Aerospace Medicine MSc/PG Dip

The Aerospace Medicine programme aims to provide specialist training for medical graduates in the discipline from its research orientated basic science to its operational and clinical application. The course is therefore appropriate for Flight Medical Officers (Flight Surgeons), specialists in aviation and space medicine and for clinicians from other disciplines with a role to fulfil in aerospace medicine. It is not the aim of the course to train individuals in clinical medicine but rather to use the knowledge and experience students already have from their medical practice to allow them to understand its specialist application in aviation and space medicine.

Key benefits

• World-class learning course delivered at a location recognised by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board for higher professional training in aviation and space medicine.
• Teaching by internationally renowned scientists and clinicians from a combination of academic, commercial and military organisations.
• An advanced course with a considerable experiential/practical component complementing the theoretical aspects of the course.
• The only course recognised by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine as preparation for the Diploma in Aviation Medicine exams with contributions by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine examiners.
• For those undertaking the MSc the course provides a unique opportunity to undertake an aerospace medicine/physiology research project that is carried out in the laboratory or in approved aeromedical centres in the UK and elsewhere.

Course essentials

The Aerospace Medicine course is a unique study pathway that provides physicians with comprehensive theoretical and practical instruction in advanced aviation physiology, psychology, pathology, clinical and operational aviation medicine. The first semester of the course is taught at King’s College London and the second semester taught at the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine (CAM). Having the course partly based at CAM allows for valuable elements of the teaching to be enhanced through practical experiences not available at the University and also allows visits to a number of the military and civilian aerospace medicine related establishments. The Centre also offers unique practical facilities which are available to students on the course. PG Dip and MSc students will complete the first taught 6 months of the course as a single group, at which point the MSc cohort will then go on and complete a research project. If you are following the MSc pathway, you will take modules totalling 180 credits to meet the requirements of the qualification, of which 60 will come from a research project and written dissertation. The Postgraduate Diploma pathway requires modules with a total of 120 credits to complete the course.

Course Aims

• A detailed working knowledge of the scientific basis of aerospace medicine
• The ability to understand and describe the medical and physiological effects of flight in health.
• Develop the capacity to understand the interaction of the aerospace environments with the clinical status of the occupants of airborne craft as well as comprehend the hazards to flight safety that may arise from medical factors in air traffic controllers.
• Develop the skills to investigate an aeromedical issue such as would allow them to make appropriate written or oral arguments regarding the aeromedical disposal of individuals in health and disease.
• An ability to communicate their ideas effectively and confidently
• (For MSc only) have developed the skills associated with conducting a supervised project in aerospace medicine including its written and oral presentation.

Base campus

Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Additional locations

No locations added

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry requirements

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Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Practical Work

You will receive approximately 500 contact hours at during the course primarily at King’s and the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine while there will also be various trips to external study locations. The course will be comprised of lectures, seminars and experiential/practical sessions.

You may typically expect the contact time to be split as per below:

Practical sessions	Lectures	Seminars/Lab sessions
25%	65%	10%

 

Typically, one credit equates to ten hours of work. If you are studying for the full MSc qualification, you will be expected to spend approximately 600 hours on the research project module and thesis.

Assessment

• Coursework
• Exams

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment typically include formative and summative written examinations, presentations and reports. Coursework contributes to 40% and examinations approximately 60% to your final mark.

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take: MSc – modules totaling 180 credits PG Diploma – modules totaling 120 credits.

Aerospace Medicine MSc Pathway

Aerospace Physiology (40 credits)

Operational Aviation Medicine (40 credits)

Clinical & Commercial Aerospace Medicine (40 credits)

Research project in Aerospace Medicine (60 credits)

Aerospace Medicine PG Dip Pathway

Aerospace Physiology (40 credits)

Operational Aviation Medicine (40 credits)

Clinical & Commercial Aerospace Medicine (40 credits)

Optional modules

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

Career opportunities in aviation medicine are varied. Many undertaking specialist training have already been employed specifically for the role and are sponsored to undertake these courses. However, others use such training to better equip themselves for potential employment. Areas of possible careers include with airlines, aviation regulators, air traffic services, military aviation and space agencies as well as in academic or commercial research organisations. Some aviation medical examiners (AMEs) undertake the DAvMed. Appointment as an AME in the UK is now restricted to doctors on the GMC specialist register.

Previous graduates of the MSc course and DAvMed courses have been employed in all these areas and enjoyed a varied and challenging career.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: MSc £29,850, PG Dip £19,900 per year (2022/23)

Part time: n/a

International:

Full time: MSc £35,800, PG Dip £23,840 per year (2022/23)

Part time: n/a

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment. For those having their fees paid by their employer a signed letter from them must be provided so that the deposit can be waived.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

• If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
• If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

 

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books, if you choose to buy your own copies (a copy of Ernsting's Aviation and Space Medicine will be provided to all students)
• Clothing for optional course related events
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies  
• Printing course handouts  
• Society membership fees  
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• stationery
• Graduation costs 

Funding

• Course essentials
• Entry requirements
• Teaching & structure
• Careers
• Fees & Funding

The Aerospace Medicine course is a unique study pathway that provides physicians with comprehensive theoretical and practical instruction in advanced aviation physiology, psychology, pathology, clinical and operational aviation medicine. The first semester of the course is taught at King’s College London and the second semester taught at the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine (CAM). Having the course partly based at CAM allows for valuable elements of the teaching to be enhanced through practical experiences not available at the University and also allows visits to a number of the military and civilian aerospace medicine related establishments. The Centre also offers unique practical facilities which are available to students on the course. PG Dip and MSc students will complete the first taught 6 months of the course as a single group, at which point the MSc cohort will then go on and complete a research project. If you are following the MSc pathway, you will take modules totalling 180 credits to meet the requirements of the qualification, of which 60 will come from a research project and written dissertation. The Postgraduate Diploma pathway requires modules with a total of 120 credits to complete the course.

Course Aims

• A detailed working knowledge of the scientific basis of aerospace medicine
• The ability to understand and describe the medical and physiological effects of flight in health.
• Develop the capacity to understand the interaction of the aerospace environments with the clinical status of the occupants of airborne craft as well as comprehend the hazards to flight safety that may arise from medical factors in air traffic controllers.
• Develop the skills to investigate an aeromedical issue such as would allow them to make appropriate written or oral arguments regarding the aeromedical disposal of individuals in health and disease.
• An ability to communicate their ideas effectively and confidently
• (For MSc only) have developed the skills associated with conducting a supervised project in aerospace medicine including its written and oral presentation.

Base campus

Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Additional locations

No locations added

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Loading...

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Practical Work

You will receive approximately 500 contact hours at during the course primarily at King’s and the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine while there will also be various trips to external study locations. The course will be comprised of lectures, seminars and experiential/practical sessions.

You may typically expect the contact time to be split as per below:

Practical sessions	Lectures	Seminars/Lab sessions
25%	65%	10%

 

Typically, one credit equates to ten hours of work. If you are studying for the full MSc qualification, you will be expected to spend approximately 600 hours on the research project module and thesis.

Assessment

• Coursework
• Exams

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment typically include formative and summative written examinations, presentations and reports. Coursework contributes to 40% and examinations approximately 60% to your final mark.

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take: MSc – modules totaling 180 credits PG Diploma – modules totaling 120 credits.

Aerospace Medicine MSc Pathway

Aerospace Physiology (40 credits)

Operational Aviation Medicine (40 credits)

Clinical & Commercial Aerospace Medicine (40 credits)

Research project in Aerospace Medicine (60 credits)

Aerospace Medicine PG Dip Pathway

Aerospace Physiology (40 credits)

Operational Aviation Medicine (40 credits)

Clinical & Commercial Aerospace Medicine (40 credits)

Optional modules

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Career opportunities in aviation medicine are varied. Many undertaking specialist training have already been employed specifically for the role and are sponsored to undertake these courses. However, others use such training to better equip themselves for potential employment. Areas of possible careers include with airlines, aviation regulators, air traffic services, military aviation and space agencies as well as in academic or commercial research organisations. Some aviation medical examiners (AMEs) undertake the DAvMed. Appointment as an AME in the UK is now restricted to doctors on the GMC specialist register.

Previous graduates of the MSc course and DAvMed courses have been employed in all these areas and enjoyed a varied and challenging career.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: MSc £29,850, PG Dip £19,900 per year (2022/23)

Part time: n/a

International:

Full time: MSc £35,800, PG Dip £23,840 per year (2022/23)

Part time: n/a

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment. For those having their fees paid by their employer a signed letter from them must be provided so that the deposit can be waived.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

• If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
• If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

 

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books, if you choose to buy your own copies (a copy of Ernsting's Aviation and Space Medicine will be provided to all students)
• Clothing for optional course related events
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies  
• Printing course handouts  
• Society membership fees  
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• stationery
• Graduation costs 

Funding

Application closing date guidance