Pain Management (MSc)
Provided by Cardiff University School of Medicine
About the course
Admissions criteria
In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.
With your online application you will need to provide:
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject area such as healthcare, nursing, or medicine, or an equivalent international degree.
- A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
- Evidence that you are currently registered with the professional body relevant to your profession.
- Evidence that you have two years full time equivalent experience in a clinical area relevant to the programme. Evidence of your employment can be provided in the form of a signed and dated employer reference.
- A personal statement which does not exceed 500 words and provides details of your clinical experience.
If you do not have a degree in a relevant area, your application may be considered on the basis of a minimum of two years full-time equivalent relevant professional experience. Please provide additional evidence to support your application such as signed and dated employer references.
Application Deadline
We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.
Selection process
We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.
Find out more about English language requirements .
Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Course structure
This full-time MSc consists of two stages – Stage T (taught stage) and Stage D (dissertation stage):
- Stage T (taught stage)
This stage lasts for eight months and consists of six 20-credit modules totalling 120 credits, at Level 7.
- Stage D (MSc dissertation stage)
The dissertation stage lasts for a further three months, to a total for the MSc of one year, and will include a dissertation of 60 credits at Level 7, to achieve a combined total of 180 credits at Level 7 to complete the MSc programme.
The dissertation is normally not more than 20,000 words. The subject of each student’s dissertation shall be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned or his/her nominee.
The total normal duration to complete the full MSc programme is one year (stages T & D), from the date of initial registration on the MSc.
The dissertation, in combination with the taught stage, is weighted 33.33% for the purpose of calculating the final mark.
Stage Weighting
Taught modules 66.66%
Dissertation (stage R) 33.33%
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.
The programme runs across one academic year. Each module is 5 weeks long and studied consecutively, the dissertation period is 10 weeks. There is a 2 week break during module 3 for the Christmas period (University closure). The programme starts with a 1-week introduction period to enable you to familiarise yourself with the online University platform (e.g. your student record, study skills guides and library services) and Learning Central where all your modules are presented, released one at a time. The programme team support you throughout the academic year and will run video calls to introduce themselves and the module, at the beginning of each module. Academic support is provided through discussion boards, review of and feedback on drafts of work and video or telephone calls. You will be allocated a personal tutor, to provide pastoral support to discuss anything that is affecting your ability to study. All of the module content is delivered asynchronously, which means there is flexibility in studying module content. There will be some synchronous content e.g. webinars, but you will be informed of these in advance. The module assessments are ‘evidence-based reviews’, that enable you to focus on an area of your interest in pain management, submitted online via a tool called Turnitin. The programme starts with a Module on Research, Statistics and Evidence Base Medicine, which provides you with the knowledge and skills to develop evidence based reviews.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Pain Management | MET235 | 20 credits |
| Biopsychosocial Principles in Pain Management | MET236 | 20 credits |
| Research, Statistics and Evidence-based Medicine | MET239 | 20 credits |
| Patient Case Studies: Options | MET270 | 20 credits |
| Clinical Management: Options | MET271 | 20 credits |
| Professional Issues: Options | MET272 | 20 credits |
| Dissertation: Pain Management | MET131 | 60 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Funding
Master's Scholarships
An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.
Postgraduate loans
If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 08 Sep 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |