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    MSc
    2024 start September 

    Clinical Neurology

    School of Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Health

    Understand neurological disease and how clinical research breakthroughs are translated into treatments. You’ll attend NHS clinics to learn from patients and clinicians.
    MSc Clinical Neurology

    Course description

    Lead academics: Dr Jon Wood and Dr Esther Hobson

    This course gives students a detailed understanding of the human nervous system, neurological disease, and the treatments for these conditions. You will cover the fundamental science of neurological disease and bring this knowledge to life by attending NHS clinics to learn from patients and the clinicians treating them.

    A range of conditions are covered, including cerebrovascular disease (stroke, epilepsy), neuroinflammation (multiple sclerosis, gluten ataxia) and neurodegeneration (dementia, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's, Huntington's). You’ll examine the biology and evidence base behind these conditions, find out how they are diagnosed and treated by clinicians, and learn from researchers who are developing cutting-edge new treatments such as gene therapy and stem-cell transplantation.

    In practical sessions, you’ll critically analyse important research, explore the neuroanatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system in detail and talk to patients with neurological diseases about their experiences. You will also complete a NIHR Good Clinical Practice course, a requirement for any clinical researcher.

    In your final term, you can choose from one of two routes:

    Route A: Clinical Research Project 

    Students can complete a 15-week research project at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital or within the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), an internationally recognised centre of excellence for neuroscience research. Some students are involved in research with patients to understand their experience of their condition or the effects of treatments. Others conduct systematic reviews or data analysis or work with healthy volunteers.

    Route B: Clinical Neurology Experiential Learning Module

    Students spend 15 weeks placed within the neurology department of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. They observe clinicians and patients at specialist clinics and on ward rounds, receive bedside teaching from experienced clinicians, and have the opportunity to take patients’ histories and conduct examinations. This route is only open to students who are working towards or already have a MBChB or equivalent degree. Currently, Route B provides sufficient experience to be recognised by the General Medical Council as a clinical attachment.

    Intercalation

    We accept medical students who wish to intercalate their studies. Find out more on the School of Medicine and Population Health website.

    Do you have a question? Talk to us

    Book a 15-minute online meeting with our course lead to find out more information and ask further questions.

    Book an appointment with Dr Jon Wood

    Modules

    This is a 12-month, full-time course consisting of four taught module components worth 30 credits each undertaken during the autumn and spring terms.

    Additionally, either a research project (Route A) or a Clinical Neurology Experiential Learning Module - CNELM (Route B) worth 60 credits is completed in the summer term.

    Applied Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neuroscience

    Knowledge of the neuroanatomy of the central nervous system is fundamental to neuroscience. This module will combine a lecture series on basic and functional neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, peripheral neuroanatomy and basic neuroscience with practical demonstrations of the human brain and spinal cord using models and prosections.  This will enable students to acquire an in-depth and critical understanding of functional neuroanatomy.

    Clinical Neurology requires the ability to critically analyse clinical research papers.  This module will enable students to develop these critical research skills.

    30 credits
    Cerebrovascular disease and disorders of consciousness

    Cerebrovascular disease is a common cause of death and disability. In recent years, great progress has been made in both prevention and acute management of cerebrovascular disease. Epilepsy is a common cause of morbidity in individuals of all ages. Correctly characterising can be difficult as can identifying the most appropriate treatment. This module provides practical exposure to expert specialist clinics in conditions such as TIA, stroke and epilepsy, in combination with lectures covering key aspects of these disorders and recent research insights. The aim is to facilitate the students understanding how laboratory breakthroughs have been translated into clinical benefits for patients in the modern treatment of these conditions.

    30 credits
    Neuroinflammation (CNS) and diseases of the PNS

    Inflammatory diseases of the nervous system are a common cause of disability, often in young people. In recent years, great progress has been made in elucidating the pathological mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation, which has led to new treatments and a better understanding of links with the neurodegenerative processes discussed in other modules. Non-inflammatory disorders of the peripheral nervous system will also be covered. This module provides practical exposure to expert specialist clinics in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune ataxia, muscle disease and peripheral neuropathy, in combination with lectures summarising recent research insights. The module will also facilitate the students understanding how laboratory breakthroughs have been translated into clinical benefits for patients in the modern treatment of neuroinflammatory disease.

    30 credits
    Neurodegeneration

    Neurodegenerative diseases increase in prevalence with age and as such are increasing rapidly with the ageing population. They result in a large number of years of disability and resulting burden on families, carers, health and social care costs. This module provides practical clinical teaching on diagnosis and management of these disorders. This is enhanced with exposure to expert specialist clinics, including those for motor neuron disease (MND), Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia and Huntington's disease. Additionally the student will have clinical tutorials and lectures on the pathophysiology underlying the selective neuronal loss in these conditions.

    30 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.

    Find out what makes us special at our next online open day on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

    You may also be able to pre-book a department visit as part of a campus tour.Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Teaching

    You will learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical sessions.

    Assessment

    For most of your modules, you will be assessed by exams, essays, posters and presentations.

    The Clinical Research Project (Route A) is assessed by a dissertation and presentation.

    The Clinical Neurology Experiential Learning Module (Route B) is assessed by a portfolio including a reflective log, anonymised case discussions and work-based assessments, plus a dissertation (6,000 words).

    Your career

    This course gives graduates the knowledge, skills and experience for a wide range of specialist roles in healthcare.

    Clinicians can use the course to develop sub-speciality experience in neurology. Some have joined the NHS Scientific Training Programmes in neurophysiology and audiology or gone on to train in other NHS roles such as as nurses and physician associates.

    The course is also great preparation for a career in neuroscience and clinical research, and roles ranging from laboratory science to clinical trials. Many of our graduates go on to complete a PhD and work at top universities and research institutes. Others work as researchers in the healthcare industry or the NHS.

    Entry requirements

    For Route A: You need at least a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant science subject (eg neuroscience, psychology, biomedical science, medicine) or an MBChB degree. We also accept medical students who wish to intercalate their studies. A 2:2 degree may be acceptable depending on an interview and assessment of your previous experience in areas related to the course.

    For Route B: We require an MBChB degree, you will need to be an intercalating medic and you must be eligible for GMC registration.

    All students will require a DBS check and honorary contract with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (arranged on arrival).

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    Apply now

    Contact

    Helen Hickson
    clinneuro@sheffield.ac.uk
    +44 114 222 2296

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.