University College Cork

Medicine - Surgical Science

Course Outline

The aim of the programme is to provide postgraduate education in surgery for clinical students (medical graduates), to enhance their academic understanding of the speciality, prior to or during early surgical training. The Masters programme will also provide structured research opportunities.

The MCh in Surgical Science is a two-year part-time programme with an annual intake, comprising of taught modules and a dissertation. The taught modules consist of formal teaching material and course work, individual assignments including case studies, journal reviews and clinical skills teaching towards the development of a competitive clinical, teaching and research portfolio.

Course Practicalities

In recognition of the significant clinical service commitments of all participants, course delivery employs a blended learning approach with significant use of online learning resources. Contact teaching sessions are scheduled every two months and occurs on Friday evenings and Saturdays in the Brookfield Health Sciences complex in UCC.

Why Choose This Course

This innovative programme will provide you with a strong foundation with which to progress through specialist surgical and other postgraduate training. There is significant use of e-learning therefore campus based contact teaching time is condensed recognizing the work commitments of surgical trainees. The modular structure offered allows flexibility to trainees who can opt to access a one year certificate or two year diploma/masters.

This course combines a focus on surgical efficiencies such as innovative strategies in decision making, improving surgical key performance indicators and the development of the early career surgeon as a service and team leader.

Entry requirements

Requirements

Applicants for the MCh in Surgical Science will be required to have attained a medical qualification of the NUI or an equivalent institution AND

Be eligible for full registration as a doctor with the Irish Medical Council.

English Language Requirements

Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/

Duration

2 years part-time.

Teaching sessions consist of both online learning and face to face teaching sessions.

In recognition of the significant clinical service committeemen's of all surgical trainees course delivery employs a blended learning approach with significant use of online learning resources. Contact teaching sessions are scheduled every two months and occurs on Friday evenings and Saturdays in the Brookfield Health Sciences complex in UCC.

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information

This course/programme may appeal to those contemplating or embarking on a surgical career or those who wish to broaden their academic portfolio to enhance their competitiveness. It may also be attractive to overseas students who would like the opportunity to learn more about the surgical environment in Ireland and expand their academic repertoire and surgical management strategies.

On completion of the MCh students will be expected to have a sound knowledge and comprehension of strategies which improve surgical outcomes and will have developed evaluative, problem solving, management and leadership skills. This will enhance possibilities of securing core and higher specialist training opportunities Those who continue to masters level will have undertaken substantive research in their field of practice.

Further enquiries

 Prof. May Cleary

may.cleary@gmail.com

00 353 21 4901290 (Mary Ahern Dept. of Surgery)

https://www.ucc.ie/en/medical/

Dr. Aislinn Joy

a.joy@ucc.ie

Subjects taught

Year 1

SY6001 Essentials in surgery 1 - Infection prevention and management including antibiotic stewardship, wound management and healing (10 credits)

MX6007 Surgical Metabolism - Optimising Metabolism and Fluid Management in the surgical setting (5 credits)

MX6005 Professional Development in Surgery Research Methodology, Innovation and Device Development (15 credits)

Completion of year 1 leads to the award of a certificate in surgical science.

Year 2

SY6002 Essentials in surgery 2 - Optimising efficiencies, pre-op screening and early discharge strategies, theatre process, pain management (15 credits)

MX6006 Professional development in surgery 2 - Leadership and management strategies, self-care and human factors awareness, safety solutions and error reduction in surgery including radiation safety training, the surgeon as educator (15 credits)

Completion of 60 credits in year 1 and 2 leads to the award of a Diploma in Surgical Science

SY6003 Research Project in surgery - Research dissertation (30 credits)

Completion of 90 credits leads to the award of a Masters in Surgical Science

Additional Teaching Mode Information

Teaching sessions consist of both online learning and face to face teaching sessions.

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year. https://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/modules/

Assessment method

Assessment

Assessment will involve written assignments, MCQs and Portfolio completion.

Application date

Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one specific closing date, please check your course prospectus page for this information.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications:

For all completed applications received by January 10th 2020

Offers will be made by January 24th 2020

For all completed applications received by March 2nd 2020

Offers will be made by March 16th 2020

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2020

Offers will be made by May 15th 2020

For all completed applications received by July 1st 2020

Offer will be made by July 15th 2020

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Non-EU Closing Date: 15 June

Non-EU Applicants: Information for Non-EU applicants may be found on the International Office Website https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/