Program Overview

MSc, PG Cert, PG Dip Surgical Care Practice

Introduction

Our part-time course accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England is designed for trainee surgical care practitioners working as part of a surgical team in a hospital. This course is not suitable for medical practitioners.

Course Options

• 3 years part-time
• Start dates: January
• Location: Chelmsford

Key Facts

• Study options: 3 years part-time
• Start dates: January
• Location: Chelmsford
• Fees: £11,100 UK students starting 2025/26 (part-time, total cost)

Teaching and Assessment

Year 1

• Study modules depend on the month when you start.
• Gain the knowledge and skills you need to competently and safely assist the surgeon during an operation.
• Learn how to care for patients before and after surgery and carry out some technical and operative procedures.
• Explore clinical governance and risk management and how they relate to the role of the surgical care practitioner.

Core Modules

• Surgical Care Practitioner Core Generic Skills
• Clinical Consultation and Assessment Skills
• Phase 1 Assessment of Clinical Practice for Surgical Care Practitioners

Year 2

• Study modules depend on the month when you start.
• Develop your specialist skills in line with the expectations of the national Surgical Care Practitioner curriculum framework.
• Put your skills and knowledge into practice in a variety of clinical settings, under the supervision of registered healthcare professionals.

Core Modules

• Phase 1/Early Phase 2 transitional assessment of clinical practice for Surgical Care Practitioners
• Surgical Care Practitioner Skills
• Postgraduate Research Design

Year 3

• Study modules depend on the month when you start.
• Plan, conduct and write up a research or work-based project.
• Raise a question, develop a deep understanding of current literature and practice, carry out research, grapple with ethical dilemmas, and evaluate your findings.

Core Modules

• Final Assessment of Clinical Practice for Surgical Care Practitioners
• Postgraduate Research Project

Entry Requirements

• A degree from a UK university at a minimum of lower second class honours or an academic or professional qualification which is equivalent in breadth and depth to a UK honours degree.
• Applicants should be registered healthcare professionals with a minimum of 18 months post registration experience and a post as a trainee Surgical Care Practitioner within a hospital setting.
• Applicants whose first language is not English and whose professional qualification was not taught and assessed in English will be required to demonstrate the University standard of English language (IELTS) at Level 6.5 (including written English academic test) prior to commencement on a course.

Fees and Paying for University

• Tuition fees for UK students (2025/26): £11,100 UK students starting 2025/26 (part-time, total cost)
• ARU graduates may be eligible for an Alumni Scholarship and get a 20% fee discount.

Facilities and Accreditation

• Purpose-built skills labs offering the very best in experiential learning
• Registered, practicing tutors and lecturers who’ll make sure you’re being taught the latest techniques and give you the support you need to succeed.
• Our Surgical Care MSc course is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and based on the RCS’s national curriculum.

Careers

• By completing this course you'll achieve an MSc Surgical Care Practice, which leads to the title of Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP).
• SCPs work in surgical teams in a number of specialities, including urology, trauma and orthopaedics, cardiothoracic, plastic and reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery, paediatrics, general, vascular, maxillofacial, otorhinolaryngology and gynaecology.