Translational Research in Surgery, Perioperative and Critical Care
Develop, adapt and trial new models of scientific exploration to accelerate innovations into surgical, perioperative and critical care practice.
Address contemporary challenges in surgical, perioperative and critical care research
Gain a collaborative mindset and the experience of working within an interdisciplinary team
Learn the skills needed to translate healthcare discoveries into applications that enhance patient outcomes
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£16,000 Home
£47,300 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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Hammersmith
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in Biomedical Science, Life Sciences (or a related discipline) or MBBS degree
Course overview
Modern surgical procedures are highly complex. When combined with the challenges of peri-operative and critical care, they require an interdisciplinary approach to drive innovation from bench to bedside.
Whether you are a clinician, scientist, or engineer, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to advance your career in healthcare science.
You will explore how innovative and interdisciplinary translational research approaches are used to identify, contextualize, and address challenges in surgery, peri-operative, and critical care (SPCC). The opportunity to undertake an observership will provide you with first-hand experience of how the concepts and principles taught in the course are applied in practice.
An extended research project will offer the opportunity to become embedded within a research team, allowing you to implement and further develop your skills to tackle a current SPCC challenge.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
This one-year course is designed to develop your ability to lead and deliver translational research across the full surgical, perioperative and critical care pathway
Core modules
You will explore how to spot clinical gaps, shape research ideas, identify unmet clinical needs, and build strong networks in SPCC. A short observership will show you how teams turn these ideas into real-world impact. This module covers core themes of ethics, regulatory frameworks, funding, and knowledge mobilisation.
Explore emerging research frontiers in surgery, peri-operative and critical care (SPCC), including major biomedical and technological innovations across disciplines. You will focus on four key themes: models of human disease, advanced experimental techniques, imaging and interventional science, and bioinformatics with AI.
Prepare for your research project by joining your chosen research team.
You’ll review and critically assess the literature in your field to identify gaps and highlight unmet clinical needs. This module provides training in study design, statistics, protocol writing and project feasibility.
The Research Project is the cornerstone of the MRes in SPCC and the largest module in the programme.
From the spring term, you will undertake an independent, in-depth research project on a chosen topic within the field of SPCC. The Research Project Module spans eight months and is tailored to your interests, aligned with the programme aims
This module focuses on embedding you within an active research group, where you will apply advanced research methods, collect and analyse data rigorously, and interpret your findings within the context of translational research.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
This course is delivered by Imperial College London in close collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, one of the UK’s largest and most research-active NHS organisations. Clinical teaching and research supervision are supported by expert clinicians across surgery, anaesthesia, and intensive care.
While the programme is not formally accredited by a professional body, students benefit from working within an integrated academic health science centre, with access to real-world clinical settings, active research projects, and translational initiatives led by joint academic-NHS teams.
As part of the research project, you may also have the opportunity to collaborate with external industry, NHS and other academic partners, depending on project alignment and supervision.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Taught modules
- Research project planning
- Individual research
- 15% Title 1 goes here
- 18% Title 2 goes here
- 67% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Presentations
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Guest lectures
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Laboratory work
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Flipped teaching
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Skills workshops
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Independent study
Balance of assessment
Key
- Grant writing exercise
- Research projects
Balance of assessment
- 53% Title 1 goes here
- 47% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Reflective writing exercise
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Group based discussions/Presentations
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Systematic review
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Dissertation
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – The current round closes on Sunday 25 January 2026.
We consider applications to this programme in four batches. Applications received before the closing date of each round are considered in those batches, and applicants are then required to attend an online interview.
If you wish for your application to be considered in a particular batch, please apply at least five working days before the deadline to ensure your application is included in that round of decision making.
The application dates are:
- Apply by 23 November 2025: Online interviews 8-12 December 2025
- Apply by 25 January 2026: Online interviews 9-13 February 2026
- Apply by 22 March 2026: Online interviews 13-17 April 2026
- Apply by 31 May 2026: Online interviews 15-19 June 2026
Competition for places on this programme is high; we aim to make 50% of all offers following the January submission date. Only 10% of offers are available after 1 July.
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee - Translational Research SPCC
2026 entry
£16,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
We offer a range of scholarships for students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for on our dedicated Scholarships search tool.
Overseas fee - Translational Research SPCC
2026 entry
£47,300
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
We offer a range of scholarships for students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for on our dedicated Scholarships search tool.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Build a strong research foundation for clinical training or medical school applications.
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Develop expertise in project design, data analysis, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.
Progress to PhD or MD(Res) programmes in translational science, surgery, perioperative medicine, or critical care.
Work in clinical trials, R&D, regulation, or medical innovation within biomedical and health industries.
Apply your skills to make an impact in healthcare, academia, or industry.
Further links
Contact the department
Course directors: Mr Piers Boshier and Dr Sanooj Soni
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Register your interest
Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications