Musculoskeletal Sciences DPhil

The DPhil in Musculoskeletal Sciences is intended to provide clinical and non-clinical graduates with a wide variety of research skills, in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in specific musculoskeletal-related fields of research. Furthermore, as part of your training you will be exposed to a range of topics such as critical appraisal, epidemiology and medical statistics.

You will develop your research skills through a range of research training in your first year, including compulsory attendance to core subjects with lectures on a variety of topics such as an introduction to “pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disorders, epidemiology, basic immunology, clinical trials and rehabilitation” and selection of three topic-related modules. Attendance on a two-day statistical course is compulsory to assist you with appropriate research design. You are also encouraged to work with your supervisor(s) on your research-specific literature review and to develop a study design for your thesis within the first term of your research training.

You will be required to attend and present at postgraduate seminars, not only to develop your presentation skills but also to benefit from the feedback, support and interaction from your University peers and senior academics. In addition the department runs regular seminars by internal and external speakers on various clinical and non-clinical topics, which will provide further opportunity for you to broaden your knowledge in the field.

You are also strongly encouraged to attend skills training courses run by the Medical Sciences Division as well as experiencing teaching/supervising final year undergraduate students, to enhance your skills.