Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery
- The Award and Title
Doctor of Medicine
Master of Surgery
2.The Length and Mode of Registration
MD/MSurg: a minimum of 2 years part-time
- Entry Requirements
These degrees may either be obtained after a period of research or on the basis of published work.
Candidates who do not have English as their first language will be required to achieve a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score to a recommended standard of the University of Kent
By Thesis
Candidates must satisfy the following:
(i)that the candidate holds a medical qualification registrable with the General Medical Council for at least three years;
(ii)that a suitable programme of training and research, which could be completed within the proposed registration period can be offered;
(iii)that an appropriate member of the University is available to act as the candidate’s supervisor, supported where necessary by a co-supervisor (not necessarily a member of the University) who has close familiarity with the candidates research work;
(iv)that the facilities needed for the proposed programme of training and research can be made available;
(v)that a candidate will have been engaged in appropriate clinical or scientific work in the County of Kent for at least three years. This requirement is currently under review within KIMHS.
By Published Work
Candidates must satisfy the following:
(i)that the candidate shall have held a medical qualification registrable with the General Medical Council for at least eight years.
(ii)a candidate for the degree of MD shall apply in writing to the Dean of KIMHS specifying the published work or works on which the application for the degree is based;
(iii)the candidate shall send two copies of each of the published work or works specified in the application and two copies of a list of these works. These copies shall be retained by, and be the property of, the University.
(iv)A summary document and governance declaration are a formal requirement for inclusion when the published papers are submitted for examination;
(v)The summary document should cover the following points.
1. Background and motivations
2. A list of the published papers that are submitted for consideration of the award of MD/MSurg
3. Any details of methods not covered in full in the submitted papers
4. Finally, the summary should link together and give an overview of the sections on results, discussion points and conclusions in the separate published works;
(vi) The governance declaration should cover the following points.
1. A description of all ethical approvals obtained for the work
2. A description of all the locations where the work was undertaken
3. A statement describing the location of data archives, confirmation that appropriate precautions are being taken to protect confidential data, and a declaration that the data will be made available if required for governance purposes i.e. for audit or verification of data by a properly authorised person or committee;
(vii)the candidate shall send an appropriate fee, which if the application is approved, shall form part of the fee payable for the degree;
(viii)a person shall not be eligible to proceed to the degree of MD under these regulations if that person has submitted a thesis for a higher degree of this University and has not been approved for the degree unless the subject of the published work is substantially different from that of the unsuccessful theses.
(ix)the published work must be the candidate’s own work and should be an original contribution to knowledge or understanding in the field under investigation. It should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to test ideas, whether his/her own or those of others and to understand the relationship of the theme(s) to a wider field of knowledge. Where published work is based in whole on in part in collaborative research, the extent of this collaboration must be clearly indicated. KIMHS is considering specifying that co-authors should be asked to co-sign a declaration prepared by the candidate describing his/ her contribution
- Anticipated Total Student Registration
2 candidates per year
- Programme Management
Responsibility for postgraduate students on the programme rests with the Director of Graduate Studies who works with the appointed supervisors and the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medical Studies.
Director of Graduate Studies:Professor Alan Colchester
Academic Administrative Support:Louise Bullock
Secretary/Project Officer:Mayling Stone
- Proposed Start Date
This programme is running
- Opportunity and Need
It is central to the University’s mission and the Department Plan to pursue research to an internationally recognised standard, and a vital aspect of this is the provision of research degree programmes. MD (or MSurg) degrees have traditionally been the standard research degree for doctors in the UK. In some clinical specialties, a research degree is still generally required before a trainee is appointed as a consultant. While a PhD is recognised in academia as the most prestigious research degree, an MD/MSurg is regarded in some clinical areas as the most appropriate qualification for advancement, particularly for those aiming for a primarily clinical consultant post.
8.Aims and Objectives
On completion of the programme students will be able demonstrate that they are familiar with all the current literature relating to their topic of research. They will be proficient in the relevant methodology and research skills. They will be able to demonstrate that they have undertaken a specific body of original research, that they have been able to draw appropriate conclusions and that they are able to relate their findings to the general body of knowledge surrounding their subject. The thesis should be of such scholarly merit as would justify its publication either as submitted, or in an abridged form, or divided into a series of separate papers.
- Programme Outline
The curriculum will be in the general area of medicine and health sciences and will usually have a prominent clinical application, although the methodology may range from basic research into mechanisms of disease, clinical research, or behavioural social science research. Candidates for MD/MSurg by thesis will be required, in consultation with their supervisors, to undertake appropriate background reading, to undertake such research training as the supervisor and the STMS Faculty require and to put such training into practice, to carry out a substantial body of original research and to provide a written account of the research, including its context within the current body of knowledge.
10. Research Skills Training
Current training provided for KIMHS students (over and above that available at Faculty level) is designed to support students in acquiring research and transferable skills. The following specific learning opportunities are offered:
10.1Departmental Course on Research Skills - First year students are expected to attend the KIMHS short course on Practitioner Research and Data Management run by KIMHS each year. Topics covered include literature searches, critical appraisal of papers, assessment of different types of research (e.g. randomised controlled trials), analysis of data, qualitative research, research governance, ethical issues, ethical approval processes, writing good papers, communication skills and research funding. In later years students may attend selected lectures for a refresher.
10.2Library Skills and Literature Searches – students are encouraged to attend the Templeman Library’s hands-on skills training sessions covering inter alia searches on the Web of Science and on-line resources for science, technology and medicine (Director of Online Resources [DOORS]). Literature searches are also covered in the KIMHS short course on Practitioner Research and Data Management.
10.3Computing Services/World Wide Web – most students are highly competent in these areas but all students are made aware of the availability of local advice and of University courses to develop knowledge and skills.
10.4Personal Training Skills – University courses are available to support the development of personal skills and students are encouraged to attend these. Supervisors are expected to provide personal support to students, to monitor progress, and to provide constructive feedback.
10.5Presentation Skills – students are required to give a presentation once a year at KIMHS internal seminars and from their second year are expected to give presentations at conferences and external meetings.
10.6Thesis and Report Writing – writing papers and theses are covered in the KIMHS short course Practitioner Research and Data Management. Supervisors are expected to play an important role in guiding students over their written work, which generally forms their most important output.
10.7Careers Training – in KIMHS a significant fraction of students are already established on a professional career such as medicine or psychotherapy. All students receive advice within the Department and where appropriate (e.g. for younger students) through the University Careers Office.
10.8Teacher Training – aspects of teaching skills have been covered above and students are also encouraged to attend University courses.
10.9Health and Safety – all new students are given a health and safety induction by the Departmental Administrator.
11.Progression
Students and Supervisors are required to complete annual written reports on progress. [ANM1]
Students undergo formal reviews of progress at key stages in their programme of study, involving the student, main supervisor and advisor. The upgrading and submission reviews are undertaken by the supervisor, another member of the supervisory team and the Department Director of Graduate Studies (who will normally act as chair).
Where the Department Director of Graduate Studies is a member of the student's supervisory team, another member of the Department Graduate Studies Committee will be co-opted to act on behalf of the committee.
The review stages are as follows:
Induction – This review takes place shortly after registration and should focus on the student's topic of study as set out in their application. The principal function of this review is to agree initial targets for the student.
Probation – This review takes place following the completion of the student's induction programme and initial research training. The principal function of this review is to ensure that the student has been able to embark on the main body of their research, and to address any issues of concern to student or supervisors.
Where students are expected to submit practice as research, this review is also used to agree and record the composition of the student's submission package
[ANM2]Submission – This review normally takes place approximately three months prior to the end of the student's period of registration. The principal function of this review is to ensure that the student is in a position to complete and submit their research in the allotted time. The panel decides whether the student should be advised to submit or to enter the extension year. Should the student's progress prove to be unsatisfactory, the panel will recommend to the Faculty Director of Graduate Studies that the student should be granted an extension to their registration period. Should the student's progress prove to be unsatisfactory, this review may be repeated.
12. Assessment
By thesis or submission of published work. It is the responsibility of the KIMHS Director of Graduate Studies to ensure that all students are examined in accordance with the appropriate University Regulations.
13.Approved Supervisory Chairs
A list of supervisors approved by the STMS Faculty Board for Research and Enterprise in accordance the Code of Practice for Quality Assurance (Research Students): The current list includes the following (currently under review):
- Dr Adrian Bonner
- Professor Alan Colchester
- Professor Anthony Hale
- Dr Ali Hojjat,
- Professor Cornelius Katona
- Dr Nick Riding
- Dr Mark Winter
14.Research Environment
The Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences is a small but broad-based department that has built and engaged in postgraduate research training since the mid-1990’s. The research groups include Mental Health, Neurosciences and Medical Image Computing, and Cardiopulmonary Sciences.
Each member of research active staff is a member in at least one group, but many staff participate in the work of more than one group, and inter-group work is encouraged. Every research student will join the research group of their supervisor(s).
There are regular informal departmental seminars at which all students are expected to make presentations as part of developing presentations skills as well as informing others about research progress.
There is a (limited) budget to support academic conference travel, which is assessed against the quality of the application and the perceived value of the attendance at the conference.
Students will be accommodated in a research laboratory in the Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences. They will be provided with good working conditions, including adequate desk space and computer facilities. Students will have day-today contact with more senior research staff in the Department. They will have full access to internet facilities and all standard University facilities for Postgraduate students. There are close links with NHS Occupational Health Departments in the UK and several overseas departments.
Research students have free access to University facilities such as printing, photocopying, a well provisioned Library and high bandwidth internet links through the Knowledge Centre in KIMHS. Students are guided directly by their supervisor. In addition, further structured input and advice is provided by an Adviser.
Research in the department is overseen by the KIMHS Research and Enterprise Committee (KREC). The committee members are the Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Research, Head of Department (Dean), Departmental Administrator, Secretary/Project Officer, Heads or representatives of research groups, one student representative, and co-opted members (currently one).
15.Student Support and Guidance
The STMS Faculty Handbook ‘Information for New Postgraduate Students’ and the University booklet covering Regulations, Students’ Union Code of Practice, and the Student Charter are available on the University website.
Supervisor:The principle source of support is the academic supervisor, a member of staff. The supervisor is assigned as part of the registration process.
Adviser: A second adviser assists with annual progress reviews and is available to advise over mentoring or other issues as necessary.
KREC: The KREC oversees student supervision and progress monitoring procedures, and has a student representative as a member.
16.Departmental Quality Assurance and Enhancement
Supervisors are required to provide a short progress report to the KIMHS Research and Enterprise Committee (KREC) three times a year, in addition to the formal annual progress monitoring process. There is formal student representation on the KREC.
The University offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) programme. The programme is open to any member of academic staff but is particularly geared to the needs of new members of staff. New academic staff at the University of Kent who are appointed with a probationary period of two years or more are required to register for the programme.
17.Departmental Resource Implications
The Department provides office space and computer facilities for all research students. In addition, students involved in clinical research will need access to hospital or community-based facilities, which are established at the time of registration is not already available.
18.Professional Accreditation
Where applicable, agreement will be sought from the established bodies for accreditation in the field, namely Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians (London) or a related faculty or college (e.g. Faculty of Occupational Medicine of Ireland), with a view to having the thesis accepted for submission towards membership of the Faculty.
19.Professional Accreditation
The research work requires the student to be in current clinical practice, and evidence of GMC registration will be required for research degree registration.
Most clinical specialties recognise a period of research as part of the requirements for training prior to becoming a consultant. Such recognition is usually the responsibility of a committee of one of the Royal Colleges. KIMHS will ensure that appropriate communications are established to support the application by the student for recognition of the contribution of their MD/MSurg work towards their professional accreditation.
[ANM1]The minimum requirement is that there are annual reports.
[ANM2]Upgrading to what? If MSurg/MD is equivalent to PhD then there is no higher award to upgrade to.