Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound*(PGCert)

About the Course

The Postgraduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound at Liverpool Hope University is designed for practicing healthcare professionals and practitioners, with a relevant first degree, who wish to extend their scope of clinical practice to include musculoskeletal ultrasound. The PGCert MSK ultrasound has increasingly become a popular degree/CPD pathway for physiotherapists, MSK nurses, sonographers and radiographers, sports medicine clinicians, sports therapists, medical doctors and researchers.

This course sits within our School of Health and Sport Sciences providing students with an exciting opportunity to join a community with a particular focus on sports and exercise science, sports rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal health.

Course Aims

- An understanding and clinical expertise in the theory and application of MSK Ultrasound and to prepare students for a career in clinical ultrasound

- Essential clinical ultrasound skills for enhancing clinical intervention and diagnosis in MSK health and pathology

- An enhanced knowledge of adult human upper and lower limb anatomy for specific interventional ultrasound techniques.

- A good understanding of MSK Ultrasound including instrumentation and applications and a critical awareness of current problems and new insights in your areas of professional practice.

- The ability to reflect on your professional practice and support your professional development as an independent practitioner

- Transferable skills expected of a postgraduate student in health care with the ability to recognise the interface between academic and applied clinical working

 *Subject to Validation by Liverpool Hope University. CASE (Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education) Accreditation is being sought

Curriculum Overview

This Postgraduate Certificate (60 Level 7 Credits) comprises two x 30 credit modules. Each module includes a five-day block of lectures and practical scanning and one day of assessment.

Modules

Module 1 (30 credits): Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: The Science, Technology, and Applications

This module involves the background scientific principles and instrumentation of ultrasound. You will also look at the practical application of this knowledge within the context of the normal anatomy of the upper and lower limbs of healthy adults. This module can be taken as a stand-alone module.

Module 2 (30 Credits): Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Professional Practice

This module is practice-based and can be started once the first module has been completed successfully. To be able to start this module, you will required to identify a qualified MSK ultrasound mentor for work-based clinical placement and submit a Mentor Agreement Form.

Entry Requirements

Applicants will require a recognised professional qualification in a relevant and acknowledged subject and be a member of an appropriate professional body including: General Medical Council (GMC), The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), The Nursing, and Midwifery Council (NMC), The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and Society of Vascular Technology (SVT). Or equivalent overseas professional qualification.

Applicants should be able to provide evidence of their potential to study at M-level by producing evidence of either: a UK Bachelor’s degree to a 2:1 classification or an overseas equivalent in a relevant subject.

Applicants will be required to provide evidence that an appropriate clinical Mentor has been identified for Module 2 in support of the work-based clinical placement and patient case load for a minimum of 15 hours per week, to enable completion of clinical learning requirements.

Before being accepted onto the course, all applicants will be interviewed.

International Entry Requirements

For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this, we also accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.

For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages. 

Teaching and Research

The course will be taught at the School of Health and Sport Sciences’ clinical teaching rooms (Hope Park Campus) by clinical experts in the field using an appropriate range of equipment. To support students involved in professional career and practice, the teaching dates will be arranged in advance to allow timely planning.

The first module will involve one block of six days teaching, practical scanning and assessment. A course book will be provided to all students as well as access to all lectures through the University's Virtual Learning Platform (Moodle). You will undertake a practical examination at the end of the first module.

The second module, involving another block of six days (5 teaching +1 assessment), aims to develop and assess your knowledge in relation to clinical application of MSK ultrasound. In order to register on this module, you will be required to identify an approved mentor and compile a sufficient number of scans (250 scans including 100 supervised scans) in line with the CASE accreditation requirement* and as part of the assessment portfolio.

During the course you'll be assessed in a variety of ways and you'll be assessed differently for each module.

UK/EU Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for Home/EU students for 2021/22: £2,000

Graduate 600*: £1,800

*Graduate 600 - Reduced Fee for students who have obtained a 2.1 or 1st class degree within the last 3 years.

Early Bird Discount**: £1,600

** Applications must be received by 1st February 2022 to be eligible for the Early Bird Discount. 

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.

Careers

The course is designed to enhance the employability of health professionals who wish to pursue a career in medical/MSK ultrasound. Prior to enrolling on the course, students are required to arrange a clinical placement to gain practical skills. After completing the course graduates will be equipped with specialist knowledge and will have the opportunity to work in a range of specialist, leadership, and educational roles within private and NHS settings. Graduates will also be able to continue onto further study and progress into a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) or Master of Science (MSc).