Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Distance Learning
- Fees
- Home: £8,600
Overseas: £20,000
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
The curriculum will be covered in a ‘taught course’ of 3 terms divided into modules. Three modules will be covered in each of the first and second term and two modules in the third term.
Each taught module accounts for 15 credits and each module takes 4 weeks to cover the taught materials including one or more module assignments. Teaching will make use of online learning methods and the 'flipped classroom' model. This means that you will study a number of elements using online materials including lectures, podcasts, guided reading exercises and so on, with regular tutorials in which various activities incorporating individual and group work will help you to consolidate your learning. You will complete a reflective portfolio log-book in which your experiences are mapped to each of the modules.
If you choose to take the full MSc programme then following on from the above modules you will work on and complete a dissertation for the remainder of the programme. The project title and research/dissertation format will be agreed between yourself and the course organiser and may take the form of independent clinical research or a dissertation based on clinical cases.
Structure
- Eight compulsory modules
Compulsory/Core modules
In this module students will participate in a range of observership activities and other skill-building sessions, tutorials, journal clubs, research seminars etc that are relevant to clinical endocrinology and supportive of the taught curriculum. This module aims to support the student in recording their participation, reflections and broader reading in a reflective portfolio. This is an important way to demonstrate engagement with such activities and also to demonstrate engagement with learning outcomes across the breadth of the programme. It also builds a skill that is vital to clinical trainees in their day-to-day development and is something they will be required to do at all stages in their career.
This module provides the foundation knowledge and skills to progress to the subsequent modules in the course. The rationale for the course overall is outlined in the overall proposal which the module proposal accompanies. This module aims to develop an understanding of the basic science underpinning clinical endocrinology, together with the assessment of the endocrine patient and the principles and pitfalls of endocrine evaluation. It also focuses on the development of skills which are important for maximising benefit from the forthcoming modules, including a development of critical appraisal skills and experience in the purpose and application of evidence-based medicine. Techniques for approaching clinical cases will be developed, together with an approach to writing structured essays and reviews. The content of the module and the course as a whole maps to the syllabus set by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board as a specialty curriculum for Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, in particular to the part of the syllabus assessed in the knowledge-based exam set by the Royal Colleges.
This module covers the physiology and pathology of the hypothalamus and pituitary. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the relevant hormones, glands and their disorders.This includes physiology and disorders of the gonadotrophs, prolactin, growth hormone and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, as well as disorders of the posterior pituitary and structural disorders of the pituitary.
This module covers the physiology and pathology of the thyroid. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the relevant hormones, glands and their disorders. This includes anatomy, physiology and disorders such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goitre, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancers. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio.
This module covers the physiology and pathology of the calcium homeostasis, parathyroids and bone. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the relevant hormones, glands and their disorders. This includes anatomy, physiology and disorders such as hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcaemia of malignancy, hypocalcaemia, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio.
This module covers physiology and pathology of disorders of the reproductive axis, pregnancy and the growing child, . A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the relevant hormones, glands and their disorders. This includes normal growth and development and the physiology of puberty, disorders of growth, development and puberty. The module will also cover menstrual disorders, hirsutism, fertility, contraception, male and female gonadal dysfunction and endocrinology in gender dysphoria. In addition topics will include principles and practice of male and female hormone replacement therapy, endocrinology of normal pregnancy and the management of endocrinopathy in pregnancy. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio.
This module covers physiology and pathology of disorders of metabolism, energy balance and lipids. Inborn errors of metabolism, proteins, enzymes and toxicology are all related topics. Pancreatic hormones and diabetes mellitus are critical aspects of endocrine medicine. The module will extend to the related disciplines of metabolic medicine and chemical pathology and include laboratory techniques, quality assurance, principles of screening, audit and governance in biochemistry. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the water and salt homeostasis, lipid biology and pathology, gut hormones, diabetes mellitus and disorders of body weight and metabolic pathologies. The laboratory and public health aspects of these areas will also be reviewed. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio.
This module covers the physiology and pathology of disorders of the adrenal cortex and medulla. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the relevant hormones, glands and their disorders. This includes anatomy, physiology, adrenal development, homeostatic control, the glucocorticoid receptor and the use of steroid therapy in replacement as well as adrenal investigations and imaging. This also includes disorders such as Conn's syndrome, Cushings syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and phaeochromocytoma. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio.
This module covers the genetics of endocrine disorders, neuroendocrine tumours and other aspects of endocrine oncology such as paraneoplastic syndromes and the late effects of cancer treatments on the endocrine system. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used to cover the molecular and clinical features of the relevant hormones, glands and their disorders. These include inherited aspects of endocrine disorders, multiple endocrine neoplasias and inherited disorders of hormone resistance. Neuroendocrine tumours of the GI tract, pancreas and lung will be covered as well as the role of investigations and imaging and current and emerging therapies. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio. During the module, students are encouraged to attend and observe relevant clinical activities such as clinics and academic meetings and to add to module-specific sections of their reflective portfolio.
Assessment
- Written exams
- Coursework (essays, case histories)
Teaching
You will experience a variety of teaching and learning methods including seminars, podcasts and guided reading exercises, with regular tutorials in which various activities incorporating individual and group work will help you to consolidate your learning.
You will complete a reflective portfolio log-book in which your experiences are mapped to each of the modules.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
At Queen Mary you will have access to a number of advanced facilities, including:
- access to QMplus, our bespoke online learning platform
- access to online library facilities and reading materials
- access to video and audio recordings of all lectures and other online resources
- access to our campus facilities if you decide to visit at any point during your course (if it is safe to do so in accordance with local and national COVID-19 guidelines).
- Watch our video to discover online study at Queen Mary
About the Institute
William Harvey Research Institute
The William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI) places a high value upon training the next generation of researchers. We are part of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, which is ranked joint seventh in the UK for the quality of our research (REF 2021).
Our primary research focus and excellence lies in our cardiovascular, inflammation and endocrine research themes. In addition, we achieve international excellence in critical care and perioperative medicine research. We aim to combine talents from different disciplines such as genomics, cell biology, and pharmacology, with translational bench-to-patient studies and large-scale clinical trials.
We are currently the largest pharmacological research institute in the UK University sector, and one of the largest in Europe. The Centre employs 530 clinicians and scientists from 45 countries.
Career paths
- 93% of WHRI graduates are in employment or further study (2020/21)
- 88% of WHRI graduates in employment or study are in highly skilled work or graduate study (2020/21)
Fees and funding
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
An MBBS or basic medical degree from universities recognised by the University of London. Applicants should generally have worked for at least one year after qualification as a registered medical practitioner registration.
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the William Harvey Research Institute falls within the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Please note, there are some postgraduate programmes with non-standard English language requirements in this Institute.
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.