Master of Surgery (MSurg)
The MSurg is designed for international doctors who wish to expand their surgical training in the UK - The University of Buckingham.
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Course overview
About the Course
The MSurg is designed for international doctors who wish to expand their surgical training in the UK. Our students will take part in training analogous to the Core Surgical Training offered by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) which forms the first stage of speciality training for most doctors training in surgical specialities. The expectation is that students will take their MRCS to coincide with the award of the MSurg. The MRCS is an internationally recognised qualification that could lead to further surgical training in the UK.The key features of the MSurg are:
- Student-led – An ePortfolio is used to encourage a learner-centred approach with the support of educational supervisors. The ePortfolio contains tools to identify educational needs, and enables the setting of learning goals, reflective learning and personal development.
- Competency-based – The curriculum outlines competencies that trainees must reach by the end of the programme. The curriculum is directly linked to the ePortfolio as it defines standards required for good medical practice and formal assessments.
- Continuation of Good Medical Practice – building on existing training the curriculum contains important emphasis on generic competencies necessary for practice as a surgeon.
- Supervision – each student has a series of supervisors with clearly defined roles and responsibilities overseeing training including their Clinical Supervisor, Educational Supervisor, University Tutor, Pathways to Postgraduate Training in Surgery Director, and Dean of Postgraduate Medicine.
- Appraisal meetings with supervisors – regular appraisal meetings and review of competence progression are set out in the ePortfolio.
- Dissertation – Literature review of 10,000 words.
Affiliate Membership to the RCSEd will be granted to all MSurg students.
Entry Requirements
Route 1
PLAB
Candidates need to have a primary medical degree and will need to obtain full registration with the General Medical Council ahead of starting the course. Additionally, they should also have the following:
- Successfully completed one year of internship at a hospital and must supply their Certificate of Completion.
- An IELTS score of 7.5, with a minimum of 7.0 in each section or an OET with an average of 440-350 overall and a minimum of 350 in each component.
- Graduated from an internationally recognised medical school.
- Completed their undergraduate training and be fully registered with the Medical Council in their respective countries.
- Two character reference letters from any member of their medical school academic staff, OR from their current senior medical colleagues and consultants.
Route 2
The GMC sponsorship Scheme
The university is now running a GMC sponsorship Scheme for international students, if you are an overseas student applying for the University GMC Sponsorship Scheme, you will be required to have English Language overall score of 7.5 with a minimum requirement of 7.0 in all four areas.
You will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and Occupational Health screening prior to any clinical placements. You will also be required to undertake a telephone interview, which will be conducted by the Head of Postgraduate Medicine.
Student Contract for prospective students
When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract.
Placement Trusts
Students will be placed at one of the following placement hospitals:
- Milton Keynes University Hospital
- Blackpool Victoria Teaching Hospitals
- James Paget University Hospital
- Stoke Mandeville Hospital
Contact us
Our Admissions Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact them on +44 01280 820229 or by email FMHS-admissions@buckingham.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
Regular workplace-based assessments will be conducted throughout training. Students will be assessed on the following units:
- Basic Sciences
- Common Surgical Conditions
- Basic Surgical Skills
- Assessment and Management of the Surgical Patient
- Perioperative Care
- Management of Trauma
- Surgical Care of the Paediatric Patient
- Care of the Dying Patient
- Organ Transplantation
- Health Promotion
The assessments will be carried out via:
- Case Based Discussions
- Clinical Evaluation Exercises
- Procedure-based Assessments
- Direct Observation of Procedural Skills in Surgery
- Multi Source Feedback
- Assessment of Improvement Project
- Observation of Teaching
- E portfolio
- Dissertation
- Workplace Based Assessment and Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)
After Your Course
Attainment of the MSurg and MRCS will confirm fulfilment of completion of early years training allowing the student to consider higher surgical training.
Course Fees
The fees for this course are:
| Start | Type | First Year | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Flexible 2025 Full-time (2 Years) Start anytime January to December 2025 | UK | £34,020 | £68,040 |
| INT | £34,020 | £68,040 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
Fees are payable in six monthly instalments.
Payment of a minimum of the £10,000 is required within four weeks of the date shown on the offer letter to secure a place on the programme (of which up to £5,000 is non-refundable if the applicant withdraws for any reason other than a genuine visa refusal). The remainder of the first six months’ fees would be required four weeks before the start date of the course.
Scholarships and bursaries
We have bursaries and scholarships available for both home and international students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and these are awarded based on location, merit or financial need.
Funded scholarships and bursaries may be awarded across all schools of study, and represent a partial remission from tuition fees. Bursaries are means-tested and are intended for those who need a contribution towards their fees in order to study at Buckingham.
Students applying for this course may be eligible for the following:
International Students
Sheikh / Mubarak Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Scholarship (Postgraduate)
Accommodation
Due to the mode of study on this course you will not normally need a room in University accommodation during your degree.