The aim of the master's in Aviation Medicine is to provide physicians with comprehensive theoretical and practical instruction in advanced aviation physiology, psychology, pathology, clinical and operational medicine and the knowledge and skills required to conduct research in aviation medicine.
KEY BENEFITS
KEY FACTS
Student destinations
Training for the full time practice of aviation medicine either with an airline or a regulatory authority, and the conduct of applied research in a government establishment, university, the armed forces or the aviation industry. Qualification for appointment as a JAA Class 1 Aeromedical Examiner.
Programme leader/s
Professor David Gradwell; Professor Steve Harridge
Awarding Institution
King's College London
Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent)
UK 180/ECTS 90
Duration
One year FT, September to September, or individual modules FT over two to three years.
Location
Guy's Campus and aviation medicine centres in the UK and possibly overseas.
Year of entry 2013
Offered by
School of Biomedical Sciences
Department of Physiology
Closing date
Places are highly sought after and you are therefore strongly advised to apply as soon as possible. We operate a closing date of 1 June, beyond which your application will only be considered if places are still available.
Overseas and EU applicants must satisfy the language requirements for King’s postgraduate programmes
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/graduate/apply/lang. We advise that applicants assess their current language level as early as possible. Applicants planning to attend a King’s pre-sessional language course are advised to apply for their Masters programme in good time. Depending on language requirements, pre-sessional courses start in May, June and July. Details of dates, fees, application deadlines and minimum entry levels for the Pre-sessional can be found at
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/elc/study/pre-sessional We recommend early application to the Pre-sessional (minimum of one month before the course you want to follow) as courses fill up quickly
Total of six either FT or PT.
Fees
FT Home: £24300 (2013)
FT Overseas: £24300 (2013)
CONTACTS
Contact information
Postgraduate Admissions Centre at Guy's Campus 020 7848 8393
Professor David Gradwell
Director of Aviation Medicine
tel: 020 7848 6306; fax: 020 7848 6399
Email
Website
PURPOSE
The aim of this MSc is to provide physicians with comprehensive theoretical and practical instruction in advanced aviation physiology, psychology, pathology, clinical and operational medicine, and the knowledge and skills required to conduct research in aviation medicine.
DESCRIPTION
- The didactic and practical instruction includes that provided by the King’s College London Course for the Diploma in Aviation Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, which has an extremely strong worldwide reputation.
- A unique programme taught principally by practising specialists in aviation physiology, aviation psychology and clinical and operational aviation medicine, which includes visits to active national civilian and military centres of aviation medicine.
- Research components include laboratory and classroom instruction in the conduct of research, and a three-month research project. The latter can be conducted in the laboratory or as a field study at approved centres in the UK and elsewhere.
- During the programme students sit the examination for the Diploma in Aviation Medicine, RCP.
Physicians who have previously successfully completed the King’s College London Course for the Diploma in Aviation Medicine will be credited with having passed the advanced aviation medicine modules of the MSc programme.
EXTRA PROGRAMME INFORMATION
A medical certificate indicating that you are physically fit to participate in the practical work including decompression to altitude, exposure to sustained +Gz accelerations and sea and land survival conditions is required.
STRUCTURE OVERVIEW
Core programme content
- Aviation Physiology and Psychology
- Cardiovascular and respiratory physiology from rest to exhaustive exercise
- Clinical and Operational Aviation Medicine
- Library Project in Aviation Medicine
- Research Project in Aviation Medicine
Please see the modules list for further information.
Indicative non-core content
Please see the modules list for further information.
FORMAT AND ASSESSMENT
The cardiovascular and respiratory physiology module is held at King’s in the first semester and includes instruction in the conduct of research in aviation medicine. It comprises lectures, tutorials and six six-hour practical classes in human cardiovascular physiology.
MODULES
More information on typical programme modules.
NB it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year.
Module code: 7BBLM010
Credit level: 7
Physiological effects of the flight environment (routine and in emergencies) in healthy aircrew and aircraft passengers. The effect of the flight environment upon human behaviour and performance especially the psychological factors which affect the performance of military and civil aircrews.
Teaching staff: Module Leader:
Dr Ged Rafferty
Module code: 7BBLM004
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 30
Semester:
Semester 1 (autumn)
Teaching pattern: Most weeks incorporate:
4 hours of Lectures
2 hours of Seminars supporting Laboratory Practical
Laboratory Practical on alternate weeks
Assessment:
written examination/s
x1 3hr Unseen Written Exam (60%)
x1 15 min Laboratory Practical Oral Presentation (20%)
x1 1,500 Laboratory Practical Written Report (20%)
This module focuses on the function of the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The module aims to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of ventilation, cardiac output and blood pressure at rest and during exercise, and how these systems interact with the metabolic requirements of working muscles.
The module aims to provide practical experience in experimentation in human respiratory and cardiovascular physiology with knowledge of appropriate instrumentation, calibration and data acquisition and analysis.
Module code: 7BBLM011
Credit level: 7
Medical standards for aircrew. Disease and its management in aircrew and aircraft passengers; aviation pathology and toxicology; aeromedical transport. The practice of military (fixed and rotary wing) civil and commercial aviation medicine.
Module code: 7BBLM012
Credit level: 7
Present a written review on the literature concerning an area of topical interest in aviation medicine.
Module code: 7BBLM013
Credit level: 7
Design, conduct and report on a research project in aviation physiology, psychology or clinical aviation medicine in a laboratory, aviation medicine centre or the field under the supervision of an aviation medicine specialist.
ACADEMIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
General entry advice
Medical degree from an approved university. Registered medical practitioner.
APPLYING TO KING'S
To apply for graduate study at King's you will need to complete our graduate online application form. Applying online makes applying easier and quicker for you, and means we can receive your application faster and more securely.
King's does not normally accept paper copies of the graduate application form as applications must be made online. However, if you are unable to access the online graduate application form, please contact the relevant admissions/School Office at King's for advice.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
You will be admitted on the basis of your academic ability and experience in aviation medicine, together with recommendations from academic referees, and following an interview in person or, if you are overseas, by telephone. We aim to process applications within two to three weeks, following receipt of the required information. You are welcome to telephone to discuss your application.
PERSONAL STATEMENT & SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Please submit a personal statement of your experience in general clinical medicine and of the aviation environment. Also provide full transcripts for all degrees you have undertaken and list A-level subjects taken and the grades achieved. The transcript for each degree should list all modules taken and the grades achieved on each.
FUNDING
Self funding.
Related programme student profile
Human & Applied Physiology MScAfter medical school, I worked for 2 years as a Foundation Doctor then completed 2 years basic training in Anaesthesia. I decided I wanted to take a year out of work to do something different, both out of interest and to improve my CV. I started searching for higher degrees and quickly came across the Human & Applied Physiology MSc at King’s College. As an Anaesthetist, physiology is a big part of what I do, so I had good basic knowledge before starting the course. However, this MSc really stood out for me, because of the range of topics covered, the research methods taught and the amount of practical experience.
It was a fantastic year and I’ve learned an incredible amount. As the group is reasonably small, you really get to know everyone on the course. We had lectures given by world experts, including an astronaut and an Everest summiteer. In the first term, there are weekly practical sessions, where you rapidly get used to running an experiment, analysing and presenting data. As part of the extreme environments module, I was lucky enough to experience scuba diving, G force on a human centrifuge, be a subject for research into shallow water blackout and run an experiment at an RAF base in an altitude chamber. Most of the course is based at London Bridge, which is a great location in the centre of London, right next to the Thames. I undertook my research project in conjunction with world experts on cold injury at the University of Portsmouth.
The MSc in Human & Applied Physiology has given me the confidence to do presentations in front of a large audience, to write scientific papers and helped me focus on an area of physiology I want to work in. However, more than anything, the course has inspired me to get involved in more research and I’m planning to do a PhD before returning to Anaesthetics later on.