Course summary
The MSc Clinical Biomechanics has been developed for health professionals who wish to extend their understanding of the clinical application of mechanical principles. Considerable flexibility in the way the award is structured will allow you to tailor learning to your specific area of practice. Designed by research-active clinical professionals, the course bridges the gap between clinical practice and biomechanical principles, for a rigorous and focused understanding of the subject. Applying mechanical principles to the management of pathology, human movement and gait dysfunction, the course is primarily focused on musculoskeletal practitioners – such as physiotherapists, orthotists, chiropractors and podiatrists – who provide biomechanical-based interventions in their clinical practice. In addition to being able to study to Certificate, Diploma or MSc level, you can choose to complete individual modules. This route not only provides an ideal taster to the MSc course, but can also be an effective way of completing CPD. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Clinical Biomechanics Course content At Certificate level, you’ll gain an insight into the patho-mechanics of musculoskeletal problems and be introduced to current thinking in biomechanical therapeutic interventions. The principles and concepts taught are built on at Diploma level, where an emphasis on research and critical practice will help prepare you for the MSc stage. You’ll study subject-specific modules such as Tissue Stress, Spinal Mechanics, Sports Biomechanics and Injury, and Lower Limb Paediatric Pathologies and Therapies – which you can choose to suit your clinical practice. Modules can be selected to suit your clinical practice with Critical Appraisal Skills and Research Methods and Methodologies being the only compulsory modules required to complete your award. The blended learning approach allows for you to study some of the modules as distance learning whilst other modules have a component of the teaching based on Stoke-on-Trent campus at our state of the art Biomechanics lab. This enables you to have a hands-on approach to the equipment whilst learning and applying your clinical skills in a group setting. You’ll also produce an innovative piece of research that involves investigating problematic clinical conditions from a mechanical perspective.
Assessment method
All modules are assessed by portfolio and often take the form of task-based reflections of clinical practice. The range of tasks you can choose to include is purposefully non-specific to allow for a broad range of interests, and to enable you to develop work that is relevant to your clinical practice. Your dissertation will be self-directed and must take the form of a research project that is relevant to your needs. We understand that students typically wish to complete their dissertation in a particular healthcare setting. We therefore always aim to facilitate projects around the country.
Entry requirements
You’ll normally need to be an HCPC-registered allied health professional. You can also be an associate of a medical or an allied health professional (such as a chiropractor, a sports therapist or a biomechanist) who is involved in the clinical management of musculoskeletal conditions. When considering the general requirements below, the degree or other acceptable qualification must be in a healthcare or biomechanical field involving the treatment of patients. Healthcare professionals need to hold any necessary post-qualification registration (e.g. HCPC Registration) deemed a requirement for working with patients. You’ll need: An Honours degree from a UK University, or any other qualification deemed to be equivalent to a UK Honours degree. Or: If you don’t have an Honours degree you may still be admitted if you have significant appropriate experience and can provide substantial evidence of your ability to undertake the course successfully and benefit from it. We recommend that you bring a professional portfolio indicating your achievements to interview. If your first language is not English you must have achieved 7.0 or above on all IELTS components.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Course fees for each course can be found on the relevant course page on our website: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/.
Further details about postgraduate fees and funding can be found here: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/fees-and-funding.
Provider information
Staffordshire University
College Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 2DE