MS MASTER OF SURGERY IN PRINCIPLES OF BREAST ONCOPLASTY
MS MASTER OF SURGERY IN PRINCIPLES OF BREAST ONCOPLASTY
Breast cancer cases globally are on the increase. In 2011, Norwich Medical School, with support from the Royal College of Surgeons (England), Association of Breast Surgery (ABS), British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), developed this unique course for surgeons looking to develop skills in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. UEA’s award-winning e-learning approach has resulted in a suite of new super-specialist courses, delivered entirely online, and requiring no travel by its students. 
This course has been carefully designed to integrate with the working lives of clinical practitioners. Students undertake six in-depth modules covering benign breast disease, malignant breast disease, oncoplastic breast conservation, oncoplastic breast reconstruction, research and service evaluation, and management and service improvement. 
The educational focus is on consultant-level critical thinking and decision-making for surgeons while they gain practical experience in their clinical posts. 
About
Delivered entirely online, our course is designed to provide surgeons the world-over with access to high-quality education in oncoplastic breast surgery. 
Using training techniques developed over seven years by a specialist team at Norwich Medical School, our gold award-winning course is comprised of six core modules. Each module will allow you to acquire selective CPD accreditation and can also be used to build towards a full Master’s award (MCh/MS) in Principles of Breast Oncoplasty. 
This challenging and rewarding programme has a flexible structure designed around the working lives of busy surgical practitioners. It is facilitated by our dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which hosts a thriving online community of students and senior specialists from all over the world.
As a student on the Specialist Professional Development (SPD) programme, you’ll take part in fully-online, tutor-mediated discussions, centered around realistic cases, within our VLE.
This innovative course is based around six advanced modules, covering all areas of oncoplastic breast surgery and a host of relevant transferrable skills. The course is designed to complement your day-to-day clinical practice, so each session is delivered asynchronously, meaning that you won’t need to log-on at set times.
For each module you will be expected to actively contribute to the online forum, which will focus on clinical discussions of cases. Each module comprises several topics spanning the knowledge base in that specialist area, each bringing with it new expertise and insights, which will prove directly applicable to your own clinical practice. As such, each forum discussion will take on a life of its own, fueled by the shared reading, personal experience, and tutor guidance. This will then form the basis for further learning.
Your online learning will be supported by continual formative assessments of your surgical knowledge, critical thinking and decision-making.
This course is ideal for senior breast and plastic surgery trainees, as well as practicing breast surgery consultants with demonstrable experience in core breast oncology.

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Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.After the Course
Our course is set at the level required of a first year UK consultant in oncoplastic breast surgery. You will be applying the knowledge and skills you acquire on the course assisting your working cases as your learning progresses.Career destinations
The course develops critical thinking and decision-making skills, which are the key skills for consultants in specialist medicine.
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Modules commence in January, May and September. Students will be permitted to select one or two modules that are available at each start point. Dissertation can only be commenced following successful completion of preceding 6 modules.
Modules Starting in January:
MED-7061E (20 Credits)
This module covers Benign Breast Disease and Mastalgia, Family History and Imaging, Congenital and Acquired Breast Anomalies, Nipple Discharge and Breast Infection, Screening and QA Process, Patient Declining Treatment / B3 Lesions and the Lymphatic System
MED-7064E (20 Credits)
This is the Breast Reconstruction Module. This module will commence with one week of background reading followed by 14 weeks of online teaching. Topics include: - Principles of Implant Selection - Implant/ADM Immediate and Delayed Reconstruction - Tram/Diep Reconstruction - Secondary Breast Reconstruction - Symmetrisation and NAC Reconstruction - Other Free Flap - Reconstruction Options and LN Transfer
MED-7094X (60 Credits)
The aim of the Research Dissertation is to enable students to demonstrate their depth of knowledge developed through the whole MS programme and to demonstrate insight into the rigorous process of research. The focus of the dissertation is determined within each programme of study, and to demonstrate skills in critical appraisal and systematic review, where appropriate. This should give practitioners experience of designing, conducting and reporting research.
Modules Starting in May:
MED-7063X (20 Credits)
This module covers Screening and DCIS, Management of the Axilla, Postmenopausal and Premenopausal Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer in High Risk Patients, Locally Advanced Breast Cancer and Metastatic Breast Cancer.
MED-7066X (20 Credits)
This module is about developing candidates as clinical leaders. It covers - How to write a business case, Innovation and strategy, Personality and leadership, High performance teams, Understanding your organisation, Managing resources and Healthcare economics.
Modules Starting in September:
MED-7062D (20 Credits)
This is the Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery Module. This module will start with a reading week before 14 weeks of online teaching commences. Topics in this module include: Pre-Operative Decision making Local Glandular Displacement Principles of Mammoplasty Therapeutic Mammoplasty Local Pedicle Flaps Lipomodelling Breast Symmetrisation.
MED-7065D (20 Credits)
The module examines service improvement and innovation and provides the scope and skills for you to undertake an evidence-based service improvement project. At the start of this module you must begin to think about their Research Dissertation. It is your responsibility to find a local Supervisor, who will be the primary contact during the dissertation, to arrange sponsorship, funding and ethics.
The course is comprised of six 16-week-long online modules, providing advanced learning in the following specialist areas:
- Applied Basic Sciences and Benign breast disease
- Management of Malignant Breast Cancer
- Integrated Research
- Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery
- Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction
- Clinical Leadership and Management
Each module is delivered in two-week topics, with learning outcomes mapped to the UK ISCP breast surgery curriculum. You will also be required to undertake approximately 10 hours of independent study each week, including:
- Reading core texts and the latest clinical papers
- Discussing an online clinical case with your peers to draw out learning opportunities and evidence-based practice
- Completing formative assessments to aid your learning, including multiple choice questions and script concordance tests
- Constructing a personal management plan for the clinical case to demonstrate your understanding of the topic
You will need to demonstrate a minimum of 80% online engagement to receive CPD accreditation for each module.
You will also have the option to take a summative written assessment for each module; complete it successfully and you’ll be awarded 20 university credits. Acquire 60 credits and, in addition to your CPD accreditation, you’ll also be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate. Successfully complete assessments for 6 modules and you’ll acquire 120 credits and receive a Postgraduate Diploma. If you then decide to complete a 60 credit Master’s dissertation project, you’ll achieve 180 credits in total, and a Master’s degree.
The assessment format for the clinical modules is a reflective essay, which will be submitted and marked online, and which can also be utilised as evidence towards your professional portfolio.
Your research and management modules will involve the online submission of a piece of written work, marked according to the UEA postgraduate senate scale.
Teaching
All teaching takes place online and includes the use of validated postgraduate clinical methods, including advanced case-based discussions and formative script concordance testing.
Our tutors are all experienced senior clinicians working both in the UK and internationally, maximising your exposure to global discussions and comparisons of best practice.
Independent Study
The course works best where modules are undertaken in parallel with your clinical duties in breast surgery however, this is not essential. 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.
Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Pass, merit or equivalentDegree subject
MBBS or overseas equivalentAdditional entry requirements
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The intakes for this course are in January, May and September.Students for whom english is a foreign language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English. To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. We also will require a certain standard to be achieved on the written element of the test. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in all components)
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PTE: 76 overall (minimum 76 in all components)
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Duolingo English Test: 120 overall (minimum 120 in all components)
All scores must be less than two years old.

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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2022/23 are:
- £1000 per module
- £1500 for the Dissertation module
For illustration purposes, the total cost should a student wishing to complete a masters is therefore 6 x £1000 taught modules + £1500 dissertation = £7500
Part-time students can pay per module studied. However, module fees may be subject to an annual increase.
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Course related costs
Core recommended textbooks are cited throughout the modules, which can be obtained locally through medical libraries, but you may wish to purchase your own.
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How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Application Deadlines:
Entry Point | Application Deadline |
---|---|
May 2022 | 16 May 2022 |
September 2022 | 5 September 2022 |
January 2023 | 23 January 2023 |
May 2023 | 15 May 2023 |
September 2023 | 4 September 2023 |
FURTHER INFORMATION
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.

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