst studying.
Entry requirements
For the one-year, full-time route with on-campus attendance, you must have:
- a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- membership of the Royal College of Surgeons or equivalent qualifications, such as Diplomate of National Board
- recent work experience within general surgery.
If you are an international applicant, you must have IELTS 6.5 or above. And you must study on campus to ensure that your UKVI requirements are met.
For the two-year, part-time route for students employed and studying in the UK (on-campus and blended), you must:
- be a qualified doctor employed in the UK, with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- have Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons or hold equivalent qualifications, such as Diplomate of National Board
- work in general surgery at or above F2, SHO, ST3 (or equivalent)
- be registered with the General Medical Council.
If you are an international applicant, you must have been offered a job in the UK through the Medical Training Initiative and have IELTS 7 or above before applying.
For the two-year, part-time distance online route for international students working outside the UK, you must:
- be a qualified doctor with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- have Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons or hold equivalent qualifications, such as Diplomate of National Board
- work in general surgery at or above F2, SHO, ST3 (or equivalent)
- have an IELTS of 6.5 or above
- be a licenced or registered doctor (General Medical Council equivalent in your country of employment).
You need to submit an up-to-date CV and two clinical references when you apply. You also have an interview for all routes. All offers for the full-time route are subject to:
- a successful occupational health workplace risk assessment
- a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
You may need to undertake an occupational health work-based risk assessment check. If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism spectrum condition, sensory impairment or medical condition that may require reasonable adjustments in an external placement, University or clinical practice area, this should be declared as part of your enrolment process. If you are unsure, you can contact the relevant admissions or course tutor for guidance.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
By enhancing you research and evidence-based practice skills and contributing to the evidence base of publications, you develop essential skills to progress to a consultant position.
Work placement
If you are studying the one-year full-time route, you can complete an optional observational clinical experience across the duration of your course. You are allocated a clinical advisor to help you identify the observational opportunities available and negotiate the types of sessions you observe.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
