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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

MSc Medical Education for Intercalating students

BSMS > Postgraduate > Intercalated MSc Medical Education

Intercalated MSc Medical Education

Why do an intercalated Masters degree in Medical Education at BSMS?

All doctors are teachers and the GMC now formally recognises the importance for all students and qualified doctors to take their teaching commitments seriously.

At BSMS, our intercalated Masters degree in Medical Education provides an opportunity to acquire a better understanding of medical education as an academic discipline and an ideal opportunity to discover whether this area might be one in which you would wish to specialise later in your medical career. 

Course overview

The one-year course includes the completion of an in-depth research project as well as offering practical support for your own professional development as a medical teacher, aligned with the professional standards of the Academy of Medical Educators in the UK.

You will start the year with an intensive introduction to ‘Research Methods and Critical Appraisal’ and be paired with a suitable Dissertation Supervisor (or two), who will ‘hold your hand’ as you develop your research project. There will be opportunities for you to explore different methodological approaches, often more ‘social science’-orientated than any clinical research you may have read about or been involved with. You will also be offered pastoral support appropriate to your own needs.

The MSc also offers the equivalent of a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education – a qualification often taken by medical teachers later in their careers. This section of the course introduces Learning & Teaching Theories and their practical application to your own teaching, as well as focusing on ‘Advanced Communication Skills’ to improve your development both clinically and in educational settings.

It is hoped that you will already have an interest in teaching and will be actively involved in at least some continuing teaching of others (perhaps ‘peer teaching’ or teaching in another setting) during the year. If you are based at another medical school, we will assist with opportunities locally for you to engage in appropriate teaching practice.

medical education class

“The intercalated MSc in Medical Education really helped me to mature, let me write a tonne of research papers and get myself stuck into teaching through the Medical School. I’m still teaching and have now given five national conference presentations / research posters - I’m even presenting at an international conference in Australia. The course has helped me develop  a clear career plan and a pretty competitive CV.”

Seb Shaw

Course structure

Most modules are assessed by 3,000 word written assignments which are centred on a topic relevant to the student’s own practice. Students will develop a personal Educational Portfolio of about 5,000 words and complete a Dissertation project on an original research project of up to 16,000 words (plus 3,000 word draft paper for publication). 

MSc

Learning and Teaching in Medical Education (20 credits)

Pedagogical Practice in Medical Education (20 credits)

Advanced Communication Skills and Strategies in Medical Education (20 credits)

Research Methods and Critical Appraisal (20 credits)

Medical Education Research Dissertation (100 credits)

Entry requirements

Applicants will ideally be in the top 50% of their academic year, with no fails in the preceding 2 years. However, this is flexible and each case is assessed on its merits. It is anticipated that students will be actively engaged in some form of teaching, normally at least 20 hours in the year.

The selection process will be based on written applications and interview.

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate their potential for studying at Master’s level through supplying written evidence as part of the application process. The personal statement section of the online application form should:

  • Clearly outline your reasons for wanting to undertake the course
  • Explain what you hope to gain from the course, both personally and professionally.  

The deadline for applications is the end of April preceding the September commencement of the course. 

You may be interviewed by phone or in person, and notification of acceptances will normally be made by the end of May. If successful, you will be invited to a group meeting in the Summer to discuss further details.

Applicants are strongly advised to contact the Course Administrator and/or Course Leader before applying.

Please contact Jacqueline King or Dr Jim Price:

J.King@bsms.ac.uk

jim.price@bsms.ac.uk

Fees and funding

The fees listed below are the overall costs for full-time courses taken in the academic year 2022/23. Where courses are taken part-time over more than one academic year, fees are usually charged pro-rata for the modules taken during each academic year.  

With effect from 2021/22 onwards, EU nationals starting new postgraduate courses will pay international fees and will not be eligible for student funding from the UK government. However, there are exceptions to this for Irish nationals and EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. For the latest information, please see gov.uk/student-finance. If you do not have settled status in the UK and require a work visa, then you will be fee assessed as Overseas and will therefore be subject to the International fee rate.

MSc

UK £9,980
International £19,920

If students pay their own fees, they will be expected to do so for the intercalated year, and recent legislation allows the student grant to be used in continuity.

Scholarships

All BSMS students on Masters courses accredited jointly by the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton are eligible to apply for University of Sussex postgraduate scholarships in 2023/24. 

Read more about fees and funding >