Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Distance Learning
- Fees
- Home: £7,700
Overseas: £13,950
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The course fee is charged per annum for 2 years. Note that fees may be subject to an increase on an annual basis - see details on our tuition fees page.
What you'll study
This MSc is designed to support your knowledge of oral and maxillofacial surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, craniofacial surgery, ophthalmology, ENT and neurosurgery. It’s particularly suitable if you’re in surgical training and want to develop true multidisciplinary skills.
We’ll provide you with up-to-date and evidence-based multidisciplinary clinical practice in all aspects of facial trauma surgery. You’ll then be able to choose an area to specialise in.
You’ll cover subjects ranging from initial presentation and assessment (including airway provision, use of DICOM data and treatment planning) to the management of craniofacial fractures, acute soft tissue injuries and secondary reconstruction, including the psychological aspects of such surgery.
We’ll help you to gain excellent research skills: you’ll learn how to assess scientific literature, conduct a clinical audit and design a simple study.
There is a week-long summer residential programme in your first year, where you’ll learn how to write a scientific paper based on your own cases, to the standard of peer-reviewed publication. There will also be opportunities for you to visit a unit for a week during the programme.
Structure
- Eight compulsory modules
- Dissertation
Compulsory/Core modules
This module provides the basic understanding behind the whole course in terms of the types of injury caused by the various mechanisms of trauma commonly seen in clinical practice. Background pathophysiology required to understand healing processes and surgical manipulation with respect to both bone and soft tissue elements underpin all of the following modules. Emergency assessment relevant to both the primary and secondary trauma survey are discussed together with treatment delivered in this phase of treatment.
"The module discusses fractures of the mandible and condyle using a variety of techniques which underpin the totality of facial trauma management. Building on presented anatomical principles, the module will build a strategy which will enable the student to diagnose and treatment plan a wide variety of simple and complex injury patterns. Different types of bone fixation are discussed together with principles of intermaxillary fixation. Fractures of the mandibular condyle and their management are discussed with an evidence based rationale for decision making. Edentulous (fragility) mandibular fractures are discussed in terms of management options and prognostic indicators."
"This module will focus on injuries of the lateral face to include the orbit, zygomatic bone, and soft tissues of the region. A summary of the relevant anatomy and physiology of the region will build to diagnostic principles, urgent management, treatment planning followed by surgical management. Principles of surgical access, methods of production and fixation, and both autogenous and alloplastic reconstruction of this anatomical area. More advanced techniques including surgical navigation are discussed, together with the use of CAD CAM imaging and prosthesis fabrication."
The module discusses the management of complex middle third of the face injuries with special reference to the naso orbital region. Surgical management of fractures of the midface is discussed both in terms of anatomical reconstruction and sequencing of repair of the region and adjacent anatomical subunits within the middle third - upper and lower thirds of the craniofacial skeleton. The importance of the integrity of the medial canthal region is discussed and management of ligament reconstruction is discussed.
"This module discusses the interface between the neurosurgical and craniofacial management of upper third facial injuries. The management of the frontal sinus and frontal bone fractures with particular emphasis on timing of surgical intervention and anterior skull base reconstruction. Diagnostic principles are discussed with reference to both hard and soft tissue treatment planning. The anatomy of the upper third of the facial skeleton and skull base are discussed, as well as neurosurgical implications of these injuries. Surgical approaches to the region are classified and discussed and surgeon choice based on a risk benefit analysis. Choice of plating strategies are discussed and an evidence based algorithm based on complexity is presented."
"This module deals with all aspects of acute facial soft tissue management from intial wound care and correct surgical technique for primary wound closure through to complex soft injuries involving tissue loss and motor nerve loss. The module will also discuss the soft tissue management of major tissue loss and gross contamination in acute gunshot and major avulsive injury. Applied neck anatomy is discussed with reference to penetrating neck trauma, and the management of major neck neurovascular injuries is discussed."
"This module will address the differences between the management of acute hard tissue injuries and those presenting late - either after no treatment or failed management. This is an extremely challenging area and requires a methodical and systematic approach to diagnose and treatment plan. Three dimensional diagnosis of secondary defects uses the latest digital technology and this is discussed with reference to malunions of the orbit, zygoma, maxilla and mandible."
"This module will address the differences between the management of acute hard tissue injuries and those presenting late - either after no treatment or failed management. This is an extremely challenging area and requires a methodical and systematic approach to diagnose and treatment plan. Soft tissue scar management together with manipulation of the superfical musculoaponeurotic system, deep and superficial tissue suspension is discussed. The role fat grafting techiques together with rhinoplasty is discussed."
"The students are required to build upon the knowledge acquired in the masters program to produce a dissertation. The coursework is presented in anatomical blocks which then build to an interrelated understanding which will be augmented by an independent project. The project will link clinical practice within the student's practice and the coursework. The project will take the form of a clinical audit of outcome or process which will include case selection , database design, data collection, analysis and publication of results. The student will then be mentored to develop the work both for publication in the literature and presentation to a scientific meeting. The dissertation will enable the student to reflect on their own clinical practice, and signpost further opportunities for further independent research."
Assessment
Each of your modules will be assessed separately, including essays, written, clinical and viva voce examinations.
Dissertation
The dissertation forms a major component of your degree. You’ll write a report of up to 15,000 words on an aspect of facial trauma management: ie a literature search and review.
Teaching
The programme’s format is designed to fit around training rotation. It is also designed to run on very small numbers to allow individualised, relaxed and friendly tuition.
You will be supplied with written and video course materials. The course will be taught through one-to-one webinar discussions and small-group teaching sessions, designed to maximise your learning in the most time-effective manner. Numerous short documents will allow bite-size learning without overburdening you.
Surgical techniques will be presented in video format so you can learn key clinical skills. Our considerable clinical material archive will be made available to you and used by our experienced surgical tutors to maximise your learning.
You will be expected to complete further hours of independent study. This could be spent preparing for study sessions, reading, producing written work, completing projects and revising for examinations.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
- Queen Mary’s dedicated online portal, QMplus
- Video and audio recordings of all lectures and other online resources
- College online library facilities, journals and a specifically designed study skills module
- Medical and dental libraries located at the Royal London and at Bart's hospitals, as well as the Mile End library
- Campus facilities if you decide to visit at any point during your course
- Watch our video to discover online study at Queen Mary
About the Institute
Institute of Dentistry
If you study with us, you will join a dynamic, successful dental school with a first-class reputation: Queen Mary has consistently been ranked in the top 20 in the World for dentistry in the QS World University Rankings by Subject and we were ranked joint first in the country for research environment for dentistry in the most recent national assessment (REF 2021).
The Institute of Dentistry is a special place to undertake your postgraduate studies. We bring together a number of world-leading researchers in basic and clinical sciences who supervise research students in the fields of oral medicine, oral pathology, oral microbiology, oral epidemiology, oncology, dental biomaterials, dental biophysics, dental public health, dental education, periodontology, orthodontics, paediatric, prosthetic and conservative dentistry.
The Institute is based in Whitechapel and offers cutting-edge technology, a superb education and first-class research facilities.
The Institute of Dentistry is part of Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Queen Mary is part of the University of London and a member of the Russell Group.
Career paths
Successful completion of this MSc will demonstrate your acquisition of a broad understanding of all aspects of craniofacial trauma management and an improved patient outcome.
The course’s clinical focus will enhance your clinical performance in diagnosis and treatment planning and, together with your own clinical training programme, will enhance your surgical techniques.
This MSc also provides you with the research skills and experience necessary to pursue further academic research at PhD level.
- 100% of Dentistry postgraduate-taught students are in employment or further study (2020/21)
- 100% of Dentistry postgraduate-taught students are in highly skilled work or graduate study (2020/21)
Fees and funding
Part-time study
September 2025 | 2 years
- Home: £7,700
- Overseas: £13,950
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award
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
Applicants must have a medical or dental degree (MBBS, BDS, MD) recognised by Queen Mary University of London.
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 Institute of Dentistry fall within either English band 4 or English band 5. This programme requires the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
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.