Human Anatomy MSc

The University of Edinburgh

In this programme you will:

• learn anatomy through dissection

• gain knowledge and experience of anatomical teaching

• take additional modules on neuroanatomy, embryology, anatomy law and ethics and medical imaging.

• contribute to world-leading anatomical and/or biomedical research

Our programme aims to improve your theoretical and practical knowledge of human anatomy through an intensive on-campus dissection course, as well as the development and learning of theoretical and practical aspects of teaching anatomy at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Programme strands

This programme has two main strands.

Anatomy of the human body

One is the in-depth study of the anatomy of the human body. Anatomical knowledge will be learned to a level to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students and professions allied to medicine.

This strand will involve the dissection of a body in groups of three to five students over two semesters.

This part of the course is largely self-directed, with regular 'surgeries' when teaching staff are present to answer questions and help students with the dissections.

Anatomy pedagogy

The other is anatomy pedagogy, covering the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching anatomy to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Next to theoretical lectures and workshops, the first semester will focus on observing the teaching of anatomy to medical undergraduate students.

The second semester will focus on being involved in preparing and carrying out teaching sessions to both small and large groups of students.

The learned theoretical material, observations and practical experiences will be compiled in an end-of year teaching portfolio.

The experience that you will gain can be used towards an application as an associate fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Additional programme content

Complementing these strands will be a lecture-based embryology course providing you with an understanding of normal human development and how normal development can go wrong, manifested in commonly observed congenital abnormalities.

You will also study:

• neuroanatomy

• the health and safety of embalming procedures and handling bodies

• the legal and historical aspects of anatomy in Scotland and the UK

• an introduction to the ethics of using bodies in medical education

• clinical techniques used to image the body