Surgical Care Practice MSc

Designed to be completed over three years, the MSc Surgical Care Practice programme is based on a two phased approach to teaching and learning:

Phase 1 (Year 1 and 2)

Initially, you will study the foundation module which introduces you to the context of their role and the capabilities required to deliver high quality, safe and effective care for surgical patients. This is followed by the development of the in-depth knowledge, understanding, clinical skills and behaviours required within all phases of surgical care: pre-, peri-, intra- and post-operative care of the generic and complex adult surgical patient. You will also develop research capabilities, focusing largely on critical appraisal, evidence-based practice, and research/quality improvement in healthcare.

Phase 2 (Year 3)

During the specialist phase in Year 3, you will gain further advanced knowledge and understanding within your chosen surgical speciality. Completion of an in-depth research inquiry concludes this programme.

Running throughout phase one and two are two a non-credit bearing e-portfolio modules. These embed the spiral approach to learning in the workplace. They will revisit and build on in-depth knowledge, understanding and achievement of generic (phase one) and specialty specific (phase two) clinical skills and capabilities in increasingly complex and challenging situations.

For more information about each module, including the dates and times of module sessions, please see our Continuing Professional Development Modules for Health and Social Care Practitioners pages.

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

How you'll study

You will engage in collaborative learning, peer-to-peer engagement, learning through self and joining a community of learners that will provide ongoing support as part of the MSc Surgical Care Practice programme. A series of online learning resources will allow you to explore topics prior to attending the in-person teaching sessions, and let you engage with the content at different times and locations in preparation for lead lectures supporting your independent, directed study.

This programme utilises a range of learning and teaching strategies, including lectures, workshops, practical demonstration, clinical teaching, simulation, tutorials, case-based and workplace learning. These will be delivered in weekly theory blocks throughout the programme, primarily at the Manchester campus, St James building.

Throughout the programme, you will undertake workplace learning, working alongside the multidisciplinary team to deliver safe and effective care to patients in all phases of surgical care.

The curriculum framework for the Surgical Care Practitioner (RCS Ed and RCS Eng, 2022) requires a minimum of 2,200 hours over the 3 year programme in combined clinical activities in pre, peri, intra and post operative care. A compulsory minimum of 1,100 hours must be completed in the operating theatre.

It is expected that the equivalent of 4.5 hours per week to facilitate self-directed learning and engagement with Edge Hill University’s virtual learning environment. Full-time attendance will typically consist of approximately 24-30 contact hours per week, meaning this course is accessible for those with other commitments.

Please note, some face-to-face sessions and/or examinations may be undertaken at Edge Hill University instead of St James’ in Manchester.

How you'll be assessed

Summative assessments will take the form of written assignments, written exams case studies (written and oral presentations), Practical Assessment of clinical examination Skills (PACES).

Each individual workplace-based assessment (WBA) is designed to assess a range of important aspects of performance in different training situations. For example:

The Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS), where you will perform a specific practical procedure that is directly observed
Case-based Discussion (CbD), requiring the evaluation of your performance in the management of a patient. This will provide an indication of your competence in areas such as clinical reasoning, decision-making and the application of medical knowledge in relation to patient care
Clinical Evaluation Exercise (CEX), where a clinical encounter with a patient is evaluated to provide an indication of your competence in skills essential for outstanding clinical care.

Who will be teaching you

You will be taught by tutors from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine who have the experience and expertise to deliver the applied elements of this MSc via lectures, seminars and discussions. In addition, teaching will be provided by associate lecturers who are either medically qualified, or employed as qualified surgical care practitioners.

The majority of your learning opportunities will be provided from your workplace-based learning. You will work with an Educational Supervisor who is an experienced senior consultant and a Clinical Supervisor, who can be another surgical consultant or senior SCP as well as other experienced clinicians. Your Education Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that appropriate standards of performance are adhered to and that you are presented with the opportunities for you to demonstrate the required competencies.