Pain Management

This higher degree is aimed at clinical professionals from all backgrounds involved in the delivery of acute, chronic, and integrated pain services in primary or secondary care. Combining cutting-edge research with an international reputation for clinical excellence, the UCL Pain Management MSc is ideal for anyone wanting to improve the lives of people living with pain while also accelerating their own career.

Students will learn:

• Research methods and ethical principles underpinning pain research
• Health economics and social impact of pain
• Clinical governance of pain services
• Pathophysiology of pain
• Pharmacology of pain and therapeutics
• Managing pain in cancer patients including post-chemotherapy pain
• Management of headache and abdominopelvic/urogenital pain
• Managing pain in children and adolescents
• Strategies for the self-management of pain
• Neuromodulation for chronic pain
• Pain management with mental health, substance misuse and multiple morbidity
• Community pain management strategies

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, eight core modules) is offered.

A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, four core modules) is offered.

Core modules

• Introduction to Pain: Economics, Evidence Delivery (15 credits)
• Acute Pain (15 credits)
• Chronic Pain (15 credits)
• Pain in Cancer Patients (15 credits)
• Headache, Paediatric Pain & Abdominopelvic Pain (15 credits)
• Strategies for the Self-Management of Pain (15 credits)
• Neuromodulation (15 credits)
• Pain in the Community (15 credits)

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this programme.

Dissertation/report

Successful completion of the MSc requires a 5,000- to 8,000-word dissertation on a topic that is relevant to the candidate's own clinical practice and has been covered, at least superficially, at some point in the programme. The options for the dissertation will be discussed with each student but can include, where possible, joining clinical research at the UCLH Pain Management Centre, study in-depth of topics, preparing for higher (doctoral) research, etc. Students will have two supervisors and a mentor.

Teaching and learning

This programme is delivered via a specially-designed online learning environment with additional workshops and discussions to support students on the journey towards making a real difference for people living with pain. 

A minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants should also be registered/licensed healthcare professionals with a demonstrable interest in pain management.