Program Overview

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MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Musculoskeletal Management

Course summary

This course is designed for experienced postgraduate healthcare professionals working in musculoskeletal clinical practice. It’s also suitable if you’ve studied manual therapy at a high level on clinically-based courses – such as with the International Maitland Teachers Association. You can have relevant clinically-focused learning recognised and the credits transferred via a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.

How you learn

On this course you’ll engage with evidence, theories and concepts relevant to musculoskeletal practice. You’ll be encouraged to share ideas, broaden your understanding and reflect on your own clinical practice – as well as to learn from other people on the course. You learn through:

• practical sessions
• independent guided study
• student-directed learning
• formative tasks
• our virtual learning environment (Blackboard)

You also can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.

Applied learning

Work placements
You can choose to take mentored clinical practice (MCP) as part of the course. These are opportunities to transfer knowledge to practice while gaining feedback from expert clinical practitioners.
MCPs are useful if you want to join the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) or pursue advanced clinical practice routes.

Networking opportunities
You’ll learn from enthusiastic tutors and specialist visiting lecturers – including academics who have physiotherapy research published in peer-reviewed journals.

Course leaders and tutors

• David Alderson, Course Leader for Advanced Clinical Practice Musculoskeletal Management, Senior Lecturer

Modules

Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.

Year 1

Year 2

Final year

Compulsory modules

• Musculoskeletal Management Of The Lower Quadrant (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (40%), Practical (60%)
• Musculoskeletal Management Of The Upper Quadrant (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Practical (100%)

Compulsory modules

• Researching For Practice (Distance Learning) (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Researching For Practice (Taught) (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)

Elective modules

• Contemporary Issues In Advancing Practice (Distance Learning) (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Practical (100%)
• Ergonomics And Human Factors At Work (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Evidencing Your Cpd (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Evidencing Your Cpd (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Fcp 1 Advanced Msk Practice (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (50%), Practical (50%)
• First Contact Practitioner 2: Primary Care Practice (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Fundamentals Of Musculoskeletal Radiographic Image Interpretation (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Health Promotion And Lifestyle Management (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Injection Therapy For Joints And Soft Tissue (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (50%), Practical (50%)
• Leadership In Practice (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Learning And Teaching For Practice (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Learning And Teaching For Practice (Distance Learning) (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Macp Clinical Placement In Neuro-Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (40%), Practical (60%)
• Non-Medical Prescribing (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Pain Management (Distance Learning) (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Planning Service Improvement (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Theory Of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Therapeutic Exercise And Physical Activity (30 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)
• Therapeutic Management Of Neuromusculoskeletal Pain (15 credits)
  • Assessment: Practical (100%)

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation 60 Credits (60 credits)
  • Assessment: Coursework (100%)

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in physiotherapy and musculoskeletal practice. Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work in:

• the NHS
• the public sector
• the military and sports sector
• private clinics and private hospitals
• advanced practice roles, such as emergency department physiotherapist
• research
• teaching

Equipment and facilities

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Entry requirements

All students

• Academic Qualification: Normally, applicants will hold a first degree or professional qualification which is recognised in the UK in a related health care subject.
• Other formally certified qualifications: Equivalent, international academic and/or professional qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants will be considered on other relevant evidence. Applicants are usually required to provide at least one reference evidencing their capability for postgraduate study.
• Level of English language capability: If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill area. Note that the attainment of an IELTS score of 7 (with no element below 6.5) is required for registration with HCPC.
• Relevant work or work-related experience: Applicants must usually have 24 months full time (or equivalent part time) experience managing and treating musculoskeletal dysfunction and normally be working in a relevant role. Applicants will be motivated and prepared to study independently and autonomously. They must be prepared to embrace the challenges of Masters level study including online distance learning, have access to a reliable internet connection to support engagement and have sound IT skills.
• Use of Prior Credit (RPL): prior certificated credit or prior experiential credit may be used within the programme in the following ways: Through the University's recognition of prior learning (RPL) process it may be possible for applicants to be exempt from some modules of the programme.

Additional information for EU/International students

This course is not open to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.

Fees and funding

Home students

• Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £10,940 for the course.
• The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
• Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £3,650 per year.

Postgraduate student loans

Up to £12,858 is available in 2025/26 for home students on most masters courses.

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 277.7KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.