MS Oncoplastic Breast Surgery (Part Time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Surgery
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2024
Course Overview
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.
As a Specialist Clinical Mastership (SCM) student at Norwich Medical School, you’ll take part in fully-online discussions centred around realistic cases within our dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) – a thriving online community of specialists located all over the world.
The course is based around six advanced modules, covering all areas of oncoplastic breast surgery and a host of relevant transferable skills. Each topic will bring with it new expertise and insights directly applicable to your own clinical practice. As such, each tutor-mediated forum discussion will take on a life of its own, fuelled by shared reading, personal experience, and tutor guidance.
The course is designed to complement your day-to-day clinical practice, so each session is delivered asynchronously, meaning that you will not be required to log on at set times. Your online learning will be supported by formative assessments of your surgical knowledge, critical thinking, and decision-making. You will participate in virtual module training days and workshops with our expert tutors, which are also recorded for student revision purposes on the VLE.
The course is designed for surgeons with demonstrable experience in core breast oncology. We accept breast or plastic surgery trainees from level ST5 level or above, from the UK and overseas.
Should you demonstrate competency in core oncoplastic breast surgery procedures, you will be able to proceed onto the final dissertation year to obtain a Master’s degree. If you are unable to fully demonstrate operative competency, you will not move onto the final year and can complete your study with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma. In these cases, you will still benefit fully from the theoretical and decision-making skills that you have gained on the course.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
Students wishing to enhance their practical skills and knowledge can be offered the opportunity to connect with our tutors to undertake observerships at various breast units in the UK.
Study and Modules
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Employability
After the Course
Our teaching is aimed 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.
Past graduates have cited the course as a key factor in progression to more senior positions, giving them confidence when participating in multidisciplinary teams and improving their communication with peers, senior colleagues, and patients.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
The course develops your critical thinking and decision-making skills, which are the key skills for consultants in specialist oncoplastic breast surgery.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Pass, merit or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- MBBS or overseas equivalent
- English 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 (minimum 7.0 in all component)
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PTE: 76 (minimum 76 in all components)
All scores must be less than two years old.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in January each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
ST 5 or above, Associate Specialist (2 years in breast surgery), GMC registered and MRCS or equivalent.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
£7,500 (full time) - £1,000 per 20 credit module. £1,500 for the 60 credit dissertation module.
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
Adequate notice of dates will be provided so you can arrange study leave from your clinical post.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
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.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
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.