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Postgraduate

MSc in

Clinical Anatomy and Education

This MSc is a unique opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the clinical anatomy of the human body, alongside developing the skills to deliver exceptional teaching, assessment, course design and educational research – so you can inspire and lead in your area of clinical practice.

Course length 1 year full-time, 2 or 3 years part-time
Start date September 2025
Location Primarily based at the University of Hull*
MSc in Clinical Anatomy

About the programme

This programme provides unique opportunities to immerse yourself in the practical and in-depth study of clinical anatomy, while developing exceptional educational skills.

The MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education, based at the University of Hull campus, combines the core modules from the MSc in Clinical Anatomy programme with our Advance HE-accredited MSc in Health Professions Education programme.

The programme is built around core dissection-based modules, and a range of complimentary optional modules allowing you to gain an in-depth understanding of all the fundamental pillars of anatomy, including embryology, neuroanatomy, histology and radiology.

Our Advance HE-accredited Professional Practice modules, alongside Education modules shared with the MSc in Health Professions Education programme, provide a comprehensive professional education that focuses on developing teachers and researchers of anatomy.

You will also put your educational training and specialist knowledge into practice with the opportunity to teach anatomy on our undergraduate programmes, including MB BS Medicine. This experience will prepare you to teach anatomy in a medical environment, whether or not you come from a clinical background. Moreover, you will leave the programme with enough teaching experience to successfully become an Associate Fellow or Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and gain the right to use the post-nominal letters AFHEA or FHEA, depending on the modules and amount of teaching practice completed.

This programme offers you the opportunity to conduct whole-body dissection, and in doing so develop a deep understanding of the complex nature of the whole of the human body and how that relates to your clinical practice.

You will gain the unique experience of working with a range of cadaveric material preserved using Thiel, Formalin and plastination embalming techniques. In particular, dissection using Thiel-embalmed body donor material offers the benefit of viewing material which is as close to living tissue as possible.

You will have the opportunity to learn from experts at the forefront of new developments in clinical anatomy, who create a dynamic and supportive learning environment as part of a diverse and welcoming community. As well as learning from their expertise, you will be challenged to think differently and learn skills to become a self-directed learner as you continue to develop your anatomy knowledge throughout your career.

Course structure

Through our taught modules and research training sessions, you are provided with training in specialist and generic research skills to support your success in the 60-credit Research Project module, and for future research opportunities across academic, clinical and research careers. You will have the opportunity to conduct a high-quality educational research project, supported by experts in medical education.

This programme also features guest seminars from visiting surgeons and consultants, who will bring patient cases to share with you, so you can apply your knowledge within a clinical context. These experts come from a range of specialities, including plastic, thoracic, and orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists, radiologists, and emergency medicine doctors.

This course is also an ideal option for intercalation. Read on to find out more.

You may also be interested in our MSc in Clinical Anatomy.

Course content

Modules

This programme offers a range of 20 credit modules including three clinical anatomy dissection modules, two optional anatomy modules, a research skills module, two Advance HE-accredited professional practice in education modules, three health education modules, and one research project/dissertation (60 credits).

You will select a total of 180 credits, from a flexible combination of modules.  For MSc Clinical Anatomy and Education, this must include 40 credits of clinical anatomy dissection modules, 40 credits of education modules and 60 credits from the research project/dissertation module.

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

*This programme is primarily based at the University of Hull, but some modules involve at least one study day delivered on the University of York campus.

Clinical Anatomy students with Peter Bazira, examining anatomical models

Teaching and assessment

How is the programme assessed?

Throughout the programme, you will be evaluated through a combination of means, please see the module information for details. The assessments include exams, portfolio submissions, written assessments, oral presentations, group projects, research reports and a dissertation.

Teaching and assessment

What support is available?

This MSc is intensive and challenging but ultimately hugely rewarding. In addition to the student support services at the University of Hull, we also have our own dedicated student support team providing a range of pastoral services to all our Hull York Medical School students.

This programme develops you to become a self-directed learner – and therefore a lifelong learner. This may be a new skill to you to learn, but you will not be on your own; you will benefit from small teaching groups and high contact hours during your programme, so you always have someone to help you throughout your learning.

Support and wellbeing
Student talking to a member of the Student Support Team
Clinical Anatomy graduate Dr Walter Mercer-Holland

HULL YORK MEDICAL SCHOOL Stories

As someone who is interested in pursuing a career in medical education, the opportunity to study a joint MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education was and remains an unrivalled opportunity, not offered by any other University. Gaining this qualification not only helped me to achieve my aspirations of becoming involved in medical education in the future alongside pursuing my passion for anatomy, but it will also be of value when applying for jobs and specialist training.
2020 Medicine graduate, intercalated in MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education

Dr Walter Mercer Holland

Careers

Career prospects

Students on these programmes come from a diverse range of backgrounds and go on to develop careers in anatomy or medical education, surgery, clinical practice and allied health disciplines, or go on to further study.

Students who wish to embark upon a clinical career will benefit from the competitive edge afforded by the opportunities for teaching and for research publication when applying for foundation year or speciality training, or for clinical education positions.

Students who wish to embark upon a career in medical or anatomical education will benefit from a solid pedagogical underpinning and extensive teaching experience. Graduates of this programme have gone onto further study, or directly into Higher Education teaching positions. This programme is ideal for those interested in becoming an anatomy educator within medical or other health professions programmes.

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Students discussing a CT scan of a brain with Professor Peter Bazira
Medicine students on a hospital ward at Hull Royal Infirmary

Intercalation

An ideal option for intercalation

The MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education is an intensive programme, but one that will equip you with the skills and experience to become a better educator, clinician or academic, giving you a competitive edge when applying for careers in both medical education and clinical practice.

If you are considering taking a year out from your undergraduate Medicine programme to intercalate, and you are interested not only in developing your clinical anatomical knowledge and skills, but also your knowledge and expertise in teaching and learning, this programme is ideal.

Discover intercalation

entry

Entry requirements

Applicants must have a 2:1 (Hons) degree in Biomedical Science, Anatomical Science, Veterinary Medicine, Zoology or a related subject, to include training in human or mammalian biology with considerable emphasis on anatomy. You are encouraged to highlight previous anatomical experience in your application.

Intercalating medical students must have successfully completed a minimum of three years of an MB BS or comparable medical qualification.

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must have one of the following:

  • IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
  • PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
  • CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
  • TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
  • Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
  • LangCert B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum score 33/50)
  • WASSCE: C5

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees listed are for 2025 entry. Fees are reviewed on an annual basis and may change for subsequent years.

The level of fee that you pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (Home) or International (including EU) student. Check your fee status on the University of York website.

UK (Home)

  • Full-time: £13,300
  • Part-time (2 years): £6,650
  • Part-time (3 years): £4,433

International (including EU)

  • Full-time: £31,900
  • Part-time (2 years): £15,950
  • Part-time (3 years): £10,633

Applicants who are self-funded and assessed by the University of Hull as paying the overseas tuition fee rate are required to pay a non-refundable deposit at the point of offer. A place will not be guaranteed until the full deposit has been received. The University reserves the right to stop accepting deposit payments once course places are full and, as a result, may defer an offer to the next available intake. Find out more about the University of Hull Tuition Fee Deposit.

Funding opportunities

There are a number of funding options available to help with costs and support your postgraduate study. To apply for funding, you will need to hold an offer to study at Hull York Medical School.

Published dissertations

Students studying the MSc in Clinical Anatomy are very much part of our research community, and experience much of their learning through research and inquiry. This leads to our students producing high quality research for their dissertation, which we encourage and support them to publish in academic journals.

Our students' latest published dissertations for the MSc in Clinical Anatomy and MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education include:

Bruce, C., Ubhi, N., McKeegan, P. and Sanders, K. (2023) Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cardiovascular Consequences of Myocardial Bridging in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The American Journal of Cardiology. 

Kenny, E.J.G., Makwana, H.N., Thankachan, M., Clunie, L., Dueñas, A.D. (2022, Jul 27) The Use of Ultrasound in Undergraduate Medical Anatomy Education: a Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis. Medical Science Educator.

Ayre, J.R., Bazira, P.J., Abumattar, M., Makwana, H.N., Sanders, K.A. (2021, Dec 2021). A new classification system for the anatomical variations of the human circle of Willis: A systematic review. Journal of Anatomy.

Jones, J. D., Castanho, P., Bazira, P., & Sanders, K. (2020, Jul 26). Anatomical variations of the circle of Willis and their prevalence, with a focus on the posterior communicating artery: A literature review and meta-analysis. Clin Anat.

Brown, M. E. L., Coker, O., Heybourne, A., & Finn, G. M. (2020, 2020/09/01). Exploring the Hidden Curriculum’s Impact on Medical Students: Professionalism, Identity Formation and the Need for Transparency. Medical Science Educator, 30(3), 1107-1121.

Brown, M. E. L., Hunt, G. E. G., Hughes, F., & Finn, G. M. (2020, Aug 13). 'Too male, too pale, too stale': a qualitative exploration of student experiences of gender bias within medical education. BMJ Open, 10(8), e039092.

Curlewis, K., Leung, B., Perera, M., Bazira, P. J., & Sanders, K. A. (2020, Jun 22). Clay-Based Modeling in the Anatomist's Toolkit: A Systematic Review. Anat Sci Educ.