Novel Emerging Medical Technology Evaluation and Development MSci - Intercalated Degree

Start date: September
Duration: 1 year (Full Time)

Course Type: Undergraduate, Intercalated

Suitable for intercalating students who wish to improve their understanding and skills of medical technology design, regulation and adoption, this programme creates a sound base for clinicians wanting to lead or be involved in the development of medical technologies.

Medical technologies are evolving faster than ever before, and healthcare systems are looking to encourage adoption to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs of care. Almost everyone has, at some point, thought to themselves “why don’t we do it like that” or “what we really need is…”, which are the starting points of every great innovation. Innovation is often discouraged as it is seen as difficult to traverse, but the MSci in Novel Emerging Medical Technology Evaluation and Development peels back the layers to reveal the most successful routes through discovery and to market.

Why study this course?

By taking a year out of your studies to focus on medical technologies, you will gain a far clearer understanding of the issues faced by healthcare services when identifying need and opportunity.
Improve your appreciation and understanding of multiple medical technology interactions enabling you to quickly assess patient pathways and remove unnecessary steps which increase system burden and slow down or limit patient recovery, whilst also being better able to independently assess and implement new technologies.
Enhance your knowledge of the regulatory pathway and requirements which will be far greater than the majority of your peers, enabling you to accurately and quickly comprehend safety requirements sometimes missed in a busy clinical day, protecting your patients, you and your team from accidental harm.
Your experience of the novel technology assessment pathway and accelerated access process will enable you to access the best technologies earlier, improving outcomes for your patients and team.
Your deep understanding of all the above as a single process ensures you will be able to work through medical innovation in the NHS without getting frustrated by going in circles. This level of knowledge will make you equally invaluable to external companies, small or large, who are looking to take a technology to market.

Modules

Compulsory modules:

Novel Medical Technology Assessment and Identifying the Need for Improved Medical Devices - 20 credits
Improving quality and patient safety in novel medical technology use - 20 credits
Research and presentation project – presenting to senior clinical and executive/non executive boards - 60 credits

Optional modules:

Students should choose 20 credits from the following list (examples):

From Bench to Market: the Development of Pharmaceutical Drug Products - 10 credits
Business and Strategy Development - 10 credits
Project Management (Business Strategy Delivery) - 10 credits
Plant design and manufacturing principles for (bio)pharmaceutical production - 10 credits
Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare Technologies - 10 credits
Medical Devices - 10 credits
Sensor systems in medicine - 10 credits
Industry 4.0 and Big Data - 20 credits
Measurement, Sensors and Design of Experiments -20 credits
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing for healthcare applications -20 credits
Quantitative and qualitative research methods - 20 credits

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2023. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees and Funding

Standard undergraduate fees apply. Learn more about fees and funding.

Intercalation Bursaries and Awards

Details and application deadlines of internal and national bursaries and awards are also sent to all students from the intercalation administration team at the start of the programme. For more details contact mdsintercalationenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

How To Apply

Please contact our Intercalation team mdsintercalationenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk to make enquiries and apply.

Terms and conditions – what you need to know

Required subjects and grades:: To be considered for the programme you should be able to demonstrate that you have achieved an equivalent standard to a 2.1H / 1H degree so far on your medical programme.

This programme is suitable for intercalating students who wish to improve their understanding and skills of medical technology design, regulation and adoption, the MSci in Novel Emerging Medical Technology Evaluation and Development creates a sound base for clinicians wanting to lead or be involved in the development of medical technologies.

If you are interested in this programme, further information can be found by emailing poshgeneraladmin@contacts.bham.ac.uk

As a Birmingham student you are part of an academic elite and will learn from world-leading experts. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.

Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study, peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates) and an extended laboratory project.

Teaching Staff

The MSci in Novel Emerging Medical Technology Evaluation and Development is written and led by renowned expert in the field, Mr Matthew Campbell-Hill. A founding member of MTAC and a past member of TACB (Technology Appraisals Committee B) at NICE, Matthew has advised on over 360 medical technologies, and led the work on the roll out of mobile medical apps for the NHS as a member of the National Information Board. As a non-executive director at the MHRA, Matthew advised on digital medical devices as well as machine learning. Matthew is part time at the University as he continues to be in demand in the commercial and government sectors as well as running his own medical technology start up.

Assessment Methods

You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations, laboratory-based work (depending on your chosen degree) and formal exams.

The core modules dissect the processes of regulation and assessment of medical technologies. Regulation is the legal requirement, overseen by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority) which licenses all medical products for use in the UK, and is the basic requirement for anything entering the market for use. Assessment of efficacy is performed at a national level by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Whilst products can and do enter clinical use without going through NICE, the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee (MTAC) at NICE is regarded as ‘the Golden Ticket’ for medical technologies, with a positive recommendation enabling a far greater pace of adoption.

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