Postgraduate Diploma Musculoskeletal Practice

Program Overview

---

We understand that you may not have the time to do a full-time degree, so our CPD pathways allow you to study flexibly, in the way that best suits you. The structure, mode of delivery and level of support allow you to progress towards a qualification at postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma or Masters level. The pathway is designed to optimise flexibility for learners and enables experienced musculoskeletal to advance their practice. A range of professions including physiotherapists, podiatrists and rheumatology nurses who work in either the NHS or private practice will be able to select modules appropriate for their professional needs. Modules include material related to clinical decision making and advancing clinical skills including injection therapy and independent prescribing. There is a great deal of flexibility within this pathway for students to direct their learning to topics and regions of personal interest

• Provide you with a critical understanding of the key concepts underlying advanced musculoskeletal clinical skills beyond your normal professional scope of practice
• Provide you with the opportunity to acquire advanced musculoskeletal clinical skills beyond your normal professional scope of practice
• Provide you with skills to access and critically appraise research findings to develop your own evidence-based practice
• Enhance your understanding of the essential principles of research design and to conduct an extensive piece of independent research including: planning, formulating, designing, choosing research methods, collecting data, analysing, interpreting and writing-up
• Ensure you acquire a range of transferable employment-related skills

This course sits within our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences . This allows us to bring together our internationally recognised research, share knowledge, and enhance placement and vocational opportunities for our students and graduates. We are committed to embedding the NHS Constitution Values (which are strongly reflected in our University values) into everything we do. They define the behaviours and expectations of all our staff and students underpinning the work we do in the university, clinical arena and other workplaces. We understand that not all of our students and staff are employed within the NHS but these values uphold the underlying principles of excellent care as a standard, and as such we expect that anyone who cares for others will aspire to uphold these values. For us, involving not only our students, but service users, experts by experience, carers and NHS
on-NHS professionals in the creation and delivery of all programmes is vital.

Sport scholarships

Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has been created for talented athletes playing at regional, national or international level, and offers a range of benefits. We want students competing in our focus sports (basketball, volleyball, tennis, football and rugby 7s), as well as other team sports and individual athletes, to contribute to our performance sport programme. Our scholarships can include fee discounts of up to 100%, offered to athletes who demonstrate sporting excellence. Athletes who are awarded the scholarship will receive a host of other benefits, including free kit, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance coaching, the option to live in our Athlete Village (accommodation fees may vary) and a support package valued up to £1,500. These benefits are designed to help athletes focus on their training, and development, and to enable them to reach their full potential alongside their studies. Why we're great.

• Study flexibly with a part-time CPD pathway.
• Develop the skills to assess and manage patients with a range of musculoskeletal conditions beyond your normal scope of practice.
• Work with leading experts from a range of fields.

---

Our expert staff

Our university staff include clinicians who work in advanced clinical practitioner roles and those with a range of academic and research interests. Module teaching is supported by expert external clinicians.

---

Specialist facilities

This pathway is taught in our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences at our Colchester Campus. As one of our CPD students, you may be taking modules on campus or online to suit your needs.

Program Outline

Course structure

Total credits: 120 Total credits must be made up through a choice of the following:

• SE747: Postgraduate research methods (Distance learning) (30 credits)
• And another 90 credits from the list of options below

Or

• SE785: Musculoskeletal Research: Data collection and analysis (15 credits)
• And another 105 credits from list of options below

Module options

• HS632: Preparation for Independent and Supplementary Prescribing V300 (30 credits)
• SE708 Technical considerations in ultrasound imaging (15 credits)
• SE710: Musculoskeletal ultrasound guided injections (30 credits)
• SE713: Understanding and managing complex musculoskeletal conditions (15 credits)
• SE714: Soft tissue and joint injection therapy (15 credits)
• SE715: Introduction to musculoskeletal ultrasound (15 credits)
• SE717: Advanced musculoskeletal assessment (15 credits)
• SE718: Skill extension for musculoskeletal injection practitioners (ultrasound guidance) (15 credits)
• SE729: Applying and Using Learning in Practice (15 credits)
• SE731 Leading Change in Healthcare (30 credits)
• SE761: First Contact Musculoskeletal Practice (30 credits)
• SE783: Current Concepts in Upper Limb Rehabilitation (15 credits)
• SE784: Medication use in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (15 credits)
• SE786 Evaluation of Clinical Practice for Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners (30 credits)

Summary of module assessment and award structure (.docx) We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

---

---

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose. Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

---

---

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits. In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available. Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

HR	100	4	FY
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.	The module number.	The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.	The term the module will be taught in. AU : Autumn term SP : Spring term SU : Summer term FY : Full year AP : Autumn and Spring terms PS: Spring and Summer terms AS: Autumn and Summer terms

Year 1 This module is delivered by distance learning, no university attendance is required. You will explore theoretical and practical issues in relation to the research process, with specific emphasis on research in the musculoskeletal specialism. You will develop the ability to understand and use relevant research literature, and acquire the skills you need to plan and carry out your own research. A defining feature of the module is that the research principles that are encountered will constantly be applied to real musculoskeletal clinical settings. View Postgraduate Research Methods (Distance Learning) on our Module Directory COMPONENT 02: OPTIOL Option(s) from list (105 CREDITS)