Prosthetics and Orthotics - MSc
Progress your career within the exciting field of prosthetics and orthotics. Our MSc programme has been carefully designed to reflect current innovation and technology in the field but also the need for evidence-based treatment options. Prosthetics and Orthotics at Keele embraces the challenges of modern healthcare and enables you to develop key clinical skills to become a highly competent Prosthetist and Orthotist who can make a positive impact on people's lives.
Month of entry
- January
Mode of study
- Full time
Fees for 2025/26 academic year
UK Full Time - £9,535 per year*
International - Full time £24,900 per year
Duration of study
- 2 years
Why study Prosthetics and Orthotics at Keele University?
Course summary
Our two-year MSc aims to facilitate your development into a highly competent Prosthetist and Orthotist who can confidently assess and treat patients to promote their physical well-being. You will gain the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and values that underpin contemporary prosthetics and orthotics practice, strengthening your competence in applying your skill-set to contemporary clinical practice. You will explore clinical reasoning and the need for decision-making skills that are informed by evidence-based practice to enable you to undertake best practice in partnership with service users and colleagues.
Modules in year one focus on core areas such as developing your professional development as a Prosthetist and Orthotist and the various techniques in clinical assessment. You will deepen your understanding of health promotion, primary and secondary prevention, and health behaviour change. We introduce you to the foundations of prescription, technical design, fabrication, and provision of prosthetic and orthotic devices with a focus upon the lower limb. You will learn to apply your knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of a patient with a complex upper limb or spinal condition and evaluate healthcare and evidence-based practice.
Your second year provides you the opportunity to look at leadership and service development within prosthetics and orthotics and investigate innovations in the field. You will continue to advance your prescription expertise and undertake a research project.
Orientation, clinical and manufacturing placements are also a key element of the course which you will be expected to participate in throughout both years of the course.
Placements
There are seven placements throughout the two year course providing over 1000 hours of practical exposure. These are a mix of Prosthetics, Orthotics and Manufacturing placements, which can range from two week to five weeks and may be located across the whole of the UK. There will be an expectation for students to travel and experience new locations throughout their studies.
Next steps
Course structure
The programme has 180 credits in total, with 105 credits in year one and 75 credits in year two. This distribution supports placements, with five out of seven placements in year two.
The course is structured around key aspects of prosthetic and orthotic practice including:
- A fundamental understanding of biomechanical and human sciences.
- A strong grasp of physical assessment skills, product knowledge and clinical reasoning.
- A repertoire of safe and effective prosthetic and orthotic device prescriptions based on individuals' specific requirements.
- Evidence based evaluation and discharge/modification skills.
- Effective communication and inter-personal skills.
These are introduced, developed and enhanced via individual modules over the two-year programme.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Year one
- Transition into Prosthetics and Orthotic Studies
- Essentials of Prosthetics and Orthotics Assessment
- Spinal and Upper Limb Orthotics and Prosthetics
- Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change (P&O)
- P&O Placement 1 (Orientation)
- P&O Placement 2 (Clinical)
- Evaluating Healthcare and Evidence Based Practice (P&O)
- Prosthetic and Orthotic Management
- Advanced Prescription in Prosthetics and Orthotics
Year two
- Innovations in Prosthetic and Orthotic Assessment
- Research Proposal (P&O)
- P&O Practice Placement 3 (Manufacturing)
- P&O Practice Placement 4 (Clinical)
- P&O Practice Placement 5 (Clinical)
- Research Project (P&O)
- Leadership and Service Development P&O
- P&O Practice Placement 6 (Clinical)
- P&O Practice Placement 7 (Clinical)
Next steps
An introduction to Prosthetics and Orthotics at Keele
Entry requirements
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.
- A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or overseas police check and health checks are required for all applicants whom are successful at interview.
Next steps
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, biomedical sciences, health science, exercise and/or sports science, engineering, nursing, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject from a public university
or
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, or physics subject from a private university
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
65% in a degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject from a '211' university
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years, in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information
or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in an anatomy, biology, biomechanics, health science, exercise, engineering, psychology, or physics subject
or
a 2/3 year Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.
- A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or overseas police check and health checks are required for all applicants whom are successful at interview.
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group D.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Fees
UK Full Time - £9,535 per year*
International - Full time £24,900 per year
*£9,535 for the 2025/6 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval).
Funding
Eligible Prosthetics and Orthotics MSc students are eligible to apply for funding support via the NHS Learning Support Fund which includes a £5,000 training grant and certain travel and accommodation costs for placements. More information, including the eligibility criteria can be found on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
For continuing international students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Next steps
Your career
The programme will help you to develop the competencies required for autonomous practice in the NHS, industry and other healthcare settings globally.
The course promotes research awareness and its application to prosthetic and orthotic practice and the wider health and social care context. It will provide you with the expertise to adapt and respond positively to change whilst developing key transferable skills to prepare you for graduate employment.
A prosthetics and orthotics degree from Keele will ensure you graduate with clinical and research skills that will enable you to work as an autonomous professional across a variety of national (including the NHS, private sector, occupational health and performance sport) and international healthcare settings.
Approval from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) will enable you to register with HCPC upon successful completion of this programme and use the protected titles of Prosthetist/Orthotist.
Next steps
Teaching, learning and assessment
How you'll be taught
You will learn in a variety of ways using a number of different approaches:
- Lectures and independent study enable you to broaden and deepen your existing professional knowledge and understanding of the core scientific principles and concepts of prosthetics and orthotics, and to transfer scientific knowledge from theory into practice.
- Practical work in both university and clinical environments supports you to develop, enhance and update your learning of new skills under the supervision of experts. It facilitates the development of safe and competent practice, and the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge and skills. You will focus on the management of common pathologies whilst demonstrating the transferability of these skills to the management of less common or multiple complex pathologies.
- Small group work, such as seminars, and workshops, provides opportunities for you to clarify and exchange ideas with both peers and staff, and to question and challenge professional concepts.
- Guided independent study and tutorials will assist you to explore in depth, and evaluate, aspects of professional practice.
- Seminars, tutorials and web-based e-learning activities encourage reflection upon your learning and to take responsibility for its development, and to collaborate with others to share, explore, and evaluate ideas in greater depth.
In your programme you will sometimes be expected to role play and engage in simulated clinical scenarios with other students, such as the practice and observation of practical skills in physical contact with other students. For some specific practices, this may necessitate modification of dress - e.g., to shorts and t-shirt. These activities will be conducted in a professional, safe, respectful and culturally sensitive way, under the supervision of academic staff, according to a defined protocol.
How you'll be assessed
You will develop a broad range of knowledge and skills as you advance on this Prosthetics and Orthotics MSc. To reflect this we use a wide variety of assessment methods on the programme. These currently include:
- Written work and assignments. These will highlight the application of your subject matter and your research and written skills.
- Written examinations will test your knowledge through different exam formats such as multiple choice, critical analysis reports and short answer questions.
- Reflective assignments enable you to improve your reflective learning and practice which are fundamental skills used by healthcare professionals.
- Oral exams and presentations will assess your knowledge, understanding and application of the subject.
- Practical examinations and Interactive Practical Assessment (IPA) take place as part of the programmes practical modules.
- Research project. Student led piece of independent research which will be supported by a nominated supervisor.
- Practice placement assessment is undertaken during your placement modules through criterion referenced assessment forms.
- Online assessments with multiple choice questions.
Next steps
Keele Postgraduate Association
Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.
Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.
Our expertise
The academic teaching team on our MSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics includes highly skilled, highly qualified and knowledgeable staff. Many are nationally and internationally recognised experts in their field.
Our staff group
The staff group has extensive experience in clinical practice and teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including individuals with expertise in learning, teaching, and research. We also invite professional experts to give lectures as external speakers.
Teaching team:
- Naveed Ahmed, Lecturer
- Muhammad Ali Khan, Lecturer
- Zahoor Khan, Workshop Manager
Next steps
Facilities
A newly purpose built workshop designed in collaboration with world leading prosthetics and orthotics company, Ottobock, fulfills all University manufacturing and clinical training requirements.
Also, a 3D gait analysis laboratory, equipped with a Vicon system and AMTI force plates, will complement practice training and research activities.
Take a closer look at our facilities in our virtual tour: