Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Charterhouse Square
- Fees
- Home: £19,800
Overseas: £36,250
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
Laparoscopic surgery is a technically demanding area of medicine and few people have the necessary expertise to work in this area. This course allows you to learn complex skills that are in high demand.
Our programme provides you with a unique opportunity to practice and perfect laparoscopic technical skills in the low-stress, high-feedback environment of our Virtual Reality Surgical Simulation Centre.
You’ll gain all the training you need to meet the standards set by the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland to obtain your LapPass (the ‘Laparoscopic Passport’). Gaining a LapPass means you’ll have a benchmark qualification that recognises your laparoscopic skills in a simulated environment.
As well as these practical skills, you’ll gain a clear understanding of the research process, including critical appraisal and how to present work for publication.
You’ll also have the opportunity to attend an international surgical conference and meet surgeons and surgical reps.
In addition, you’ll be able to observe in wards, clinics and in the operating theatre. This offers you a good opportunity to gain an understanding of medical and surgical practice in the NHS.
Structure
- Five compulsory modules
- Dissertation
In addition to the taught modules, compulsory attendance at one international conference will be required (the cost of this is included in your tuition fee).
Compulsory/Core modules
1. Student will be required to complete a 10,000 word Master's level dissertation in an appropriate research area. 2. This will be an independent piece of research, requiring the student to conceive, plan and execute an appropriate piece of research based on academic foundations, application of relevant theory and methodology and critical analysis of findings. 3. Student will also be required to present the dissertation
This module will introduce the learner to the laparoscopic suturing and knot tying techniques. The course will offer hands-on training by simulation for needle loading, forming roeders knot and endoloop, intracorporeal and extracorporeal laparoscopic suturing and knot tying. Students will also learn how to obtain laparoscopic access to, and closure of, the peritoneal cavity, the physiological effects of pneumoperitoneum, the principles of laparoscopic hemostasis and indications for diagnostic laparoscopy.
This module will introduce the learner to the strategies for minimizing bile duct injuries: adopting a universal culture of safety in cholecystectomy by understanding core laparoscopic surgical principles for calots triangle dissection. Students will use virtual reality simulation for learning laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Students will learn how to troubleshoot during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the diagnosis and management of complications after cholecystectomy and the use of surgical energy.
1. Laparoscopic camera manipulation 2. Laparoscopic PEG transfer 3. Laparoscopic sugar cube stacking
This module will provide learners with an introduction to robot-assisted surgery for minimally-invasive surgical procedures. Students will be provided with an understanding of the fundamental principles of robotic surgery for learning which procedures are amenable to robotic surgery, and the scientific basis thereof. Students will also learn about robotic surgery instrument handling and and how to train in robotic surgery by simulation.
This module will introduce the learner to the theoretical and practical knowledge relating to bowel anastomosis. Student will become familiar with use of surgical instruments and techniques of performing bowel anastomosis. The theory topics covered focus on understanding principles of performing safe bowel anastomosis including - >Basic surgical skills for suturing and knot tying >Get familiar with surgical equipments needed for performing bowel anastomosis >Intestinal Anastomosis Techniques >Dealing with complications Practical Exercise: > Perform Bowel Anastomosis
Research method teaching will include the following topics: 1. Literature search 2. Critical appraisal 3. Developing a Research Question - PICOS 4. Research Designs & Research Reporting Guidelines. 5. Research Proposal Writing 6. Conducting Systematic review of literature 7. Abstract writing & Poster Presentation 8. Publication of Research - Authorship, Contributorship 9. Ethics of research 10. Statistics for Surgeons ¿ Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Assessment
- 67% Modules
- 33% Dissertation
You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, including practical skills assessment, coursework (eg critical appraisals, essays, oral and poster presentations) and exams. You’ll also write a dissertation.
Dissertation
You will also be assessed on a supervised 10,000-word dissertation. Recent projects include:
- Neurodevelopment outcomes in necrotising enterocolitis: a case series and review of literature
- Face and content validation of a virtual reality basic life support course with comparison to the traditional course
- Predicting the length of stay at admission for emergency general surgery patients
—This course helped me improve my surgical skills, gain a deeper understanding of surgical procedures and improve my research skills. The small class size meant there was close supervision and personalised feedback. We conducted audits, which could boost our CVs and help with future specialist training applications. We had a lot of freedom to choose our dissertation topics, depending on what surgical specialties we would like to pursue.
Ankita Mondal, Laparoscopic Surgery and Surgical Skills MSc, 2018
Teaching
This programme is unique in its teaching methods: you’ll learn using the latest virtual and augmented reality technologies.
You’ll also be taught through more traditional methods, including lectures, seminars, practical classes and demonstrations using surgical simulators.
In addition, you’ll have opportunities to observe clinics and in the operating theatre.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
- State-of-the-art Virtual Reality Surgical Simulators
- Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Virtual Reality Simulators, with objective feedback for instant appraisal
- Full access to our library and online resources
- Mentors for non-programme related support, including careers advice
Campus
We are situated in the City of London on the beautiful Charterhouse Square campus. Our research laboratories, clinical trials centre and teaching are located primarily on this campus, within minutes of the Barts Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew's Hospital, one of the most advanced cancer centres in Europe.
Rich in history and diversity, Charterhouse Square is a bustling centre of energy and activity. You will get to experience both the old and new London.
About the Institute
Barts Cancer Institute
Barts Cancer Institute (BCI) is one of the top five cancer research centres in the UK and is one of 14 Cancer Research UK Centres of Excellence.
Our research goal is to prevent cancer and develop better diagnostic techniques and treatments. We are generously supported by research councils, industry and a number of charities, with the grants awarded totalling in excess of £15m per annum.
BCI is part of Queen Mary’s medical school, the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. The School is comprised of two world-renowned teaching hospitals, St Bartholomew's and The Royal London, which make an outstanding contribution to modern medicine. Queen Mary is ranked joint seventh in the UK for the quality of our research (REF 2021).
We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research universities in the UK and proudly hold an Athena Gold Award in recognition of our commitment to gender equality.
Career paths
You’ll leave this programme able to apply for the LapPass – the Laparoscopic Passport from the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.
The technical skills you gain on this programme will accelerate your surgical training and significantly enhance your career prospects.
You’ll also gain the clinical skills and experience necessary to pursue further academic research at PhD or MD level.
- 91% of BCI postgraduate taught students in employment or further study (2020/21)
- 95% of BCI postgraduate taught students in highly skilled work or graduate study (2020/21)
Fees and funding
Full-time study
September 2025 | 1 year
- Home: £19,800
- Overseas: £36,250
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Unconditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
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
An MBBS degree
Other routes
Allied Health Professionals (e.g. Specialist Nurse /Dietician /Physiologist) with a science-based degree awarded with 2:1 or above (or the international equivalent) will be considered on a case by case basis.
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 Barts Cancer 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
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.