Musculoskeletal Sciences (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

This part-time, two-year taught MSc offers academic training to clinicians or biological scientists to advance their understanding of musculoskeletal disease, and the research methods used to improve our knowledge and treatments.

This is a biennial course and is designed to complement any graduate clinical teaching that you may be receiving as part of a specialist training programme. Completing the course will provide a firm foundation for students wishing to progress to full-time doctoral research.

Course structure
The course consists of five modules, studied part-time over two years. Short residential sessions will be delivered in Oxford.

Teaching methods include lectures, small group sessions, problem-based learning scenarios and evaluation of academic papers. In addition, you will be expected to undertake self-directed learning in your own time, to build on the information provided in the teaching sessions.

You will be encouraged to develop a range of transferable skills, including use of research software applications such as EndNote, written and oral communication skills, working as part of a team, using literature databases (such as PubMed, MedLine, Cochrane), data analysis, evaluation of scientific papers, research grant writing and critical reasoning. Skills courses run by the Medical Sciences Division will be highlighted and you will be encouraged to attend, where appropriate.

You will be allocated at least two academic advisors who will be responsible for your progress throughout the two-year programme.