Surgical Innovation
  • Postgraduate taught
  • MSc

Surgical Innovation

Explore how surgery has radically changed and continues to innovate in the 21st century.

Explore how surgery has radically changed and continues to innovate in the 21st century

Tailor your learning to meet your individual career needs on a modular, multidisciplinary study programme

Build transferable skills in education, leadership and safety and understand the issues involved in applying technology to surgery

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MSc

  • Duration

    2 years

  • Start date

    September 2023

  • Study mode

    Part-time

  • Fees

    • £15,800 Home

    • £40,800 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • Hammersmith

    • St Mary's

Minimum entry standard 2023

  • 2:1 in science, engineering, computing, healthcare or education

View full entry requirements

Course overview

Explore how surgery has radically changed - and continues to advance - on this Master's course.

You'll examine a broad range of both clinical and non-clinical topics relevant to an ongoing career in surgery.

This course helps you develop key surgical skills in education, leadership, safety and quality. You'll build familiarity with current technological innovation in the NHS environment.

You'll also appraise and evaluate the scientific basis of surgery, and analyse issues involved in the application of technology to surgery.

The modular programme allows you to tailor your studies to meet your career needs, with the ability to develop your learning on specialist streams during your second year.

You'll then apply research methodologies from the course to an extensive individual project, guided by supervisors at Imperial.

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.

You’ll study the following core modules.

Core modules

You’ll pick a further two modules from a specialist stream. 

Each specialist stream consists of two compulsory modules.

  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Ear, Nose and Throat
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Transplant Surgery
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery

Specialist modules

You’ll identify a suitable research topic / innovation in surgery for development and conduct a review of recent relevant literature.

Draft a Case for Support, to include the research question(s) / objectives, methodology, workplan and budget.

You'll also produce a five-minute pitching video, followed by a short Q&A session.

You’ll carry out a research project, which concludes with a 10,000-15,000 word dissertation.

You'll submit a research proposal, prepared with your supervisor(s), that presents a synopsis of the project.

You’ll then apply research skills and methodology from the course to an eight-month project, with regular guidance and feedback from your supervisor(s),

This provides opportunities to discuss research design, ethical issues, methodology, data acquisition and analysis, results, and the dissertation writing process.

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, seminars and online learning
  • Independent study

Year 1

  • 15% Lectures, seminars and online learning
  • 85% Independent study

Year 2

  • 0% Lectures, seminars and online learning
  • 100% Independent study

Teaching and learning methods

  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Virtual learning environment
  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Interactive lectures
  • Case-based discussions
  • Face-to-face teaching
  • Debates, discussions and panels
  • People collaborating and completing practical work.
    Practical sessions
  • A group of people interacting
    Group presentations
  • A person studying independently
    Pre-module activities

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Coursework
  • Practical
  • Exam

Year 1

  • 70% Coursework
  • 28% Practical
  • 2% Exam

Year 2

  • 100% Coursework
  • 0% Practical
  • 0% Exam

Assessment methods

  • Online MCQs/MEQs
  • Preparation of teaching video
  • Person participating in classroom discussion.
    Structured debates
  • Group presentations
  • Academic oral presentations
  • Mock clinical MDTs
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written and practical examinations
  • Research project proposal document
    Critical reflection
  • Evidence-based mini project
  • Topical essay
  • Online case studies
  • Mock grant application and literature review
  • Research dissertation

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

How to apply

Tuition fees

Home fee

2023 entry

£15,800

Overseas fee

2023 entry

£40,800

Your future career

Surgical tools

Understand the rapidly changing nature of surgery and gain ongoing development to further your career.

Medicine logo in circle

The programme parallels the training of surgeons and allied healthcare professionals such as members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS).

Lightbulb with graduate cap inside

With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.

Man standing under a sign pointing different directions

Advance your career in a variety of fields including academic surgery, specialisation and research (clinical and non-clinical).

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.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications